How You Can Help My Debut Novel
Since folks are asking. Thanks, y'all. <3
A happy, frizzy author with a happy, non-frizzy copy of her book.
If you hear screaming, that’s me. Why? Because my debut novel, D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T., comes out in less than two months.
[deep breath] AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
The next seven weeks are what I think of as “crunch time” to gin up publicity and presales for my book. You may or may not have heard authors crow about presales before. The gist is, preordering is the closest thing to make-or-break for a debut author’s success: They contribute to our first-week sales counts, which is how publications like USA Today and the New York Times make bestseller lists. They show libraries, independent bookstores, and Barnes & Noble franchises that there’s enough interest in the book, they should order their own copies. And they help bring the book to the attention of more writers, reviewers, and influencers who might help publicize it on their own channels.
In other words, my full-time job over the next seven weeks is increasing D.J. Rosenblum’s sales. (And some writing. But I’m keeping that project to myself for now.) Some kind friends have asked if they can help. You sure can!
Here are the top three things you can do to help increase preorders of D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T.:
Preorder your own copy—plus copies you might want to give to others later. The holiday season is a great time to place these orders, too. But if you know you’re going to buy a copy at some point, it would be helpful to add that number to my preorders.
Reach out individually to five people you know who you think would like the book. Sharing on social media is great, don’t get me wrong. But I’ve found that a direct-to-person approach can be more effective. Make sure to include a preorder link in your message so this person can buy their own copy in just a few clicks.
Email or call your local library or indie bookstore and ask them to stock D.J. Rosenblum. I’ve reached out to a few bookstores and library branches. But those appeals are almost always more successful when you have a personal connection—and I just haven’t been that many places! Most libraries and indie bookstores have at least one email address available on their websites. Below is an email template you could customize for your recipient of choice:
Hello,
I hope you’re doing well! My name is [INSERT HERE], and I’m writing as a longtime [MEMBER/CUSTOMER] of [LIBRARY/BOOKSTORE]. My friend Abby White is a young adult author whose debut novel, D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T., will be published by Levine Querido on August 5.
I’m writing to ask whether you’d consider stocking copies of this book in your [STORE/LIBRARY]. D.J. Rosenblum is the story of 14-year-old D.J., a queer Jewish girl, who is preparing for her belated bat mitzvah while investigating her cousin’s death. It’s diverse, funny, wise, and deeply concerned with mental health—especially experiences like grief and depression. I think your [MEMBERS/CUSTOMERS] would appreciate D.J. Rosenblum because [PERSONALIZED REASON].
The ISBN for D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T. is 9781646145652 and digital copies are currently available on NetGalley and Edelweiss. Thank you so much for considering!
Best,
[YOUR NAME]
Of course, you can also write your own email! Just take this template as a starting point.
If you have any questions, feel free to respond to this newsletter. I’ll answer as much as I can. And in the meantime, here are the main preorder links:
Politics and Prose (an indie I love): https://politics-prose.com/book/9781646145652
Loyalty Bookstores (another indie I love): https://loyaltybookstores.com/book/9781646145652
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dj-rosenblum-becomes-the-goat-abby-white/1146623813?ean=9781646145652
Amazon (but please only order here as a last resort): https://www.amazon.com/D-J-Rosenblum-Becomes-G-T/dp/1646145658/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34SI9AZYFVWUI&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.RORgQLPEpxCtjrycW9zrQg.3qkS9tnd3TvOzYLCGi0bWDoXobGbOrivDysAhvEB8xY&dib_tag=se&keywords=d.j.+rosenblum+becomes+the+g.o.a.t&qid=1749262040&sprefix=d.j.+rosenbl%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-1
Thanks, everybody! Crunch time is easier with more abs! (Blech. Sorry. I’ll workshop that metaphor, I promise.)
Abby’s Pop Culture Pop-Up
If you had told me as a child that HBO would be making a faithful series depiction of Harry Potter, I would’ve cried tears of joy. I’ve loved those books since I was five, I ranted about the movies’ inaccuracies, and I practically made Hermione Granger my Patronus. Now, though, I’m determined not to engage with the series because the books’ author, J.K. Rowling, has decided to funnel her wealth against the transgender community.
A lot of people believe you can separate the art from the artist. Often, I agree. I think it’s silly to disregard Picasso’s paintings—some of the best of all time—because he was a chauvinistic asshole. I still listen to a previously downloaded recording of Bill Cosby’s Noah routine when I need a laugh. But consider this my plea to you, from one Potterhead to another: Do not watch the new Harry Potter series on HBO.
The difference, as I see it, is in what money goes where. Picasso is not alive to channel any money I spend on his art toward chauvinism. Cosby is, but I transferred the Noah routine from a CD to my iTunes over a decade ago: He gets no money from my pressing play. However, Rowling owns the intellectual property rights to Harry Potter—as she should—and will therefore receive royalties from the HBO show, which she can and will use in real-time. And she has shown us exactly how she plans to use this money. In the past year and a half alone, she has:
Donated nearly $90,000 to For Women Scotland, an anti-trans group which seeks to revoke trans women’s legal recognition as women.
Celebrated the United Kingdom Supreme Court’s recent ruling that only “biological” women can be legally recognized as women—regardless of sex changes, legal name changes, or years a trans woman has been out and proud. Indeed, she claimed some credit for this ruling, tweeting: “I love it when a plan comes together.”
Formed a foundation misleadingly called the J.K. Rowling Women’s Fund to continue to eradicate trans people’s rights “in the workplace, in public life, and in protected female spaces.”
There are people who read this newsletter who think some doubts about the trans community’s participation in gendered spaces are warranted. There are also people who read this newsletter who think the Harry Potter books’ message of love and embrace of diversity cancel out Rowling’s anti-trans rhetoric. You know how firmly I disagree with these views—we’ve talked about it—and how important I consider trans rights to the rights of all marginalized people.
I am speaking to your hearts, which I know are good, and asking you to think about the very real consequences of the money you spend. We need to agree—in a loud, firm chorus—that Rowling’s actions go several bridges too far. She is actively using her wealth and influence to try to ban trans people from public life and make it impossible for people of any age to undergo gender transition. She is trying to roll back decades of civil rights protections for a group who are over four times more likely than their cis counterparts to be victims of violent crime, including rape and sexual assault.
If none of that evidence convinces you, ask yourself: Do you want to be on the same side as Donald Trump? Do you want history to remember you as a supporter of his hateful and bigoted administration? Because that’s the side J.K. Rowling has chosen. That’s the side your money will uphold if you stream the new Harry Potter series or continue buying Harry Potter products.
Watch something else.
D.J.’s Digest
HAPPY END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR. THANK GOD.
Here’s to a summer of trips to Indy, books read in Rose Park, and hang-out sessions with Char, Tori, and Matt!
Miri’s Music
“Eve of Destruction” – Barry McGuire
Yeah, my blood’s so mad, feels like coagulatin’
I’m sittin’ here just contemplatin’
I can’t twist the truth, it knows no regulation
Handful of senators don’t pass legislation
And marches alone can’t bring integration
When human respect is disintegratin’
This whole crazy world is just too frustratin’
And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
How you don’t believe
We’re on the eve of destruction.
Sound familiar?
This Month’s Favorites
The coffee shop in Taylor Books in Charleston, West Virginia.
Coziest Coffee Shop goes to… Taylor Books, an amazing bookstore/coffee shop/art gallery in Charleston, West Virginia. I visited at the start of the month for a family event and found the town totally charming—and this store most of all.
My Kind of Kidlit goes to… a trio of picture books about growing up trans I saw on People’s Book’s Pride display: My & My Dysphoria Monster by Laura Kate Dale, I’m Not a Girl by Maddox Lyons and Jessica Verdi, and When Aidan Become a Brother by Kyle Lukoff. They’re all so gentle and wise—and explain a painful experience so well—they’ll make you weep.
The Most Excellent Elephant goes to… a beautiful statue bequeathed to me by my late cousin, the sculptor Dan Kurland. I’ll keep that one to myself for now.
Announcements
None beyond please, please, please preorder. Keep an eye on this newsletter and my social media platforms—Instagram, Twitter, and Bluesky—for some exciting announcements to come!