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Why Every Aspiring Author Needs a Newsletter
Before they publish a book
A few years ago, I sat across from a friend who had just finished his first book. He was excited — fired up about getting it out into the world.
“I’m ready,” he said. “Now I just need to find readers.”
That’s when I had to break the news. Finding readers after you’ve finished the book is backwards.
It’s like opening a restaurant before you’ve told anyone about it. The tables are set, the food is hot, but no one knows it exists. And when no one shows up, the panic sets in.
If you’re writing a book (or planning to), your #1 job isn’t just writing. It’s building the audience that will actually read it. And the best way to do that? A newsletter.
Your Audience Is Your Leverage
Publishing a book isn’t the finish line — it’s the starting point. If you don’t have an audience before you launch, you’re already at a disadvantage.
A newsletter gives you direct access to your readers, without relying on social media algorithms or hoping Amazon’s marketplace blesses you with visibility. It’s your personal VIP list, where you can talk directly to the people who care about your work.
