We were lucky to catch up with Sarina Siebenaler recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sarina, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?

As a mom, I began reading to my children very early. Reading aloud to children carries a multitude of long-term benefits. And I longed to try and convince each of them through books that one day they would grow from babies to bookworms. Reading to them ritually gave me the confidence to restart my love of writing. I had always loved art, so I found the idea of creating a book to be the perfect marriage of the two.

Launching a book as a self-published author can be an exciting yet challenging endeavor. Over the years, I’ve learned many strategies through continuous mentorships and research. However, with my 3rd book released this year, I have realized that marketing has also changed.

Here are a few things that have helped me as I have gone through the launch of my book(s):

1. Pre-Launch Preparations: I invest time in ensuring each book is well-polished. This includes professional editing, illustrations, cover design, and formatting. A compelling book description and author bio is also created during this time.

2. Online presence: I maintain a website and active social media profile across platforms where my target audience is. Consistent engagement of followers and offering valuable content helps create an audience to follow along and celebrate with you before each launch.

3. Creating buzz: Teaser snippets of new characters, book covers, behind-the-scenes content, and contests and giveaways are fun to create buzz and awareness for a new book release.

4. Leveraging advance reviews: I send advance review copies to beta readers and potential reviewers in exchange for honest feedback. Positive reviews posted before the launch can significantly influence readers’ purchasing decisions and help them gain credibility for what they are buying from you.

5. Crafting a solid marketing plan: Setting a launch date, coordinating promotions, and leveraging various platforms like Amazon, Goodreads, and book bloggers are part of my marketing plan. Paid advertising options help to target potential readers as well.

6. Email Marketing: An email list is essential for long-term success. I encourage readers to subscribe to my website and provide exclusive content or updates. This platform also communicates directly to those interested in my product(s).

7. Launch days strategies: I focus on driving traffic to the book’s sales page on launch day. I usually launch by sharing and announcing on social media, running limited-time discounts, and asking launch team members to share the book release information.

8. Adapt and Learn: Finally, I stay open to feedback and continuously analyze what worked and what didn’t during the launch. This helps me refine my approach for future book launches.

A successful self-published book launch results from a well-rounded strategy combining preparation, marketing, engagement, and adaptability.

Self-published authors can create a meaningful impact in the literary world by fostering a connection with readers and effectively promoting the book.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Absolutely! I reside in sunny Arizona with my husband, three children, and our rescued Goldendoodle. I love poetry, art, and children’s books, inspiring my writing journey. I hope to continue writing children’s books to encourage literacy, spark a child’s imagination, and help with social and emotional skills. I believe that laughter in picture books encourages and helps motivate reading, as it has with my own three children. I enjoy spending my free time running, hiking, and taking new adventures with my family.

I started writing children’s books because of my passion to reach struggling and reluctant readers. This stemmed from my son, who was diagnosed with Autism at the tender age of 22 months. His love of silly and outlandish books triggered this desire to utilize my past writing skills. I felt a calling to make a difference in special education and early literacy.

I’ve written and published two books in the Silly Books for Kids series that ignite laughter, mystery, and imagination. I’ve included a list of comprehension questions for readers at the end of my books to help readers understand what they have read and add a little fun to the end of each story. I have also created bonus “Read and Learn” worksheets on my website to encourage further activities to help children and educators.

I’m most proud of all the children who have enjoyed reading my stories and the enthusiasm of librarians, Storytime YouTubers, teachers, parents, and organizations that have shared and enjoyed reading the stories I worked so hard to create for them.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I GOOGLED AND RESEARCHED A LOT when I started my writing journey in 2019! I later discovered that Facebook had community groups with tens of thousands of like-minded creators offering valuable resources! Some individuals were either starting their writing process or had been seasoned in the business. If I had entered these groups when I started, it would have saved me monetarily and some pretty heavy mistakes.

There are many excellent and free resources for almost anything on social media platforms, including podcasts and YouTube, that help guide authors and answer questions.

I’ve also found that investing in a coach and mentor is an invaluable way to grow and learn.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

As long as readers continue to enjoy and find value in my stories, I will continue writing them. This market is heavily saturated, and there are millions of talented writers. As long as I am making a difference in early literacy and fostering a love of reading with the bonus of humor, I will continue more book projects.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sarinasiebenaler.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarina_siebenaler
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/sillybooksforkids
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/sarina-siebenaler-48933631
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/sarinaSieb
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcsPQB8UOi8
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgSm4Gh17T8&t=10s