A couple of weeks ago I had my first book launch for my debut novella PN0K0, a horror sci-fi retelling of Pinocchio. As many of you know, a public event for something as vulnerable as your inner most thoughts and feelings—aka your book baby—entails a host of challenges. I'm here to share my experience in hopes of saving you from some of the same rookie missteps or at least helping you feel less alone!
Asking for Help
As writers, we spend months or even years toiling alone at our manuscripts. Then comes the day we must release our fledgling art into the world, be it to a critique group, beta reader, or agent. Uncomfortable as this stage may be, we've come to accept someone will have to actually read our words if we aspire to become more than journalers. Good news is, whenever you move through discomfort to ask for feedback, you're building the same muscles you'll need for promoting and selling your book. The more collaborative the marketing stage can be, the better. First, I contacted Angela Sylvaine, a Colorado horror author who has been exceedingly generous with her time and hard-earned wisdom, not only to me, but with every writer lucky enough to know her. She agreed to be in conversation with me at my launch. I highly recommend this tag-team model as it helps alleviate some of the pressure and anxiety having a more seasoned author at one's side, and hopefully that person draws in more potential readers from their own established fan base. A stellar conversation partner will hype the event on their own platforms, prepare and send questions in advance, confirm the agenda for the day-of, and perhaps most importantly, arrive early to help set up and talk you out of the inevitable no one is coming pre-launch spiral. Angela did all of that and more. Once we'd coordinated a date and time that worked for us both, I reached out to venues, including one of my favorite community spaces and woman-owned small businesses, Fort Greene Bar in Globeville. I'd attended dozens of readings at Fort Greene (and participated in one as a reader myself) as part of the Reading Den series and knew the space could accommodate the size and style of event I was planning. To my delight, the space was available two nights after my official release date and the owner, knowing my own commitment to building literary communities, graciously waived the typical booking fee.
I had a date, time, space, and an in-conversation partner. Next came the hardest part of all: asking people to come. I decided it wasn't enough to post on social media or hang up flyers hoping readers would stumble across the information. Of course I'd be thrilled if a bunch of random horror aficiandos showed up, but more than anything, I wanted to share this pinnacle moment with the people who had supported, cheered, and inspired me along the way. So, I swallowed the part of my pride that whispered so cringe and sent personal e-mails to those friends and family. Not only did I end up with a stellar turn-out, I received encouraging messages from across the world. Letting people know their support means something, means everything, really, opens the door for them to respond in kind. Over and over, I heard, "I'm so glad you reached out. I didn't want to bother you," or "I had no idea! I'm barely on social media these days."
It's so easy to assume others are as plugged in to the writing community, be it online or in person, but as both the products and promoters, it is our job to invite people into our worlds, both fictional and real. Yes, there will be the odd few who never understand, but disappointing as that may be, don't allow the limitations of others confirm your negativity bias. As long as there are humans making art, there will be humans seeking it out. Think of it as sharing rather than selling. The revenue is important, don't misunderstand, but reshaping how you approach the business aspect of being an artist may do wonders for your mental health.
Where I struggled most was asking for help on the day of, when I forgot to eat, drink water, sit down . . . Book launches really are like weddings. I am bewildered and awed by authors who travel from one city to another for weeks, stacking event after event. If it ever comes to that, I'll have to do a much better job of self-regulating. Or surround myself with friends like the ones at my launch who kept bringing me drinks, snacks, and chairs!
Be the Star of Your Own Show
In my pre-prose life, I studied and worked in professional theater in New York and Washington, D.C. as a performer, director, and playwright. Of course my background helps with public speaking, from projecting without a microphone to pacing and expression, but above all, it helps me to think of book events as productions much like in theater. Behind the scenes, you want a reliable stage manager, whether that's your in-conversation partner or the events manager of a bookstore. Consider details like sound equipment, lighting, and staging. Will you be inside or out, sitting or standing? One of my favorite parts to plan is costuming. Yes, you are playing the role of a professional author and get to dress accordingly. That looks different for every person depending on comfort level, genre, etc. Wearing something special and 'on brand' helps you stand out in a crowd, making it easier for readers to identify you at a conference, convention, or packed bar. It also conveys a sense of occasion. You wrote a thing! You published it! People are going to read it! That's a big deal. Treat it like one, and others will follow suit.
For those of you partial to heels, I'm sorry. I love them, too, but when you're going to mingle for hours, I recommend fun flats. Treat yourself to a themed pair, or better yet, drop some subtle hints to a friend or family member who is struggling to find you the perfect publication gift.
Giving Back
Thank you cards may be a lost art, but there are myriad other ways to express gratitude. (Though as writers, I still contend we should be upholding literary traditions like cards!) One of the easiest ways is by shouting out other authors in your audience, bookstore staff, your artistic team, and most importantly, your readers! A simple gift for your in-conversation partner makes a nice gesture: I gave mine a gift card for Corridor Books, a new, local independent bookstore, which served a dual purpose since I couldn't hold my event in their small space. I wish I would've kept a better list of all the people who helped me on this journey, much like we do for our acknowledgments pages, because I'm sure I overlooked someone. Here is my none-to-subtle segue to thanking all of your at RMFW. You were the first writing organization I joined after moving to Colorado and I couldn't have done any of this without you.
Onward, together!
Rachel Horak Dempsey is a writer of dark fiction living in Denver. Her debut novella PN0K0, a retelling of Pinocchio with a terrifying techno twist, released from M4L Publishing on June 9, 2026. Her short fiction is available from Creepy Pod, Brigids Gate Press, Timber Ghost Press, Twenty Bellows (Pushcart nominated 2024), Stars and Sabers, and others. Rachel is also the editor of the anthology Horizons 2 from Twenty Bellows. She currently serves on the Executive Board of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and appears regularly on the Writers Who Read podcast as a guest host. Rachel holds a BFA in Drama and English from NYU, a Master’s in Journalism from Georgetown and an MFA in Creative Writing from Regis University.