What Must I Finish Before I Die?
The Buzzletter, 5-03-26
I've been sitting with a question all month.
What must I finish before I die?
One of my sisters passed away in March. Even though it was inevitable, the exact timing was unexpected — and it stopped me in my tracks in a way I'm still processing. She reminded me, without meaning to, that the things I've been putting off are the things that matter most.
For me, that's my memoir. And my Buzzworthy Books Blueprint. Both partially written. Both waiting.
My voice is ready to go bigger. I've been hiding out, and it's time for me to be at the front of the room — helping authors like you step into your own visibility.
So I'm drafting a new plan. Getting back into the habit of writing. Showing up.
And I'm bringing you with me.
THE BUZZ STARTS BEFORE THE BOOK
I started this newsletter with zero subscribers. Twenty-five editions later, I have 762 subscribers and a 31% email open rate — growing every week.
The best part? People who discover my newsletter on LinkedIn don't have to already be connected to me. It's widened my reach in ways I didn't anticipate.
And the thing I keep coming back to: none of it would have happened if I'd waited until everything was perfect.
Most nonfiction authors wait until they're published to start marketing. I understand the impulse — you want to have something to show before you show up. But that's backwards.
A launch isn't a moment. It's a conversation. And conversations start long before anyone can buy anything.
5 PRE-LAUNCH ACTIONS YOU CAN DO IN 30 MINUTES A WEEK
Here's what works — and what I wish I'd done more of, earlier.
1. Start talking about your book publicly — now.
You don't need a finished manuscript to show up. Share what you're learning, what's surprising you, what you're wrestling with. One honest post per week is marketing. It's also storytelling — and storytelling is the engine of everything that works.
2. Build your launch community before you need it.
Think of 20 people who would genuinely love your book and champion it. Not the biggest audience — the most enthusiastic ones. Reach out to them personally. Tell them what you're writing. Ask if they'd be willing to support you when the time comes. You're not asking for anything yet. You're starting the relationship.
3. Set up your pre-order — and not just on Amazon.
Amazon's AI recommendation engine begins surfacing your book to relevant readers as soon as your pre-order goes live. But Amazon is just one option. Here's where you can list your book for pre-order:
→ Amazon KDP — largest online book-buying audience; AI recommendations kick in immediately
→ IngramSpark — distributes to 40,000+ retailers and libraries worldwide, including independent bookstores and Baker & Taylor
→ Draft2Digital — one upload pushes your pre-order to Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and more simultaneously
→ Kickstarter — turns readers into invested backers before your book exists; ideal for nonfiction with a built-in community
→ BackerKit — publishing-friendly crowdfunding with strong backer management and fulfillment tools
→ Your own website — using a direct sales tool like Curios or Shopify means you keep 100% of revenue and own the customer relationship from day one
The earlier pre-orders go live across multiple platforms, the more time each algorithm has to find your readers. Don't wait until 30 days before launch.
4. Ask the questions your book answers.
Post the exact question your reader is sitting with — on LinkedIn, in your newsletter, in a community. Watch the replies. Those responses are both your market research and your marketing. That's what I mean by marketing as conversation.
5. Start collecting email addresses today.
A simple landing page with an early access offer or reader magnet is enough. Every person who opts in before your launch is a guaranteed open on launch day. You don't need thousands. You need the right ones.
LISTENING + WATCHING THIS WEEK: INDIE AUTHORS TELL ALL
I'm one of three rotating hosts of the Indie Authors Tell All podcast, and our latest episode — which went live in March — is one I'm especially proud of.
I had the pleasure of facilitating a conversation with Becky Parker-Geist, current president of BAIPA and founder of Pro Audio Voices, a professional audiobook production company. As a past president of BAIPA myself, this felt like a full-circle moment.
We talked about Becky's journey, her work helping authors bring their books to life in audio, what it means to be a multi-genre author, and why being part of a community like BAIPA can genuinely change your trajectory as an indie publisher.
Listen on your favorite podcast service or watch us on YouTube — and please subscribe while you're there.
Watch now:https://youtu.be/iZKnFhqzAmo?si=woDpEmP9nOdHQB2M
AI + PUBLISHING: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW RIGHT NOW
Amazon is using AI to recommend books — including pre-orders. The recommendation engine now surfaces books to readers based on behavioral signals, purchase history, and browsing patterns — and pre-orders are included. This makes your pre-order page an active discoverability tool, not just a countdown clock. Set it up early, and make sure your keywords, categories, and book description are doing their job.
5 quick tips for your pre-order workflow:
Set up pre-orders on at least two platforms — Amazon KDP plus IngramSpark or Draft2Digital — to multiply your discoverability
Use Publisher Rocket to lock in your keywords and categories before the pre-order goes live, not after
Include your pre-order link in every email signature and social post from day one
Consider a Kickstarter or BackerKit campaign if your book has a built-in community — backers become your most loyal launch team
Share your pre-order milestones publicly ("We hit 100 pre-orders!") — social proof builds more pre-orders
The shift from ChatGPT to Claude. Authors who've been using AI for drafting, marketing copy, and newsletter writing are increasingly switching to Claude. The reason: Claude holds more context in a single session — your full chapter, your brand voice guide, your notes — and produces copy that sounds less "AI" and more like you. If you're using AI in your workflow and haven't tried Claude, now is a good time.
Losing my sister reminded me: the book you're sitting on is needed.
The voice you've been holding back is exactly what someone out there is waiting to hear.
What's holding you back from making yourself more visible?
Let's take a look together at your author brand — what's working, where you're wearing a cloak of invisibility, and what you can do about it.
Ready to Make Your Book More Discoverable?
For authors who want a deeper, more comprehensive assessment, the Buzzworthy Book Buzz Audit takes a closer look at both your book and your role as the author — and identifies strategic adjustments that increase visibility, credibility, and opportunity.
👉 Learn more:https://bookbuzzaudit.com
Warmly,
Judy M. Baker
Creator of the Buzzworthy Book Experience
BuzzworthyBooks.com
Discover More at Buzzworthy Books
With buzz + brilliance,
Judy M. Baker
Publishing Strategist & Founder of Buzzworthy Books | Helping Nonfiction Authors Share Their Books as Invitations and Build Trust-Driven Author Brands
Learn more at www.buzzworthybooks.com.
