Unlock the Power of Your Newsletter (and Sell More Books)

When authors come to us and say, “I’ve tried TikTok, I’ve bought ads, I’ve paid for promos, but my sales still feel unpredictable,” we always start with the same question:

👉 “What’s your newsletter strategy?”

We ask this because, MUCH to our dismay, TikTok trends shift weekly. Ads eat your budget if you don’t know how to target. Promo sites give you one big spike and then silence. But your newsletter? That’s the one tool that keeps working, month after month, year after year...if you use it right.

Your email list is the only marketing channel you truly own. No algorithms. No platform risk. No hoping your post “hits.” When you email your readers, it lands directly in their inbox—and those readers asked to hear from you.

The authors who understand this aren’t just growing lists. They’re building careers.

Start Thinking About Marketing While You’re Writing

A lot of authors think marketing starts after the book is written. But if you plan for it while you’re drafting, your story can do some of the heavy lifting for you.

This doesn’t mean writing a book that feels like one big ad, it means being intentional about where you give readers an “open door” to connect with you.

Think about your backmatter (what happens after “The End”):

• Bonus chapters or extended epilogues (fade-to-black in the book, the full scene in your newsletter).

• Side character POVs or bonus shorts that don’t fit in the main book.

• Artwork, playlists, or moodboards linked through your site.

But you don’t have to wait until the end. You can also plant links right up front in the frontmatter:

• A map or companion guide for your world.

• A free prequel or novella that introduces readers to your series.

• A quick “start here” checklist for your series in reading order.

The point: if someone is already reading your book, they’re your warmest lead. Don’t just let them close the last page and drift away, give them a reason to stick with you.

One of our clients ended her stalker dark romance with an irresitable fade-to-black epilogue and offered the full spicy scene as a bonus for newsletter subscribers. Another added a link to a downloadable map of her fantasy world right in the frontmatter, which doubled as her newsletter magnet. Both strategies worked because they were tied directly to the reading experience.

Grow Your Newsletter List with Intention

A big list doesn’t automatically equal big sales. What you really want is the right list: readers who love your tropes, your characters, and your genre. Ten engaged subscribers who’ll buy every book are worth more than a thousand random freebie collectors who never open your emails.

That’s why you need to be intentional with your magnets. The best list-building happens when your freebie is a natural extension of your book.

Examples of intentional list-builders:

• Romance: Bonus epilogue, “too hot for Amazon” scene, or the first date from the MMC’s POV.

• Fantasy: Prequel short story that sets up the main conflict, or a “lost history scroll” with lore that doesn’t fit in the book.

• Mystery/Thriller: An alternate ending, or a diary entry from the killer’s perspective.

• Small-town/Contemporary: Holiday short stories or a “where are they now?” mini-episode with fan-favorite side characters.

The key is to give readers something they actually want, not something you think you “should” create.

Beyond bonus scenes: magnets that work long-term

Magnets don’t have to be fiction-only. Here are other creative options:

• Artwork: Exclusive character art, maps, or moodboards.

• Companion guides: “New to my series? Here’s the reading order” or “Meet the cast of characters.”

• Checklists: “10 signs you’re in a grumpy-sunshine romance” or “The Hollow Student’s Survival Guide.” (Fun, branded extras that tie to your world.)

• Playlists: Spotify or Apple Music playlists you built while writing.

These don’t just build your list—they build community around your books.

How to set it up

You’ll need a system that delivers your magnet automatically and stores your subscribers.

Two of the most author-friendly platforms are:

• BookFunnel (seamless delivery, group promos, ARC management).

• StoryOrigin (great for swaps, tracking open rates, and building with other authors).

Pair that with your email service (MailerLite, ConvertKit, or Flodesk) and you’re ready to roll.

Where to promote your magnet

Don’t just make a magnet and hope people find it. Put it everywhere readers touch your work:

• In your backmatter (“Want the bonus epilogue? Grab it here!”)

• In your frontmatter (“New reader? Download your free prequel here.”)

• On your website and socials (use Canva to make a simple promo graphic).

• In newsletter swaps with other authors in your genre.

One of our romance clients added her bonus scene link to the back of her book and picked up hundreds of sign-ups in a single month—without spending a dime on ads.

Unsure of where to get started? Write down one magnet idea today that ties directly to your WIP or current series. Then, pick one place to promote it (backmatter, website, or socials) and get it live.

💡 Pro tip: Don’t overthink. A 2,000-word bonus scene that readers want will outperform a 20,000-word novella you never finish.

Nurture Your Readers (Don’t Ghost Them)

Here’s the biggest mistake I see: authors put a shiny magnet in the back of their book, collect 500 new subscribers, and then… silence. No welcome email. No check-in. Nothing until launch week.

By the time they finally send something, half their list doesn’t remember who they are. That’s how you end up in the spam folder.

Your newsletter isn’t just about selling books—it’s about keeping the relationship warm. Think of it as writing letters to friends who already like your stories.

What to send (with real examples):

• Behind the scenes: “I cut an entire subplot this week because my villain stole the spotlight. Do you want me to share the deleted chapter?”

• Personal notes: “My dog tried to sit on my keyboard again while I was writing chapter 12. I think he’s jealous of my MMC.”

• Reader engagement: “Quick poll: would you rather read a forbidden romance with a bodyguard or with your best friend’s brother?”

The welcome sequence matters

Don’t just send one “Here’s your freebie, thanks, bye” email. Set up a simple 2–3 part welcome sequence:

1. Deliver the magnet + thank them for joining.

2. Share a story about why you write what you write.

3. Ask them a fun question about their favorite trope or book.

This builds recognition and trust so when your next launch email hits, they actually open it.

💡 Pro tip: Don’t stress about being “professional.” Readers signed up for you. Messy updates, typo stories, even your current Netflix obsession—they all make you human and memorable (but still don't skip a final proofread!).

Make Buying a No-Brainer

When it’s launch week, stop tiptoeing. If someone has stuck with you this far, they want to know about your book. Don’t make them scroll, hunt for links, or guess what to do.

Best practices:

• Put your buy link right at the top of the email. Don’t bury it.

• Repeat the link 2–3 times in natural spots.

• Use a clear button: “Grab Your Copy Now” or “Preorder Today.”

• Add urgency: “Launch price ends Sunday” or “Preorder bonus disappears Friday.”

Launch email sequence (simple, but effective):

1. Teaser email (3 days before): “It’s almost here—are you ready?”

2. Launch day email: “It’s live! Grab your copy now.”

3. Follow-up email (3–5 days later): Share early reviews, quotes, or your favorite reader reactions.

Example snippet:

Subject: It’s here 🎉 Book Title is live!Grab your copy now: [Buy Link] If you love [grumpy sunshine + forced proximity], this one’s for you. P.S. Launch week price ends Sunday—don’t miss it.

💡 Pro tip: Don’t send just one email. Even if you feel repetitive, readers need reminders. Most people don’t buy the first time they see a link.

Repurpose What You Already Have

One of the fastest ways to burn out is thinking you need “new” content for every platform. You don’t. Repurposing is your friend.

How to do it:

• Take a funny story from your newsletter → turn it into a TikTok voiceover.

• Use a poll result → screenshot and share it on Instagram stories.

• Share a newsletter snippet → drop it into your Facebook reader group.

• Launch emails → copy/paste structure for your next book.

We had a client who wrote a heartfelt newsletter about why she loves the “found family” trope. She copy-pasted it into a Facebook post, pulled one line out for a TikTok caption, and later used the same text to introduce a preorder bonus. Three platforms, one piece of writing.

💡 Pro tip: Repetition isn’t annoying—it’s reinforcement. Marketing is about consistency, not constant invention.

The Big Picture

That dark romance client? Her fade-to-black epilogue + bonus chapter strategy didn’t just grow her list. It doubled her reviews, boosted her preorders, and kept her sales steady for weeks.

Why? Because she built her newsletter into the storytelling itself.

That’s the level you want to aim for. Not just “collecting names on a list.” Creating a system where your writing and your marketing work together.

So here’s your challenge:

• Pick one magnet idea this week.

• Decide on your send rhythm.

• Draft your next launch email.

Start small. Stay consistent. And watch your newsletter turn into the most powerful tool you have.