What Happens in Less Than Two Weeks?

Here we are, less than two weeks from launch day for Grave Consequences. When one first begins the writing journey, you look forward to the day your first book baby is born.

I don’t think any of us is prepared for all the work that goes into the journey once the book is under contract. Things move some days at warp speed, at others like the proverbial snail.

When you reach this point, believe me, you will long for the early days when you were still learning craft and putting words on paper, tweaking them until you had what you thought were the perfect strings of words to get your idea across. When you reach this point, if you’re at all like me, you’re worn out.

Yep. I’m worn to a frazzle.

Even as tired as I am, I know there are many things I should or could be doing that I haven’t done. Like everything else on a writing journey, everything we do was once the first time we did it.

My first launch will happen without every little thing being perfect. But I have a good team of people alongside to help me, so most things will get done. And they are sharing word of this book. No way could any one person do all the things expected during a book launch. It does take an entire team of people.

One mistake I made was taking a book launch class in the middle of my launch. I learned a lot, but trying to keep up with all the homework for those classes and do my own launch was just too much. So, don’t do that. Do your launch and nothing else. This is one reason I’m so tired.

In the classes I took, they said to stop everything else and concentrate solely on your launch. That’s really good advice. Especially if this is your first one. There’s a big learning curve.

And that launch team? It’s all about the friendships you form at conferences and on social media. Those are going to be the people who will come alongside you and make sure your launch day is as good as it could possibly be. So, reach out to people, early. And don’t forget, you need to return the favor by being a part of their launch one day, too.

Being a part of a team is a very good way to learn what to do when you have your own launch. I can tell you, I didn’t even know what a launch was when I volunteered to be on the first one. I didn’t for the second one, either. By the third, I was learning a bit, and by the fourth, I still made mistakes, but I was much better. Y’all know who you are and you have my sincere apologies.

With my own, well, let’s just say, if not for my team, I’d be lost. That’s how important these people are to the success of your book.

So, start thinking about that team when the idea for your book first formulates. You’re going to need them, and one day, they’re going to need you, too.

Thanks to my Truth Seekers for being here alongside me. As we enter the last couple of weeks, I’m so glad and blessed that you joined me on this journey.

Those of you who have encouraged me along the way but who couldn’t be on my team for any reason, know how much you are appreciated, too. Your prayers have sustained me and my team. Your input and advice, your wisdom and knowledge have turned ordinary words into what I hope y’all will think is a pretty good book. (Okay, I’ll be honest, a very good book).

To all of you, heartfelt thanks. Let’s go send this baby off.

Less than two weeks!

Philippians 4: 13  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me (NASB).