Why Pre-Orders Matter

I get it: probably the last thing you want to do is read a newsletter haranguing you about pre-ordering a book, especially now in this time of terrible economic uncertainty. You have bills to pay and modest aspirations like being able to afford going on vacation this summer and getting graduation presents for your nephews and nieces.

Add to this the fact that most writers hate, hate, hate asking people to buy their book, even people who seem to be fans because they subscribe to your newsletter and all. Ahem. (As always: you don’t have to buy the book; checking it out from the library is also wonderful. Just don’t get it as an illegal download.)

I’ve been hearing lately that pre-orders are more important to publishers than ever. I don’t know if this is true, but it makes sense given that a lot of other indicators publishers have traditionally depended on as bellwethers of a forthcoming book’s success are in the toilet. We’re talking reviews at media outlets—you’ve heard me say it before: these are way, way down. You can’t even count on a review from previously reliable trade sites like Publishers Weekly. Not only publishers but bookstores are looking at pre-orders (and you don’t have to trust me on that one; listen to author & famous bookstore owner Emma Straub). Books that get pre-orders from customers are likely to get a second look by the booksellers who might not stock it otherwise.

So, if you’re pretty sure you’re going to get Incarnate anyway, you’ll be doing me a huge favor by pre-ordering it through your favorite store or outlet. And, by the way, I always offer free signed bookplates on all pre-orders; all you have to do is email me at almakatsubooks2 @ gmail and provide a U.S. mailing address. For Incarnate, I’ll throw in a cute sticker (while supplies last). (Can I mention that we’ve already gotten some nibbles on the film rights..?)

So let me introduce Incarnate. It’s the story of a young woman who, through sheer willpower, creates an amazing avatar, a fake person who comes alive on Instagram and Tiktok. Through this avatar, she’s able to be all the things she longs to be in reality: beautiful, confident, in charge. She’s able to push down all the terrible things that happened in her youth, almost as though they never happened. She tells herself that having the perfect life online is enough… but it never is, is it? So, when a mysterious voice in the ether tells her she can have it all in the real world, too, well… it’s too good to pass up. And that’s when she learns the true price of faking it till you make it.

Here’s what early readers have had to say about Incarnate:

“An absolutely terrifying twist on the all too soon future to come. This is the Dorian Gray retelling of my dreams… and nightmares! I adored this book.” - Erin C.

“The Substance meets The Picture of Dorian Gray. I freaking loved this book.” - Nikki L.

“A cautionary tale about the addictive and toxic side of social media, the lasting impact of bullying, and the growing spread of AI-generated content and personas.” - Richard Q.

“What really stayed with me is how sharp the commentary feels without ever becoming preachy. The novel understands influencer culture well enough to make its satire sting, but it also understands loneliness. Dorothy isn’t evil in a cartoonish way. She’s lonely, angry, ambitious and addicted to being wanted. That makes every terrible choice she makes feel horrifyingly understandable.” - Nikki K.

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Sorry, not done yet: Finished copies of All Hallow’s Eve, an anthology of Halloween-themed stories, arrived and boy, are they special! I would be remiss if I didn’t suggest you might consider pre-ordering this one, too.

Don’t forget Silent Nightmares, co-edited by Chuck Palahniuk and Michael Bailey. Stories about the horror of Christmas. Finished copies aren’t in yet but from what I’ve seen so far of the book, it’s also shaping up to be a beauty.