Behind the Scenes of My Book Launch (and How You Can Plan Yours Too)

Big things are happening this week—huge, actually. I’m launching my next book in a brand new shared world called The Lunaterra Chronicles, and I couldn’t be more excited. It’s a spicy romantasy universe brought to life with twelve other incredible authors. Honestly, I thrive in collaborations like this—especially when I get to work with kickass women who are just as obsessed with magical creatures, epic love stories, and world domination (through fiction, of course) as I am.

I’m pulling back the curtain on my launch plan. Every piece of advice I’m about to give you? I’m using it myself. I’ve done it all for this release—starting with pricing my book at 99¢ to take advantage of visibility promos. Please note that this is strategic. I do NOT usually launch my books at a discount. But I’m also launching a hardback with sprayed edges, an audiobook, and a German translation on the same day. The idea? Use the low price to bring in eyeballs—and use the other editions to bring in income.

THE PLAN

First up, Cost Per Click (CPC) Ad Spend. Whether it’s Facebook, Amazon, or Google, ads help me reach new readers outside my current bubble. A well-targeted campaign can absolutely be the difference between a slow trickle and a ranking spike.

I started a Facebook Ads campaign near the end of February because I wanted to test both creatives and audiences. I, personally, don’t like Facebook’s Advantage Audiences. I like targeting author names, television shows, and other relevant keywords. Using Paranormal Romance author names is kicking ass with these CPC ads and I’ve been getting at least 5 preorders every single day since Februry.

Then there are Paid Newsletters—like BookBub, Bargain Booksy, or genre-specific email blasts. These put your book in front of thousands of eager readers who actually click “Buy Now.” Worth every penny when done right.

My goal was to book 30 newsletters. I booked about 24. I should mention that I have very specific goals in terms of numbers. During the preorder campaign as I was watching the preorders and the Amazon rank, I saw that I need 10 sales per day to break into one of my targeted Top 100 Sub Categories. I’ll need about 100 sales to break into my heart’s desire Sub Category, which is Fantasy Romance. I think I’ll get it sometime during release week with ads and campaigns and my newsletter working together. Stay tuned!

Swag is my love language. Bookmarks, postcards, character art—I use them for giveaways, preorder thank-yous, and just general delighting of readers. Bonus: it gives your fans something tangible to hold onto.

You’ll also want author copies of your print books on hand. For giveaways. For events. For reviewers. Just trust me on this one—when someone asks for a signed copy, it’s magic to be able to say yes without scrambling.

I mixed up the hardback and paperback files when I uploaded to Ingram Spark. The results were… not cute. But I decided to make lemonade and ran a giveaway where I asked readers if they wanted these “Cursed Printbooks.” I gave them all away and am gonna get some promo for it!

Speaking of giveaways—budget for them! Whether you’re doing a solo book box or teaming up with author friends to give away a bundle, it’s a great way to build buzz and your mailing list.

If you want to level up even more, consider hiring a PR company. I’ve done this when I wanted to get social media coverage, arrange interviews, or just tap into someone else’s rolodex of influencers. It’s not for every launch, but when it fits, it really fits.

I hired three PR companies for this launch. It was pricey, but this is going to be my biggest launch of the year, so..

And don’t forget your digital presence. This is your storefront, even if you’re not actively selling anything. Update your website, polish your social media bios, and think about sharing behind-the-scenes content that builds hype leading up to release day.

I suck at these updates. Period.

Listen, I know all of this can feel like a lot—but launching doesn’t have to be overwhelming. I think the biggest thing people don’t do is set a goal -a SMART goal. I told you mine up top. Set a goal, prioritize what matters most for your book, and spend with intention. Every dollar you invest in your book is also an investment in your career.

And if you want a real-time example? Follow along as I bring Lunaterra to life. It’s a world of magic, passion, politics—and yes, plenty of steam. But behind all the fantasy is a real strategy, and I’m walking the talk every step of the way.

You've got this. Dream big. Plan smart. And make your next launch your best one yet.