How to help your favorite authors
***Sorry my new website pics didn't get posted this weekend. Webmaster Todd and Designer Elyse are the parents of of a 1-year-old little boy -- so life tends to get in the way. ; ) The five new pics should be posted tonight. (Just like me, Todd has a day job, too.) When they're up on the site, check out the banner at the top of the home page, the Meet Lisa page, the Events page, and the Contact page -- and let me know what you think. ; )
I posted the following article a long time ago, and feel that it warrants repeating. I read it on the website of Diana Pharaoh Francis (fabulous fantasy author), and thought it was so vitally important, that I asked if I could post it here. A lot of people think that just because you get published that you'll be popular enough to keep your books on the shelves and keep getting book contracts. Wrong. We need help. Your help.
The link to Di's site is in the list to the right. Here's her article:
What can you do to keep your favorite authors writing and their books on the shelves?
Recently I spent time with a writer friend who has written some fabulous science fiction. She has a contract for two more books, but plans to switch genres after those two because her books aren't selling as she'd hoped. This isn't because they aren't good (I've read them, they are). And this same writer has won a very prestigious writing award for her work. So what's the problem, and what can readers do to help keep their favorite authors' books coming?
The fact is that new book sales are what drives book contracts. If the numbers in the computers don't say that the author will sell well, then that's it. It's over. Change your name and start again. (Please don't think I exaggerate on that. I really don't. There are a number of authors I know of who have changed their names for low early sales--Kate Elliot and Robin Hobb to name two). Now it is up to the author to write good stuff. But suppose she does, suppose you like her stuff. There is something you can do to help.
Buy books new as often as you can. I know how much cheaper used can be, but authors get absolutely no money for their books when they are sold used. With the recent proliferation of used books being sold on Amazon, for instance, book sales have plumetted for authors. Those authors on the edge of a contract may cease to write, or they may be dropped from their publisher.
And you know how Amazon lists used books? That's a really troubling thing since most people will opt for the used books rather than the new, and it's right there on Amazon. Plus independent book stores are some of the best supporters for genre writers out there. Shop one of those first if you can.
Tell your friends.
Spread the word to anyone who will listen. Got a website? Post a review on lists, blogs, newsgroups, newsletters, etc.
Belong to a book group? Recommend the book for the month.
Email the author and tell her what you think. Moral support counts too. I know that it's been one of my greatest encouragements.
Ask for the books in your bookstore. In every bookstore you go into. Don't let books disappear off shelves. And take your friends in to buy them. And when you see strangers browsing the shelves, recommend authors. That's also tremendously helpful for people who are looking for something, but don't quite know which book to choose. A personal recommendation means they don't spend money on books they won't like.
When you're in the bookstore, face the book on the shelf so that the entire cover shows. Certainly the employees will come by later and face them in again, but for awhile, that cover was exposed to who knows how many interested eyes. But be careful not to cover other people's books.
Buy books as gifts at Christmas and birthdays and graduations and just-because.
Link the writer's page to yours.
Go to book signings when they are announced. Trust me, not that many people go and writers really, REALLY love to meet fans.
Over the years, I've seen some of my favorite books go away, series dry up, because the publishers didn't feel there was enough interest. If you want to see your favorite authors survive and keep writing, help her out. Spread the word.
Coming up this week and next: Writer's block, write for yourself not the market, real dialogue for real characters, writing & critique groups, music I listen to while writing, and how I plot a book.
And coming up on Saturday: Instead of the Saturday Fun Pic, I'll have the Saturday Fun Read. Quite some time ago, I posted part of Chapter 1 of The Trouble With Demons. Since I've done some editing/tweaking to it, and since there are a lot of new readers to my blog, I'm going to post the revised version.
Lisa
I posted the following article a long time ago, and feel that it warrants repeating. I read it on the website of Diana Pharaoh Francis (fabulous fantasy author), and thought it was so vitally important, that I asked if I could post it here. A lot of people think that just because you get published that you'll be popular enough to keep your books on the shelves and keep getting book contracts. Wrong. We need help. Your help.
The link to Di's site is in the list to the right. Here's her article:
What can you do to keep your favorite authors writing and their books on the shelves?
Recently I spent time with a writer friend who has written some fabulous science fiction. She has a contract for two more books, but plans to switch genres after those two because her books aren't selling as she'd hoped. This isn't because they aren't good (I've read them, they are). And this same writer has won a very prestigious writing award for her work. So what's the problem, and what can readers do to help keep their favorite authors' books coming?
The fact is that new book sales are what drives book contracts. If the numbers in the computers don't say that the author will sell well, then that's it. It's over. Change your name and start again. (Please don't think I exaggerate on that. I really don't. There are a number of authors I know of who have changed their names for low early sales--Kate Elliot and Robin Hobb to name two). Now it is up to the author to write good stuff. But suppose she does, suppose you like her stuff. There is something you can do to help.
Buy books new as often as you can. I know how much cheaper used can be, but authors get absolutely no money for their books when they are sold used. With the recent proliferation of used books being sold on Amazon, for instance, book sales have plumetted for authors. Those authors on the edge of a contract may cease to write, or they may be dropped from their publisher.
And you know how Amazon lists used books? That's a really troubling thing since most people will opt for the used books rather than the new, and it's right there on Amazon. Plus independent book stores are some of the best supporters for genre writers out there. Shop one of those first if you can.
Tell your friends.
Spread the word to anyone who will listen. Got a website? Post a review on lists, blogs, newsgroups, newsletters, etc.
Belong to a book group? Recommend the book for the month.
Email the author and tell her what you think. Moral support counts too. I know that it's been one of my greatest encouragements.
Ask for the books in your bookstore. In every bookstore you go into. Don't let books disappear off shelves. And take your friends in to buy them. And when you see strangers browsing the shelves, recommend authors. That's also tremendously helpful for people who are looking for something, but don't quite know which book to choose. A personal recommendation means they don't spend money on books they won't like.
When you're in the bookstore, face the book on the shelf so that the entire cover shows. Certainly the employees will come by later and face them in again, but for awhile, that cover was exposed to who knows how many interested eyes. But be careful not to cover other people's books.
Buy books as gifts at Christmas and birthdays and graduations and just-because.
Link the writer's page to yours.
Go to book signings when they are announced. Trust me, not that many people go and writers really, REALLY love to meet fans.
Over the years, I've seen some of my favorite books go away, series dry up, because the publishers didn't feel there was enough interest. If you want to see your favorite authors survive and keep writing, help her out. Spread the word.
Coming up this week and next: Writer's block, write for yourself not the market, real dialogue for real characters, writing & critique groups, music I listen to while writing, and how I plot a book.
And coming up on Saturday: Instead of the Saturday Fun Pic, I'll have the Saturday Fun Read. Quite some time ago, I posted part of Chapter 1 of The Trouble With Demons. Since I've done some editing/tweaking to it, and since there are a lot of new readers to my blog, I'm going to post the revised version.
Lisa
posted by Lisa Shearin at
8:09 AM
7 Comments:
You'll be pleased to know, I'm not only recommending books I like (yours - even though I still haven't read it yet heehee), but I am...sigh....buying books full price. I'm a little reluctant cos it means its going to take longer to fill my bookshelves, but I do see the point of it, and since I'm an aspiring author, well, I'm doing it in the hope people will do the same for me. :) And....I may even go and buy books from a bookshop!!! Gulp.
Looking forward to a sneak previous of the 3rd book!
Day jobs - if only we could get rid of them. Yesterday was the first time I wanted to quit my perfect-for-me job, and just write. I can't. So I'm making do and writing in my free time :)
Thank you for recommending my books! When you do get around to reading mine, you'll have to let me know what you think. I'll be very interested to hear. ; )
Yep, I buy all of my author friends' books, even though it can take me a long time to get around to reading them. We all support each other. BTW -- Every author I've met so far has been warm, kind, incredibly generous and giving. I think we all feel so blessed to have gotten to where we are that we want to pass it on.
I happen to know of a few of my readers who wrote to tell me they had read your books. Word does spread!
I confess to buying used books, but I ALWAYS review them on my blog (debut or not). I figure that reviewing a used copy is identical to reviewing a free review copy, but without the expense for the author or the publisher, and only a small expense for myself. I did this recently with His Majesty's Dragon.
Most of the time, however, I buy them new. Debut authors usually don't make it to used bookstores until a year or so after publication. And I don't usually solicit review copies.
Expect countless emails as I wade through your books, going 'why? why? what's this? why do this?' %-)
Thank you, Tia for helping to spread the word! : ) And that sounds completely logical to me -- writing reviews based on used book copies. If the publisher sent you an ARC, you wouldn't be paying for it anyway. Not to mention, if you run a review blog, you'd spend a fortune in books. But most importantly, your reviews inspire people to go out and pay full price for books. *big grin* So by doing reviews, you're increasing an author's sales -- BRAVO!
Yunaleska, honey -- you can ask me all the questions you want -- just as long as it wouldn't result in a spoiler. ; )
Thanks! The interesting thing is, I've written negative reviews where commentators popped in and said, "Now I must have it." So I no longer feel bad about being honest, either.
:) Well, I can ask questions, I know I won't always get answers.
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