On September 2, 2025, my Christmas book, Just Enough Room for Christmas, was published.
That means on December 26, it moved to the “SALE” pile. On December 31, it was shipped back to the distributor or publisher.
And now it is officially a “backlist” title while the world waits for next year’s shiny new Christmas book. Holiday-specific books have short life spans, which gives the author a chance to breathe and review The Launch.
The publisher…
- Got the book published in a timely manner
- Sent copies out for professional reviews
- Gave me a box of books free to give to reviewers or enter contests
- Were very responsive to questions
My publicist…
- Took me up the steep learning curve of Instagram posting
- Arranged reviews with Instagrammers with a big following
- Rewrote or redesigned my attempts at PR
- Supported me monthly
- Contacted and arranged for 2 podcasts
Meanwhile, I…
- Arranged 25 reviews/interviews/articles in regularly published columns, blogs, and Substack (answered 8 questionnaires and wrote 4 articles)
- Contacted 4 area bookstores to see if they would carry the book and hold a signing event
- Appeared at 5 book signing events and a Christmas craft sale
- Contacted 8 area preschools volunteering to read my book and leave a copy at the school
- Read to 350 children at 5 different schools
- Send PDF’s to 3 critique groups and 2 authors’ support groups for reviews
- Designed bookmarks for all preschool kids
- Read my book as a mentor text
The result:
- Amazon sold out (I have 28 reviews)
- Ingram sold out
- Good Books/Sky Horse (Publisher) sold out
- 2 local bookstores still have 10 or less
My experience
- Bookstores can feel really awkward
- Podcasts are more fun than I expected
- I have amazing author groups
- I love reading to preschools
Now what?
I will build a new strategy for when it is reprinted in 2026!
Robin Currie is a multi-award-winning author of more than 45 picture books. She writes weekdays on Substack at Robin Currie | Substack.
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