What Went Wrong Went Right

/ roughwighting

Launching a book, book launch, Co-Pilot DesignAny author knows the ins and outs, the worries and woes, the joys and jubilation of publishing.

Most authors love the writing part. After all, that’s the fun!

Some authors tolerate the publishing part: agent? editor? mainstream publisher? Indie publishing?

Every author I know dislikes the last part: PROMOTION. I print it in caps but whisper it in tiny letters since it’s a dirty word to many of us.

But promotion is a necessary dirty function of GETTING YOUR BOOK READ by readers besides your best friend and great aunt.

A week after my September 15 pub date for my newest illustrated children’s book, PETEY WANTS WINGS, I did the dirty deed.

But not alone.

bookstore, Ernest & HadleyMy incredible publisher flew from her Tuscaloosa AL bookstore, Ernest & Hadley, to help my co-author and me launch Petey at a local New England library.

Friends and family from far and wide flew from states as diverse (in so many ways) as PA and FL or drove hours from within New England to encourage me during this endeavor.

I must add (yes, I must) that my co-author was as cool, calm and collected as I was twitching, troubled and terribly concerned that we were going to speak to an empty large library conference room. soccer, grandson soccer

But I must add (yes I must) that my co-author is 12 years old and more concerned about his soccer game later that day.

Let’s go back to what went wrong. The night before the launch, the publisher and two out-of-town friends sat at my dinner table listening to the cuckoo clock.

Why?

Because every time the clock cuckooed, the three women jumped out of their seats, sure the sound was my doorbell and that the 50 PETEY WANTS WINGS books that had been ordered AND HAD NOT YET ARRIVED would surely be sitting, boxed, on my stoop.

Alas, no UPS or USPS or Fed Ex or any delivery person arrived.

My stoop was empty, and we had no books to sell on the day we launched my book.

That’s What Went Wrong.

What Went Right followed the next day at the Library Launch. It poured (oh, no that wasn’t the right). The parking lot filled up! The library staff had to set up more chairs – a lot more. The conference room was packed and standing room only.

My co-author Neville and I had a blast talking about Petey and our story.

And everyone bought books that weren’t there.

book launch, grandmother and grandson write book together, Petey Wants Wings, book presentationThey signed a list and paid for an invisible book.

Neville and I penned our signatures on beautiful book labels that the publisher created. When the books arrived days later (of course they arrived the following Monday morning) we just needed to add the right labels with the right books and send them to the right people.

What could go wrong?

85 thoughts on “What Went Wrong Went Right”

  1. Sounds like a great event, despite no books. What fun to do this with your grandson. It looks like you found a way around the problem. A good lesson for your co-author in problem solving. I’m sure every one will enjoy their copy when it arrives.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Reading your comment, Darlene, I’m equating the invisible book with someone who is hungry and waiting for a late dinner. Tastes even better because of the wait. 🙂 ❤

      On a more serious note, Neville and I read PETEY WANTS WINGS to the attendees, so they did know what they were waiting for. 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  2. A wonderful share, Pam. There will always be something and you two look calm, cool and collected up there sans books! How lovely everyone bought an invisible book! Something to look forward to in the mail 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    • Another blogger wrote several weeks ago that we shouldn’t see promoting our book as bragging or pushing our writing, but more like our desire to share with others the joy and wonder we feel about our story, thinking others will experience that also when they read the book. That philosophy helps me “do the dirty deed.” 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Despite the wrongs, so much went right for you. It had to live up to your blog name! 🙂

    What a wonderful, supportive publisher you have, and I could feel the love of family, friends, and supporters from here, Pam. 💙

    Liked by 2 people

  5. I am her publisher, and believe her, we all have cuckoo clock fear now! It was a great event because Pam and her grandson worked hard to promote it on site….sans books!

    Easty

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  6. Yes, indeed, every author knows the joys and jubilation of publishing and also its woes.

    I read this story with intense interest. You told me a snafu happened on the launch but I didn’t know the details. What a lesson in resilience for Neville to observe! The cuckoo clock is the perfect motif for the vagaries of publishing–for life in general.

    You go, girl! 😀

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    • I’ve always been a little cuckoo , and this just proved it! 😛 In truth, you are absolutely right. Neville figured after we finished writing the book the illustrator would have it done in a few weeks and it would be published a week or so after that. He learned many big lessons.

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  8. On one hand, an author usually has the PR department of his or her publisher who does most of the PR work. On the other hand, it is part of being a successful author to be able to perform well in talk shows and life interviews f.e. All the successful authors I know as well as I are extraverts. You have to like public appearances are they are basic for your sales. If you are not good at that you rather go for being an editor.
    Good luck
    Klausbernd 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    • I was a medical editor for many years! Nice thing is I didn’t have to do any performances. 🤓Interestingly, all the writers I know are introverts. We just want to write! But yes these days a writer needs to be a marketer also. Thanks so much for your comments.

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      • Even in the 19th century bestselling authors like Schiller, Goethe and most of the romantic authors were quite good with their marketing. I suppose it was always like this – only the ways of marketing have changed.

        Klausbernd 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

    • Thanks so much Brad. I just don’t worry about the sales as much as the kudos and knowing that the people who have the book absolutely love it. Neville and I have been high-fiving since the launch. ☺️

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  10. Oh I love seeing you and your grandson on the stage together. Great news even if it was a bit of a cuckoo’s nest.. with sales.. speaking of which mine got in the cart and then I don’t know what happened.. I’m used to Amazon and a click of the button. I have to try again.. xo💓

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    • We writers just need to go with the flow and write with our passion and not worry about the rest of it. That’s my take on it anyway. The publisher was much more stressed than I was and I understand. But I figured whatever, I was very proud of the book. 🫶

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    • Actually I feel that my writing has gone right for me from the beginning since I began this blog. So many supporters! And it’s so fascinating and wonderful to learn the stories of other writers too. You included! THANK YOU! 😍

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    • As always I love your spiritual and positive take on things Marlene. We have no control and getting upset about something doesn’t make it better. Smiling and laughing and just having fun… That’s the way to live. However, my publisher would say that that’s not the way to sell a book. 😝🙃

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  22. I suspect those in attendance were quite understanding. If they came from distance, I know you will send them a book. The backstory of Petey Wants Wings is part of the beauty of this story. It’s something you and your grandson will always have together that’s just yours. I would love to do something similar when my grandson turns 12.

    Did you ever find out if it was an issue with your publisher or the delivery service?

    Liked by 2 people

    • Definitely an issue with the mail. Well between the printer and the mail. You know how everyone points fingers to the other. I did finally get the box of books and we have mailed them to everyone who paid for one! But yes the backstory is what counts the most. I think you will most definitely do some kind of project like this with your grandson. I am manifesting it for you. 😍

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  24. The “Bookless Book Launch” — a huge success!! Life throws us curve balls– (or whatever they’re called in soccer) and we just have to adjust our game and carry on–exactly what you and Neville did! So happy for you both!!!

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  25. I can imagine you sitting there jumping at the cuckoo clock, fretting about the non-delivery. Thank heaven for your co-author’s calming presence. Glad it went well in spite of things.

    Liked by 2 people

    • At 12 years old Neville seriously was only worried about if he’d make it to a soccer game in time. No books? No problem! He just smiled and signed his autograph on the book labels. So funny and he made the whole rainy day bright.

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    • Promotion and marketing are just not our thing, Roy. Doesn’t quite seem fair does it? Although from now on no matter what book I write and publish and launch, I’m going to have grandson Neville standing there with me. He ate up the crowd and the applause. 😏

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    • Not only did we make the best of things but so did those who drove and walked through the rain to attend. They just wanted to hear a good children’s story and the applause was so deep and supportive. Thanks so much, May!

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  29. Better to have no books and a crowd to chat with . . . than to sit at a table stacked with books with no one around to buy them.

    Sounds like you handled the situation quite well ~> Do What You Can With What You Have Where You Are! No books. No problem. We’ll sell book plates! 😀

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much, Ann. My grandson Neville has no idea how much stress occurred before the launch. I hope when he’s in his 30s everything goes smoothly for his first major bestselling book launch. (well, second after Petey Wants Wings!) 🤓

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  32. Congrats on such a well-attended book launch! Love the creative and resourceful bookplate idea. Amazing to see all the event photos! Way to inspire other local writers with your talent, knowledge and experience.

    Liked by 1 person

  35. I think fate demands that authors must endure a few promotional disasters. My very first bookstore appearance (to promote Sarah Gives Thanks) was scheduled just hours before Hurricane Sandy hammered the state. It went badly.

    But hats off to you! You and your coauthor turned a sow’s ear into a silk purse! Well done!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Oh, those nasty storms. They do throw a curve into our plans. The good news is that I own SARAH GIVES THANKS and place it on our living room coffee table every November. No storm can stop me!
      Now, I’m off to fill my silk purse with the money from our book-less book launch. 🙂

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    • I know – cringe. But they always say that non-fiction is stranger than fiction (or less believable). Believe it – we survived the rain and the book-less book launch and lived to write about it. 🙂

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  37. Pam, congratulations to you and Neville on ‘Petey Wants Wings’! The cover looks fantastic and what a wonderful collaboration with your grandson and of course the illustrator.

    I was holding my breath, waiting along with you for the delivery – your heart must have stopped as you realised you were without books. However, you’re never one to concede defeat and I LOVE your solution with the signed labels and taking orders for the books at the talk – brilliant!

    Haha! Aren’t the young so versatile and resilient, Neville looks in his element at the talk, as do you my dear friend! When you raise a chuckle, nay, even a laugh from a crowd you’ve well and truly hooked them!

    Pam, I’m over the moon about your latest release, it takes tons of patience, much love and wow, what a special story book for children and their adult readers to enjoy! Hugs, Annika xx 💕

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    • THANK you, Annika. You most definitely know the trials and tribulations and joys of writing a children’s book and getting it published – and sold. Neville was the best wingman I could have hoped for. Actually, I think I was the wingman to HIM. 🙂 xo

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