Friday, April 4, 2014

Getting Ready for a Book Release

I can't even tell you all how busy it's been for me these last few months. Everyone thinks I'm crazy for being on top of my game so early (GATEWAY releases August 25th), but I'm pretty much OCD and my mind won't allow me to relax for ten seconds without thinking of everything I need to do.

To start, I already have all my blog tour posts set up with bloggers and soon we'll have material to post. Kind of crazy, but I knew that come August, I'm gonna be insanely busy trying to get each post ready. So I thought I'd prep myself by knowing what to expect.

The most important thing I've focused on is swag. A lot of people have asked me where I got my buttons and such. I thought I'd use this post to share. And what I can tell you is this: It's never too early to purchase swag. There have been too many times when someone has asked me about my book and I had nothing to show or give them. I decided to follow in Kristin Bailey's footsteps and order some postcards. She suggested Uprinting.com and they were fantastic! AND… fast! I got these postcards within a week.

Pictured here is the front AND back. This has been the perfect way for me to show people what GATEWAY is all about. Meanwhile, it also gives them the information for my launch party in August. (Which is at Barnes and Noble in Roseville, CA on August 30th, btw. You should go!)

I also got these cute little buttons from purebuttons.com. They were recommended to me by the awesome Jenny K! Pure Buttons is another company that was cost efficient and super quick. I love these little guys and they seem to be pretty popular with people, too. I can't wait to share them at my school visit this month!
Next up, I plan to order some bookmarks. I also have some posters in the works, but I haven't printed them just yet. But I'll show you what they'll look like. Thanks to David Bock for his help!
I can't wait to share all this swag at conferences and special events! It's hard to believe that the Gateway release is less than five months away. This year is going to be incredible!

8 secret replies:

  1. I don't think you're crazy for doing it so soon. Time zips by fast and life gets in the way so, early is just right.

    The swag looks amazing!

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  2. Very cool! Sites to bookmark. ^_^
    Yeah, I would totally be the same way. I don't see it as early at all. It'll be here before you know it. You gotta be prepared!

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    1. Yes, definitely bookmarks these sites! They have been beyond helpful. :)

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  3. That's it. I'm done. I was really enjoying this blog, the insight and the focus on relationships and support.

    But your casual and mocking use of obsessive-compulsive disorder is disgusting. Do you ACTUALLY know anything about this disease? Do you know that people lose hours and days, lose relationships and love, to this disorder? Do you know some sufferers think they kill people or molest children?

    Either you don’t, and you’re ignorant. And you do, and you’re cruel.

    Shame on you. As a writer, you should have more respect for words and accuracy.

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    1. I apologize for offending you. However, I do suffer from OCD. I have all my life. I didn't say it in a mocking way. I meant in an actual "I have OCD and HAVE to have this done" sort of a way. And, yes, I do understand the disease. All too much, actually. We're sorry to offend you or see you go. Hopefully you'll see that it was not meant in an offensive way... at all.

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    2. I'm OCD, too. I recognize it when I see it. I can't see how anything you said was offensive. I hate to see stuff like that. It makes me feel like I'm not allowed to talk about it. Which I am, by the way, we all are.

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  4. Wow. That someone would call someone as kind as you "cruel" is cruel in itself, Heather. Too much hatred out there, and we should support each other instead of breaking each other down. I appreciate this post - you have great insight and I know this is great help for authors needing swag (and thanks for sharing your experiences!).

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