How to Help an Author
Are you a reader? Do you have a friend who is an author? Is there an author whose work you admire and want to see more of? Publishing these days is different than it used to be. For first time authors, the publicity budget is tight. Word-of-mouth and creating buzz about a book can make a big difference in helping an author get her book into the hands of readers.
You can help make this happen.
As a super-excited (and also nervous) author with my debut memoir, This Particular Happiness: A Childless Love Story, releasing on October 1st, 2019 (Forest Avenue Press), I want to share some simple ways you can help a book get into the hands of readers. My book or any book you love.
1. Tell others about the book! I feel very fortunate to have friends and family who are excited for me. Each time one of them tells me they’ve told someone else about my forthcoming book, my stomach does a little thrill. This is how it works! We tell someone about a book we’re looking forward to or that we have read, they go look for it, and person-by-person, word gets out.
2. Buy the book. You can pre-order the book now and have it in your hands when it launches. This helps a book get attention and creates that buzz that you hear zinging around many forthcoming books. Pre-orders also help the publisher anticipate how many books they will need to print. And when the pre-orders are made through bookstores via IndieBound, the bookstores pay attention. My book will also be available in an audio version (with me narrating!).
3. Visit your local bookstore. You might go in and ask them if they will be carrying the book you are interested in. You may place a pre-order while you are there. Having a conversation with a bookseller will help pique their interest in the book.
4. Ask your local library to offer the book on their shelves. I love libraries as much as I love independent booksellers. And, as you know, libraries are full of. . . BOOKS! Librarians need to decide which books to purchase and shelve. Your interest makes a difference. (Some libraries have limited funds and, if that is the case and you are able, you could buy a copy of the book and donate it to the library).
5. Are you on Goodreads? If you are, go right on over there and find This Particular Happiness: A Childless Love Story, and mark it WANT TO READ. And once you do read it, mark it READ and give it a rating and maybe a review. This makes a HUGE difference. Reviews on Amazon, once the book releases, make. another HUGE difference.
6. I’d love to see you and your friends at book events! Have a look at the events calendar (I’ll be adding more as time goes on). And if you’d like me to come to a bookstore near you, ask your bookseller. I’d love to see you!
7. Are you in a book club? This Particular Happiness is a book that will generate discussion. If you’d like me to join the conversation (in person or by Skype), let’s talk.
Thanks for reading, and supporting. I wish you your very own particular happiness.