“Measure your journey one heartbeat, one verse, one moment at a time!” I released my second book in my five-book poetry series on Thursday, December 18. Each book launch teaches me something new and different.
When I first started writing, I had no interest in e-book sales because I loved handing you, the reader, a autographed copy. Also, I didn’t care much for online markets like Amazon, Kobo or Barnes and Nobles, because again, the sale had no face for me to connect with.
My First Book’s Launch
In June, 2014, I will never forget the big box of books of This Tumbleweed Landed that arrived at my mom’s house in Colorado right before the Branson-Trinchera reunion at the end of June. When I held that book in my hand for the first time, emotions whirled around inside me—elation, pride and shock! And people bought my book there, in the location where so many of that book’s stories originated. So, I felt successful!
On July 24, 2014, I did a book signing in Pueblo, CO. My brother drove me up there and no one came. This humiliated me but didn’t stop me. I had to learn how to measure success.
On September 11, 2014, I did have a book signing at the library in Trinidad and had great response—many family members and friends attended and bought that first book there.
My Second Book’s Launch
I collaborated on this book, Let Me Tell You a Story, with my mom and dad. Dad dictated the story of how are our ranch was put together to Mom and she wrote it out. Then I took her notes and put it on the computer in a book format, and we gave it to my dad for his 75th birthday in 1993. We gave copies to family members at that time. Because I already had it together, I decided to release it to the world on November 10, 2014
For some reason, I didn’t honor it with a launch. I wasn’t thinking marketing!
My Third Book’s Release
I released When Will Papa Get Home? on November 15, 2015 with no book signings. For some reason, I lagged on this—maybe because of the time of year.
I did promote it to friends and family and my aunt Joan Horner and called me after reading it and said, “So, who was Maria? I don’t remember her?” This book was a historical fiction where I fictionalized a story I had heard all my life about a homestead my grandfather bought during the Depression. My aunt grew up in that community, and I loved her comment.
I told her, “Maria was just a fictional character I had in my story. She wasn’t real.” That blew Aunt Joan away because she seemed so real to her—great feedback for any writer of fiction.
But because I did no book launch for these last two books, I can’t measure their success which feels sad because I love these two.
My Fourth Book
On June 17, 2017, I released A Time to Grow Up: A Daughter’s Grief Memoir with no launch really. The topic of grief seemed too heavy for me to promote, but I had to write the book. Mom died in 2013, so it took me four years to process what I learned in her death and Dad’s death. I have had people buy it and thank me for helping them with their grief.
What’s interesting is this is my most awarded book, receiving five awards.
My Fifth Book
My next book, Just Another Square Dance Caller: Authorized Biography of Marshall Flippo, was released on May 8, 2020—notice I didn’t release a book for almost three years. This book took a lot of work to research, write and produce.
On May 21, 2020, I did a virtual release party and had attendance from all over the world. I had thirty+ plus there and we had a party, but by the nature of the book, people wanted a paperback or hardback copy. My final words to people at that release party were optimistic, “When the virus ends, where will I be going? Hopefully a book tour to your event.” The event meant a square and round dance festival, but the pandemic curtailed those sales.
I sold a lot of books from home, mailing them out, so I could measure the success, but I stocked up on both hardback and paperbacks, being positive we would start dancing again and I could sell my books. But the pandemic lasted longer than the interest in the books, so I still have a stack of those books.
On May 8 2121, I had a Zoom “One Year Anniversary Release Party,” and again I had good attendance. People loved to tell their “Flippo Stories,” and it kept the book in front of the public.
What I Learned!
But after six books and seven years into this new venture, I realized the importance of online sales especially e-books, but the pandemic hit. I released Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? on August 25, 2021. Because of the pandemic, I couldn’t do a book signing, but I did a virtual book launch on September 21.
The sales lagged and I connected with Paul Brodie and he did a “Relaunch” of my book, and I achieved five #1 Best Seller categories on Amazon with that launch. And he taught me how to launch a book, so I have followed his and Derek Doepker’s format since then.
My Seventh Book
In September, 2023, Lin and I were in Germany when I launched my book, Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir. I did all the promotional setup before we left, and I used Paul’s system and had a successful book launch. I ended up with 2899 downloads when the book was free and another 20 downloads at $1.99. This by far was my best book launch.
My Eighth & Ninth Book
2024 was a hard year for me because of the dog attack, but I released a chapbook, Is My Truth Universal: A Woman’s Poetic Journey, which is free always and the first book in my five book poetry series, Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry. I did a book launch for both of these books with Paul’s formula. Was It a Dream? had 640 FREE downloads, and Is My Truth Universal had 379. I added five more Dream books at $.99. But I didn’t do a Virtual Launch Party because of my leg.
My Tenth Book Launch Now
So, my new book, Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through, has been hanging over me for most of this year. Finally, I released it December 18 and have done the promotions like Paul Brodie suggested, but the download numbers lag. Is it too close to Christmas? Is it the promotional sites I used? I didn’t look at the list of promotion sites I used for my Dream book until now—that might have helped.
Today as I analyzed the results so far, I realized the big difference: Paul starts his promotions on Tuesday. I started mine on Friday, so most of the five FREE days are on the weekend. That’s a major difference right there.
Finally,
I take book promotions seriously today—I haven’t always. How do you measure success? This most recent book launch has already taught me a lot and that’s success for me.
Do you measure your life? Do you take the time to reflect? Now would be a good time to start!
Tomorrow night, Monday, December 22, 2025, is my Virtual Book Launch at 7:00 PM MST. There will be prizes, stories, poems, laughter and maybe some tears. RSVP at: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DC3628Bkf/
If you haven’t downloaded a FREE copy of my book yet, you have until Tuesday, December 23. It could be a stocking stuffer. Here’s the link:
Recent Books of Mine
Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book – FREE
Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry e-book on sale for $.99
Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book on sale for $1.99
Buy My Audio Books:
This Tumbleweed Landed
Let Me Tell You a Story
Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook
