OH, THE GLAMOUR! A behind-the-scenes look at a self-published author’s life
The lights! The crowds! The festivities!
While the publicity events that are held for the release of a new book are not quite as over-the-top as the ones for a new movie, there are a few that are pretty standard. Here is the way the release of the second book in The Small Ones Series was celebrated by those who are dear to me.
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OFFICIAL BOOK PUBLICATION - I hit the “PUBLISH” button on the AmazonKDP website. I get up from sitting on my bed, which is my official office. Papers, pens, folders, chargers for my computer and phone are all scattered across the bed. Tea cup and water glass are on the nightstand. My cat Lola, as always, is sleeping beside me. Leaving the bedroom, I walk the seven steps down the hall to my husband’s office and shout through his closed door “my book is up on Amazon!” He shouts back “I’m on the phone!” Cat continues sleeping. End of Official Book Release.
BOOK SIGNING PARTY - I present my husband with the first signed copy. Of course I give him the sample, which has the NOT FOR RESALE disclaimer stamped all the way across the cover. Far be it from Frugal Me to spend that $3.19 printing cost on a clean copy for him. He gives me the required OOOHS and AAAAAHS, then tosses it into his TO DO pile. Cat continues sleeping. End of Book Signing Party.
FIRST BOX OF BOOKS ARRIVE! - The long-awaited moment is here! Seeing the final product representing hundreds of hours of work! The notification and photo of the delivery pops up on my phone at 10:00 PM one evening. I ask my husband to PLEASE go out and get the books since the box will be very heavy. Never one to miss a chance for humor, he replies, “What’s wrong? Are you afraid you’re going to find the raccoons out there reading them? HA HA HA!” Cat watches conflict and yawns. End of Excitement in the Family When First Books Arrive.
BOOK RELEASE CELEBRATION - I hit SEND on my carefully prepared announcement for social media. My husband brings me egg bites from his every-morning run to Starbucks. For this red carpet event, I am looking resplendent in an ancient faded and torn athletic jacket casually tossed over my pajamas that my stylist has selected for me. Hair and makeup preparations are minimal, again official stylist suggestions for that “just got out of bed” look. For this part of the publicity events, the cat does wake up and looks pointedly at my egg bites until I give her a few tastes. End of Book Release Celebration.
THE BOOK TOUR: Scheduled for my next visit to Clay City, Indiana, where my parents reside and I present a copy of the book to them. Cat stays home. End of Book Tour.
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After this whirlwind, I am of course exhausted. I rest for a few days before resuming my position in my official office and continuing to slog away on Book #3. Cat sleeps soundly beside me. The less-than-glamorous grind of writing continues.
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