Five Free and Easy Ways for Readers to Lift Authors

• March 27, 2021
• 1 comment

by Janet Macreery, Award-Winning Author of A Little Noble and A Little Wicked

Authors are not just producers of books; they are also consumers of books. Whether for project research, market research, or personal fulfillment, authors need to read. What do you do when you’ve read something you loved? Make a mental note to look for more works by the same author? Look up more material about the author? Both are great for your own information but neither lets the author know you read their book. Here are five ways to support an author whose work you’ve enjoyed plus tips on how to encourage your readers to do the same for you.

Tell a friend (or fifty).

A recommendation from someone we know and trust is often a major influence on what we read.

Tell a stranger…from a safe distance.

In the biz, we call this writing a review. No need for a professional-sounding, two-to-three-paragraph review. The places you’ll post will likely have the official summary on the same page. You can put the plot in your own words if you like but it’s also okay to skip that part. Write a comment or two on what you liked about the book where other booklovers will see it.

Tell a blogger.

Bloggers, vloggers, and podcast hosts play a huge role in getting people to try all kinds of goods and services. Books are no exception. Find the comments or contact section of a favorite blog, vlog, or podcast that connects with the book and share your find. Better yet, offer to write a guest blog about the book or appear as a guest to discuss it. Even better still, start your own blog, vlog, or podcast and let your ideas flow!

Tell your local library.

Libraries have limited funds so they must be selective in what they have in their collections. Hearing from the community helps them know what to purchase and what to keep. There’s no guarantee they will acquire the book you recommend but it doesn’t take much effort to ask. Many libraries have a form on their website set up for this purpose or you can tell the librarian when you’re there.

Independent bookstores fit in this category, too. Indie bookstores are local businesses and love input from the community. While in the store, tell them about an indie title you enjoyed and think others will as well. Again, no guarantee, but you did the author a good deed either way.

Tell the author.

Many authors have a social media presence or website and love to hear from readers. Post a photo of the book “in the wild” (i.e., on a bookstore or library shelf), an “action shot” (i.e., with a reader actively reading the work), or a simple comment on why you or your child liked it. Seeing your post could make an author’s day!

As the author of an indie book, how do you encourage booklovers to follow these fast and easy tips? Self-promotion can be tough, especially if corralling attention does not come as naturally as your gift for writing. What can you do as an author and a booklover to encourage your readers to spread the word about your book?

Ask them. Many people assume authors have a fully functioning marketing machine behind them (if only!). Let your readers know you appreciate their support and encourage them to tell other booklovers. Readers may be unsure whom to tell or how. Show them. Set an example by taking these steps yourself!

Once you’ve written and published your book, tell people! Readers are always looking for something new. The writing community is supportive so be active on review sites for other authors. Volunteer to provide content for bloggers, vloggers, and podcasters. Donate your book to a local library and ask if they want to put it in their collection. Libraries are often part of larger systems. If accepted, your one donated book could turn into additional copies being purchased to serve other libraries in the system. Reward your readers for their efforts. Be a positive voice for your work by acknowledging when someone posts about your book.

We all need a little encouragement now and then. Celebrating another author is easy and encourages other booklovers to do the same for books they enjoy. Perhaps one of your readers will inform others about your work by doing one of these simple things. It could make your day!

Author Bio

Janet R. Macreery combines her passions for travel and history to create historical fiction adventures. She travels the United States, Scotland, and other parts of Europe for research as well as her quest to find the ultimate hot chocolate.

A Little Noble is the Reader Views 2020-2021 Reviewer’s Choice Silver Award winner for Young Readers and the companion novel to the award-winning middle-grade historical fiction A Little Wicked, set in Scotland and Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Both books have earned five-star reviews from national reviewers and been finalists in multiple national awards.

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