Ah, release days. Your book birthday. The day you sent your baby into the world to be cooed over…or slaughtered. The day you realize it’s time to let go—that your book no longer belongs to you and never will again.
I’ve had good release days and bad.
Want to know how to guarantee a good one?
Here’s the secret sauce I’ve learned over the years!
1. TRY not to obsess about ranking
All writers out there are throwing slimy bananas or hard apples at me- trying to get me to take it back. Yes, it’s almost impossible not to obsess about ranks on the day your book goes live, but it doesn’t have to overtake every moment. I learn to check once in the morning, once in the afternoon, and once at night. No more—no less.
Because refreshing every single hour doesn’t help your ranks or your mental health. By restricting it to the time you eat a meal, you limit the crazy. Or at least, you try.
2. Treasure the GOOD reviews
Do you know how many times I’ll skim over a good review, pat myself on the back, and then go obsess for hours over the bad? Dude—that’s just not good. As humans, we’ve learned to relish the crappy and throw away the good, and release day is the time to reverse all that bad karma. Now, I gather every good review in a file with the link and some noteworthy quotes. Not only is it fabulous to go to when I feel like I’m tanking this writing career – but it reminds you how hard you worked, and how your story is touching people out there. Strangers. People who LOVE your book and think you are worthy. When did this get so hard for us to accept?
3. Celebrate
Some release days, I’d wave off my hubby and say I needed to man the computer. Check social media accounts, comment on every post, and hold down the fort. Then one day, I woke up. Hell—if I’m not going to celebrate my book birthday – who else will? It’s a time to take one lousy day out of our lives and tell ourselves – Good job. We don’t get that feedback as often as day jobs. We need to claim it for ourselves – so go to dinner, threaten your husband to send you flowers, eat chocolate, drink champagne. Feel fabulous. People all over the world dream of becoming a “real” writer – and we are. How wonderful is that?
4. Be grateful.
Instead of belly aching about your rank or how author A had an easier shot at reaching top 100 because of this, that, or the other thing – just take a breath and thank your lucky stars you published a book. Thank the people who email you or comment. Take an hour of release week and answer your fans, retweet other authors, be in this community we mostly love and adore. Gratitude changes our mental state and reminds us of the good we have in our lives. We need to be grateful for the writing.
5. Promote other authors.
Release day is like a sisterhood. Instead of greedily grabbing the spotlight, take some time to help shout out other releases from other authors. Read another author’s book and give them a review or a blurb. Remind yourself no one can do it alone – success is so much better with people cheering you on along the way. If you’re feeling jealous, or down because another author is doing so much better in the ranks than you are, turn it around by giving them a shout out. Buy the book. Do a tweet. Comment on a post that’s tagged them. You’ll be amazed at how much better you feel by draining the jealousy poison and truly opening yourself up to helping others.
That’s it! My big list. OH – BTW – I happen to have this fabulous new release out called The Start of Something Good. It’s getting rave reviews. It has everything I love in a book, and I really hope you check it out.
Amazon kindle http://amzn.to/2o4tik0
Amazon print http://amzn.to/2o1Xv3e
I’m also over the moon to release a new Bundle with 1001 Dark Nights with these amazing authors!
1001 DARK NIGHTS BUNDLE 16 by Jennifer Probst, Tessa Bailey, Elisabeth Naughton, Laura Kaye & Erika Wilde https://amzn.to/2Jd8eng
One other thing: I’m sharing a release day with many other kick-ass authors who you should also check out. I’ve already bought a bunch and I hope you’ll give them a try – and apologize to the ones I missed!
Happy Release Day to All!
ORDER OF PROTECTION by Lexi Blake https://amzn.to/2sDoTpq
TEMPORARY GROOM by Author J S Scott https://amzn.to/2syqei6
DIRTY TALKING COWBOY by Stacey Kennedy https://amzn.to/2LYZOyd
UNDONE by Elisabeth Naughton https://amzn.to/2xPOQb8
BLAZING SUMMER by Denise Grover Swank https://amzn.to/2sIAovU
TALL DARK AND CHARMING by Erika Wilde https://amzn.to/2M1AVSC
MISADVENTURES WITH A ROCK STAR by Helen Hardt https://amzn.to/2Lp2zHQ
EVEN MONEY by Alessandra Torre https://amzn.to/2LpOJVP
THE GIRL AND HER REN by Pepper Winters https://amzn.to/2LXuoZ4
DIRTY EXES by Rachel Van Dyken https://amzn.to/2LYMavb
ONLY HIM by Melanie Harlowhttps://amzn.to/2kQtt06
#1 LIE by T Gephart https://amzn.to/2JgjJqt
THE CHATEAU by Tiffany Reisz https://amzn.to/2sHzVKC
THE ONE YOU CAN’T FORGET by Roni Loren https://amzn.to/2M053h2
THE RIGHT STUD by Ilsa Madden-Mills & Tia Louise https://amzn.to/2JvXxMo
THE KISS QUOTIENT by Helen Hoang https://amzn.to/2Ja7u2Z
UNEXPECTED LOVE STORY by Natasha Madison https://amzn.to/2Hotv8i
THE CHURCH by Celia Aaron https://amzn.to/2xKszeR
Loved the book?
Thank you SO much Yvonne!
I will definitely read this! I was becoming bored on reading romance novels and was looking for something new, and came across your name and started reading The Marriage Merger. I finished it in one go and I was hooked! (I read the others afterwards, but this one is still my favorite). Speaking of new release, will you be writing Wolfe’s story? I am dying to know what will happen to him. I love his character so much. I hope he gets a chance to find love.
More power to you and God bless!
HI Mia! Thank you so much – I think you will love the book and am thrilled you enjoyed Merger. Wolfe does have his own story in Searching for Beautiful! The entire Searching for series is a spin off of the marriage series so I hope you go pick it up!