Nicholas Williams, author of Had me at Halo

One of the most successful book tours of 2023 was for Had Me at Halo by Nicholas Williams, attracting over 250 book influencers eager to read and promote the story. As a campaign manager, seeing such enthusiasm was incredibly exciting. The success of this book influencer campaign came from strong collaboration and clear communication between the author, campaign managers, and participating influencers. Keep reading to discover more about Nicholas Williams’ writing process and insights from this highly successful book tour.

Hi Nick, we wanted to hear more about where the idea of Had Me at Halo started. The story follows a man who travels back in time to reclaim his lost love, but the unexpected connection with his guardian angel gets in the way of his original plans.

Nick: The idea of the Afterlife always fascinated me, but I wanted to subvert the Eurocentric and Religious assumptions we usually make about it. The Afterlife depicted in Had Me at Halo is not specific to any religion. I made up my own Gods. Angels have a pronoun system and are more fluid in gender. The Afterlife is bloated with bureaucracy and angels are expected to be as perfect as possible. I also wanted to tell a story that explored how soul mates could interact with the concept of eternity. What does heaven look like when two soul mates are complete opposites? What does love look like when it is forbidden? Had Me at Halo was so much fun to write and many readers love the unique interpretation of Happily Ever After.

Tell us more about the cover. How did you find the right design?

Nick: The cover was tough! Had Me at Halo has a mainstream feel, but doesn’t fit squarely in a single genre. I did my best to fuse several components together in order to capture the unique reading experience of the book itself. I was mostly inspired by cover designs for Under the Whispering Door and The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches. To capture a lighthearted Contemporary Fantasy, I wanted to showcase the modern cityscape with vivid colors and, of course, an angel staring over the horizon. 

The tough part about making a book cover is that we sometimes get too obsessed with the little details and lose track of the big picture. Keep focus on the vibe and genre, and make sure that’s perfect first. A good way to test if your cover is working is by showing the cover to other people, but don’t tell them what the book is about; let them tell you what the book would be like. 

How did you get your book out into the world, and especially into the hands of the right readers?

Nick: Beta readers are so critical, and I consider them mandatory: I had four rounds of beta readers. As well as this, I hired a developmental editor who helped me fine-tune the story even further. 

I also worked with a lot of readers on TikTok, making quite a few connections. I gave away PR boxes to influencers and readers in the fantasy genre which helped to share the awareness and the hype of the novel.

The relationships I made through social media is critical, using platforms and services like BookInfluencers is important for forming those relationships. I love the connections I’ve made and it’s so nice finding your community of people. 

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Rebecca shares the beautiful PR box that a selection of influencers received as part of the campaign.

What is the most rewarding part of seeing your story out in the world?

Nick: I love when people tell me how much they were smiling as they read Had Me at Halo. It’s meant to be fun, humorous, emotional and exciting, and it’s really nice to hear when readers feel that. To be honest, I mostly write for the enjoyment of others. So when I hear the positive feedback, it really makes my day.

What advice do you have for upcoming or new authors who are just starting out?

Nick: First, make sure the books you write are at professional standards. Then, keep pushing that book. Everyone succeeds in different ways, find what works for you and keep pushing that way. Be creative in connecting with your target audiences and building genuine relationships with them.

We know our influencers loved Nick’s story and the characters from Had Me at Halo. Of course, we had to ask what’s in store for the readers.

Nick: Sienna was a fan favorite from Had Me at Halo, so I’m halfway through her story, which will be a standalone. The book will be set entirely in the Afterlife and focuses on a Bake-Off, similar to the Great British Bake-Off. Sienna is desperate to win, so she makes a deal with the Devil for a demonic whisk that gives her special baking powers. 

Sienna’s book will also feature a Rivals-To-Lovers romance and will have even more banter than Had Me at Halo!

Finally, I love one-sentence pitches. They are a challenge yet so captivating and fun. How about checking out Had Me at Halo based on this one sentence from the author himself?

Nick: A man goes back in time to reclaim a lost love but develops forbidden feelings for his guardian angel along the way.

I had an amazing time working on the Had Me at Halo campaign together with the influencers and author Nick Williams. You can check out more from Nick Williams here: https://www.nwilliamsauthor.com/ 

Want to check out some of our other author interviews? Read our interview with Katie Keridan or Simone Warren

Are you a publisher or author looking to reach new audiences through Bookinfluencers.com? Contact contact@bookinfluencers.com, and we will help you out!