Applications open · Hostile Range
Join the Launch Team
A book’s first week decides most of what happens to it afterward. A small group of readers who show up in that week can change a book’s whole life. That’s what this team is for.
What being on the team looks like
- The cover reveal first, ahead of the newsletter
- A look behind the scenes at how the book got written: the research, the ranch, the parts that changed
- The opening chapter of book two before it goes to anyone else
- Direct access to me. You can reply to any email and I’ll answer.
What I’m hoping you’ll do
- Pick up your own copy during launch week, when it will be at the lowest price the book will ever be
- Read it, and if you’d like, share your honest thoughts wherever you talk about books: Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, your book club, or the friend who always asks what you’re reading
- Read about one short email a week for roughly six weeks
- Tell one person who’d like it. That’s all. One.
Nothing you get from this team depends on whether you post a review, or on what your review says. Reviewing is always your choice. If you do post one, please mention that you’re on my launch team, so other readers know.
One thing I deliberately don’t do: name launch team members in the acknowledgments. Your thanks comes privately instead.
Two things that surprise people
You buy the book. I don’t give it away.
Most launch teams hand every member a free copy. I don’t, and it isn’t about the money. The ebook will be priced as low as it will ever go during launch week, so it’s an easy, low-cost way to be there on day one. Buying your own copy also means that if you do choose to review it, your review shows as a verified purchase.
We run by email. There’s no Facebook group.
Facebook groups are the default for launch teams, but I’d rather keep things simple. Everything happens in your inbox, about one short email a week, and nothing else to join. My emails are sent through MailerLite, the service I use for my newsletter, and they come from author@angeladshelton.com. Add that address to your contacts so nothing lands in spam.
And one more: honest means honest.
If the book doesn’t work for you, say so in your review. I would rather have a real three-star review than a polite five-star one, and so would every reader deciding whether to buy. Nobody is ever asked to pretend.
The application
It takes about two minutes and it asks a few real questions, because I’m keeping the team small and I want it made of the right readers.
Here’s what happens after you apply:
- Confirm your email. If you’re new to my email list, look for a quick confirmation email from author@angeladshelton.com and click the button inside. Your application reaches me once you confirm. If you’re already on my list, there’s nothing else to do.
- Watch for MailerLite. My emails are sent through MailerLite, so that’s the name you may see behind them.
- Hear back from me. I read every application myself, and you’ll hear back from me either way, with a yes or a no. If it’s a yes, a welcome email will be on its way with everything you need.
Not ready to commit to all that? Completely fair.
Just get updates on Hostile Range instead →