Failure to Launch
Kirstin McNeil
Innovation & Experience Director, Venture Author, Creative Advisor, EMEIA
Last Thursday, after waiting all week, 750 copies of my book arrived at my doorstep... just as I was leaving to decorate a hall for my son’s afterschool birthday party.
Since then, I’ve been flat out single-handedly packaging and posting some of the 275 pre-orders I received from my successful Kickstarter campaign. This is in-between my full-time job and a weekend trip to Scotland where I successfully landed future events in Edinburgh & Glasgow – one at the biggest bookshop in Scotland. ?
It’s also been announced that my book: “My family is so Scottish” is the official commemorative book celebrating 125th anniversary of the Glasgow Subway – the 3rd oldest underground network in the world!?
If you were exhausted reading all of that, thank you that's exactly how I feel! ?
When you’re an independent author, launching a book is not the fairytale ending where you’re interviewed in a beautiful bookshop at?a champagne-flowing event just for you. It’s the start of the hard-graft stage where you try every possible angle you can to be seen and heard in a very full market of celebrity writers and big picture book names. ?
If you want to know what it is like for small businesses to try and market on social media, take a look at this video, which sums up how impossible it is!?
In a way it does feel like a tiny failure to launch a book the ‘right way’, but I’m only one person – the workhorse behind Sequoia Publishing UK and that means I get to change the rules. Let’s make it a launch month shall we?!?
So, woohoo! My second book is now available, and I am incredibly proud of it. My Family is So Scottish is a beautiful picture book showing an inclusive representation of Scottish people, places and culture. Through its witty rhymes and energetic illustrations, this book perfectly highlights the joy, love and togetherness of Scottish people.?
?With over 40 references of Scottish heritage, traditions and food, and featuring a gay wedding, energetic grandparents and a dad who loves poetry, this book really does represent real version of today's Scottish clan.?
If you know or have children between 2-7 years, they’ll love it. Buy it directly from me and make me smile :)?
Financial Regulators Complaints Commission
2 年Congrats Kirstin McNeil, the book is fabulous and I'm looking forward to reading it to Rose this evening and raising a glass with you to celebrate on Thursday eve! X
Head of Financial Services Private Equity, Venture Capital & Value Creation I Fund Strategy & Formation I EMEIA I
2 年Kirstin McNeil congratulations on launching your second book. You should be proud of all that you have achieved. The tie-up with Glasgow Subway is amazing.