Publication Week Highlight Reel

It’s hard to believe it’s been two weeks since Diamonds in Auschwitz was released! So much has

happened, and I’m already afraid I’m going to forget some of these amazing things amidst the

whirlwind. So consider this my written “highlights reel” of the last few weeks:

1. My Amazon Bestseller Campaign was a well-planned effort to be in the top 100 in the

categories of Amazon. You know what they say about plans? In this case, maybe my

plans were unnecessary. I was planning to make a strong run at bestseller one week

after Diamonds’ release date. Imagine my wonderful surprise when Greenleaf Book

Group told me that I reached bestseller before noon on my publication date – without

even trying! Then on the planned campaign date, I just sat back and watched my

wonderful friends and family work for me. I’ve never felt so much love and support –

from my sister who tracked my rankings on the hour, to my book club friends who

competed in who could strong-arm the most people to purchase my book, to the

absolute overload on Facebook with my book cover, to the turnout at my book launch

party at the end of that day. In the end, I broke into the top 2000 of books sold on

Amazon that day, including #2 (second only to Kelly Rimmer’s The Things We Cannot

Say) for Jewish Historical Fiction.

2. Don’t get me started on the amazing book launch party at The Cellar Wine Bar and

Kitchen! It was unbelievable to me how many people showed up – favorite co-workers

(past and present), my family (it was so special to have Luci there with me!), so many

friends. AND – my best friend from college surprised me. She drove almost four hours,

spent the day at a Starbucks, and joined me for the party. She made an already special

day absolutely unforgettable!

3. Since I wrote the acknowledgements at the back of the book – almost a year ago – I

have been dying to show some of the people mentioned. During the book launch party, I

was able to do that – point out the names of my much-trusted friends/book club

members. Amazingly enough, it was captured in pictures. That moment was everything I

had hoped for! I know for a fact that any success I have experienced is due to many

people supporting me. I loved being able to share just a tiny bit of credit with them.

4. I love, Love, LOVE getting text message from friends with pictures of my book. Some

sent me selfies with that beautiful book cover. Others sent me screen shots of their

recent Amazon order. Now that spring breaks are started, I’m getting pictures of

Diamonds in Auschwitz from all over the world – including Prague! I love that people are

showing my book all the best beaches and vacation spots! Keep the messages coming!

5. Glowing reviews from trade publications and social media reviewers have been rolling in

for a few weeks. It’s a huge relief to know that people actually like the book. (If you’ve

read previous posts, you know that I tried to avoid thinking about public opinion

because it could send me into an anxiety spiral.) What has been even more special is

getting feedback from friends and family – like a local teacher who wanted to kick kids

out of his classroom so he could finish the book, or a close friend who keeps messaging

me (sometimes with what I think is outrage) about the fate of different characters,

especially Rachael’s baby. When I worry that Diamonds in Auschwitz isn’t going to sell

any/enough copies (which is basically a constant fear), I think back on the impact people

say it’s having on them. That’s a form of success that can’t be measured with royalties.