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I signed the book deal for The Brunswick over 18 months ago.

18 months ago, with many years leading up to even that. The road to publication is so long and hilly!

But suddenly, this day we have anticipated for years is actually upon us. Tomorrow, May 19, is The Brunswick’s official birthday 🪩

This project has been so different from any of my others, largely because entrepreneurship allows you to charge in and start and build and try things while traditional publishing is a tried-and-true process and system to follow along.

I’ve loved my agent and publisher, and it’s actually been really great to just follow their lead.

But I’ve also enjoyed running a little wild with the launch stuff 😉

Below is a list of book-adjacent situations that have been fun surprises in this launch season, making this book project so much more than a me-and-my-Google-docs thing.

(psst. I will be sending most of my book-related newsletters through my Substack The Author’s Note moving forward. Be sure to sign up there!)

🥐 The Norcross Community

Authors dream of the moment when they see their book in print, but let me tell you—I didn’t even know to dream about seeing the book in super-size glory in my local bookstore’s window.

Catt & Mary at Freckles & Co. have been total dreamboats from the moment they moved into the neighborhood, and I am honored they have gone all-in on this book (and this town)!

I also, visionary as I claim to be, never could have imagined that the local art gallery would host a book-cover-interpretation art contest, or that our coffee shop would offer a secret menu item called The Brunswick (a cold brew coffee with a peaches ‘n cream cold foam 😍).

Anyone who purchases the book at our local bookstore Freckles & Co. this month will receive a history pamphlet created by neighbor Lucie Casey & a scavenger hunt with other fun discounts and surprises from local merchants.

And speaking of talented neighbors, our friend Ben Loecken of Sunday House Productions created the most epic video we’ll get to debut at the launch party tomorrow (more on that below).

This is the best town on earth.

🥐 The Launch Events

My husband David encouraged me to think big with these, so we asked our favorite musicians Jess Ray & Taylor Leonhardt of Mission House if they’d join us. We cannot wait to share their music alongside stories from The Brunswick at the big launch event tomorrow, Tuesday May 19. Join us by RSVPing here (it’s free!)

I’ll also be at Village Books in Atlanta this Wednesday May 20 in conversation with some of my favorite people. There are a few spots left (also free, but require an RSVP here).

🥐 The Hype from Friends

I am loving the book selfies & posts from those who’ve started receiving early copies. Keep those coming! It feels like throwing glitter all over the world?!

As the book orders continue to come in, this is my launch wish list, with ways to really help get this book flywheel spinning. 💛

Also, lol at these hats my agent Don made for our family.

🥐 Grants

We were able to give our first surprise grant from The Brunswick to a family we’ve long admired, Zak & Nicole Kratzer, who have seven kiddos—all adopted through foster care. I hope we can give many, many more of these in the months to come!

Learn more about the grants (and even consider giving, too?!) here.

🥐 Nitty Gritty Book Things

The audiobook releases May 19 as well, narrated by Kate Forbes, the gal who narrated all of Francine Rivers’ books (yall remember reading Redeeming Love ~four times in college?)

I’ve also had the sweetest reviews in Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Library Journal!

I’ve put together a letter, questions, and some fun gifts for book clubs here.

And finally, here’s one last look at the launch page with all the ways to really get The Brunswick out there.

Being an author is a team sport, and I hope as we celebrate this book this week, you’ll all feel your own part in it. Thank you for supporting, reading, launching, reviewing, text-messaging-your-mom, etc etc etc

I am honored and grateful.

💛 Callie