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I had a wild and wonderful release week for my new novel, Her Time Traveling Duke!
I’ll tell you all about it! But if you are new to the blog, it’s this book:
I had interviews on websites…
My publisher arranged these! Please check out:
Interview with my hero, Henry Leighton-Lyons, on Fresh Fiction!
An author Q&A on Writer’s Digest is going up soon!
I put up social media posts and videos…
In the middle of my release week, I joked to a friend of mine, “Being an author is 50% writing, 25% being a mediocre graphic artist, and 25% being a mediocre QVC host.”
I felt like I was making nonstop graphics and videos! Of course, when I look back, it doesn’t seem like that much.
Authors are always hearing these rumors that publishers pressure authors to grow their social media following or post a certain amount of times. My publisher, Berkley, has never once pressured me. But I always do my best to help promote the book.
Often, I find myself hovering between feeling like I’m not posting enough, feeling like the posts I’m putting up aren’t good enough, and feeling like I’m posting too much. I sometimes feel self-conscious about how I look in photos and videos, too. But I just post, anyway. And maybe I’ll take a class or two about creating video content in the new year!
I made appearances on podcasts…
My publisher set these up for me, too! As you know, I love talking about writing. Podcast appearances strike terror in my ADHD brain, though, because they’re sometimes in different time zones and I am terrified of messing up and missing one. But I set alarms for myself, wrote the times in my planner, and left notes in other places, and I managed to make all my appointments just fine. 🙂
I had a lot of fun talking to these podcasters. Here they are, if you want to give them a listen/watch!
And I celebrated at a release day event!
Little Bean Coffee and Little Bean Books, in Antioch, Illinois, are both owned by the creative and lovely Angela Burns. My event was at the coffee shop, which is so cozy (although spacious) that just stepping in there is like getting a hug from a friend. They had printed a custom bookmark with a quote from the book, and they’d made a custom café drink in honor of my main characters, Henry and Rose!
I always worry that no one will show up for an author event. This is valid, because many authors, including well-established ones, have had this exact experience.
But even on a cold December night, people gathered for a chat about the book. I also taught a free Romance Novel Writing 101 workshop!
My brother and his wife were there. I know that many authors don’t get a lot of support from their partners or their family, so I’m very lucky on both counts.
You can order a signed copy from Little Bean Books!
The TikTok that made some people mad
One TikTok video I made in November, about Chicago being underrated and misrepresented, suddenly picked up a bunch of views and angry comments over this past weekend.
I talked about the book in the video, too. Mr. Donovan told me I got two 1-star ratings on Goodreads, without reviews, overnight. They could’ve been unrelated, but the timing was suspect. So if you enjoyed the book, and you’re on Goodreads and/or you review on Amazon, I hope you’ll post reviews to balance that out!
A few people said awful things to me, but I’ve been on social media a long time now, so I’ve heard it all before. I’m just deleting and blocking. The video was really intended for fans of Chicago, and many of them have left nice comments!
Overall, I’ve seen some wonderful early feedback from readers for Her Time Traveling Duke.
On blogs…
Red Carpet Crash, which is hosting a giveaway!, wrote in their review,
“This is a great follow-up to her last book, HER KNIGHT AT THE MUSEUM (which you should read). The chemistry between the two is off the charts, along with a good group of supporting characters. This is a good rom-com to end the year with!”
In Between Drafts, in their roundup of “Books to Read to Celebrate 25 Years of Gilmore Girls,” wrote:
“If you want another fun romance that also features a grumpy character, try Bryn Donovan’s magical time-travel romp. You won’t be able to resist an out-of-time duke and the magical museum employee who brings him forward in time. Very grumpy-sunshine. Very Luke and Lorelei.”
On Instagram…
Lizzie Page Reads wrote:
“It really checks all my boxes: swoony, fun, creative, compelling. It put a huge smile on my face, and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!”
Audie Reads wrote:
“If you are looking for that peak romcom of the early 2000s feel with a bit of time-traveling magic, STOP SCROLLING: YOU HAVE TO READ THIS ONE!”
Author Marci Viola Giebels, who recommended curling up with the book for a self-care day, wrote:
“If The Art Institute of Chicago is suddenly overrun with applications for employment by female candidates, blame Bryn Donovan…I was craving a funny, romantic escape and Rose and Henry’s world provided all the warmth (and heat) I needed.”
Kiara Rose wrote:
“AHHH this book was EVERYTHING to me!! I thought the story was so unique, a time traveling handsome duke?? i absolutely loved it!! I really enjoyed how it was a mix of contemporary romance x historical romance x magical realism! & I really enjoyed the author’s writing style!”
There were a bunch more, and I’ll share all of them on social media! 🙂
And even in a newspaper!
The Cape May Star and Wave wrote: “Her Time Traveling Duke beautifully intertwines the historical and contemporary romance genres while dutifully exploring the concept of love across centuries. Readers will enjoy the emotional story, with its quirky hijinks, hilarious banter and heartfelt emotions. Rose and Henry’s journey proves, after all, that true love is timeless.”
This has all meant so much to me!
I don’t look at Amazon and Goodreads reviews at all, because it is too easy to obsess about those and keep checking for new ones, but Mr. Donovan is going to make me a scrapbook of the good ones.
Thank you for reading about my release week!
I am so grateful for the experience!
I feel like I can relax a little now. I am working through the holidays on book edits for clients, and doing some new writing, but I will still have time to enjoy the holidays with my family. I hope you’re enjoying the season, too, and I hope you have a great week!
Congratulations Bryn! I love the comments and I can’t wait to read it!!