Evelyn, thank you so much for all the information in this post, and in the entire diary series! I just preordered 10 copies. The world has felt particularly overwhelming lately, and I've had a hard time both reading and writing. I can't think of a better way to create some joy in my life than by supporting other writers. Since I live in NYC, I will write hopeful messages in the books and leave them for others to find and appreciate. The ripple effect is real! Yay!!!
OH MY GOD AMYYYYYYYY. You wonderful, wonderful woman! I'm happy because you preordered my books, of course, but I am even HAPPIER that you are doing it to spread joy and kindness and to make the world a better place. (You might not believe this, but I JUST finished the essay I'm going to publish on Release Day, and in it I talk about my "impossible" dream that people would leave my books in Little Free Libraries and subways and park benches with notes in them as gifts to strangers... You made my dream come true before I even really said it aloud.) THANK YOU for being you, thank you for existing, and thank you for supporting writers (I see you doing it not for me, but to so many others on Substack). Your son is so lucky to have such a strong, good woman as a role model. 🥰💛🫶🏼
i loooooove pre*ordering from an author's local indie!!! esp. during the pandemic, i made it a point to support a debut author every month in this way! :D
it's a habit i've maintained and i loooove my growing collection of signed and personalized books! the BEST feeling and i'm glad to know the author gets a little kick out of it, too! ;D
thanks for sharing YOUR link to personalized (indie! yay!) copies of TIKOP!!
so excited for you and can't wait to read this latest treasure of a book! :)
Oh your book sounds amazing! I loved this post - like others said the publishing industry is always going back and forth on things - so I've been told preorders don't really matter, and that author blurbs don't really matter, but I think you made the perfect argument that it does matter and why which was very brave to share because authors are always lurking behind the corners, weeping for people to preorder our books so our publisher will see value, lol! It may be getting harder to grab them in this world of instant gratification and streaming but this single essay may cause a reader to hit the button. congrats - I'll be preordering yours!!!
oh wow, thank you, Jennifer!! That is so nice of you to say, and also thank you for preordering, it means SO much to me. I have heard all sorts of things about preorders but I'm glad this was helpful to you and others!
Hi Mary, yes, ebook preorders also count although slightly differently because retailers don't have to put in physical orders for them. It still signals popularity, though, and the retailers will take note and also make sure they have physical books on hand. (However, libraries do have to buy licenses for each ebook, so asking them for the ebook before a book is out is helpful.)
I love preordering books. It’s like buying a gift for my future self. I love it when I wake up one morning and get my receipt in the email, and then I open my Kindle and there it is: that book I had been anticipating for so long.
Maybe you could hammer on that angle as well, Evelyn, so people know what’s in it for them.
This is really valuable--and a connection I wouldn't have made on my own. Thank you! And the "ripple effect"--while it makes intuitive sense, as I said--nope, wouldn't have gotten there without this post. 💙
Thank you Evelyn for all you share on the publishing industry, writing and more! Wishing you great success with the Aug 12 release and lots of pre-orders!
Thank you for sharing, Evelyn. I think there was some discourse a little while ago about how preorders aren’t as important anymore, so this is a good reminder. I just requested your book from my library!
Hi, Tiffany! Yes, I’ve also heard that preorders don’t matter anymore (I’ve certainly been guilty of saying it myself), so when I learned all this recently, I really wanted to share it! Publishing can be confusing sometimes because we hear one thing and then another… that’s a reason why I think it’s great that we’re all so open here to talking about what we know so that we can help other writers in the same boat (or in the future). And thank you for requesting my book from the library!!
Thank you so much for sharing this, Evelyn. I hear the vulnerability behind pulling back the curtain, and the desire to engage with a community that not only wants to learn more, but wants to support you too! Thank you for highlighting just how important this single act is!
Evelyn, thank you so much for all the information in this post, and in the entire diary series! I just preordered 10 copies. The world has felt particularly overwhelming lately, and I've had a hard time both reading and writing. I can't think of a better way to create some joy in my life than by supporting other writers. Since I live in NYC, I will write hopeful messages in the books and leave them for others to find and appreciate. The ripple effect is real! Yay!!!
OH MY GOD AMYYYYYYYY. You wonderful, wonderful woman! I'm happy because you preordered my books, of course, but I am even HAPPIER that you are doing it to spread joy and kindness and to make the world a better place. (You might not believe this, but I JUST finished the essay I'm going to publish on Release Day, and in it I talk about my "impossible" dream that people would leave my books in Little Free Libraries and subways and park benches with notes in them as gifts to strangers... You made my dream come true before I even really said it aloud.) THANK YOU for being you, thank you for existing, and thank you for supporting writers (I see you doing it not for me, but to so many others on Substack). Your son is so lucky to have such a strong, good woman as a role model. 🥰💛🫶🏼
This made me so happy! 🥰❤️
i loooooove pre*ordering from an author's local indie!!! esp. during the pandemic, i made it a point to support a debut author every month in this way! :D
it's a habit i've maintained and i loooove my growing collection of signed and personalized books! the BEST feeling and i'm glad to know the author gets a little kick out of it, too! ;D
thanks for sharing YOUR link to personalized (indie! yay!) copies of TIKOP!!
so excited for you and can't wait to read this latest treasure of a book! :)
Thank you so much, Hallie! You are an author’s dream reader!
awwwww, shucks!!!! :) authors like you make fangirls like us thrive! ;D <3
This is so great and well-said!
thank you, Lauren!
Oh your book sounds amazing! I loved this post - like others said the publishing industry is always going back and forth on things - so I've been told preorders don't really matter, and that author blurbs don't really matter, but I think you made the perfect argument that it does matter and why which was very brave to share because authors are always lurking behind the corners, weeping for people to preorder our books so our publisher will see value, lol! It may be getting harder to grab them in this world of instant gratification and streaming but this single essay may cause a reader to hit the button. congrats - I'll be preordering yours!!!
oh wow, thank you, Jennifer!! That is so nice of you to say, and also thank you for preordering, it means SO much to me. I have heard all sorts of things about preorders but I'm glad this was helpful to you and others!
This is a great reminder! How do pre-orders for e-books fit in? Do they “count”?
Hi Mary, yes, ebook preorders also count although slightly differently because retailers don't have to put in physical orders for them. It still signals popularity, though, and the retailers will take note and also make sure they have physical books on hand. (However, libraries do have to buy licenses for each ebook, so asking them for the ebook before a book is out is helpful.)
Evelyn, that’s helpful to know. Thank you!
I love preordering books. It’s like buying a gift for my future self. I love it when I wake up one morning and get my receipt in the email, and then I open my Kindle and there it is: that book I had been anticipating for so long.
Maybe you could hammer on that angle as well, Evelyn, so people know what’s in it for them.
I love that, Marina! It’s like a gift from Past You to Future You!
Looked on Amazon and I pre-ordered Nov 2024. Still looking forward to it—and glad to hear that the pre-order helps!
You are the BEST, thank you to Past James for that preorder!
This is really valuable--and a connection I wouldn't have made on my own. Thank you! And the "ripple effect"--while it makes intuitive sense, as I said--nope, wouldn't have gotten there without this post. 💙
Im always glad to be here as the little connector piece for the info you’ve studiously gathered about the industry, Diana!
Thank you Evelyn for all you share on the publishing industry, writing and more! Wishing you great success with the Aug 12 release and lots of pre-orders!
Thank you, Amy!
Thank you for sharing, Evelyn. I think there was some discourse a little while ago about how preorders aren’t as important anymore, so this is a good reminder. I just requested your book from my library!
Hi, Tiffany! Yes, I’ve also heard that preorders don’t matter anymore (I’ve certainly been guilty of saying it myself), so when I learned all this recently, I really wanted to share it! Publishing can be confusing sometimes because we hear one thing and then another… that’s a reason why I think it’s great that we’re all so open here to talking about what we know so that we can help other writers in the same boat (or in the future). And thank you for requesting my book from the library!!
Thank you so much for sharing this, Evelyn. I hear the vulnerability behind pulling back the curtain, and the desire to engage with a community that not only wants to learn more, but wants to support you too! Thank you for highlighting just how important this single act is!
Thank YOU for taking the time to read this, Laura! So glad to have you here. :)
My chapbook Misdirections is in pre-order now and it really scares me to see how slowly the numbers rise.
It’s a scary feeling indeed! I try to have it both ways—ask readers to preorder while I avert my eyes from the hard numbers haha… Doesn’t always work.
Evelyn does such a great job explaining why pre-orders of books are so impactful. Thanks for the clear lesson!
Thank you, Susan!
A very good explanation of this. Good luck with your upcoming release!!
Thank you, Sarah!