When you start your publishing journey, the importance of ARC’s is not sung about enough. I was so lucky to build the team that I have found. There’s a great mix of international and UK readers. Everyone received the e-readers, and then the UK’s ended up receiving a PR box. With it being Christmas, I just decided it would be a nice treat for everyone on my UK list to receive one. I included the physical book, some annotation tabs, a pink gel pen, and a hot chocolate sachet. And then my beautiful personalised art cards and stickers for the book. I hadn’t mentioned how amazing it was when I commissioned this artwork. To see my characters come to life was overwhelming. These little windows into the world of my book are so adorable I want to frame them. But instead, they’ll be included in the PR boxes and all Collectors Set’s going forward.
What happened after this? A wave of unboxing videos on TikTok. Mentions, reading updates, reviews. They all came one after the other, and it goes to show how nice people are. The way people have reached out to me has repeatedly surprised me. I love their progress updates, their hopes for the characters, and their anticipation for Book Two.
A special mention to Cristina who made a frickin cookie and cupcake of the book! She beautifully piped the Rose of Venus on a cookie, and then sculpted the Joey and Lee hand holding onto a cupcake. I will never get over this. And to Lel, who has repeatedly supported me, and is now running an Author Spotlight series on me and MISSING GIRLS AND LOST BOYS. You guys are amazing.
After two months of ARC’s I have exceeded expectations on the review side. Not just on star rating, but how many people have actually finished the book. I am so genuinely touched by the support and reviews. With the release less than a month away, I cannot believe this is where I am. Not long now!
