How to Self-Publish Series: Prepping for Holiday Season Sales

If self-publishing is a marathon, the holiday season is the stretch where the crowd thickens, the music gets louder, and everyone starts handing out water and snacks.

Readers are buying, algorithms are paying attention. Gift cards are burning holes in digital pockets! And yet, many indie authors drift into November like it’s just another Tuesday. 

The holiday season is one of the biggest opportunities of the year for self-published authors—especially those willing to prep instead of panic. So, let’s talk about how to position your books for seasonal sales without feeling like you’re being gross or pushy. 

Think Like a Seasonal Shopper, Not an Author

Holiday buyers behave differently than year-round readers.

They are:

• Buying gifts for others, not just books for themselves

• Browsing faster and deciding quicker

• Drawn to bundles, deals, and “easy wins”

This means your usual author sales strategy won’t necessarily resonate. 

Instead, try asking yourself the following:

• Is my book giftable?

• Does my series look complete or inviting?

• Can someone understand what this book is in under 10 seconds?

Digestible blurbs, eye-catching covers, and series pages matter more than ever during this window. Confusion kills holiday sales faster than shipping delays.

Series Sell Better Than Standalones

If you write a series, congratulations! You already have a holiday advantage.

Holiday readers love:

• Box sets

• Binge-able reads

• “Just buy all three” energy

To tap into this flow, do the following before the season hits:

• Make sure your series order is crystal clear

• Update back matter to funnel readers to the next book

• Consider a temporary price drop on Book 1

A discounted entry point paired with full-price later books is one of the simplest seasonal strategies that actually works.

Update Your Metadata Like It’s a Storefront Window

Metadata isn’t sexy, but December doesn’t care about sexy.

Audit your:

• Book descriptions

• Keywords

• Categories

Subtle seasonal tweaks can help discoverability without turning your book into a novelty item. You don’t need sleigh bells in your subtitle, but clarity matters more when competition spikes.

Also double-check:

• Your series page on Amazon

• Your author bio

• Your website landing pages

Broken links and outdated blurbs are sales leaks, and holiday traffic exposes them fast.

Plan Promotions Earlier Than Usual

If you waited until December to plan holiday promos, you’re already late. But don’t worry—you can always plan ahead for next year. 

Strong seasonal sales usually come from:

• Promotions booked in October or early November

• Coordinated price drops across retailers

• Consistent messaging rather than frantic posting

Decide now:

• Will you run a Book 1 free or discounted promo?

• Are you stacking newsletters or ads?

• Are you focusing on Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or the full season?

You don’t need to do everything. You need to do something intentionally.

Lean Into Long-Term Readers, Not Just One-Time Buyers

Holiday sales are flashy, but the real win is January.

Readers who discover you during the holidays often:

• Binge your backlist

• Join your newsletter

• Stick around longer than impulse buyers from random promos

Make sure your books gently guide readers toward:

• Your mailing list

• Your website

• Your other series

Think of holiday sales as an introduction, not a cash grab.

Adjust Expectations Without Underselling Yourself

Not every book explodes in December. That’s fine. 

The goal is not viral magic: it’s leverage.

If you:

• Improve visibility

• Gain new readers

• Strengthen your series ecosystem

Then the holiday season did its job! Self-publishing success compounds, and seasonal sales are just one of the accelerators.

Final Thoughts

The holiday season rewards authors who prepare, not those who scramble. You don’t need a holiday-themed book or nonstop discounts. You need clarity, positioning, and a series that invites readers to stay awhile.

Your book can absolutely be someone’s favorite gift this year. You just have to make it easy for them to find!