Hello Carrie – Congratulations! It’s exciting seeing the PW announcement—now the world knows! You don’t need to wait for an ISBN or the book cover. In fact, even if you have the book cover, you can use that at a later date as a “book-cover reveal” announcement.

WITHOUT THE ISBN OR COVER IMAGE

–       Let me take this a step back for authors who aren’t as far along yet. Before the book is announced, keep your agent linked in and work together on a plan.

–       A way to begin generating interest is, once the contract’s signed, create an “I’ve signed something” post for socials—I’m sure you see these all the time. Recall which ones have stood out to you and keep them in mind when creating your post. Use an image, but be sure not to show the actual contract. Since many are completed via e-signature, take a photo doing this from your desk or laptop, or print out the contract page for a more traditional image of you signing it with a pen (even if you really e-signed it).

–       This is also a time to add the new book to your website as a “coming soon” teaser and update your signature line in emails.

–       If you have an email list, announce that you have a book coming out.

–       Once you have the PW announcement, share it on socials. Check into sites like Canva to help make graphics.

WITH THE ISBN AND COVER IMAGE

–       Once you’re with a publisher and working with an editor and publicist there, keep them linked in.

–       If your publisher has a book-cover reveal lined up for you, great! If not, set one up yourself with a book blogger, reviewer, or related group. Or you can reveal the book cover yourself on social. At this point, the book’s info should be up on the publisher’s site, have filtered through to ordering platforms, and be set up for preorders. Include links to these places in your posts. Be sure to update your website and signature line with the actual cover image.

–       If your publisher creates a trailer, add that to your website and share it on social. If they don’t, consider making one yourself or hiring someone to make one for you.

–       As this can all take months, reach out to your subscriber list again once the book is available for sale to generate more preorders.

CLOSING

Your publisher has likely provided you with a nine-month pre-pub plan. Read it thoroughly and revisit it each month. Set aside time to research ways to promote the book and engage online to promote it. There are many options. Invest as much time and money as you can afford to share your upcoming book with the world while also remembering to give back to the community. The general rule of thumb is that for every post about yourself or your book, you should have nine other posts that are supporting other writers or other causes, or otherwise engaging without asking for anything in return.

—Christine

HAVE QUESTIONS?

To ask a question that may be answered in an upcoming Kite Tales, please follow this link and fill in the form. Answers by Christine Van Zandt, children’s book author and owner of Write for Success Editing & Coaching Services.

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Photos by Kaboompics.com, RDNE Stock project, and Manuel Campagnoli on pexels.com.