I’m so excited the time is here: we’re putting the launch team together for my new book I’d Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life. This is an essay collection by a book lover (me), for book lovers (you)—and is so stinking beautiful I can hardly stand it. (That’s a paperback advanced review copy pictured above—the finished book is a matte hardcover.)
I was thrilled when my publisher told me we’d have a launch team again—that’s a group of readers and book lovers who don’t work for publishers, bookstores or PR firms who get to be a part of the book launch process. They help spread the word about the new book by telling their friends, sharing on social media, telling their library and bookstore about it, blogging a review, and anything else they can think of.
As a member of the launch team, you get to read the book before anyone else (FUN!), and participate in a private Facebook group with me and your fellow launch team members, where we’ll keep you up to date with what’s happening with the book. I’ll go live a few times to talk to everyone and give you the latest. We’ll include lots of peeks behind the scenes of the publishing process. Last time we had a party at my house. Not sure if book tour will allow that this year, but I assure you: a good time will be had by all. Because books.
Members of the launch team are asked to do 4 things:
- Read the book before release date. (Woohoo!)
- Spread the word online (blog, social media, etc) and offline (word of mouth) before and after launch.
- Submit an honest review on your favorite retailer site (Barnes and Noble, Target, Amazon, Powell’s, whatever). Reviews matter so much! A Goodreads review would also be much appreciated.
- If you have a blog or online community, we’d love to see you review or share the book there.
Want to join? Apply here. The application window closes July 5, so don’t wait—and I highly recommend sooner rather than later. When we did this for Reading People we received more than 1000 submissions the first day, so if you want in, get on it!
After the submission window closes, my publisher will choose 300 readers for the launch team. If you’re in (and I hope you are) you’ll be notified of all the details by email.
Thanks so much for the enthusiasm you’ve shown for my book so far. I hope you’ll consider joining the launch team. I can’t wait to meet and mingle in our little group! We have some special things coming your way. And you will have my eternal gratitude.
Read more about the book itself here. You can pre-order I’d Rather Be Reading anytime, wherever new books are sold. We have some pretty great pre-order bonuses coming your way—more info on that next week.
Thank you, and happy reading!
14 comments
Your fans and fellow readers in Europe would like to participate as well 😉 We have networks and friends who read in English and are passionate about books. Books in English are widely available on all Amazon sites. How about it?
I didn’t realize it was U.S. only! (My own fault, I’m sorry to say, for not reading closely enough.) That’s not my decision (alas!) but let me ask a few questions and see if there’s anything I can do.
Yes, how sad that it’s for US residents only! 🙁
Many thanks!
The book is GORGEOUS! As one who screens books by their covers, even if I didn’t know already that I love your writing style, I’d pick it up.
I have no social media outlets to “work,” so will disqualify myself from the launch team. However, if you believe there’s room for a friendly introvert who shuns social media, please let me know and I will toss my name in the hat! Either way, I’ll promote the book among my circle of bookish friends.
Looking forward to meeting your new “baby!” Non-fiction essay collections are what I read most, as they accommodate my short attention span, increasingly short memory :p , and bedtime reading objective.
I agree the book is gorgeous — and while I do use social media accounts, I joined only to see the relatives’ baby pictures; and I have 75 followers at most. I wouldn’t be the most useful launch team member, but I certainly plan to pre-order. Looking forward to reading about your pre-order bonuses next week! I’ll also talk about the book to a couple of librarians and indie booksellers I know — and please let us introverts know what else we can do to help.
“Friendly introvert who shuns social media” describes some of my favorite readers!
As soon as I saw the post on FB this morning, I *jumped* over to the website to sign up! 😉
I wish there was a place to give a little more explanation of what I am a part of on social media. For example, though my friends list is over 600, I’m an active member of a very large book club on Facebook with over 3000 members. Is there a place on the form that I missed where you can explain that type of stuff?
Thanks!! 🙂
Abbey, they’re not choosing based on numbers—I hope that is reassuring.
It is. Thanks. 🙂
Chiming in to say although I don’t have enough social media presence to make a good launch team member, I also will definitely pre order and talk it up to bookish friends! Any plans for an “I’d rather be reading” print and bookmark? The artwork is frame worthy!!!
Wish you much success.
Prints and bookmarks are happening! They’ll be preorder bonuses. 🙂 (And thank you!)
Yay!!! 🙂
Congrats on the beautiful book.
This is the kind of book I love reading, because it makes me feel less like a lone book nerd and more in the company of fellow book nerds, like we’re all riding on a book train (in silence) together (heads down in a good novel)!
Good luck with the launch.
I do SO hope Sweden will be considered (that’s where I am), because I’d love to promote your book to my followers.