Promoting a Sequel in a Book’s Back Matter (With Examples!)

The end of a book is some of the most valuable marketing real estate an author or publisher has to promote a sequel. This is the exact spot where readers are primed to continue the characters’ story. But if the sequel isn’t effectively promoted in a book’s back matter, the reader might not even realize it exists!

Authors and publishers use a variety of tactics to promote sequels in their back matter. Some simply list the next title directly under the last line of the last chapter, while others include multiple pages of call-to-actions. Some include images and others include only text. There is no one successful formula, so we wanted to share examples of back matter that promote a sequel in several successful first-in-series books. We hope this provides you with inspiration when crafting your own back matter.

Note: Some content from the end of the books included in these screenshots has been blurred to avoid revealing spoilers!

The Look of Love by Bella Andre

The back matter of The Look of Love includes:

1. One call-to-action (CTA) to subscribe to the author’s mailing list, and another to read the sequel. These CTAs appear on the page immediately following the last chapter (the end is blurred out in the image below).
2. An excerpt including sections from the first two chapters of the sequel.
3. A final CTA to purchase the sequel and sign up for the author’s mailing list.
4. A list of her other work.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer (published by Feiwel & Friends)

The back matter of Cinder includes:

1. A synopsis of the sequel, which follows the acknowledgements. It includes a small image of the sequel.
2. An excerpt from the sequel of a scene from the second chapter ending on a cliffhanger (not pictured below).

Alien Hunters by Daniel Arenson

The back matter for Alien Hunters includes:

1. A CTA with a hyperlink to purchase the sequel. Daniel used smartURLs to direct readers to the correct retailer page.
2. An afterword including another CTA to purchase the sequel and information on how to find out about upcoming new releases, with links to the author’s mailing list and social media profiles.
3. An ask to review the book, with a link to the right place to leave the review.
4. A list of the author’s other books, organized by series.

The Cleaner by Mark Dawson

The back matter for The Cleaner includes:

1. The name of the sequel with region-specific retailer links, followed by an excerpt from the prologue of the sequel (not pictured).
2. An author’s note which includes more information about other books in the series, and links to purchase the box set.
3. A CTA to sign up for his mailing list in exchange for exclusive content.
4. An ask for a review.

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner (published by Delacorte Press)

The back matter of The Eye of Minds includes:

1. An image including all the books in The Mortality Doctrine series, a brief blurb for the series, and info about the author’s website and Twitter profile.

Highlander’s Castle by Joanne Wadsworth

The back matter of Highlander’s Castle includes:

1. A CTA to sign up for the author’s mailing list in exchange for free content.
2. A complete list of books in the Highlander Heat series.
3. A link and book cover image for the sequel.
4. A similar individual page for each subsequent book in the series.

Forever Dreams by Leeanna Morgan

The back matter of Forever Dreams includes:

1. A thank you page including CTAs to leave a review, sign up for Leeanna’s mailing list, like her Facebook page, and visit her website.
2. An excerpt from the sequel, which includes an image of the book and a link to purchase it both before…
3. …and after the excerpt.
4. A list of Leeanna’s other books, including this entire series.

Catching Cassidy by Melissa Foster

The back matter of Catching Cassidy includes:

1. A title page for the excerpt of the next book in the series.
2. The book cover of the next book in the series.
3. A hyperlinked CTA to purchase the next book at the end of the excerpt.
4. A complete book list of all of Melissa’s titles, concluding with images of all of the books in the Harborside Nights series.

The Medium by C.J. Archer

The back matter of The Medium includes:

1. A CTA to download the sequel immediately after “The End” with a synopsis of the sequel.
2. A CTA to subscribe to the author’s newsletter.
3. A full list of the author’s other titles (not pictured).

Noble Beginnings by L.T. Ryan

The back matter of Noble Beginnings includes:

1. A note from the author including a CTA to continue reading for an excerpt of the sequel, leave a review, and to subscribe to his newsletter in exchange for a free short story.
2. A two-chapter excerpt of the sequel.
3. A link to purchase the sequel at the end of the excerpt.
4. A list of the author’s other books, organized by series.

Irreparable Harm by Melissa F. Miller

The back matter of Irreparable Harm includes:

1. A thank you note from the author with a CTA to purchase the sequel.
2. An image of the sequel with additional CTAs to read a full list of the author’s other books and sign up for her newsletter.

Fools Rush In by Janice Thompson (published by Revell Books)

The back matter for Fools Rush In includes custom graphics promoting:

1. The next two books in this series.
2. Another first-in-series book by the same author.
3. Another series from another author published by Revell Books.
4. A CTA to subscribe to Revell Books’ mailing list or follow them on Twitter.

From This Moment On by Debra Clopton

The back matter for From This Moment On includes:

1. A three-chapter excerpt from the sequel. The excerpt both begins…
2. …and ends with a link to purchase the sequel. This link redirects from Debra’s homepage to the retailer page.
3. A synopsis of the sequel with a link to purchase.
4. A synopsis of each of the subsequent books in the series with a link to purchase (the third book is pictured below).

On a Night Like This by Barbara Freethy

The back matter of On a Night Like This includes:

1. A note from the author including a CTA to leave a review, continue reading for an excerpt of the sequel, and to subscribe to her newsletter.
2. A two-chapter excerpt of the sequel.
3. A link to purchase the sequel at the end of the excerpt.
4. A list of the author’s other books, organized by series.

Click here to read a tutorial on how to add links to your back matter.

What have you found is the most effective way to promote a sequel in the back matter of the book? Let us know in the comments below!

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Click to tweet: Sell more copies of a sequel by promoting it in the previous book’s back matter! Here’s how authors do this: http://bit.ly/2dYXqco #pubtip

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About Diana Urban

Diana Urban is an internationally-published author of dark, twisty thrillers, including All Your Twisted Secrets (HarperTeen) and Lying in the Deep (Razorbill). She was previously a Marketing Manager at BookBub. Follow her on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok.