by Lynn H. Blackburn @LynnHBlackburn

A writer friend who isn’t published yet recently asked what she could do to support me during a book launch.

While I’m far from an expert, I recently published my 8^th novel. **send chocolate** Having a book release is exciting, amazing, and wonderful. It’s also exhausting, overwhelming, and terrifying. **send coffee** And anything you as a reader, fellow author, friend, or loved one of the author can do to help will be greatly appreciated.

If you want a few tried and true ideas, please read on.

 Pre-release (or really, anytime):

Easy

• Preorder their book.
• Subscribe to their newsletter. Takes thirty seconds. Makes a big difference.
• Follow all their social media accounts, and anywhere else they have a presence: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Goodreads, BookBub, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, etc.
• Follow their Amazon author profile. **send chocolate**
• Share preorder links, memes, graphics, etc. on your social media posts, stories, and reels.
• Share their name and book title whenever a friend asks “what are you reading” or “what book are you most excited about reading.”

Advanced

• Pray
• Ask your library to carry their books. I put this in the advanced column because while it isn’t technically hard, it is when you’re an introvert who doesn’t like talking to strangers, even when those strangers are librarians who love books. **send coffee**
• Suggest their books to your book club. Not hard, necessarily, but does require book club membership.

Next Level

• Pray
• Apply for their launch team/street team and promote their book heavily regardless of whether you’re on the team or not. I have friends who will tell me, “I’m not going to take a spot on your launch team, but I’ll share like I’m on it.” This is HUGE. **send chocolate and coffee**
• Babysit their kids so they can work on publicity/marketing activities. Granted, this requires proximity, but if you’re close enough to do it, they’ll appreciate it forever.
• Email a gift card to their favorite restaurant so they don’t have to cook.

Launch Week/Month

Easy

• Read their book. This is the easiest thing on the list. 🙂
• Share about the book on social media. **send chocolate**
• If you liked the book, post your reviews everywhere you can. And yes, I put this in the “easy” list because IT IS EASY.
• Comment on their posts. Even if it’s just a heart emoji or a simple “congrats” it will be appreciated.
• Depending on how well you know them, send a text of congratulations. Include something like “I don’t need a reply. I know you’re busy. I just want you to know I’m excited for you, and I hope you have great success with your book.”

Advanced

• Snap a bookstagram worthy picture of their book and tag them when you share it.
• Attend their launch party/signings, etc. The gift of your time will always be appreciated. **send coffee**
• Buy their book as a gift for a reader friend. This is a gift for both the author and your friend!

Next Level

• Pray
• If you do reels/stories on social media, make one that features their book. You could help them reach an audience they’ve never tapped into before.
• Volunteer to help with their launch party/signing. This is a gift beyond price.
• Read their book in public. Take it with you on public transportation, read while you wait for the dentist, prop that baby up on the treadmill at the gym. **send coffee and chocolate**
• Make or buy cupcakes/cookies/some form of goodness with their book cover as a design element. Christmas ornaments. Stationery. A pencil sketch. The options are as varied as your imagination.
• Make a video of yourself talking about the book and sharing some of your favorite parts. This is for the truly brave, but I know some of you have it in you!

Writing books is hard work. Marketing and promoting a book can be overwhelming for many authors. Your love, support, and enthusiasm could be just what they need to help them persevere!

If you have other ideas, please share them with us in the comments!

Grace and peace,

Lynn H. Blackburn loves writing romantic suspense because her childhood fantasy was to become a spy, but her grown-up reality is that she’s a huge chicken and would have been caught on her first mission. She prefers to live vicariously through her characters and loves putting them into all kinds of terrifying situations while she’s sitting at home safe and sound in her pajamas!

Unknown Threat, the first book in her Defend and Protect series, was a 2021 Christy Award finalist, and her previous titles have won the Carol Award, the Selah Award, and the Faith, Hope, and Love Reader’s Choice Award.

She is a frequent conference speaker and has taught writers all over the country. Lynn lives in South Carolina with her true love and their three children. You can follow her real life happily ever after by signing up for her newsletter at LynnHBlackburn.com and @LynnHBlackburn on Bookbub, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.