My debut book is finally out

[MirkaH]

I hope it’s ok to post about our books. I’ve been a member for years, and mostly just lurk around, but I’m so excited that my debut author illustrated book is finally out. I have been so busy trying to figure out how to promote, I forgot to post about it here.
It’s been a really long time coming- I had the idea for the book in 2019, and it turned from a picture book into an early reader graphic novel, before my agent submitted and sold it. I know the publisher is doing their own promoting, but if anyone here has thoughts on how to help promote as author/illustrator, I am all ears. I’m listening to Will’s current YouTube series to see if I can glean any nuggets of wisdom as far as promotion from it.
If you want to check my book out, you can find it at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/714408/mossy-and-tweed-crazy-for-coconuts-by-written-and-illustrated-by-mirka-hokkanen/

[mag]

@MirkaH Congratulations!!! This is so exciting!
I do not have any promotion advice for you (I'm as bad as I can be in this stuff) but I wanted to say how happy I am to see your book being published! 🥳

[kayleenartlover]

@MirkaH Congratulations! And by the looks of the title, I can tell there's a possibility of it being the first of a series!

[NessIllustration]

@MirkaH Wow congrats! This is huge!

[AngelinaKizz]

Congratulations!

[KathrynAdebayo]

@MirkaH It looks like a really funny and amazing book. Congrats!

[KatrinaF]

@MirkaH Congrats Mirkah! Love this for you! I followed you on Instagram and look forward to following your progress. BTW I love that you use Clip Studio Paint. Me too! It's a great tool. Congrats again!

[Chantal Goetheer]

@MirkaH congratulations!! It looks and sounds like a very fun book.

[Melissa_Bailey]

@MirkaH congratulations!!! So happy for you!

[xin li]

Huge congratulations! @MirkaH.
I surely wish your comic being translated into Norwegian. My kid learned to read by reading early reader graphic novels last year. I never have enoguh good graphic novels for her.

Would your agent/publishers push your book for foregin rights? Scandinavia might be a good place for your comic?

My debute book is coming out in a year. I am also started to plan how to promote my book. I attended a digital workshop with SCBWI last year about promoting your book. I took a screenshot on the presentation about things authors can do to pomote their book. Maybe that is helpful for you too?

I just read 3 sample spreads of your book online. I laughted it out loud. The characters were so funny. I will add your book to the list next time I order books. Once I have a copy, I can review the book on www.goodreads.com. Do you have an author page on Goodreads?

[Kim Rosenlof]

@MirkaH Congrats! Cute characters.

[ArtMelC]

@MirkaH Congratulations! I'm so happy for you. I didn't know you were a long time SVSer Came across your work as Storystorm cover image and it was wonderful!

[Jeremy Ross]

Congratulations @MirkaH!!! How exciting! You should definitely promote on social media and possibly in your city. Maybe you can reach out to your local radio and tv stations and see if they would like to promote a local author/illustrator book signing at a book store?

Again, congratulations!!!

Another SVS Success Story. Maybe SVS and 3PP podcast can help you promote?

[Nyrryl Cadiz]

@MirkaH congratulations! This is a huge milestone for sure! I am so happy for u!

[MirkaH]

@kayleenartlover yes. Ive already finished the second book and its coming out early 2024.

[MirkaH]

@KatrinaF yes! I learned it specifically for graphic novels and love all the shortcuts to paneling, speech bubbles and ease of use. Amd the fill tools are awesome too.

[MirkaH]

@xin-li thank you! I missed that scbwi webinar. Thankfully I've done most of the points on the slide. Since it's a series, Im trying to make sure the launch is good so theres a chance to make more. And thinking if some one buys one, and they like it, then theres a good chance they buy the others.

My son learned to read with graphic novels (Dogman) too and its a big reason why I made this book. To create something fun and engaging for kids that theyd learn to read on the side. The book illustrations carry a lot of the story, so even if you cant read every word, you still get the story.

I'm from Finland and hope the book gets translated. It'll be pitched via my agency, but it's up to the publishers if it gets picked up or not.

I do have a Goodreads account, and its on Amazon too, and if you do get a chance to review, I'll send a little signed print and some stickers for you as a small thank you. (Even internationally, it all fits in an envelope.) Just message me your address on social media or email.

[MirkaH]

@ArtMelC thanks! I've been a member for i think around 6-7 years... Hoping that my oldest finishes a few of the classes before I cancel my membership.

[MirkaH]

@Jeremy-Ross thanks! We live overseas on a mil base in Korea, so I dont have local bookstores or much opportunities to promote locally here. I am talking at one of the base schools at the end of the month so thats exciting. I could reach out and ask if 3PP wants to have me on. I listen to it all the time. I feel a bit of an imposter syndrome asking.

[Griffin McPherson]

Always happy to see news like this! I’ve never had to do promotional stuff but something that came to mind to me was getting in touch with your local SCBWI chapter. There’s a specific way you can promote new releases on there, I’ll have to look into it again.