CLC Kenya Writing

Prepare Your Launch Team

A launch team is a small group of people who believe in your message and are willing to help your book reach the right readers. They are not simply people you ask to buy the book. They are people who can pray, encourage, share, review and recommend the book before and around the launch period.

For a first-time author, even 5–15 committed people can be more useful than a large group that is not actively involved.

Who Should Be on Your Launch Team?

Choose people who are genuinely connected to you, your message, your intended readers or the communities you hope the book will reach.

A balanced launch team may include:

  • Prayer partners who will consistently pray for you, the book and its impact.
  • Readers who understand or relate to the subject of the book.
  • Pastors, ministry leaders or church workers where the message has a ministry connection.
  • Professionals or practitioners whose work relates to your subject.
  • Other authors or writers who understand the publishing journey and can offer support.
  • Community connectors who are active in groups, organisations, fellowships or professional networks.
  • People comfortable sharing useful content online through social media, WhatsApp or other platforms.
  • Friends, colleagues or supporters who genuinely believe in you and the message of the book.

The goal is not to recruit only highly influential people. A person with a small but trusted network, genuine interest in your message and willingness to participate can be far more valuable.

Back On My Feet book cover
Practical Example

Example: Back On My Feet

If you were preparing a launch team for a Christian book supporting single parents, such as Back On My Feet, you could look for people whose interests, ministry or relationships naturally connect with the book’s intended readers.

A single parent who understands the realities addressed in the book
A pastor or ministry leader who works with families
A teacher, counsellor or family-support professional
Another Christian author who understands the publishing journey
A leader of a single-parent, parenting or family-support group
Someone active in a relevant WhatsApp or community group
A church member or friend who genuinely believes in the book’s message
Someone who regularly shares helpful Christian or parenting content online
The principle: Choose people whose interests, relationships or areas of influence naturally connect with the message of the book and the readers it is intended to serve.

What Can a Launch Team Actually Do?

1. Pray for the Book

For Christian authors, prayer should be part of the launch process, not an afterthought.

Your launch team can pray for:

  • The final publishing process
  • The author
  • The launch event
  • The people who will read the book
  • Opportunities for the book to reach the right audiences
  • Lasting spiritual and practical impact
Example Request
“Would you be willing to pray with me over the next few weeks as we prepare to release the book, especially that it reaches the people who genuinely need its message?”

2. Share Your Launch Communication

Launch team members can help you extend your reach by sharing appropriate communication with their networks.

This might include:

  • A launch poster
  • Registration details
  • A short video
  • A book announcement
  • A link to the launch
  • A relevant post from the author

Avoid sending them ten different posters and asking them to share everything. Give them clear, simple communication.

Better Approach
“The book launches next Saturday. If you are comfortable doing so, could you share this invitation with one or two people or groups that may genuinely be interested in Christian parenting?”
Avoid This
“Please forward this everywhere.”

3. Read an Advance Copy Where Applicable

If advance copies are available, selected members of the launch team can read the book before the public release.

They can help you by:

  • Becoming familiar with the message
  • Identifying favourite sections
  • Preparing an honest review
  • Sharing what they found useful
  • Recommending the book more confidently

Do not expect everyone on the team to read the entire book. Choose a smaller reading group if necessary.

Example Request
“I have provided limited access to my book through Google Docs. Would you be willing to read it before the launch and share an honest review once the book is released?”

4. Leave Honest Reviews

Reviews help future readers understand whether a book may be useful to them.

Launch team members should be encouraged to leave honest reviews, not instructed to give five stars or exaggerated praise.

A Helpful Review
“I found the chapter on communicating with teenagers especially practical. The examples helped me reflect on how I respond to my children during conflict.”
Less Useful
“Amazing book! Everyone must buy it!”
Where possible: Reviews may be left on the author’s website, bookselling platforms, social media, or other appropriate book platforms.

5. Recommend the Book Naturally

Some launch team members may know churches, organisations, schools, fellowships, professional groups or individuals who would benefit from the book.

Ask them to recommend the book where it naturally fits.

Example Request
“If you know a parenting fellowship, church group or school programme where this subject may be useful, I would appreciate an introduction.”
Notice the difference: You are asking for an introduction to a relevant person or community, rather than expecting someone to aggressively sell your book on your behalf.
Launch Team Preparation

Give Your Launch Team Clear Assignments

Do not simply create a WhatsApp group called My Book Launch Team and expect people to know what to do. Give them simple, clear assignments at each stage of the launch.

Two Weeks Before Launch
  • Pray for the book and its readers.
  • Read the advance copy if you received one.
  • Save the launch date.
One Week Before Launch
  • Share the official launch communication once.
  • Personally invite one or two relevant people.
Launch Day
  • Attend where possible.
  • Share the launch link or announcement.
  • Encourage conversation around the book.
After Launch
  • Leave an honest review.
  • Recommend the book where appropriate.

Keep the Team Small and Manageable

You do not need hundreds of people. For a first book, you could begin with a small team of committed supporters.

5 Prayer Partners
People committed to praying.
5 Readers & Reviewers
People willing to read and give genuine feedback.
5 Connectors
People connected to communities where your intended readers may be found.
Some people may serve in more than one role.

Do Not Make the Relationship Transactional

Avoid making people feel that their friendship with you is now measured by how many books they sell.

Avoid
“I need everyone to sell ten copies.”
Better
“Thank you for helping me introduce this message to people who may genuinely benefit from it.”
Your launch team should feel that they are participating in the impact of the book, not working as unpaid sales agents.
Sample Invitation

A Simple Launch Team Invitation

Hello Grace,

I am preparing to release my book on Christian parenting, and I am putting together a small launch team of people who believe in the message. I would be grateful if you would consider joining us.

The team will mainly help through prayer, sharing selected launch communication, reading an advance copy where available, leaving an honest review and recommending the book where it naturally fits.

Would you be interested?
If they decline, thank them warmly and move on.
Your Turn

Start With These Three Practical Assignments

Assignment 1: Identify 10–15 people.
Write down people who genuinely connect with you, your message or your intended readers.
Assignment 2: Give each person a role.
Mark each person as Prayer Partner, Reader/Reviewer, Connector, or a combination.
Assignment 3: Invite them personally.
Send a personal invitation rather than simply adding people to a WhatsApp group without asking.
Build a team around the message, not merely around the launch date.