How to Help Your Favorite Authors - Without Spending a Cent!
We've all joked with author friends about buying a hundred copies of the most recent book, to boost sales and generally create that gleaming aura of success. Of course, with book prices being so high these days, most of us are strapped to buy one copy - and then, we need to pick and choose which books we'll buy. Here are 5 things that you can do to help out your favorite authors, and they won't cost you a penny.
1. TALK about your favorite authors and their books. Tell your friends, your family, your co-workers. If you like an author, spread the good news!
2. WRITE about your favorite authors and their books. If you have a blog or a newsgroup or a website, let people know which authors and books you like. People read those notices and they begin to remember names. Even if they don't print out your entries to carry with them to the bookstore, you've helped to build a positive impression.
3. REVIEW your favorite authors and their books. Go to Amazon. Take a moment to type in a review, adding the "star" rating that you think is appropriate. While certain bestsellers on Amazon have hundreds of reviews, most books have fewer than ten. Your opinion could radically change the appearance of an author's rating, their ranking on Amazon, and the willingness of others to read your favorite books.
4. ASK about your favorite authors and their books. If you try to find them in your local library and they aren't on the shelves, ask the librarians to order them. Ask them to purchase multiple copies. Ask them to expand those genres in their collection. Most public libraries take recommendations from the public very seriously.
5. PLACE your favorite authors' books. (Yes, I know this last point is controversial - that's me, balancing on the knife edge of controversy!) When you go to a bookstore, face the books you like (turn them, so that their face is out, rather than their spines). I'm not advocating that you move books to a different part of the store (e.g., those tables up front where publishers have purchased display space.) I'm not advocating that you obscure other books on the shelves. I'm merely saying that when three or four mass-marke paperbacks are spined on the shelf, turn them to face out. And if there's extra space on the shelf, without endangering other authors' materials, face your pick.
I'd like to thank everyone who has taken the time to do one or more of these things on my behalf. Your time and energy are truly, truly appreciated!
Mindy, who also secretly works on behalf of others :-)
1. TALK about your favorite authors and their books. Tell your friends, your family, your co-workers. If you like an author, spread the good news!
2. WRITE about your favorite authors and their books. If you have a blog or a newsgroup or a website, let people know which authors and books you like. People read those notices and they begin to remember names. Even if they don't print out your entries to carry with them to the bookstore, you've helped to build a positive impression.
3. REVIEW your favorite authors and their books. Go to Amazon. Take a moment to type in a review, adding the "star" rating that you think is appropriate. While certain bestsellers on Amazon have hundreds of reviews, most books have fewer than ten. Your opinion could radically change the appearance of an author's rating, their ranking on Amazon, and the willingness of others to read your favorite books.
4. ASK about your favorite authors and their books. If you try to find them in your local library and they aren't on the shelves, ask the librarians to order them. Ask them to purchase multiple copies. Ask them to expand those genres in their collection. Most public libraries take recommendations from the public very seriously.
5. PLACE your favorite authors' books. (Yes, I know this last point is controversial - that's me, balancing on the knife edge of controversy!) When you go to a bookstore, face the books you like (turn them, so that their face is out, rather than their spines). I'm not advocating that you move books to a different part of the store (e.g., those tables up front where publishers have purchased display space.) I'm not advocating that you obscure other books on the shelves. I'm merely saying that when three or four mass-marke paperbacks are spined on the shelf, turn them to face out. And if there's extra space on the shelf, without endangering other authors' materials, face your pick.
I'd like to thank everyone who has taken the time to do one or more of these things on my behalf. Your time and energy are truly, truly appreciated!
Mindy, who also secretly works on behalf of others :-)
one more (cautious) note...
There's one way that people 'help' that has, IMO, a real risk of actually harming an author, however: special-ordering a book that you have no intention of coming back for.
Some people say "well, it gets the book onto the shelf."
Except sometimes it doesn't (it sits in the back room waiting for you), and even if it does, the odds are strong that it will simply go back after a week or so (creating another return hashmark) and will leave the buyer for that store with a negative memory about the author.
So special-order only if you intend to buy it. If you DO pick it up, then the buyer will remember that, and the next book o be released may make it to the "we have buyers, pick up a copy" side of the tally sheet!
/mini-rant
Re: one more (cautious) note...
Funny - one of those basic rules we learned as kids - "Don't lie" really *does* work :-)
Thanks for the clarification/addition!
it's always the same lame excuse of "not enough money" because they apparently would rather sit and accept the fact that the head of the system ignores this library and fattens the libraries in Bakersfield than politely demand their fair share that they deserve.
it's to the point where if i ever win a massive lottery, after paying off my house and the bills for like five years' worth, i'm going to buy out this library from the county, build them a better one, and give the head of the library a serious raise. and oh yea, UPDATE them with the new stuff and clean out the 30-40 year old resource section and all its outdated/mostly incorrect crap.
yea in my dreams.
i will have to try #5 next time i get to a bookstore!
Most libraries still log requests, even if they can't meet them. Perhaps if/when the prevailing budgetary winds ever change...
I am a bookstore commando in that I front face books that I think people should read. This goes with putting series books in order on the shelves. Scary, yes, but I love orderly bookshelves. :)
I had nearly posted something when you made your posts on your blog and on the romanticSFF group, but I didn't want you to think that I was stalking you :-)
And how! Patron suggestions are a really important part of our collection development. We tend to encourage patrons to give us feedback at the circ desk.
Mindy, are you a polymath?
http://westallen.typepad.com/idealawg/2
I posted the link to your tips for supporting authors on my writers listserv.
My best to you, Mindy.
Stephanie
Re: Mindy, are you a polymath?
Re: Mindy, are you a polymath?
I have blogarithmed your blog so will be back with each new post.
(Anonymous)
Amazon reviews
Of course, if I don't like the work, I'm out quite a bit of money -- books are getting quite expensive these days. So I really am selective about my favorite writers.
I've even done a review of Mindy's The Glasswrights' Master.
Bob Shepard of Denver
Re: Amazon reviews
Yes, the price of books is shockingly high. I remember, as a kid, getting hardcovers for around $5. Of course, my parents were earning much less money than my husband and I do these days, but the gut-feel of the numbers is wrenching!