One Very Easy Thing Readers Can Do for Authors
As you know by now, I’m celebrating the release of my first historical, Luther and Katharina, the true love story of the heretic monk and great reformer, Martin Luther, and the little known woman he married, Katharina von Bora.
Last week I had a week-long Facebook party to celebrate the release, and I gave away a copy of the book each day. This week I’m giving away 2 books over on my website (so don’t miss this last chance to WIN the book!).
In all of the hoopla and celebrating, readers were so incredibly sweet and supportive. In addition to writing reviews and adding the book to their Goodreads shelves, they shared about the giveaways with their followers, pinned inspiring quotes onto Pinterest, and took pictures of themselves (or their pets) with the book.
I was deeply grateful for all of the many and various ways readers supported the book! Every little bit of sharing helps spread the buzz which is so important at release time.
But as I thought about all those ways that readers help authors, I realized that some readers might feel left out. Many readers aren’t on Goodreads or don’t have the capability to make graphics or easily upload pictures of themselves.
Or maybe they just don’t have the money or the room to support an author by buying each new release. And so as much as they want to join in celebrating a release and supporting the author, they don’t really know how.
One of the simplest and easiest ways for ANY reader to support an author is to do this: Request that your local library purchase the author’s new book. It’s as simple as going to the help desk and suggesting that they order it. (Or some libraries have request forms that patrons can fill out either online or at the library.)
I’ve never had a reader tell me the library denied her request. Libraries are usually very accommodating to patron book suggestions.
But you might be silently asking: Yes, but if readers are constantly getting an author’s books at the library (rather than purchasing them), wouldn’t that take away from sales and hurt the author?
The answer is, no, not really. Obviously an author only makes a financial profit when money is exchanged for one of her books. If the library purchases the book (or multiple libraries), that definitely counts as one of those monetary exchanges.
However, beyond a direct sale, having books in libraries helps indirectly too. When our books are on the shelves, we have the potential to gain new readers who otherwise might not ever see our books, but who are now exposed to our stories, pick them up and read them. If they like an author well enough, they become fans. Fans will then recommend the book/author to others and may even make a purchase of another book at some future point.
This has happens to me personally. I “try” a new-to-me author’s book at the library. And if I like her book, I go on to read the rest, rave about her, and then wait with bated breath for the next release which I usually purchase because I’m now a fan and love her books.
Without the library and the freedom to read without “risk,” I likely wouldn’t try quite as many new authors as I do.
So there you have it! One VERY easy thing all readers can do (and that includes authors who can support one another!). So next time you’re at the library, make a point of asking your library to order one of your favorite author’s books! The author will be forever grateful if you do!
How about YOU? How often do you use the library to try out new-to-you authors? Have you ever requested the library order a book of a favorite author?
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I am the church librarian! And yes, I bought a copy of Luther and Katharina to share. I love connecting readers with authors!
Yes – our city council library has an ebook service too and they are more than happy to have requests for new authors and their books. It is a great way to get a series read without breaking the bank! In this global world it is always sad to read ‘giveaway for US readers only’ – boo hoo!
This is soooo true! I never buy a book by an author I’ve never read before. I’ll either check it out at the library or ask the library to order it. However if I really like an author I always buy their books! That way I can share it with friends then I donate it to the library, unless I really like it, then I keep it to read over and over!
Same here!
Yes! I often ask the library to order books! When I get a Christian book catalog in the mail I go through it and circle the books I want to read. If the library doesn’t have them, I ask them to order them.
I usually go to my library’s web site and place a book on hold or I will down load an ebook from the digital library. I have requested a certain book but if my library doesn’t have it than they will put me on hold for the book I’m requesting.
Your new book sounds like an exciting read. Would love to read it. I visited your web site. Thanks for the lovely giveaway. Would love to win it.
I request once a month a new author for the library to buy some they do some they don’t depends on the money. This library is on a tighter budget they others I have used. So far they have tried 2 new to the library and have gone over well. Most authors they do buy the books just not right when they come out a few months down the road. But I do love using the library to read all books.
I request my library order books most authors who embrace Christian fiction. They have always offered support & ordered. Christians don’t want to read trashy, violent books . We prefer something uplifting, inspirational, & with a message. Thank you.
I am a Pastor’s wife, and I often share my books in our church library. Or if it a book I love and want to keep safe I order another copy for our church shelves.
Great post, Jody. I often ask libraries to get copies of my friends’ books to make sure they are discoverable. Great reminder to make sure my library has this one! Need to go buy my copy, too. 🙂
I appreciated your blog today. It was interesting and informative. I have asked my library to order books and sometimes they have!
I haven’t been to my local library for years. I do have friends that do. Now I am mostly into ebooks. I don’t have a lot of money so I get free ebooks for my Kindles. So usually I am reading older books that have been out for a while or the first in a series. When I have extra money I buy the rest in the series. I also love trying to win free copies of books from author’s blogs. Those I then pass around to my other reader friends.
I request my local public library buy books very often–they always buy it if it’s available from their vendors. There are 7 libraries in my county that patrons can borrow from so that a lot of exposure.
Dear Jody,
I volunteer in the Church Library and have for 36 years. I am the book buyer for the library also.
Our library readers love your books! Thanks for entering me in your giveaway.
I just got a new library card. For years I lived in a township that didn’t have a library so in order to receive a library card I would have to pay upwards of $50 to get a library card for a neighboring town. Now that I am back on the family farm, I once again have access to a library. Am looking forward to being able to get not just physical books but also ebooks.
I work on a military installation, in the same building that houses the Base Library. I have often suggested books and/or authors to our librarian. Even books that I already bought and read and thrilled over. Or books that I Kindled. And, when I can bear to part with them, I will take a box of books to our library to put on their shelves or on the free shelf.
We also have the ability to request books, via our library, from the city and local college libraries. It truly is a great benefit to be able to read an author before committing cash to an unknown.
I have requested books mostly online since I bought a Kindle.. Now I don’t think I’ll ever get them all read. If there is one in the series I’m reading I will go online and request it from my library 🙂
I am an avid library user. I am at ours at least twice a week. Although I also purchase e-books and physical copies, it’s usually after I have read it on loan and I want to own my own copy. I request new authors and books regularly. In fact, we can request that the library purchase a particular book up to 6 months prior to its release. I’ve been told by a couple different librarians that its important for their patrons to do this, b/c no library or librarian is aware of all that is out there.
O, all the time. Love requesting the latest Christian fictions, since my library doesn’t have many in their stacks.
I frequently use the library and have requested that they purchase books. As a retiree, I can no longer purchase books so rely primarily on the libraries and giveaways for my reading.
Many times I’ve found a new author on my library’s shelves, read a book I LOVED and then purchased other books by the same author. If it’s a favorite series, I can’t wait for the hold list, I want to read it now! So this makes perfect sense to me. On the other hand, I can’t buy all the books I read (I’d be broke) and finding favorite authors there is a blessing. I’m looking forward to reading Luther & Katharina. Sounds fascinating!
As a retired high school librarian, I often request that a book be purchased. I am reading most of my books on Kindle now and even go so far as to recommend that the digital library I use purchase the book to be checked out.
I purchase many books to read and donate to our church library. And “Luther and Katharina” is on its way. In fact, it will probably be on our church book club’s reading list for next year. I am actually endorsing it before I even read it. . . .. .a little risky, but not really, considering the author.