What Goes Into A Book Launch Campaign?

Posted byJacqueline Lambert @WorldWideWalkiesPosted inBooksTags:, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I have been quiet on the blog for the last few months because I have been writing my new book, the comic memoir, Building The Beast: How (Not) To Build An Overland Camper.

Readers and Authors – I thought you might be interested to know what goes into a book launch campaign for an independently published author, after spending months creating the final product…

And if you have any ideas, please let me know in the comments!

I started in November and am pleased to say, after five months of writing, editing, and revising, it is now available worldwide for pre order on Amazon at the special launch price of 99p/99c ahead of the release date on 26th April 2024.

It follows the story of how Mark and I made an impulse purchase, sight unseen from the internet – a 24.5-tonne army truck.

Building The Beast is the story of how we specified, imported, and converted an unregistered, 6×4-wheel drive Volvo N10 into a unique off-grid tiny home-on-wheels fit to undertake an overland expedition to Mongolia with our four pups in tow.

Needless to say, it didn’t go to plan. Even before Brexit and coronavirus put their own unique spanners in the works…

“Hugely inspirational… What a story – and a fabulously entertaining book/read.”

Julie Haigh, Amazon Top 1000 Reviewer & Goodreads Librarian

Grab Yours Now!

After the launch, the price goes back to £2.99/€3.99/$3.99

A picture of the ebook building the beast, which features a cartoon representation of The Beast, a volvo N10 truck, along with Jackie and Mark who built her, and their four cuddly dogs, on a background containing customer testimonials

However, If you thought writing a book was hard, try launching one…

On her blog, Morgen ‘With An E’ Bailey runs a regular feature called Word Count Wednesday – as well as providing daily writing prompts, a free monthly writing competition, editing and other author services.

I like Word Count Wednesday. It is a weekly reminder to check whether or not I’ve been focussing on the right things! (And boy, do Wednesdays come around quickly when you’re writing a book!)

I was considering my response to this week’s Word Count, and realised it’s a blog post in itself!

Here’s what I’ve been doing (writing related) this week…

  • Beta Feedback – I have now received and collated beta feedback from most of my 17-strong team of beta readers and have incorporated it into the final edition of my book’s manuscript ready for publication.
  • Formatting – Sadly, Debbie Purse, who created the wonderful Adventure Caravanning With Dogs covers and did all my interior formatting retired, so I have taken the plunge… I formatted my own ebook and paperback PDF in Atticus. It was much more straightforward than I thought, apart from the ‘Find’ tool replacing the found word with a blank if I didn’t put anything in the ‘Replace’ box, and the ease of accidentally rearranging the chapter order! Formatting myself not only saves money, it means I have control over correcting those sneaky typos that ALWAYS sneak through the edit and can update things like the front and back matter myself whenever I publish a new book.
  • Book Cover – via 100 Covers
    • Front Cover – I have approved the final version of the front cover for the ebook and paperback.
    • Paperback Cover – is in the pipeline. The paperback has to fit the final blurb and a bar code on to the back cover, and requires an accurate page count to ensure the spine is the correct thickness.
    • Uploads:
      • Goodreads and Bookbub – since these sites accept advance reviews (Amazon waits for the publication date to allow reviews.
      • Nielsen Title Editor – I upload the book details on to Nielsen to register the ISBN numbers (International Standard Book Number). There is a separate ISBN for every iteration of the book: ebook, paperback, audiobook or hardback. Nielsen Title Editor is an optional free database listing which makes the book visibile to book buying customers in over 100 countries.
      • Ingram Spark – when the paperback manuscript and cover are ready, I will upload them on to the print-on-demand service Ingram Spark for worldwide distribution. That way, other book retailers, such as Barnes & Noble can list my paperback. Naturally, Amazon and Ingram Spark require different cover dimensions, so the cover has to be re-sized! Since the book is enrolled in Kindle Unlimited, Amazon has exclusive rights to distribute the e book.
      • Book Club Pro – which tweets out my books automatically.
    • Radio Interview – BBC Radio 4’s PM programme interviewed me about van life on 1st April 2024! A quote from me is featured at the top of the programme, and the full interview is around 50 minutes into the programme. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001xws0. The interview is not about the book but I was very flattered to be considered an authority on UK van life! We, and The Beast, were featured on a recent episode of Ben Fogle’s New Lives in the Wild, which is how the programme came to contact me. The journalist follows me on social media.
    • New Author Website
      • Now launched: www.JacquelineLambert.co.uk. I’ve been busy building this on WordPress, the blogging platform I’ve been using for WorldWideWalkies since 2017. Despite being familiar with WordPress, it has been an interesting learning curve using a different block-based theme! I would really appreciate shares, likes, and follows!
    • New Author Logo and Branding – finalised from Miblart. I now have a logo, custom colours and fonts to help make my author brand professional and – hopefully – memorable!
    • Create Graphics – I use the paid pro version of the free graphics design tool, Canva, (and sometimes Mockup Shots and Book Graphix) to create:
      • Cover reveal graphics
      • Advanced Review Copies Available – I have made ARC copies of the book available via Booksprout. Within a couple of days, I already have 12 participants signed up. If anyone wants to read my book free in return for an honest review on Amazon and/or Goodreads, there are up to 25 copies available via this link, https://booksprout.co/reviewer/review-copy/view/159808/building-the-beast-how-not-to-build-an-overland-camper You need to sign up to Booksprout to access this and other free-of-charge review copies.
      • ARC Reviews – I already have two 5* ARC reviews and one 4* on Goodreads. You can see them here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/210578663-building-the-beast
      • Book Awards – Building The Beast has been accepted for entry into the memoir/true story section of three book award competitions. Book competitions are a way to increase exposure and credibility if the book wins an award. Some of the competitions also offer feedback and critique, which is always invaluable when you’re trying to improve as a writer.
      • Podcasts
      • Blog Tour
        • I have arranged a professional blog tour with Silver Dagger Book Tours. I haven’t had great success with blog tours in the past, but Silver Dagger seem very switched on, offered a very personal service – and a discount! So I thought it wouldn’t do any harm, particularly as my story moves in a slightly different direction. (A blog tour organiser requests book bloggers to sign up to the tour. They read and review the book, and publish their reviews on their websites and/or social media to help publicise the book.)
        • I have sent out ARC review copies to book bloggers and reviewers I know personally.
      • We Love Memoirs Facebook Group – a very friendly and well-moderated group that brings together memoir authors and readers, run by NYT Bestselling Author Victoria Twead. https://www.facebook.com/groups/welovememoirs
        • Easter Party Prizes: I sent out six pre-publication copies of Building The Beast as prizes in a competition I held at the We Love Memoirs Easter Party. It is my hope that the winners will enjoy the book, spread the word, and leave reviews.
        • Thank You Thursday – with a free book giveaway is scheduled for 27th June 2024.
        • Author Takeover Day – is scheduled for Wednesday 17th July 2024. Come along, read my posts, ask me questions, and win free books!
      • Linda Checkley’s Book Reviews and News – Author Takeover Day. Lynda is a book blogger who has reveiwed my books before. My author takeover is scheduled for Tuesday 23rd April 2024 – come along and ask me questions! https://www.facebook.com/groups/4431449893534568/
      • Press Release – With the help of award-winning author and former PR professional, Maximilan Sam, I have written and distributed a book launch press release to the van life press and to the Campervan Campout Show, where The Beast will be on show in the self-build section at Ardingley, Sussex, on 3rd-5th May. (Check out Maximilian’s Guide to Writing Press Releases on his excellent blog.)
      • Leek Loves Books – Book Club and Festival – I was invited to speak at the Leek Loves Books festival. Unfortunately (or fortunately!) we will be in Latvia at the time, however I am scheduled to do a slideshow and Author Talk on September 19th 2024 in Leek, Staffordshire.
      • Complimentary Copies – I have offered a pre-publication e book or paperback to some of the people who featured in my book.
      • British Library Legal Deposit  – within a month of publication, it is obligatory under UK law to submit a physical copy of your book to the British Library at your own expense. The other five Legal Deposit Libraries may also ask for physical copies of the book which again, you must submit at your own expense.
      • Creative Writing – I have written a 199-word Prologue for my next book, and collated the chapter outline…

      It’s been a busy week.

      A writer’s work is never done!

      Grab an ARC Copy of Building The Beast FREE on Booksprout. (Limited number available.) You need to sign up to Booksprout to get your copy, and the deal is to leave an honest review on Amazon and/or Goodreads on or near publication.

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      Published by Jacqueline Lambert @WorldWideWalkies

      AD (After Dogs) - We retired early to tour Europe in a caravan with four dogs. "To boldly go where no van has gone before". Since 2021, we've been at large in a 24.5-tonne self-converted ex-army truck called The Beast. BC (Before Canines) - we had adventures on every continent other than Antarctica!

      31 thoughts on “What Goes Into A Book Launch Campaign?”

      1. Congratulations on the launch for your book. I have never done a book tour so I am not of any help. But there are several indy authors who frequently comment on my blog such as Jacqui Murray, D.L. Finn, D. Wallace Peach, who know how to do this. Perhaps you can ask them. I tried finding a link to the pre-order in this post but I can’t find it. I am wondering if I am missing something.

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      3. Congratulations on completing what appears to be a great read! If it mirrors your blog posts, it will be a winner. Good luck with your promotion of Building the Beast-wow, there’s so much involved with it! 🙂

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        1. It keeps me out of mischief!

          I’m hoping things will have calmed down by the time we head to Latvia. Hubs is pressuring me to get the next book written before we depart so we can have some R&R and I can concentrate on documenting the trip… Can’t see that happening! 🙂

          I need to retire from retirement!

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          2. And…do you ever find yourself about to photograph something and you have to pull yourself up and sort the thoughts. I find myself asking ‘Am I recording this for us, the blog, a sketch, or some other project that is rattling around in my head?’

            Liked by 1 person

        2. That’s so funny!

          I don’t consciously think about why I’m taking the photo, but you’re right. I take photos to remind me what we did so I can write it up later – and for the blog!

          It’s sort of for myself too, because the blog acts as my travel journal, without which I’d never remember what we’d been up to!

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      7. Wow, Jackie. You sure have been extremely busy. I’m exhausted just reading about the launch and prep work. And, I am aware of what it entails. To be honest, it’s not something I ever look forward to again!

        Congratulations with the publication – the cover came out perfectly! – and success with the launch, sales, and reviews.

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      9. It’s great if an impulse buy develops into something amazing! With this post, you’ve just proved it’s not easy to launch a book at all – wow! Congratulations on writing yet another book … you certainly have perseverance that one can admire.

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        1. Thank you!

          Certainly, writing the 50-odd thousand words is easy in comparison to everything else!

          I’m looking forward to getting my life back once this is launched, although then there’s the next one to finish… 🙂

          I love it, though. I enjoy writing, and it’s a real sense of achievement when I press ‘Publish’!

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      10. Apologies – I’ve been MIA for months as I work on my own release. It’s a massive task, isn’t it. Luckily I enjoy (most of) it, but I’m looking forward to a rest. Sounds like the same can’t be said for you, and you already have another project in the works! Congratulations – very proud of you and looking forward to more canine adventures.

        Your list ALMOST inspired me to put together one of my own but I got tired just thinking of it. My main task for this week (in between the actual paying job, of course) is to send an email to all libraries in NSW telling them about both books, a list later to be extended to the rest of Australia – even though it’s been almost 11 months since I published the first, I still haven’t had time for this important step.

        Best wishes for your launch!

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      11. I would love to read your list – although I understand why you get tired thinking about it. You are so pro-active with your promotion. I take my hat off to you!

        But you’re right, it is exhausting – and I don’t even have a day job!

        Like you, I do enjoy it, though. It’s the main reason for doing it. If I had a day job, I wouldn’t be giving it up, although if I tried to live on my royalties, I could at least claim to be a starving artist!

        Best of luck with your launch, I wish you every success. I loved your first book, Unpacking for Greece, so I can’t wait to read Repacking for Greece!

        If anyone reading this wants to read Sally’s first book, this is the link to my 5* review. https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1496I6F3FGSX

        Sally – please feel free to drop your Universal links in a comment to help readers find your books. I’m sure many fellow travellers would love to read about your exploration of Greece.

        https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1496I6F3FGSX
        https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R1496I6F3FGSX

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