Want to support an author's or illustrator's new book but can't afford to buy it? Here's what you can do.
(Updated April 17, 2017, plus check reader comments)
The quandary: You want to support someone's new book and as much as you'd like to buy it, you can't. Perhaps you can't justify the cost of the new book right now. Perhaps your author friend is prolific and has multiple books coming out, and you can't afford to get them all. Perhaps you have so many author and illustrator friends that if you tried to buy all their books, you'd need to sell your car first. Or your house.
Here are some other ways you can show support for an author's book:
First, read the book. How do you read it without buying it? Borrow it from the library. For picture books, you could even read the book AT the bookstore.
Reserve a copy at the library. At least at some libraries, this helps show the library that at least one person is interested in that book. If popular enough, the library may order more copies.
Review/rate the book. Post a rating and/or review in sites like Goodreads, LibraryThing, Amazon, BN.com or your own blog. If you didn't like the book, don't lie. Nilofer Merchant suggests using a phrase like "this book is not for you if you are xxx" because even this kind of negative review may help others know the book IS for them. Take a few extra minutes to browse the other reviews of the book and then (if the feature's available) Like the reviews that you did like or found helpful.
When you read the book, read it where people can see it. Not sure about the rest of you, but I'm always surreptitiously checking out the covers of books that people read in public. This is where print books have the advantage of digital. Read the book on public transit, in the park, on the beach, at the airport, while waiting in line. You never know when people will decide to check out the book just because they saw you enjoying it.
Recommend the book to others through social media. Including the book cover (either scoop the cover image from the publisher/author/illustrator website or photograph the book cover in the library or bookstore) especially helps. Even just a short "Loved this book!" along with the cover will be appreciated. You can make it even more personal by adding a reason why you loved it. Take the time to tag the author or illustrator; tagging not only alerts the author/illustrator to the post but it also encourages people to click your tag link to find out more about the person.
Share and retweet the author's or illustrator's posts. Be judicious -- don't share/retweet everything, especially if you tend to share/retweet a lot on your feed. To authors and illustrators: make sure your post is PUBLIC if you want it shared. I can't tell you the number of times I've started to share someone's FB post but then discovered that it's a Friends-Only post; even if I shared it, the only people who see it would be our shared friends who already have it in their feed. If you're confused, read this FB support page about how to control who sees your posts.
Post a photo of the book in the wild. Especially around launch time, I find that social media sometimes gets inundated with images of just the book cover. Make your post more personal by taking a selfie of you holding the author's book, or another reader with the book -- photos with people in them always get more Like-love. Or take a photo in a fun setting, like adding a cup of tea beside a picture book about a tea party, for example. Or if you see the book in your local bookstore or library, take a photo and tag the author or illustrator. I can't speak for other author/illustrators, of course, but I always appreciate when someone does this.
If the author or illustrator is on YouTube, subscribe to their channel so you can more easily find out when they upload new trailers or videos.
Become a fan of the author's on Goodreads. Add upcoming releases to your Goodreads "To Read" list.
Follow authors you like on Amazon. Check Amazon to see if your favorite authors have an author page (most do).
Talk about the book. Don't underestimate the power of word-of-mouth. Recommend the book to friends, work colleagues, your local bookseller and librarian. When a friend of mine recommends a book they personally like and think I'd like, too, I pay MUCH more attention than when I see a generic "this new book just came out, you should get it!" post on social media.
"Like" the author's page or the book's page on Facebook. If you think any of your friends might like the author's work, invite those Facebook friends to do the same.
Additional suggestions from reader comments:
Consider buying the ebook version if you can't afford a hardcopy. "I am a diehard want-to-hold-it physical-copy reader but also know that digital versions produce some royalties to the creators, and often are less expensive so may fit in a book budget better." - vcoulman
If you have a blog, post about your favorite books, or "feature books and their authors/illustrators. If you have a website, use it at least in part to focus on stories and the artists who create them." - Library_Sheri
"Pin it. If you have a Pinterest account, pin the book to one of your boards."
"Suggest it for your book club. When it’s your turn to toss in a suggestion for future reading, you know what to do. Don’t be squeamish if you want to share a picture book. That would a refreshing change for any book club." - Library_Sheri
"Ask your public and school libraries to help. Librarians love books and appreciate their authors and illustrators. Ask one to display certain books and explain why." - Library_Sheri
Tell the author. "We understand being poor and we love personally feedback. Heck, I'm always glad to give free review copies. Fans are more important than money to me." - Rachel Eliason
"Go to their events (book signings, talks, etc.) even if you don't plan to buy their book. I remember one of my early book signings in downtown Honolulu. Sue Cowing showed up with a lei for me! That was years ago, but I still remember how thrilled I was. She took a seat beside me and stayed awhile to chat. Sometimes we get a book signing and the only ones who talk to us are the ones asking where is the bathroom!" - Elaine Olelo Masters
Cautionary note:
If you see a nasty, negative review do not, I repeat DO NOT reply in kind. I have seen many flamewars that started this way, and it often ends up hurting the author rather than helping.
And meanwhile...
Whether or not you can afford to buy my book(s), THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone who has supported me and my work! I really appreciate it.
Do you have other suggestions about how to support book authors and illustrators? Please post below.
Related Resources:
How To Buy A Picture Book (without Buying A Picture Book) by Josh Funk
How To Support An Author Beyond Buying Their Book by Erin in Pub Crawl
How To Help An Author (Beyond Buying The Book) Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 by Jen Malone on Writers' Rumpus
Five Ways To Help Your Favorite Authors - by Becca Puglish on Writers Helping Writers
10 Simple Ways To Support Authors You Love - by Jody Hedlund
22 Ways To Support Your Favorite Authors - by Janette Foreman on Fiction411
What's The Best Way To Support Your Favorite Authors? on The Wayfinder
How To Support An Author's New Book: 11 Ideas For You - by Chuck Sambuchino on Writer Unboxed
How To Support An Author - by Nilofer Merchant
5 Quick Ways To Support Your Favorite Author - by Dorothy Wiley
How To Support An Author Beyond Buying Their Book - by Erin in Pub Crawl
Debbie Ridpath Ohi tagged authors, community, finances, illustrators, promotion in Feature articles, Promotion & Marketing
Reader Comments (20)
Oh, Deb, thank you for this.
Dear Debbie, this is a wonderful list and a great reminder for all of us. Thanks so much!
Kyra
Thank you, Debbie. Spot on as always! Can I also suggest considering purchasing the ebook version if it's available? I am a diehard want-to-hold-it physical-copy reader but also know that digital versions produce some royalties to the creators, and often are less expensive so may fit in a book budget better. (P.s. I like to sneak a peek at what other readers are reading, too.)
LOVE this, Debbie! This is a dilemma for me all the time because I'm broke---literally. BUT, I want SO many books, especially at a signing. It's SUCH a difficult issue, but these suggestions are very helpful :) I know I'm a big Twitter person as far as sharing release dates, good news, etc. Thanks for this list!
Great post! As requested, here are some more suggestions.
• Blog about it. If you have a blog, post about your favourite books.
• Feature books and their authors/illustrators. If you have a website, use it at least in part to focus on stories and the artists who create them.
• Pin it. If you have a Pinterest account, pin the book to one of your boards.
• Suggest it for your book club. When it’s your turn to toss in a suggestion for future reading, you know what to do. Don’t be squeamish if you want to share a picture book. That would a refreshing change for any book club.
• Ask your public and school libraries to help. Librarians love books and appreciate their authors and illustrators. Ask one to display certain books and explain why.
Thanks for this. I agree. I would add, tell the author. We understand being poor and we love personally feedback. Heck, I'm always glad to give free review copies. Fans are more important than money to me.
Great post!
Go to their events (book signings, talks, etc.) even if you don't plan to buy their book. I remember one of my early book signings in downtown Honolulu. Sue Cowing showed up with a lei for me! That was years ago, but I still remember how thrilled I was. She took a seat beside me and stayed awhile to chat. Sometimes we get a book signing and the only ones who talk to us are the ones asking where is the bathroom!
I love to follow all your suggestions. Don't forget to encourage budding writers to blog about author's books! It is so difficult to eavesdrop on people's e-readers to see what they are reading to start a conversation. But, when I am on vacation at a pool or a beach, I sometimes feel lonely and get brazed and ask what readers are currently reading!
I asked my library if they had Seanan McGuire's Every Heart a Doorway; they didn't but said I could request it, and they ordered it as a result.
This is so helpful and very timely. One of my 2017 goals is to do more to support authors. Thank you!
Great post! Love all these suggestions. I would add that if your library doesn't carry the book, suggest a purchase. You can even suggest the purchase before the book comes out.
Thanks so much!
Gary McGath is spot on...Asking your local library to stock the book is a great way to support an author!
All good advice, thank you for posting!
I read several books on NetGalley (free) in exchange for an honest review. If I like/love the book I post a review on NetGalley, GoodReads, Amazon, tweet the cover, blog about the novel or put the book on other social media.
If you have friends who are educators, tell them about your great book find and suggest they ask the librarian to order the book.
Pinning: I do love the suggestion of pinning the book and have a board marked "books I love."
Very helpful ideas here. Thanks for sharing them.
I'm totally late to this party, Debbie, but your post is fabulous and will be relevant for centuries...as long as books exist and there are people to read them! Thank you so much!!
This was an excellent post. I've bookmarked it. I have a lot of author friends, and these are such good ways to support them.
... and if your library doesn't have the book, put in a request for them to purchase it.
This is a great post ... and as relevant today as it was over two years ago when it was written. Thanks so much. One thing I would add is to personally recommend the book to someone else who would like it. Even if I can't personally purchase every book I'm excited about, I can give some sincere thought to who I know that might really connect with the book. For example, I'm more inclined to buy picture books for my own collection and to give picture books as gifts because that's the genre I write in and most of my nieces and nephews are picture book readers. I don't purchase as much middle grade fiction, but I know teachers who teach for that age group, so in addition to posting about a middle grade books I want to amplify/support, I also send personal emails/texts to folks I know who have a keen interest in middle grade.