Publishing during the pandemic; an author's view

I hope all you readers are staying safe & well….since we’re all getting a bit stir crazy here’s my newest guest blog to spark your creativity. Introducing new author & experienced strategist Carol Van Den Hende discussing her new book & what it’s like getting published during a pandemic….in her words….

“In this time of pandemic, first and foremost, I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy.

Besides the obvious health concerns, the current crisis also creates other obstacles. Creatives may be faced with new challenges finding and reaching their audiences. My friends who are filmmakers, actors and writers are impacted by Broadway and other shutdowns. I’m feeling it too, as my debut novel, Goodbye, Orchid, is launching October 1st. This book of my heart won’t benefit from in-person launch plans. But as I often say when presenting at writers’ conferences, marketing is an act of creativity.

We can apply our power of imagination towards identifying and engaging with the audiences we serve. Storytellers are getting resourceful by leveraging virtual channels. For instance, best-selling authors Caroline Leavitt and Jenna Blum created “A Mighty Blaze” to help authors whose book tours have been canceled due to COVID. Instead, they’re interviewing these writers online, thereby reaching more geographically dispersed audiences than they might otherwise have.

Much of the publishing industry has moved from requiring physical copies of books for reviews and contests, to accepting digital copies, a practice that has the dual benefit of speed of delivery, and reduced environmental impact.

For me, the pandemic is necessitating exploring ingenious ways to launch Goodbye, Orchid. As a professional marketer and strategist, I started with clear objectives, strategies, and partnering with a strong team of collaborators. My personal “why” acted as a steady guide in crafting launch plans. My book is inspired by combat-wounded veterans, so I’ve committed to donating a portion of the profits to military and other non-profits. These charities, like Heather Abbott Foundation, have helped reach out to their communities.

In implementation, I’ve aimed to fully leverage each marketing element. For example, the cover design alone was used in a cover poll, as an animation, cut up into nine posts to takeover my Instagram page, revealed as a pixelated image, and more. I’ve even personalized versions of the cover to thank kickstarter supporters. Next, I’m developing partnerships and a media schedule.

Bottom line is, I hope this sharing has inspired you, and boosted your confidence to creatively explore new ideas. ”