Which promotional tactics will work best for you and reach your intended audience? Dana Kaye will offer advice on how authors can prioritize their efforts and create a strategy to executive a successful book launch plan. Bring your most pressing questions for the Q&A, and get ready to take notes—we’ll cover the fundamentals of what you need to do and when in relation to your pub date.

What to expect: Approximately 15 minutes of presentation and 45 minutes of audience Q&A.

Ideal audience for this session: Authors of any genre with a book coming out at least several months from now.

Ticketed attendees will get access to attend the live event and Q&A. If you buy a ticket and do not attend, you will not have access to a recording of the Q&A. Refunds will only be issued for cancellations at least 3 days in advance. A recording of the presentation (not including the Q&A) will be made available for all Authors Guild members later.

The meeting will take place via Zoom with automatic closed captioning. To request any other accessibility features, please email support@authorsguild.org and we will make every effort to accommodate.

Presenter

Dana Kaye is the founder of Kaye Publicity, a literary public relations agency. Known for her innovative ideas and knowledge of current trends, she’s a frequently sought out speaker and media source. She was profiled in Crain’s Chicago Business for her success in launching a business during a recession, was a Publishers Weekly Star Watch honoree, and has been interviewed by dozens of media outlets on the topics of book publicity, online marketing, and the future of publishing. Dana is also the co-founder of the Midwest Mystery Conference and the author of Your Book, Your Brand: The Step-By-Step Guide to Launching Your Book and Boosting Your Sales.

FAQ

1. How are Launchpad Q&As different from regular Authors Guild webinars?

These will be Zoom meetings, so that everyone can be on camera and able to unmute. After the guest speaker gives a ~15-minute presentation, the rest of the hour will be Q&A. You can remain off-camera and type in questions as well. Only the short presentation will be recorded, so the Q&A segment can be candid and personal.

2. Am I guaranteed to get my questions answered by the publicist?

We cannot guarantee that you will receive a robust, personalized answer to all your questions, but our guest speakers will do their best. We recommend asking questions that a professional book publicist can reasonably be expected to answer on-the-spot, rather than highly detailed questions that would require conducting research.

3. Why is there are $25 ticket? Are Authors Guild webinars no longer free?

These ticketed Launchpad events are a unique new program. The goal is to provide a relatively small group with personal access to book publicists, so that your questions are more likely to get a personalized answer. The price of your ticket helps offset the cost of producing the programs and compensating the publicists for their time.

Our free educational webinars are put on by the charitable Authors Guild Foundation with support from donors. Those webinars (e.g., Business Bootcamps for Writers, Money Matters, Agent Talks) remain free to anyone who wants to attend.

4. What if I don’t want to be on camera?

It’s not necessary to be on camera or speak during the event. You will be able to pre-submit questions and type in a Q&A box during the live event.

5. Are there free resources to help with book marketing & publicity?

Your AG membership includes full access to the Launchpad Resource Library. Begin with the Overview of Book Publicity, download the Book Marketing & Publicity Checklist, and watch Launchpad webinar recordings anytime.

6. How can I connect with other authors who are planning a book launch?

Join our Marketing & Publicity for New Books forum group to share tips and network with authors in your genre or region!