The Personal Touch for Launching a Book

Three More Weeks until KAUA‘I STORM's Release.

No matter how much I prepare, how early I begin, or how much support I receive… the final three weeks before one of my books is released into the world has me sleeping less, hustling more, and wondering what critical thing I have forgotten to do.

Thinking back to my debut year, I remember Naomi Hirahara—a USA Today bestselling author of EVERGREEN and over a dozen award-winning novels—taking me under her wing and warning me not to try and do everything possible to launch my debut.

Not only would it be overwhelming, it was simply an impossible goal.

As I approach my sixth published novel, the same feels true today. When launching a book—as in life—we cannot do it all.

Incidentally, Naomi will be interviewing me at Book Soup on KAUA‘I STORM’s book release night, Tuesday, May 20, 7 p.m. I lived in Los Angeles for over 35 years. If you’re in the area, please come by and share your aloha with me!

My Previous Book Launches:

With THE NINJA DAUGHTER (my debut Lily Wong book), I went on a fourteen-city book tour and celebrated with my friends and family in each of those locations. Since THE NINJA’S BLADE and THE NINJA BETRAYED dropped during the pandemic, I connected with readers in large and intimate online events. With THE NINJA’S OATH, I was able to connect in-person and with a striking video reel produced by my buddy Terry Shepherd with location footage and my own photos from Shanghai. For my Brazilian standalone novel, DANCE AMONG THE FLAMES, an old friend—with whom I had performed in the original 1st National Company of CATS—choreographed “Serafina’s Possession,” for us to perform, inspired by a scene in my book!

I think it’s important to make every book launch feel special and unique.

Launching Kaua‘i Storm:

This deeply Hawaiian book makes me want to share my love of my people, my culture, and my heritage with the world. And with so much to discuss, I’ve been pouring it into my book club page and my series of "On Location for Kaua‘i Storm” (#onlocKauaiStorm) video shorts.

If you follow me on Instagram and my personal Facebook profile, you’ve seen my adorable grandchildren, Moana and Nahele, (and Ua the cat!) crawling all over me in photos and my “Cutest Unboxing Video Ever.” I include them in most everything I do.

Family is the core of my heart and the heart of this book.

My love of ‘ohana and my multigenerational, multi-ehtnic way of life are reflected in my protagonist’s own family. As with Makalani’s Tūtū, I feel it’s my kuleana—my sacred responsibility—to live aloha and infuse the lives of my grandchildren with mele (songs), mo‘olelo (stories), and ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i (Native Hawaiian language) when I can.

Here is a song I composed for my grandbaby, Nahele—whose name means Forest. I recorded this video while walking in Kōke‘e State Park, which is a featured location in my book.

[Note: I messed up on one syllable while singing on the trail. Kudos to your knowledge of ‘õlelo Hawai‘i if you can tell which.]

I will continue to post #onlocKauaiStorm videos on social media and on my Tori Eldridge YouTube Channel.

Here’s a fun #onlocKauaiStorm video short to give you a taste!

Join Me in Real Life:

There are three opportunities to join me in real life, where we can greet each other properly and talk story before or after the event. At each location, I will discuss behind-the-scenes details and offer to sign and personalize copies of KAUA‘I STORM.

Listen to a Sample Narration of the Audiobook:

As you may have read in my early newsletter, I was hired to narrate my own audiobook! If you haven’t yet read that post, go back and look. It was a fascinating experience. I even included several video tours of the studio.

LISTEN TO ALL OF CHAPTER ONE

You may pre-order your copy on your favorite audiobook listening platform. The sample narrations will be uploaded soon to those sites as well.

Here’s a short audio clip to tease your interest!

Join Me Online:

I’ve been invited to many fabulous podcasts and videocasts—in addition to the live stream of my in-person/virtual event on Sunday, May 18, 2 p.m. via The Poisoned Pen. Find them all on my Upcoming Events.

Managing My Energy:

As I mentioned at the top of the page, every book launch comes with a burst of frenetic energy during the final three weeks before my book releases to the world. As my productivity and efficiency increases, I sleep and eat less. Oddly enough, this doesn’t usually increase my stress.

Planning carefully in advance, leads to a well-ordered and well-executed release. This leaves me enough emotional space to cope with the last minute emergencies that sometimes—often—arise. Priorities matter.

Although I want to sell big and reach as many readers as I can. My main objective is to enjoy the launch and to celebrate my new book.

Regardless of your profession: With all the stress in the world, it’s important to create emotional space to enjoy and celebrate what you do.

Mahalo Nui Loa!

Thank you for reading this post and helping me to celebrate the release of KAUA‘I STORM. I hope you enjoy and share my #onlocKauaiStorm videos. I hope to see you at one of my in-person or virtual events. I hope you post and share fabulous photos and reviews of my book during AAPI Heritage Month (#aapihm).

And mostly… I hope you pre-order, read, and love KAUA‘I STORM.

Me ke aloha,
Tori 🌺