Launching a Book This Fall or Winter? Read This
I’m mid-sentence on a strategy call, deep in book launch mechanics....
Then my phone lights up. It’s my wife.
I let it go to voicemail. Then it rings again, immediately.
We’ve got a rule in our house: two calls in a row = something’s up.
“Sorry, I gotta take this call — might be important.”
I step out and answer. Her voice is calm, but urgent.
“Hey babe…”
I’ll come back to what happened next.
But first, I want to talk to you about preparation because that call ties into what I want to share this week.
Why a Holiday Book Launch Might Crush You (Unless You're Already Famous)
If you're planning to launch your book in November or December, let me say this with love:
It’s one of the worst times to launch unless you've got:
A huge, warmed-up audience
A six-figure ad budget
A powerful affiliate machine
Or the New York Times on speed dial
Because during the holidays, attention is shot. Inbox volume doubles. People are fatigued, overstimulated, and spending their money on discounts, not discovery.
If you don’t already have a loyal fan base waiting, your post, your offer, your launch, your message? It’s going to get buried.
So what should you do instead?
You prepare like hell this summer. Because the only way to win the fall is to start building in the heat.
Here’s how.
Book Launch Game Plan
Step 1: Get Crystal Clear on What the Book Is For
Your book is not just a book. It’s a bridge.
To what?
A consulting or speaking business?
Coaching clients?
Courses or programs?
Community, movement, legacy?
Too many authors spend two years writing a book… but five minutes thinking about what happens after someone reads it.
Start with the end in mind. Map the next step. Then reverse-engineer your messaging, your site, and your content to lead people there.
The clearest authors make the biggest impact because they give their audience somewhere to go.
Step 2: Build Your Email List Like You’re Building a Lifeline
No more waiting until “closer to launch.”
Here’s how to grow your list:
Start a weekly newsletter or Substack. Share what you're thinking, building, struggling with. You don't need to be polished — you need to be consistent. Use this list to test ideas, shape your message, and build anticipation.
Create a Google Sheet with two tabs:
Update the list every week. Literally block time. This isn’t passive, it’s lead-gathering. Think like a founder, not a hobbyist.
Assemble a Street Team (10–30 people if you can). These are your launch warriors. They get early access to the book, exclusive updates, and a very clear mission:
Step 3: Build in Public (And Start Now)
People don’t connect to products. They connect to the w
Document your writing. Share the messy middle. Talk about what you’re learning, what you’re afraid of, what you almost cut from the manuscript.
Post 3–5x per week across your channels.
Formats that work:
“What I’m exploring in my next chapter…”
“A note I wrote to myself while writing…”
“The idea I almost didn’t include in my book (but did)”
“Here’s a section that feels risky to publish…”
Video is gold. Raw is better than refined.
Let people see you show up for your work.
Step 4: Your Website = Your Home Base
This is where people land when they Google you. It’s where your book should live, breathe, and convert.
Minimum requirements:
Clear headline (what you do and why)
Short section about the book
Easy place to pre-order, subscribe, or reach out
Mobile-optimized
No clutter, no confusion
Bonus: Include a “Media” page with your headshot, bio, and links to past podcasts or features. Make it stupidly easy for someone to say yes to interviewing you.
Step 5: Lock In Your Media Outreach Plan
Media attention isn’t luck. It’s a contact sport.
Start a tracker with these columns:
Name of podcast or platform
Why you’re a good fit
Contact info
Date pitched
Follow-up status
Then:
Write a concise pitch: who you are, what your book covers, why it’s relevant to their audience
Offer a free copy (PDF or print)
Include a media one-sheet (bio, photo, sample questions, topics)
Start this now. Shows book 3–4 months out. You’ll miss your window if you wait.
Step 6: Create a Real Moment
Don’t just post and pray. Make your launch a memory.
Options:
In-person launch event with a short talk, readings, Q&A
Zoom launch party with a panel of friends/clients/fellow authors
Hire a videographer and film it all, reactions, testimonials, you speaking
Create content that lasts beyond launch day. If you do this right, your launch won’t be a peak; it’ll be the beginning of the wave.
Step 7: Mail 100 Copies, On Purpose
Make a list of 100 people:
Friends
Former clients
Thought leaders you admire
People in your industry who could be allies
Send them a copy before launch day. Include a personal note. Ask them to post on launch day with a specific ask (pre-written blurb, quote, favorite page).
Launch day should feel like a wave, not a whisper. This is how you make it happen.
An Author Who Did It Right: Tara Westover
When Educated came out, Tara didn’t have a big platform. What she had was clarity, courage, and consistency.
She wrote a book so personal and potent that it was impossible to ignore, but she also showed up for it.
She talked openly about her story, her upbringing, her journey to education and identity. She hit every podcast, every stage, every article that aligned with her values.
She didn’t just launch a memoir. She launched a conversation. That’s why it’s still relevant years later.
When people say, “But what if I don’t have a huge following?” I say, go study Tara. Then get to work.
Human Pride with Ron Thurston
I recently sat down with my friend Ron Thurston , whose new book Human Pride: Optimizing Your Human Potential in a Digital Job Market is something special.
Ron’s not just a great writer, he’s a force of clarity and heart.
He builds in public. He doesn’t hide the process. He documents, shares wins, talks through the hard stuff, and brings his audience along with him every step of the way.
His book isn’t just a product. It’s an extension of his values.
This episode is a masterclass in building with purpose, showing up honestly, and launching with soul. If you’re an author trying to do it differently, Ron is the blueprint.
And Back to That Call…
Her voice was calm, but urgent.
“Babe, my doctor says my amniotic fluid is low. We need to check into the hospital. The baby’s ready to arrive.”
That was it. The moment.
The one we’d been preparing for over the past nine months.
We had a list of 35 things to do. Some big. Some tiny. All of them required energy, time, or cash. From backyard landscaping to meal prepping to finishing the baby’s room. I’d been taking Fridays off just to knock things out.
So when the call came?
I didn’t freak out.
I was nervous, anxious, but mostly excited for this moment.
I got our pre-packed bag, tossed the carseat and stroller in the car, and got us to the hospital.
And it was beautiful. Raw. Life-changing.
Our son Amir was born 6-12 at 3:37 AM. And everything has been a blessing since.
We had an amazing, super supportive community of friends and family who helped in so many ways and continue to do so.
It certainly takes a village to raise a child, and I'm grateful we have that around us.
Book launches aren’t babies. But they are moments of delivery. They require prep. A support system. A vision for life after the arrival.
Most authors only think about the announcement.
But the real game? It’s played in the months or even years before and the following years to come.
When you're ready, I have three ways I can support your author brand:
Power Pack Pro Build a strong brand foundation with a strategic site, clear offer, and personalized coaching.
Power Pack Boost Expand your reach with full-funnel marketing, LinkedIn growth, and content systems.
Power Pack Ultra Launch your book and brand with a complete done-for-you growth strategy.
DM if you want to learn more.
-Hussein
