This weekend, the kids and I headed out to Barnes and Noble for the book signing of author Amanda Cabot. Her new book, Summer of Promise, has just been released, and I got myself an autographed copy.
Isn't it pretty? You can get one HERE. This is the first in a new series, so I'm really looking forward to turning in the manuscript for Book #3 in the Sweethaven series so I can dig in!
It was fun to say hi to Amanda, and I think Sophia especially thought it was cool to meet another author...but the whole trip got me thinking... about ... what else? Sweethaven.
Pre-order yours HERE!
THIS is the week. The official launch week for A Sweethaven Summer. I had to pause for a second and shake my head...I still can't believe it. You know when you work on something for so long and then suddenly, your big day arrives? Well, that's Wednesday for me...and I'm super excited.
And freaked out.
And giddy.
And nervous.
And...
Yeah, cocktail of emotions all over again.
Adam finished my book this weekend...
...which was oddly nerve-wracking for me, even though he's my biggest cheerleader.
Lots of people have emailed to find out what they can do to help with my launch, and I never know what to say...so I spent a little time thinking on it...and if you're serious and you really want to help, I've got a comprehensive, bullet pointed list of things YOU can do to help an author out. Any author, not just me, though if you help me, I'll pay you in small bills.
Just kidding. I don't have any small bills. Or large ones either for that matter.
Alright, here it is.
10 Ways You Can Help An Author Out:
When you see a book on the shelf of your favorite book store, it's easy to assume that an author has already made it. I mean, the book is out, right? It's published. People can buy it! But what you might not realize is that in a sea of books--some great, some well, not--it takes much more than landing on the shelf for a book to become a success.
So. If you love an author (and I love many)... there really ARE ways you can help them out. And most of them are super easy and cost you nothing!
How's that for a win-win?
1. Buy the book.
Don't look at me like that. I know it sounds obvious, but truly, this isn't always the first thing on our minds. Buying the book is the first best way to help an author out. My publicist, Jeane, coined a phrase I'll love forever..."Buy a book, save an author."
Word.
2. Shout it from the rooftops!
Blog, Tweet or Facebook about the author and/or book you love. Sharing it with your friends and/or followers is one of the simplest (and maybe most effective) way to help out an author.
3. Request an interview.
Most authors love to answer questions (I'm such a sucker for those little surveys. I think I could do them just for fun!) about their books, their writing process, their inspirations... If you write a blog, why not do a Q&A with the author of the last book you read?
4. Write a review on Amazon.
I'm going to add this one to my weekly to-do list. It's very important. I will often finish a book and just be so sad to close the back cover, but it rarely dawns on me to go to amazon and tell readers they NEED to read this one! It's so easy to write reviews, so next time you find a book you love, drop by the page and give it a five-star rating! The author will thank you! :)
5. Add it to your Good Reads page.
Ok, I confess. I'm totally new to Good Reads, but this is a great way to share the books you love, get ideas on books your friends' love...another great way to get the word out!
6. Pin it!
Find your favorite books and create a pin board for them. Pinterest is so easy and so fun--and getting that visual out there is SUCH a great way to spread the news!
7. Ask your library/bookstore to carry it!
Many bookstores are happy to order books for you, so if you notice your local store isn't carrying your favorite author, ask them to. Same goes for the library. The more people you can introduce to an author, the better the chances of a book catching on.
8. Give it as a gift for a fellow reader.
My mom and I often swap books. I can't tell you how many authors I've introduced her to and vice versa. Because of this, we've created fans of new authors that will go out and look for whatever's coming next. Same is true for your reader friends. If you pass the book along and they like it, you've created a new fan for that author.
And it's always nice to give gifts.
9. Bring it to your book club.
I wish I had a book club. I think about it all the time, how fun it would be. And perhaps I've romanticized it a little because of my affection for The Jane Austen Book Club, but the next time your club votes, bring up a title they may not know yet. All those people reading the book can really help an author out!
10. Make up songs about how great it is.
Okay. Just kidding. But "9 Ways YOU Can Help an Author Out" just feels like an incomplete list. 10 is a rounder number and my love for round numbers is deep.
So, what have I missed? What are some other ways YOU (and I) can help our favorite authors out? And have you done any of the things on my list? Do tell.
