Readers: Keep Your Favorite Author Writing!
You reluctantly close the back cover on the book. A sense of loss and longing washes over you. You don’t want to be finished. How can you walk away from the storyline or the characters who are so real, you think you’ve seen them downtown?
But wait. Maybe the author has more books. Maybe this is a series. You jump online and Google her name. You find her website and see that she doesn’t. WHY?????? Well, probably because her writing hasn’t taken off yet and she has to earn a living with a day job. You can’t do anything about that. You’ll just have to wait…and hope…
I’m here to tell you that you can make a difference!
Word of mouth is HUGE! Tell all of your friends about the book. If you can part with it, loan your copy to a trusted friend or family member. Donate a copy to a library, especially a school library. SPEAK out loud frequently using the book’s title, the author’s name.
Make it social. There are many, many ways through social media to “click” your author toward a fulltime writing career. Facebook the book’s link from Amazon and or Barnes & Noble. The book’s cover art will post with the link, which people will recognize and associate with ‘recommended’ even if they don’t read the blurb. Tweet it. Blog about it.
Write a book review and post it to Amazon, B & N, and/or Goodreads. You don’t have to be a professional book reviewer. An avid reader’s enthusiasm is often more persuasive than a professional reviewer.
“Like” the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The Weaver received more than 25 likes on B & N in a weekend the sales ranking increased. That ROCKED my world.
Tag the books on Amazon. Near the bottom of the book’s page is a list of words that will help readers find the book when they are searching. Example: The Weaver has tags like, storytelling, gnome, fantasy, kai strand. Click on each tag there and add more you think might help it come up in a search such as, 9 – 12 years old, knitting.
Popularity has other ripple effects. If a publisher is considering purchasing a manuscript from your favorite author and they see that her current title is well liked and highly recommended, they are more likely to take the chance on partnering with her on her next book.
Last, but certainly not least, your public support of an author and her work goes a long, long way in encouraging her to write more. Writing is very subjective and often she’ll only hear when someone doesn’t like her work. Pat her on the virtual back and buoy her very real spirits by “liking,” “tagging,” “facebooking,” and reviewing her work. You’re more likely to see more from her then.
Your opinion really does matter! Now, let’s play tag!
About the author ~
Obviously, Kai likes to write. The Weaver is Kai’s debut book. She reads a lot as well and calls it research. Kai loves to garden, and is trying out a greenhouse for the first time this year. She loves to sing. You might find her singing in Latin while browsing at Target. Most of the time she isn’t aware she’s singing aloud. She and her family love to hike and geocache. Kai walks 45 miles a month for exercise.
Visit the author at her website
Visit her blog
Follow her on Twitter
Like her on Facebook
Email her at ~ kaistrand (at) yahoo (dot) com
In a town of word weavers, Mary suffers through her third year of Novice Word Weaving. Mary thinks her troubles are over when she meets a gnome-elf who grants her a wish. But instead of weaving a better story, she’s weaving strange yarn charms to accompany her still pathetic tales.
Read an excerpt ~
A Mother’s Shadow
Given ample sun and water, a flower grows strong and blooms full But grown in shade it is spindly, weak, and off color
Tucked in a lush valley between two snow-capped mountains was the village of The Tales. Those who lived in the village were known as Weavers. Each person in The Tales could tell stories about anything at anytime, and they often did. Prose, poetry, limericks or yarns; they told stories of all types and styles.
On a balmy spring morning, Mary Wordsmith and her mother, Abigail, made their weekly visit to the produce market.
Thumping an acorn squash, Abigail said, “At last, here’s one that isn’t going soft.” She handed the squash to Mary who absently dropped it in the basket on her arm.
Visit Kai on the rest of her tour ~
Friday, May 13th
Character interviewed at The Plot
Monday, May 16th
Book reviewed at 4 the Love of Books
Guest blogging at Margaret Rose Writes
Tuesday, May 17th
Interviewed at The Hot Author Report
Wednesday, May 18th
Book reviewed at Si, se puede! Yes we can and YA Books Central
Thursday, May 19th
Interviewed at Melange of Cultures’s Blog
Book reviewed at Ellis
Book reviewed at Stories a la Mode
Book reviewed at Janet Ann Collins: On Words
Friday, May 20th
Interviewed at Blogcritics
Guest blogging at The Brain Fart Explosion
