by Elizabeth S. Craig, @elizabethscraig
Releases are always a lot more work than I think they are. That’s because of all the little things I have to do to prepare. It’s a lot. It would be more if I did a lot of promo work (blog tours, ads, etc.) for the release, but I usually just like to start working on the next book.
I thought I’d share a checklist of the types of tasks I do when a book is ready to release. Some of the things I can do while my editor has the book and I’m waiting to make corrections. Some of the things must be done when the book is ready to publish.
Checklist
Set up my newsletter to announce the new release when it’s time. I use MailChimp.
Write a personal author’s note for the back-matter section of the book and for that section on the Amazon product page that we access through Author Central (From the Author).
Update and review the rest of my book’s back-matter to make sure it’s accurate and complete (list of books by series where to find me online, how and where to sign up for my newsletter, a pitch to ask readers to review my book wherever they purchased it).
Begin loading book information/metadata into the different retail and distributor sites: Amazon, CreateSpace (print), IngramSpark (print), ACX (audiobook), Draft2Digital (distributor), Smashwords (distributor).
Use the same metadata descriptions consistently for my keywords, BISAC, series name, book description, author bio, etc.
Assign an ISBN for each format and note it on the list I keep to track my ISBNs ( Book designer Joel Friedlander has a handy logbook as a free download).
Upload the editorial reviews for the series to those sections on the sites (on Amazon, through Author Central).
Update my website to announce the release and to say what I’m working on now.
Ensure Goodreads has linked the new title to my series and my name.
Acquire affiliate links from Amazon and Apple to use on my website and for other promo.
Check that Amazon has added my book to the series list and that it’s linked to my Author Central page.
Update LinkedIn
Consider running a giveaway on Goodreads.
Set one of the previous books in the same series as free.
Announce the release on Facebook (once).
Send copies to people who have helped me produce the book in some way.
What have I forgotten? Does this look a lot like your own list?
A checklist for tasks surrounding a new release: Share on X
WOW, I continue to be amazed at how much work authors have to do behind the scenes to publish a book. With all that (and much more I’m sure) I could see a murder mystery coming out of just getting a book on a shelf. As a reader, I’m so thankful authors like yourself Elizabeth are willing to go through all of this. The more I know about publishing, the more I appreciate authors and not just their work.
Thoughts in Progress
and MC Book Tours
Mason–Thanks! It goes a lot faster when I have a list to go off of, but…yes, it’s time-consuming to cover it all. :) I usually have a celebratory glass of wine when I’m done with all the release chores.
Most of that I don’t deal with. But I do set up a blog tour and Thunderclap campaign.
Alex–And that’s a lot! Lots of post writing, especially.
What a timely post, Elizabeth! I’m getting ready for a release this fall, and you’re right; there’s so much to remember! All of those details can matter, too. And then there are all the ‘on the ground’ things to do, such as launch parties, flyers and so on. One step at a time, I’ve found, is the best way to get there.
Margot–Exactly! Know you’re getting excited about the release. I admit that I don’t exactly shine at the ‘on the ground’ part. I don’t ever do anything to mark a release, locally, which I know isn’t the right way to go about things. It’s that introvert thing…
I also make sure the information is correct and complete in Bowker’s Books in Print.
Diane–A good add for the list!
LOL, yep. All of this is on my mind right now because I’ll have a new release next month. I woke up thinking that I have to get that back cover copy written. Which I then need to add to the back matter of all my other books and re-upload all those. So much to do… If I think about it all too hard, though, I tend to spazz. It’ll all get done by the time the book goes live. I’m really bad at getting it all done before release day – which probably isn’t the best marketing plan. I need to work on that.
B.E–Congratulations on the release!
You know, a good deal of this can be done before the release, which does help. Sort of like making a holiday dinner in advance…you can’t do *all* of it, but you can get enough of a head-start to keep it from being too crazy on the big day. :)
I usually do get a lot of it done beforehand. I just let myself get distracted this time, so I’ll be scrambling a little. Does the old ticker good. LOL
Thank you!!!
This is a fabulous checklist – appreciate you putting it all together & sharing :)
Jemi–Hope it helps! Thanks for coming by. :)
I always love your checklists. And yes when readers put their nose in a book, they really have no idea the work that goes into it, unless the reader is a writer, too.
Teresa
Teresa–I think if we do a good job, we make it look easy!
Hi Elizabeth – love your posts – always so useful … and you’re right when things appear easy – it’s because the detail has been taken care of by the author or as in Alex case his publisher I think …
It’s that first time – when we flounder, but once established the routine can help tick off each deed done.
Thanks once again .. cheers Hilary
Hilary–Sadly, I think I have the ability to flounder even after many times of doing this! I keep waiting for it to become muscle memory, but it doesn’t seem to be in the cards. :) But the checklist helps!
Thank you, Elizabeth. Always helpful information.
Mike Martin
Author of the Sgt. Windflower Mysteries.
https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/
Thanks for coming by, Mike!
If you’re wide, you might want to make sure the links in your back matter direct readers to the seller you’re using for that file type–iBooks for ebub files, but NOT Amazon, for example (Amazon will pull it if it sees a link to Kobo, etc.). Some authors who go wide put links to all retailers in all their books, which is easier, but you will jam yourself up in the long run. Some don’t realize that can happen, especially when they launch for the first time.
BP–Yes! Good point and one I neglected to mention, so thanks for bringing it up.
I’ve circumvented this by creating a book page for each book in each series and linking to that page. It makes for good SEO for the title and I link to all retailers on the book page.
Elizabeth–yes, a very timely post. I’m about to send a new novel off for formatting and cover design. But truth be told, I haven’t done what otherwise needs doing, and your list shows the way. I will risk sounding like a broken record: no serious, professional novelist provides more useful information to her–or his–website readers than you do. Thanks yet again.
Barry–Congratulations on the upcoming release! And thanks for the kind words. :)
Great advice! There’s always so much to do pre-book. Do you ever support a launch with a tour or launch party? Conference attendance? Bookmarks for handing out?
Diane–I have in the past, but don’t now! I think I’ve gotten too introverted. The tour I did was a group tour and I *was* a lot more comfortable doing that, so may try that again in the future.
I used to do bookmarks, but now I only have business cards (and so many people read on their phones now, so no use for the bookmarks!). Sometimes people will ask for my information and the card is so much easier than my awful handwriting!
Holy cow! I knew I still had a lot of work to do, but now I’m freaking out!
Seriously, though, thank you for this great tool to help all of us maximize our book launches. I especially appreciate the link to the ISBN organization tool. Thank you!
David–Those ISBNs get out of control really fast! Tracking mine per format has been a good time-saver. :) Don’t freak out…lots of this stuff can be done in drips and drabs.