I’m getting ready to publish my first biography, which tells my dad’s story, and I’d love some advice from this group on planning the rollout. I’ve published other books (just published my 13th title), but this is my first biography, and it’s a very personal project. Much of the nonfiction launch advice I’ve encountered focuses on teaching a skill or solving a specific problem. I’m curious how you approach finding readers and building interest when the book centers on someone’s life, experiences, and legacy. For those who have published biographies or memoirs, what worked for you? Were local media, community connections, podcasts, or speaking events especially helpful? How did you reach readers beyond the people who already knew the subject? I’d appreciate any advice on launch strategy, early reviews, or things you wish you’d done before publication. I want to honor my dad’s story while giving the book its best chance to connect with readers. Thanks! Jeff

Julie's welcome email suggested I introduce myself and share what stage I'm in the process, so here goes: 1. My book name/topic:​ The Curse of Average / I guess it would be in the positive psychology space about amplifying your strengths, stop spending resources on 'improving weaknesses', and lean into more peace and fulfilment where your true strengths lie. ​2. I recently published at the beginning of October and my biggest challenge right now is exposure/marketing. I've made a few sales (from my launch team and gathered some reviews) 3. My goal over the next 30 days is to garner more sales and drive traffic to my website (www.thecurseofaverage.com). Blessed to be here in this community!!

I wrote a cute little children's story titled: George and Ralph and the Great Piggy Toe Hunt. This stems from when grandpa and grandma (my wife and I) would babysit our grandkids, who were maybe 3-7 or 8. Every time we would sit the grandkids were running around in jammies with bare feet. Being the crazy grandpa, I would grab 2 of their dinosaur toys and chase the piggy toes, and of course laughter abounded. My oldest grandson who is now 19 and away at college, it was his birthday the other day. I decided to immortalize the piggy toe hunt with a cute kids books for him, as a keepsake. I wrote the words, with wife's input, and then I had ChatGPT do the artwork. If I was to ever turn that into a published children's book I would need to copyright it, and there would be an issue with the artwork. Therefore if I have an illustrator draw as close to possible what AI did, then I figure I would be better off copyright wise. I am no lawyer, and never wanted to be one, so I am wondering - get an illustrator or...? What do you all think? BTW here is what the cover looks like.

Just wanted to share a really rough couple of weeks… My mom being hospitalized two weeks ago, my book launching on Thursday, my mom passing yesterday and my birthday today. I was built with strength, provided by God and cured by my mom. So I can handle pressure. Especially under stress. I wrote the tribute below from the hospital room while watching her… 💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝💝 The clock ticked slower there. In that wing of a medical center in São Paulo, time stopped being in a hurry. You heard every tick. You felt the space between them. And you would have given anything to fill that gap with something other than what was coming. My mom (Mamis to us) spent her last fourteen days in that hospital. Tough as nails to the very end. Eighty years old, on the 21st floor, fighting until her last breath. Giving out a little more each morning, her breathing heavier and heavier, her strength fading like a tide going out and not coming back. That fight came from somewhere deeper. She had a rough life. Unfortunately, her last weeks followed suit. On the flip side, you don't raise two kids who turn out better than okay without being tough as nails yourself. On that wing, nobody talked about it out loud, but everybody knew. No patient walks out of that floor alive. It's not a hospital ward. It's a waiting room for the inevitable. A death sentence with soft sheets and the kindest nurses and doctors you will ever meet in your life. They are not there to perform miracles. They are there to provide abundant love to the patients and their families. I know death. I've been close to it four times myself. But here's the thing: facing your own death and watching someone you love face theirs are not the same thing. Not even close. In those four instances, I was the main actor. I had my own will to throw at it. My own body to fight with. There was something to do. With my mom, I was the spectator. And that's a completely different weight. You can't fight it. You can't fix it. You can't trade places, nor can you buy more time or hope.

Hi everyone. My name is Hank Quense and I just joined up. I've written nonfiction about fiction writing, publishing and book marketing and have 8 books published on this topics. My current project is a series of short (20 pages average) called Beginner's Guides. I've published eight of them so far and have 6 (maybe!) more to go. I'm looking forward to meeting all of you.