I hadn’t planned to write this post this week, but if I’m going to share any useful self-publishing wisdom, it’s this: launching a book isn’t just about hitting “publish”—it’s about timing, patience, and knowing how the system works (or doesn’t).
Here are some launch day lessons I learned the hard way from releasing Accent Reds.
1. Don’t Pick a Release Date That Will Break You
My original goal was to release Accent Reds by the end of March 2025. Why? Honestly—partly for tax purposes. (Editing and cover design costs aren’t cheap!)
But life, as it often does, had other plans. Between personal matters and the sheer volume of final edits and tweaks—yes, even after hiring a professional editor—the release date kept slipping.
I began the ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) process in late April and recruited some brilliant beta readers to help spot lingering typos and awkward phrasing. That input was invaluable—but it meant more fixes, more delays, and more editing.
By mid-June, I finally reached the point where I was confident I’d done all I could. The book was ready. Or so I thought…
📝 Takeaway: Always give yourself buffer time. Life happens, typos survive, and the editing process is longer than you think.
2. Upload Your Book Early. No—Earlier Than That.
The internet says the best day to release a book is Monday or Tuesday, so I picked Monday, June 16. I uploaded all three formats—ebook, paperback, and hardback—to Amazon KDP in time (allegedly).
The ebook went live as planned. The physical versions? Released a day late, on June 17.
Despite uploading within Amazon’s supposed window, the reality is: Amazon doesn’t always stick to schedule. There’s no guarantee your formats will launch at the same time unless you upload several days in advance.
⏰ Takeaway: Upload your book at least five days early, especially if you’re releasing multiple formats.
3. Don’t Market the Book Until It’s Searchable
Here’s where I really messed up.
By June 17, all formats were technically live… but Amazon’s search engine hadn’t indexed them yet. No one could find the book by searching for the title or even my name.
Even worse? I’d ticked the box that said the book contained “graphic/adult content.” Turns out, doing that hides your book from general search results unless people are browsing specifically within the “Books” category.
This wasn’t clear in the KDP documentation, and trying to reach Amazon support is a whole different nightmare. I ended up tweeting into the void on ‘X’ (Twitter) until someone replied with a link to a help form.
🧠 Takeaway: Don’t launch a marketing push until you know your book is findable on Amazon. Also: think carefully before ticking that “contains adult content” box—especially if your content is mild or genre-typical.
Final Thoughts: What I Learned
If you’re planning your first (or next) indie book release, here are my top lessons:
✅ Be Patient
Don’t rush the launch just to “be done.” Quality matters, and it’s worth the extra time to get everything right.
✅ Upload Early
Give Amazon time to process and display all formats—don’t rely on their schedule alone.
✅ Confirm Visibility
Make sure your book appears in Amazon search results before you start shouting about it on social media.
✅ Read the Fine Print
Amazon’s book setup process has a few traps. Don’t tick boxes unless you’re sure you need to.
What About You?
Have you launched a book before—smoothly or otherwise? Got a horror story or hard-earned advice to share? Hit reply or leave a comment. I’d love to know how your journey compares!