30 March 2014

Launching a Novel: How it *should* be done!

Today, good friend Stuart Aken launches Book 1 of a trilogy of epic fantasies, A Seared Sky: Joinings. Cracking, luminescent cover, isn't it? And this is just the tip of a gigantic launch iceberg propelled by his publisher.

Fantastic Books Publishing is from Yorkshire UK, whose sights are set on a global market and whose thinking is very much author and reader centric. Social media is not an after-thought; it permeates every thought, yet FBP's products are not digital-only; the paperback launches today, too. Readers in the UK can purchase a signed copy with a personalised message for the same price as offered by Amazon, including p&p. [Other publishers please take note.]

Supported by Twitter, the launch event is taking place on Facebook with both publisher and author at the keyboard chatting to people who drop by. There is a spectacular book trailer, supported by video interviews with the author, and the main characters, and regular give-aways. It's all listed, and being added to, under the pinned Welcome at the top of the page.

Indie authors such as myself can learn lessons here.

10 comments :

  1. Thanks for your kind words Linda. We put so much into launches because we only publish Fantastic books. When they're ready to launch, why wouldn't we do everything we can to make them a success?

    And if it's cracking covers we're talking about, look no further than your new one!

    Cheers!

    Dan
    FBP

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    1. Ooh, gosh, thanks Dan. I would have thought you'd be up to your eyes. In fact I know that you are - I'm going back across there in a mo - so it is good of you to take time out.

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  2. Many thanks for this, Linda. Much appreciated. You're absolutely right about Dan at FBP. I couldn't have found a better publisher. And I agree with him about your covers, too.

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    1. You're welcome, Stuart. I have your ebook downloaded. I hope it does very well for you. It's a great opening.

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  3. This is indeed such a novel approach (pardon the pun) and I'm very impressed by the scope of this book launch and the skill of all those involved. Great write up!

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    1. It is, isn't it, Barbara? When I was invited and pressed Yes I had no idea what was going to happen. I found it so mind-blowing that it just ached to be blogged.

      I've been published by mainstream publishers and it was all 'promise you the world and do nothing', but this is breathtaking. And it's not as if Stuart is FBPublishing's major push at the moment. It's as if ALL their authors are given this. Accolades all round, I say.

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  4. I think the days of publishers blowing off authors with no help in the promotion department may be coming to an end. In these days of self-pub, once a writer reaches a certain level of skill, a publisher that provides only editing and a cover isn't enough. But most writers need help in the promo department because writing skills don't necessarily translate into promo skills. Also, a writer who doesn't spend the bulk of his/her time writing will never be a success. I, for one, would be glad to see publishers go back to providing promo for their authors. They never should have stopped in the first place.

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    1. Oh, do I agree with you there, LindaB! But I think authors are going to have to get it in writing, because I still hear from too many mainstream published authors who mutter darkly beneath their breaths on this subject.

      Thanks for calling by.

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    2. Ay, Linda, what ever did happen to that old publishing paradigm: the author writes, and the publisher does everything else? Today it's: 'the author writes and does everything else and. for his trouble, foregoes 85% of his income.' Strange, what?

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    3. Which, after being mainstream published, is one of the reasons I went indie, Dr J! Of course learning to market and promote takes almost as long as learning to be a decent writer, but no one backs us into a corner and demands we take up this profession. Whether we realise it at the outset, we are embarking on a life-long learning curve.

      Knowing Stuart, and having met Dan (CEO of Fantastic Books Publishing) in another life, I felt I had to highlight just how different is his outlook to that of most publishers, big and small. Accolades where due, eh?

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