9. Go For (A Different Type Of) Launch
The World That Was is ready for release!
After a decade of planning, 2.5 years of writing and editing, and 1.5 years of trying to get it published, it’s finally here! On 3 July, I will begin the process of sharing the book with the world.
But I have decided to try something a little different with my release.
Books are an unusual creative format. Unlike music or art, where a person can quickly consume the entire product for free before deciding to add it to their collection, a novel requires full purchase and hours of investment before understanding whether it was enjoyable. Sample pages can give an indication of the book, much like a trailer for a film or TV show. But even a trailer can draw from elements across the entire production, rather than just the opening minutes, cherrypicking exciting points and mashing them together to create an exciting and wholistic preview that can again be consumed quickly and for free. Even sample pages take quite some time to read…
I can’t do much about the time factor but I can fix the price issue.
So I will be releasing my novel completely for free! Chapters will be shared each week, here on the website each Monday and then on Royal Road and r/redditserials throughout the week. I will make them available in pdf, ePub and Kindle formats with other editions available for pre-order:
Five hand-bound editions – Five handmade editions of the book will be available to the highest bidders, with an additional one going to the winner of the mailing list competition. These are individually printed, hand-sewn and bound to give a personal touch to the entire book creation process.
Special “Early Adopters” hardcover edition – This version will mimic the look of the hand-bound editions, though printed (hopefully in foil) on a nice hard cover. Each copy will be individually numbered to commemorate exactly how early the buyer supported the project.
Standard paperback edition – This is the version that will eventually end up in bookstores. I am zeroing in on a cover design but am yet to lock one in.
eBook editions – While the full text will be available on the website, I will create eBook versions that consolidate the entire novel into a single file for more convenient reading. The book will also be available on Amazon for pre-order.
I hope to have examples of the Early Adopter and Standard Paperback editions printed before launch so people will know what they are potentially pre-ordering.
The final chapters will be uploaded here on the website on 30 October. I will then take the opportunity to make any final edits to the text (so please let me know if I missed any pesky typos!) before organising the printing and shipping of the book for a 1 December release.
I am not biased at all(!), but I believe I have created an enjoyable book that realistically explores what it might be like to travel back in time. I hope you all enjoy the free chapters and would be extremely appreciative if you could share word with anyone you know who might enjoy an optimistic, female-led, science-positive look at what it might be like to try living in 12th Century England.
Happy reading!