My second book will be out next May and I’m already in party planning mode, especially after living through planning the launch event for Allegedly. Yes, my party was great, yes I had an amazing turn out. But the stress of it all almost killed me. So here’s some tips that will hopefully save you from my same mistakes.
- Start planning six months in advance-Look into spaces, dates, times. Have your publicist help with this. You want to make sure the stars are aligned early so you have enough time to plan.
- Start building your invite list- Invite EVERYBODY. This is your biggest event, the place where you’ll sell the most books. You need EVERYBODY to come, the mailman, the your nail tech, your high school crush. Even if they don’t come, they’ll know about your book and will help spread the word.
- Have an Interactive Event-If you’re nervous about public speaking or having all the attention on you, plan for a panel discussion with another author. It’ll help take the pressure off of you.
- Make Friends With the Bookstore-Three months before, introduce yourself to the bookstore that plans to host your event. Go over simple logistics, don’t assume anything. Ask if they have enough chairs, a working mic, books to sell. Follow up a few weeks before your event. Give the event coordinator a gift for making your event so special! They’ll remember you and will champagne your book to new customers.
- Ask for HELP!!!-I have a hard time asking people for assistance, even when I desperately need it. I have trust issues and fear if I don’t do something myself it will never get done. But on the day of the Allegedly launch, I was inches away from a mini melt down and my family/friends thankfully stepped in. So take it from me, don’t be prideful. Ask your Mom to pick up the cupcakes, your friend to set up the wine, your homegirl to help with your makeup, and your boo to drive you to the event.
- Make it easy for everyone-Meaning, make sure your party is at an easy location and books are easy to buy. The point is to SELL books. All the books.
- Dress the Part-I cannot stress this enough, this is your time to SHINE. Dress the part of an author about to debut her fabulous work to the world.So don’t be shy, pick out that dress or shirt that makes you pop. You’ll be taking a lot of pictures and you want to be remembered with that new author glow.
Here are some additional articles that really helped me out:
http://www.writersdigest.com/online-editor/10-tips-for-a-successful-book-launch
http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/12-tips-to-throw-a-successful-book-launch-party-on-a-budget/
http://jareddees.com/book-launch-ideas/
And most importantly….
