The One List Every Author Should Start Before Their Book Launches

Most authors wait until just before their book comes out to start building their list.

Don't rush at the last minute.

Your email list is your most valuable launch asset, and it doesn’t cost you a dime to start.

Here’s the simplest way to start.

Step 1: Open a Google Sheet.

Create two tabs:

Inner Circle: family, friends, and anyone who already supports you.

Outer Circle: colleagues, clients, authors you’ve met, people you engage with online.

Step 2: Start adding names and emails.

Every time you meet someone new or connect online, add them.

Treat it like watering the roots of your future launch.

Step 3: Use this list strategically.

This list becomes your warm-up audience, the people you’ll start emailing a month or two before your book launches and a month or two after.

That’s your momentum window:

Warm-up (1–2 months before)

Launch week intensity

Follow-up stretch (1–2 months after)

After that, you can turn your list into a newsletter.

Keep nurturing. Keep sharing your ideas, insights, and behind-the-scenes.

Because when you own your audience, you own your impact.
Don’t wait for your publisher or social media to do it for you.

Start the list. Build the relationships.

#risingauthors