Eileen Flanagan, author of The Wisdom to Know the Difference (Tarcher, 2009), wrote a terrific piece in the Mpls. Star Tribune recently, called “Spread the love for your author friend” – about how to really help an author whose work you love. http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/books/53857827.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU
Her advice:
1) Buy your friend’s book. In other words, don’t borrow or get one free! Help the author by spending money so he/she can get a royalty as well as sales recorded, and to let booksellers know people want this book. And, she reminds us, ask your local librarian to order a copy.
2) Don’t wait until Christmas or Hanukkah. The book won’t stay on the bookstore shelf is no one buys it now. Booksellers typically keep a book on the shelf no longer than 6-8 weeks. If it isn’t moving, it is returned and that’s the end of the story…..so BUY IT NOW.
3) Where should you buy it? Amazon versus brick-and-mortar store….Flanagan correctly points out that your author friend is helped more by a purchase from a chain bookstore than from Amazon, if it is bought right when the book comes out. If it’s well after the fact, then support your local independent bookstore by buying it there. Amazon is important as well, but it is not as helpful to the author as plan A or B above.
4) Write a review on Amazon for the book, or Goodreads.com. Mention it on Facebook and Twitter, and recommend it to your reading group. All excellent suggestions and reminder.
5) If you are a fan of a different sort of book than what your author friend wrote, in stead of writing a review write something like “I’m so proud of you for following your passion” etc.
6) If your friend is a good speaker, recommend him or her to your church, synagogue, school, etc.
7) Put a link to your friend’s website on your website or blog, using your friend’s key words to help her audience find her.
8) If your friend could legitimately be a reference on some Wikipedia page, add her as one, since a person can’t recommend him or herself without a conflict of interest.
9) Don’t ask your friend if she has thought of trying to get on Oprah.
10) If you pray, go ahead.
Thank you, Eileen Flanagan! This is so helpful.
Her advice:
1) Buy your friend’s book. In other words, don’t borrow or get one free! Help the author by spending money so he/she can get a royalty as well as sales recorded, and to let booksellers know people want this book. And, she reminds us, ask your local librarian to order a copy.
2) Don’t wait until Christmas or Hanukkah. The book won’t stay on the bookstore shelf is no one buys it now. Booksellers typically keep a book on the shelf no longer than 6-8 weeks. If it isn’t moving, it is returned and that’s the end of the story…..so BUY IT NOW.
3) Where should you buy it? Amazon versus brick-and-mortar store….Flanagan correctly points out that your author friend is helped more by a purchase from a chain bookstore than from Amazon, if it is bought right when the book comes out. If it’s well after the fact, then support your local independent bookstore by buying it there. Amazon is important as well, but it is not as helpful to the author as plan A or B above.
4) Write a review on Amazon for the book, or Goodreads.com. Mention it on Facebook and Twitter, and recommend it to your reading group. All excellent suggestions and reminder.
5) If you are a fan of a different sort of book than what your author friend wrote, in stead of writing a review write something like “I’m so proud of you for following your passion” etc.
6) If your friend is a good speaker, recommend him or her to your church, synagogue, school, etc.
7) Put a link to your friend’s website on your website or blog, using your friend’s key words to help her audience find her.
8) If your friend could legitimately be a reference on some Wikipedia page, add her as one, since a person can’t recommend him or herself without a conflict of interest.
9) Don’t ask your friend if she has thought of trying to get on Oprah.
10) If you pray, go ahead.
Thank you, Eileen Flanagan! This is so helpful.
An author friend of mine, Carrie Link, also hosts author launch parties and book readings in her home, complete with delicious food. This has been a help to the author and to Carrie, who has widened her community of writers and helped her make fabulous publishing contacts.
Be creative, but think about it. When you love an author or a book, speak up, any way you can--there is not an author alive who does not need this.
Laurie
www.authorbiz.com
Photo credit: (c)2009 Clipart
www.authorbiz.com
Photo credit: (c)2009 Clipart
