Five tips for launching your debut novel

It’s a year since my debut novel for adults was published by Affirm Press. Happy birthday One Punch! A massive thankyou to everyone who has read or listened to the book, written a review, posted a pic, or shared the book with friends. It’s been an incredible year!

As first birthdays are a big deal, I thought I’d look back at the past year and see what I’ve learned since the book was published. If you’ve got a book about to be launched, here are a few tips that might help!

There’s hard work ahead

So, you landed your first publishing contract. Congratulations! You cracked the Bollinger. Or opened a bottle of alcohol-free bubbles – whatever brought you joy. You survived the structural edit, the line edits, the sensitivity edits, the front cover challenges, and finally you are almost ready to launch your debut novel. Buckle up, there’s still hard work to be done, but make sure you give yourself a moment to enjoy this incredible occasion. And celebrate everything that you have already achieved.

Get on board the publicity train

Publicity for a new book tends to be concentrated around the first month after publication. Hopefully your publisher will organise interviews for you, book signings, guest blog posts and newspaper stories. You might also have the chance to visit a writer’s festival. As a debut novelist, this is your best chance for publicity. Everyone loves to hear from a fresh voice.  Do what you can to reach out to your own contacts for interviews and reviews. And make sure you’re around in the month before the book comes out in case you’re needed for book signings. I disappeared off the grid to the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia on a Covid-delayed trip. Not ideal timing, but I was fresh, and ready to work when I returned for the launch of One Punch. Try to visit libraries and friends’ bookclubs to share the journey behind your novel. Word of mouth is so important!

Get to know other authors

Networking with other authors is a big part of being a writer – for support and also to promote each other’s work. Writing is a solitary pursuit, but it’s great to have a sounding board for your ideas, someone to read your work, and like-minded people to share your highs and lows. You’ll also want a couple of friendly authors to write glowing endorsements for your debut novel. Your publisher might arrange this, but it’s helpful if you can round up an author or two to review your book. I’m very grateful to Meredith Jaffe and Sally Piper for their endorsements of One Punch. They both gave such eloquent reviews! You can support other authors by attending launches, reviewing their books and promoting them on social media. 

Build a following

A publisher will generally be looking at your work before they check your profile, but a strong social media presence is definitely an advantage when it comes to sharing news about your new book. Concentrate on one platform, make sure your website is up to date, and consider a newsletter or a regular blog. If you are not mega famous, you might want to give readers something extra in your newsletter. I like to share holiday tips for midlife adventurers.

Writing a second novel

Second books are notoriously difficult. I started writing One Punch in January 2020 – two and a half years before it was published. But I’d been mulling over the idea for years before that. When I sat down to write the book, the concept was clear, and I was able to knock out the first draft very quickly. Covid lockdowns also worked in my favour! Sitting down to write a second novel was very different. I had only been working on the idea for a short time before I began writing, and I was still busy editing, then promoting One Punch. My head was all over the place! I know some authors can produce a book a year , or even two. But I’m going to need a bit longer!

One Punch takes a simple premise and turns it into a tight study of class and human nature – what we believe to be true about ourselves, and those we love, and who we really are. A crime is the pivot point for a sharp observation of human nature and blends compassion and humour in equal measure.

Meredith Jaffe, The Tricky Art of Forgiveness

Finally

If you’re about to launch your first book – good luck! Enjoy the celebration! You deserve it!

In other news …

It’s been a busy year so far – a trip to Antarctica and Patagonia, a visit to Canada and the Brisbane Writers Festival! That might explain why my second novel is still languishing on my computer! You can see my travel tips at Welcome to My World!

Books, audio and other cool stuff

Here are a few suggestions for books, audio and events that I’ve enjoyed recently.

Alfred Lansing’s Endurance is the story of polar explorer Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated expedition to the South Pole – first published in 1959. I was expecting a jolly-hockey-sticks version of this incredible survival saga, but I was surprised to find a riveting story. Listen to the audio book for the full experience.

Shehan Karunatilaka’s Booker Prize winner The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida is an absolute cracker. It’s a murder mystery, ghost story and a confronting exploration of Sri Lanka’s brutal civil war, all told with a unique style and a strong sense of the absurd. Highly recommended.

Claire Keegan’s Booker shortlisted novel Small Things Like These is brilliant in a very different way. It’s an understated story of an Irish town’s wilful ignorance of church-related abuse and one man’s quiet heroism. Highly recommended.

Sydney

Heading to Sydney? Don’t miss the lights of Vivid (on until June 17) and the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prize at the Art Gallery NSW. That one runs until 3 September before touring regional galleries in NSW.

Enjoy!