This is part of the Bittersweet Book Launch case study, where Dan Blank and Miranda Beverly-Whittemore share the yearlong process of launching her novel. You can view all posts here.
by Miranda Beverly-Whittemore
In our meeting today, Dan and I talked about a LOT of things. The next book I’m thinking of writing. FriendStories. My upcoming meeting with Crown’s publicity and marketing team. My personal website, which he’s helping me redesign. The copyedit of Bittersweet which is due next week. The work I’m thinking about generating and submitting/pitching to print and online journals in support of Bittersweet’s launch.
Before our meeting, Dan worried I’d feel overwhelmed. And sure, there were moments when he dropped some serious knowledge on me:
But contrary to his fears, talking to Dan always makes me feel invigorated, supported and far less alone.
So much of this author platform work is generated in one’s own home, by oneself, in a hypothetical vacuum (“Should I use this as my author photo, or does my left eye look funny?”), that just having someone to talk to about all the zillions of things I’m thinking about all the time makes me feel so much less frenetic.
I focus. I emerge with an assignment or two. And I also am reminded that this process is fun.
