Pre-orders...they're kind of a Big Deal

Calling All Alien Collective Members:

We need to have a family meeting - don't worry no one's in trouble so no need to fear hearing your full name during roll call...

*shudders at the internal echo of mom's stern voice*

I'm sure many of you've noticed the increased publicity blitz in anticipation of book releases on the interwebs. You've also probably noticed these book campaigns kicking off earlier and earlier. 

Why you ask? -- fine, so you didn't but I'm gonna throw some knowledge at you anyway.

Publishers, retailers, vendors, media sources - heck even other readers - not only want to know who's waiting with baited breath (alright that's probably an exaggeration) to get their hands on an author's next book but who's ready to put their money down right then, and there.  

ok it may be just me who gets like this when
I get a book release date notification.

The push is to coax readers to pre-order new books as soon (and as much) as possible. 

They know authors (hopefully) have faithful followers and they know these fans are a book-buying mad bunch of bibliophiles. 

Why does this matter so much you ask?  -- ok, you didn't but I'm still gonna put you in the know: 

Pre-orders are the great predictor, the magic eight ball, the magic mirror on the wall if you will - and their importance is greatly increased in the publishing world.   

As a writer Gini's gotta bring the words and the worldbuilding; as author with publishing deals, Gini needs to bring in the book pre-orders, too. 

Why else does it matter you ask? (obviously you sense my theme by now...)

Robust pre-sales can impact:

1. How may books a vendor initially orders and whether they make subsequent orders - print runs determine whether a title can make the USA Today or New York Times Bestseller lists...or not 
2. What format a publisher decides to make a book in - trust me getting a physical book is not guaranteed  
3. If an author gets a contract extension or even gets to complete their existing contract 

We want Gini's publisher to know we're excited about the next book so they keep the Gini writing giving us new books.  

Pre-order sales, along with the books sold at first release, count towards the first week sales numbers. 


Maximizing initial sales establishes bestseller contenders (wouldn't it be great to push Gini up on the lists?) and can impact the fate of future books. 

The next Alien/Katherine "Kitty" Kat book, Alien Nation, is set for release on December 6, 2016.  It is available for pre-order at major and independent bookstores and online book retailers now:

Amazon  
Barnes and Noble 

Books-A-Million
Mysterious Galaxy
Powell's City of Books 

The Poisoned Pen

Gini releases two books in the Alien series a year - that means the pre-order cycle can be fast and furious. So let's help her by getting those Alien Nation pre-orders in and to wave that banner to her publisher that the book's on our radar. 

We want the Giniverse to keep the lights on.