Releasing My First Book Into the Wild
What I've learned (so far)
Every day (at least twenty times a day, if I’m honest), I open a new tab on my laptop, click on the Amazon site, and refresh my browser, hoping to see the image of my book’s cover, rather than this icon stating “No Image Available”:
With just 40 days until my book’s December 19th release date, everything’s beginning to feel very real, but when the cover image finally shows up on the web, that’s when I think it’ll all truly sink in.
My co-author, Jay Pridmore, and I will then be able to issue press releases and promotional materials and point to the image and say, “Here! This is our book! This is what you want to look for on the shelve of your bookstores…your libraries…your online stores.”
But right now, it all still feels like a dream, albeit a seven-year dream in the making.
Even with the advance reviews I’ve received (all good!) and the live Amazon listing and the ability to pre-order the book, the absence of a cover image leaves me feeling like there’s a chance it won’t happen…which is SUCH an imposter syndrome thing to think.
But yesterday, I worked hard to kick that imposter syndrome to the curb.
On Facebook, someone saw a recent post of mine about the book’s upcoming release and asked, “Are you holding a book launch party anywhere?” The question came from a woman in my community who happens to work at — and run — book launch parties.
I mean, WHAT?
I replied right away: “Let’s talk!”
I immediately DM’d her and essentially said that I have no idea how to run a book release party with just one month’s notice. Can you please give me a little guidance about how to navigate this process?
And holy cow…guess what? She DID.
We moved our DMs to a quick, live call, during which we talked about the pros and cons of holding book launch parties at various venues — including bookstores, private venues, and even my house.
One of her pro tips was NOT to overextend myself by hosting the launch party at my home, especially since it’ll be the week before Christmas.
Smart woman. I immediately took that option off the list.
Holding a book release party at a local bookstore would be a natural option, but again, it’s that tricky timing, that week-before-Christmas thing. As she explained, bookstores want their spaces filled with a continuous flood of rabid shoppers rather than a smaller, cheese-and-cracker-nibbling, champagne-toasting, book-release-party kind of crowd. I totally get it.
And so, when this friend suggested I consider my local history center as a venue for the release party, I slapped my forehead.
“Of course!” I said. Why wasn’t that my first thought????
For the past seven years, I’ve spent many (and I mean MANY) hours in the basement archives of our history center, guided by finding aids and pouring through folders and news clippings and photos, wearing lint-free, white cotton gloves while handling disintegrating newsprint, handwritten notes, and crackled portraits taken decades ago.
It’s in this local history center that I’ve pulled out my phone and taken thousands of pics of archived materials, wondering if they’ll ever come in handy some day (spoiler: they have). And, it’s there that I’ve asked hundreds of questions of the ever-patient archivists:
“Excuse me, where might I find…?”
"Is there a way I can see…?”
"Can you make out what this faded handwriting says?”
"Would it be possible to get a copy of…?”
"How might I take a look at…?”
"Might I trouble you again for the following box?”
"Would it be possible for me to come in tomorrow, even though you’re officially closed?”
Still my history center is so much more than an invaluable repository for archival material. It’s also a stunning building — and I mean STUNNING.
My town’s history center is the former home of Charles Dawes — co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, U.S. Ambassador, and 30th Vice President of the United States under Calvin Coolidge. Now called the Evanston History Center, the building is described on the EHC’s website this way:
“Charles Gates Dawes’ magnificent home, now a National Historic Landmark, was built by Dr. Robert Sheppard in 1894 on two acres overlooking Lake Michigan. It served as the Dawes family home from 1909 until 1957.
Faithfully restored and carefully conserved, this chateauesque residence, designed by architect Henry Edwards-Ficken, of New York, has twenty-five rooms, including a cherry paneled library, a vaulted dining room with a musicians’ gallery, six bedrooms, and twelve fireplaces.”
The website also says,
“Charles Gates Dawes and Caro Blymyer Dawes purchased the property in 1909, living here with their children and longtime domestic staff, for over 40 years. Each room showcases the family’s remarkable collection of furnishings and artwork, interpreted through their lifestyle in the 1920s. Tour through the magnificent Great Hall, gracious reception parlors, expansive library, galleried dining room, and historic kitchen. In this house, the Dawes family welcomed a wide range of acquaintances, from neighborhood children to global dignitaries.
In keeping with a lifelong commitment to community service, Charles and Caro provided that the house would remain as a center for Evanston history and open to the community. The home of the Evanston History Center since 1960, and named a National Historic Landmark in 1966, continues to welcome visitors from Evanston and around the world today.”
And so, today, I called the Evanston History Center and asked YET ANOTHER QUESTION:
“Might I schedule my book’s release party there?”
The answer — to my utter amazement — was yes.
I’m now in the process of creating a release party invitation…and working with my friend to have copies of my book on hand for the event… and thinking about all the little details, like…
…how many people will actually attend an in-person event the week before Christmas?
…should we serve a cake? Maybe one that looks like the book cover?
…should we have a punch bowl and Christmas cookies and little nibbles?
…will the crazy Chicago weather cooperate?
…if I give a quick, 15-minute talk about the book, what are the most important points to hit?
In light of the ongoing strife and tragedy in the world right now, my mind clings to the idea of a happy few hours in this remarkable space.
For now, I’ll just keep updating my book’s website page and refreshing my book’s Amazon page, hoping all of this eventually feels real.
UPDATE on 11/16/23: The cover just showed up online! Here it is!
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That's beautiful, congratulations!
How fabulous! And yes, a PERFECT place for your launch!! Congratulations! 👏🏼🎉 amazing how when it’s meant to be, it all comes together! 🧡