Skill: charlie-morrison/book-launch-coach (version 1.0.0)

--- name: book-launch-coach description: Coach an author through writing, launching, and selling a book — fiction or non-fiction, self-published or trad-pubbed, debut or backlist relaunch. Covers concept validation, outline structure, writing schedule, beta readers, editor selection, cover design, blurb/description writing, Amazon KDP optimization, ad strategy (Amazon, Facebook, BookBub), launch calendar, mailing list buildup, and post-launch sustained-sales tactics. Knows the 2026 self-pub playbook for KU, wide distribution, audiobook (ACX, Findaway), and IngramSpark print. Use when asked to write a book, launch a book, plan a book launch, optimize Amazon KDP, write a book blurb, design a book cover brief, run book ads, build an author newsletter, or relaunch a backlist title. Triggers on "book launch", "self-publishing", "kdp", "amazon ads books", "book blurb", "book cover", "amazon ranking", "kindle unlimited", "audiobook", "trad publishing", "author newsletter", "writing a book". metadata: tags: ["books", "publishing", "self-publishing", "kdp", "amazon", "writing", "authors", "indie-author"] --- # Book Launch Coach Coach an author from "I'm writing a book" through the messy parts of bringing it to readers — concept, draft, edit, launch, and the 12-month tail. Built for both first-time authors and authors with a backlist who need to re-engage. ## Usage **Basic invocation:** > Help me launch my book on [topic / genre] > Write a blurb for my book > Should I self-publish or query agents? > Plan my launch week > My book stalled — diagnose **With context:** > Romance novel, finished draft 95k words, debut author, no platform. > Business non-fiction, 65k words, have 8k email list, want $50k year-1 revenue. > Sci-fi book 3 in trilogy, books 1+2 sold 4k each, need to reignite series. > Memoir, finished draft, traditional pub interest from one agent so far. The coach diagnoses the project (genre, audience, monetization path, author platform), then plans the path appropriate to that context. ## Path Selection Three viable paths in 2026: ### Self-publishing (KDP / wide / hybrid) - **Pros:** 70% royalty (vs 10–15% trad), 60-day publish timeline, full control, ongoing income - **Cons:** All effort on you (cover, edit, marketing), trade discoverability comes slowly - **Best for:** non-fiction authors with platform, genre fiction (romance, thriller, fantasy), serial fiction ### Traditional publishing (Big 5 + indies) - **Pros:** Distribution, prestige, advance, professional production - **Cons:** 12–18 month timeline post-deal, 10–15% royalty after agent's 15%, lose control - **Best for:** literary fiction, prestige non-fiction, memoirs with platform, debut commercial fiction ### Hybrid (small press, hybrid press, or indie + selective trad) - **Pros:** Some distribution + more royalty than trad - **Cons:** Vetting required (avoid vanity presses), variable quality - **Best for:** authors who want some help but reject trad timelines, niche topics The coach asks four questions to recommend the path: 1. Is your genre / topic on bestseller lists in self-pub or trad? (Romance → self-pub default; literary → trad default) 2. Do you have a platform (audience, list, social)? 3. Are you writing one book or planning a series / list? 4. Is your timeline 6 months or 18 months? ## Pre-Launch Validation (Non-Fiction) For non-fiction, validate before writing: - Test the concept with 5 target readers (15-min interview each) - Outline complete with chapter-level summaries - Sample chapter shared in newsletter or blog; check engagement - Pre-sale on platform (Substack, your site) for early access For fiction, validate by: - Checking Amazon's Top 100 in your sub-genre — what's working - Reading 5 books that just launched in your sub-genre — pacing, length, tone - Beta readers who read this genre regularly (not just friends) **Concept red flags:** - "There's no book like this" — usually means no audience - "It's like [megahit] but" — derivative without differentiation - "Everyone will love this" — too broad, no real reader ## Writing Schedule A finished book beats a perfect book. Schedules that ship: - **6-week sprint** (50k words): 1,200 words/day, 6 days/week - **3-month draft** (75k words): 850 words/day, 5 days/week - **6-month manuscript** (90k words): 500 words/day, 5 days/week **Tactics:** - Set daily word count, not "I'll write today" - Track in Scrivener, Ulysses, or just Google Docs with running totals - Weekly review: did I hit target? If no, what blocked? - Allow rough drafts — fix in revision, not in first draft - "If I had to publish tomorrow" pressure beats perfectionism ## Editing Stack (Self-Pub) Indie authors who skip editing get punished by reviews. The minimum stack: | Pass | Cost | When | |---|---|---| | Self-edit (read aloud) | $0 | First | | Beta readers (3–5) | $0 | After self-edit | | Developmental editor (story / structure) | $1,500–4,000 | Early — fix big issues | | Line editor (sentence flow) | $0.025–0.05/word | After dev edit | | Copy editor (grammar, consistency) | $0.015–0.03/word | After line edit | | Proofreader (final typos) | $0.012–0.02/word | After typesetting | **Skipping the developmental editor is the mistake authors regret most.** It's the difference between "okay" and "I love this book." For non-fiction, also add a fact-checker if making strong claims. ## Cover Design Cover sells the book. Period. Genre conventions matter more than originality. **Self-pub cover best practices:** - Hire a designer who specializes in your genre. Don't reuse a wedding photographer. - Costs: $300–800 for genre fiction; $500–1500 for non-fiction; $1k–3k for premium - Title and author name readable at thumbnail size (Amazon list) - Genre conventions matter (romance has couple-on-cover for a reason; thriller has high-contrast type for a reason) - Mockup test: place your cover among the top 20 in your sub-genre. Does it fit? Does it stand out? **Cover red flags:** - Stock photo with a font slap (low-effort look) - Title in too-thin font (unreadable) - Wrong genre signaling (literary cover on a beach romance) - Author name larger than title (only acceptable for established authors) ## Blurb / Book Description The blurb is what converts a click into a buy. It's the second most important element after the cover. **Anatomy of a strong fiction blurb:** ``` [Hook: one-line setup that intrigues] [Stake paragraph: introduce the protagonist's situation and what's at risk] [Conflict paragraph: what they're up against, why it matters] [Choice / question: what they'll have to do, decision they'll face] [Optional: comp titles or genre cue — "For fans of X meets Y"] ``` **Anatomy of non-fiction blurb:** ``` [Pain hook: the reader's problem in their words] [Promise: what this book will help them do / understand / change] [Credibility: brief author background relevant to the topic] [What's inside: 3–4 specific bullets of value] [CTA: who this book is for, why now] ``` **Blurb rules:** - 150–250 words (Amazon truncates after ~250) - Bold and italic strategically (Amazon allows HTML in description) - Don't summarize the plot — sell the experience - Don't reveal the ending - Don't compare to so-many other books it loses identity ## Amazon KDP Setup Optimization basics: - **Title:** primary keywords, but readable. Don't subtitle-stuff. - **Subtitle (non-fiction):** "Subtitle: Specific Outcome / Reader Type" - **Categories:** pick 2 main + ask Amazon support to add up to 8 more (lesser-known) - **Keywords:** 7 slots, mostly long-tail. Use Publisher Rocket or KDSPY for research. - **Look Inside:** first 10% must hook. Front-load chapter 1. - **Pricing:** - Ebook: $2.99–4.99 for indie genre fiction; $9.99–14.99 for non-fiction - Paperback: $9.99–17.99 depending on length - Hardcover (KDP): $19.99–29.99 **KU (Kindle Unlimited) decision:** - KU exclusive (no other ebook stores) for 90-day cycles - Romance, romantasy, and serial fiction usually win in KU - Wide distribution (Apple, Kobo, Nook, Google Play) better for literary, non-fiction, slow-burn series ## Author Platform / Newsletter The single most-important asset for a long-term author career: - Build before launch (start 6+ months before publication) - Lead magnet relevant to the book (free chapter, story prequel, mini-guide) - Send 1–2 emails/month consistently - Mailing list providers: ConvertKit, MailerLite, Substack - Goal milestones: 500 subs by launch (small but real); 5k subs by book 3 **Newsletter content mix:** - Book updates (cover reveals, milestones) - Behind-the-scenes (process, research, life as a writer) - Recommendations (other books in the genre) - Direct asks (read, review, share) ## Launch Strategy **8 weeks out:** - Cover reveal in newsletter - Pre-order live on Amazon - Recruit ARC team (Advanced Reader Copies — 30–50 readers who'll review) - Schedule podcast / blog interviews - Set up Amazon ads (low budget, learning campaigns) **4 weeks out:** - Send ARCs to reviewers - Final blurb / cover / metadata polish - Pre-launch email to list - Plan launch-week social calendar **Launch week:** - Day 1: launch email to list - Day 2: ad campaigns ramped - Day 3: BookBub / NewInBooks features (paid promos) - Day 4–6: social pushes, influencer asks, podcast drops - Day 7: thank-you email + ask for reviews **Post-launch month:** - Monitor reviews; respond to negative ones gracefully (or not at all) - Reach 30 reviews milestone (Amazon Verified Reviews unlock more visibility) - Pivot ad strategy from "launch" to "evergreen" ## Amazon Ads Strategy Three ad types in 2026: - **Sponsored Products (manual keyword):** target competitor titles and high-volume keywords - **Sponsored Brands (lockup):** showcase your author brand or series - **Lockscreen ads:** newer, less common, mixed results Budget tiers: - Launch: $20–50/day for 30 days, learning campaign - Steady-state: $5–20/day after profitability dialed Targeting: - Specific competitor authors (their book titles as keywords) - Genre keywords ("dark romantasy enemies to lovers") - Negative keywords (filter out wrong genre overlap) ROAS target: - 1.5x+ for new authors (you're paying for visibility, accept lower) - 2x+ for established authors (real positive ROI) ## Series Strategy (Critical for Romance, Fantasy, Thriller) Series sell each other. Strategy: - Book 1 priced low or free (acquisition) - Books 2–3 at full price (conversion) - Book 1 has cliffhanger or strong series setup - "Read more in this series" front matter - Box set after 3+ books to capture binge-readers If writing a series, plan all titles up front. Reader retention drops 30–50% per gap; release within 90 days of each other if possible. ## Audiobook (Optional, Lucrative) Audio is the fastest-growing format. Two paths: 1. **ACX (Amazon-owned):** royalty share with narrator (50/50) or pay-for-performance ($200–400/finished hour). Exclusive to Audible. 2. **Findaway Voices:** wide distribution including Audible. Pay narrator upfront. **When to audiobook:** - Book sales >100/mo (proven appetite) - Genre is audio-friendly (romance, thriller, business non-fiction); literary is harder - You can find a narrator who fits your voice / characters Cost to produce: $1,500–4,000 per book. Earns out over 12–24 months. ## Common Diagnoses ### "Book launched, sales died after week 2" - No author platform (relied on launch buzz) - Ads not converting (or never set up) - Reviews <20 (Amazon doesn't push) - Genre mismatch with cover/blurb (high clicks, no sales) Fix: build/grow newsletter; set up Amazon ads with $20/day learning; chase another 30 reviews via ARC re-engagement. ### "Book has 50 reviews, sales flat" - Cover or blurb issues (browse but don't buy) - Wrong sub-category - Price too high or too low - No series follow-up Fix: A/B test new cover; rewrite blurb; lower price for promo cycle; if non-series, plan next book in same niche. ### "Pre-launch list at 70 subs" - Lead magnet not compelling - Content not aligned with book - Promotion of newsletter sign-up too soft Fix: build a stronger lead magnet specific to the book's promise; promote via guest posts, Reddit AMAs, podcast appearances; cross-promote with other authors. ## Output Format The coach returns: 1. **Path recommendation** — self-pub / trad / hybrid + reasoning 2. **Validation plan** — for the concept, before writing more 3. **Editing stack budget** — minimum + recommended 4. **Cover brief** — what to give the designer 5. **Blurb draft** — first version, paste-ready 6. **Launch calendar** — 8 weeks of dated actions 7. **Ad strategy** — first $500 spent 8. **12-month vision** — what should year 1 look like


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