Readers, did you know that you can be a blessing to authors in so many different ways?
During the release of my new YA book, An Uncertain Choice, I’ve been blessed in countless ways by my readers (new and old)! It’s been an exciting few weeks with lots of enthusiasm for my new book which has been really fun to see.
Readers have reached out to me in various ways, but I don’t think many of them realize how much their support and words of encouragement truly bless me. So I wanted to take the chance to publicly thank my awesome readers for all of your excitement. You guys totally rock!
I know I speak for all the authors here at Inspired by Life & Fiction when I say, “Thank you for all that you do to make being an author so fun and rewarding!”
What are some of the ways my readers have blessed me recently? Here are just a few of the many things they’ve done:
• Written me encouraging emails or Facebook messages.
• Take pictures of themselves (or their pets) with my book and posted them on Facebook or Pinterest. (Here are a few. Don’t you just love them?!)
Rae Er’s Mule Adora
Lucy Buller’s Tink
Amanda Geaney’s tortoise
• Created graphics of quotes from the books. (Here are a couple of the pictures. Aren’t they beautiful?!)
Picture designed by Lucy Buller
Picture designed by Laura Pol
• Asked for and passed out bookmarks to their circles of influence. (In fact, I sent out TWO batches of bookmarks to one of my readers after she used up the first stack I sent her!)
• Hosted me for a blog tour featuring my new release.
• Written and posted reviews on online bookstores, Goodreads, and their personal blogs.
• Used the Discussion Guide with groups of girls.
• Talked about the book with friends, family, and students.
• Consistently and happily shared all of my graphics, giveaways, and promotions regarding the book.
I could go on and on with all of the things readers have done not just with my new release but with previous books as well.
The truth is, dear readers, that YOU make all the hard work of being an author so worthwhile! Thanks for reading our books, for enjoying them, and for getting excited about them. Your pleasure is one of the main reasons we keep writing!
Authors, what are some ways you’ve been blessed by your readers recently? And readers, did you realize that your enthusiasm means a lot to authors?
Jody Hedlund
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I love my readers! They are some of the warmest, most generous, most positive, most humorous women around. Just this week, they gave me positive feedback on an upcoming cover. They volunteered to pray for me when I told them I was working really hard to try to complete a first draft by April 1st. They sent me Facebook messages, tweets, and instagram posts of encouragement.
I’ve been a reader all my life, but I never took the extra step of contacting any of my favorite authors. Now that I’m an author, I’m so glad that many readers DO take the time to take that extra step. Support from readers always seems to reach me right when I need it most — when I’m feeling discouraged, or exhausted, or like my work-in-progress is terrible. I’ve come to believe that God communicates, “Keep going! Take heart!” messages through readers. 🙂
Hi Becky,
Before I became an author, I never thought to contact an author either! Of course, back then we didn’t have FB, email, and other quick means to make an easy connection. But it didn’t cross my mind to write a letter. Nowadays, I’m much more aware of what a blessing it is. If a book particularly touches me, I almost always contact the author to let her know! 🙂
Dearest Jody….it works both ways my friend. If we didn’t have you to love ,then you wouldn’t have us!
I adore my author friends and can’t wait until a new book arrives on the shelves here.:)
I intend giving an “Uncertain Choice ” to my grand daughters for their 14th birthays. Please, Would it be possible for you to be able to scan some book marks through to me? I would love to be able to give them your autograph;) Take care , keep writing and I’ll keep reading.:)
Hi Rosie,
I’d love to get you some bookmarks! I wonder if it might be easier for me to email you the bookmark via an attachment. I think I have one that you could download and print out. Let me know if you’d like to try that! Thanks so much for supporting us authors the way you do!! You’re a gem! 🙂
Congratulations, Jody!! It’s so good to see all the love and support you’re getting from your devoted readers. You do such an excellent job encouraging your influencers and giving them wonderful ideas to share your books. It’s easy to be a good influencer when your books are so fun to read and to recommend to others. 🙂 Praying for continued success on all your writing.
Thank you, Gabrielle! You’ve been such an awesome cheerleader! I’ve really appreciated all of your support and encouragement! Thanks for all you do for me! Hugs! 🙂
You are so right, Jody! It seems like whenever I get discouraged about some aspect of the writing process, I hear from one or more of my readers and am encouraged to keep on writing and not give up. And they do such amazing things! This week, a reader in the Netherlands posted an awesome book review for me on Facebook. I LOVE my readers!
Hi Lynn,
I really love how God works through our readers to encourage us right when we need it! It’s amazing how that happens! On more than one occasion, I’ve gotten a particularly touching email on a bad day that’s served to lift my spirits and remind me of why I write.
I have very high respect for all authors and especially for the ones who write Christian Fiction. I never realized all the work and research that goes into putting a book together until I started to read these blogs from my favorite writers. You do all this for the readers and we are very thankful for your efforts. Authors can take their readers into the heart of the stories. It’s wonderful to read a great book during a cold winters evening or anytime for that matter. You give us so much and it’s the least that we can do to be encouraging and put a nice review together to show how much we enjoy your books.
Thanks
Shirley
Thank you so much for those sweet words, Shirley! Sending you a virtual hug! 🙂
For years I read but never even thought about writing reviews. I had no idea what an encourager or an influencer was. Now I love writing reviews and interacting with the authors. It’s a win-win situation. You gifted authors are encouraged and we readers feel an extra bond to you when we read your books.
Thank you to all you authors who share your gift with us.
Hi Shirley, I think the invention of social media has bridged the gap between authors and readers in a wonderful way! It definitely is a win-win for both of us! Thanks for all you! 🙂
Hi Jody,
I’m more than happy to try the attachment re the book marks. That would be great. Thank you so much:)