By Robert Soares

Hello there. My name is Robert. I’m your friendly neighborhood book publicist. I like to throw the “senior” publicist part around when I’m trying to impress someone on a date (and also just now) but really it’s no mage.  

I am here to talk with you about a super important topic: the madness of publishing your book. I’m going to keep it very real here with the purpose of helping you become more prepared and hopefully more at ease. Accepting the following truths isn’t to make you feel terrible, it’s actually to help you feel more empowered. By resetting your expectations and celebrating every win that comes your way no matter how big or seemingly small, you will find this process to be less stressful than before. 

It is highly unlikely your debut will bring you fame

It is extremely rare for a debut author to have their “breakout” book on the first go-around, unless of course they are already famous (i.e. Lena Dunham or Mindy Kaling). But then of course there’s Cheryl Strayed and J.K. Rowling who set the world on fire with their debut. It can happen. But again: rare. More often than not, the most successful authors on the scene are the ones who release book after book and eventually build an audience that continues to beg for more of their work. Just to keep things in perspective, Eat, Pray, Love was Elizabeth Gilbert’s fourth book and Gone Girl was Gillian Flynn’s third.

Every book campaign is different

Some books pick up speed months before pub date (and slow down a few weeks after pub date), and other times, the train doesn’t really pick up speed until the book is released into the world and in the hands of readers. Looking to see what other authors are doing can cause unneeded anxiety.

Don’t get carried away with publicity too soon

Whether you’re a debut author or on your fourth novel, too much publicity too soon isn’t always the best strategy. Often times an author will be in a rush to get placements three to four months before release date. Some early publicity is great, but make it too soon and readers may forget about it by the time the book is actually out. Unless you have a highly anticipated release based on your already existing fan base, it’s best for coverage to go live closer to release so we keep the attention of potential readers.

Your publicist isn’t your therapist but they can definitely help you put things in perspective

I’m easily the “mom friend” in my friends group and I empathize quickly with people whether it’s a friend, relative or complete stranger. Often, I find myself in situations where I take on a therapist role to help ease the anxieties my clients face. This is totally fine with me. Working one-on-one with artists and their book campaigns is extremely personal. However, it’s still important to understand that your publicist is not your therapist. The best people to lean on in this situation are your partner, friends, family and/or a licensed therapist or counselor. That being said, a publicist is surely there to make you feel better about aspects in your campaign that make you say, “AHHHHH!!!” and put things in perspective.

The Madness

In book PR, managing expectations is essential for a campaign. When your publicist gives you a reality check, do not take it personally. Know that your book will have its shining moment and it’s important to embrace all wins and praise whether it’s Oprah Winfrey or BookBloggerBob.com (this site does not exist but you get what I mean).

xoxo Robby Rob