You ever follow any publishers on social media? I’ve got a few favorites that I get newsletters from or follow on Instagram. Enclave Publishing, Orbit Books, and Angry Robot are among them. I’ve noticed a thing that apparently works in marketing in general, but doesn’t for me in specific.
The publisher will make a big deal about a cover reveal. They’ll let you know that you’ll get to see the new cover real soon! Then the reveal comes with all the pomp! It’s honestly pretty exciting getting this sneak peek. I don’t mind that at all!
And then it’ll still be several months before the book is released. They will advertise it for all those months, though, so by the time the book comes out, it’s old news to me, personally.
I understand the idea. Build anticipation! Get people excited! Gather preorders! And, as I said, apparently it works in general. For me, though, all the noise actually makes me less excited.
I’ve found that most marketing wisdom just doesn’t make sense to me, but then again, I’m hardly a “normal” reader. That’s nothing new.
I’ve found that for me, too, the stretch of time between writing and publishing seems to take forever. For instance, Cade book 5, Cade and the Sleeping Scouts, released yesterday! You can pick up the next book of the saga, as Cade and his friends finally discover the truths that have been hidden for 400 years. It’s a big deal. I really like this book. It’s got a lot more action than previous installments of the series, and those weren’t exactly slow books!
But I drafted book 5 over a year ago. I’m drafting two entire series ahead of Cade right now. So as we’re supposed to be very excited to release it, my mind is already far away.
It’s a little frustrating, really. We got our shipment of books, and I was busy writing. Look! Another book for our shelf! Okay, now back to writing.
On Twitter, someone asked what child-you would be blown away by your current life. I wrote that child-me would be astounded by how many books I’ve written and published, and that I’m writing so fast. And I would be blown away!
So for you, I’m excited. Cade and the Sleeping Scouts is great. Maybe I’m biased, but Cade has become such a good series. The twists, the turns, the characters, the world, I’m proud of what I’ve created.
For me, I’m busy writing an entirely different series.
Ack!
Jonathon Mast: Author 