Great post from Writers Beware that is worth a look. The book review and book festival emails have gotten out of control. I am going to record a video on Monday about this but wanted to share in the meantime. https://writerbeware.blog/2026/08/28/production-companies-literary-agents-foreign-languages-ai-driven-scams-continue-to-morph/?utm_source=mailpoet&utm_medium=email&utm_source_platform=mailpoet&utm_campaign=the-latest-post-from-the-writer-beware-blog_154

This group works because you show up for each other. You answer questions that have nothing to do with your own book. You share what worked and what flopped. You cheer for launches. That is not normal, and I do not take it for granted. "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." Congrats to our leaderboard winner this month - Jennifer Henry. Email Angela at [email protected] and she will send you some Book Launchers swag. Thank you all. Keep showing up for each other. Julie

Does anyone have tips for self editing and proofreading. I find it almost impossible. People who do know how to do it are expensive.

All, I was on Matty Dalrymple's The Indy Author Podcast. Matty is known in the Indy publishing world and had such folks as Jane Friedman, Dale Roberts and Mark Leslie Lefebvre, etc. Dale, Mark and Jane have spoken at Author Nation and will be doing so again this year. After I was on Matty's podcast, Mark Lefebvre was the next guest. Our episodes aired one week apart. I decided to issue a fun challenge to Mark in the form of who could get the most views. Marks and mine views were around 40 at the time. Mark graciously agreed and he set the goal at 100 views. It was back and forth for a week, and I was posting about it every day. Soon Matty stated posting about it, then Dale Roberts joined in by posting on his Discord channel and soon I pulled ahead in views and was able to get to 100 views first. It's been 3 weeks since my episode aired and I now sit at 147 views and growing. BUT - here is my next challenge. During this last challenge, Dale Roberts jokingly said that - yeah, you beat Mark - but you still have a way to go to beat me. Well, at the time he was like 70 views ahead and climbing. Now he sits at 197 to my 147, and I want to catch him - maybe even pull ahead. Again, doing so in a very nice and fun way as Dale is a good sport about these things. I am wondering if you'd be so kind as to listen to the podcast, maybe even share the link around in order to drive views. Bottom line is that regardless of who comes out ahead - Matty's podcast gets further promotion. Thanks everyone and here is the link: Book Marketing on a Budget with Kevin Hall - #345 - YouTube

WOW! It's no longer an idea, or a concept. It's a book! I'm ready for this next phase of my life. I wouldn't have been able to do this the help of my friends at BookLaunchers!