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Blogs by Barbara Forte Abate
If You Love a Writer 2/10/2011 5:16:02 PM
No question, it's rough out there. With the number of newly published books flooding the market somewhere in the range of 400,000 yearly, it's a far from easy task for the majority of books to find their place in the sun -- in fact, it's not only hard and incredibly frustrating, but its just plain disheartening at times. Sure there are tips and suggestions aplenty for revving your engines in hot pursuit of the world's attentions and subsequently turning heads onto your book, but that doesn't eliminate the hotly debated question of which magic formula actually works as opposed to those that will merely register on the scale of wishful thinking.
So lets say your friend, mother, pastor, or baby brother is the proud and excited author of a newly published book. Aside from sharing a glass of champagne and enjoying a second piece of cake at the book party, what might you do to assist them in defying not only the uncertainty of effective publicity, but the awful post publication blues when the grand ticker-tape release day has come and faded away as predictably as the last of the Halloween candy?
For starters, if you haven't read the book, please consider doing so. (With extra points for buying a copy. Double for buying a second copy as a gift and passing it on.) And once you do, take that extra step and let the author know you did. Don't assume they will just "know" you took the time and effort, because they won't. Mental telepathy is not only unreliable, it generally doesn't work at all. That you enjoyed their book is precisely the sort of thing an author needs to know, because it matters. It matters a lot. Just as your opinion does. Good, bad, or hideously ugly, your thoughts count. Share them generously, although if you genuinely hated the book, you might want to hold back a little as it applies to random public discussions. In short, singing from the rooftops is good, screaming in horror is not.
However, if you truly enjoyed a book, regardless of whether it be authored by friend or complete stranger, consider writing a review on Amazon or Goodreads, mention it on Twitter and Facebook, even recommend it to your book group. Bottom line, tell people about it. Shine a little light in a very crowded room -- which by the way, is still the most effective means of marketing there is. Grassroots. Pass it on.
Honestly, it's that simple. If you love a writer, let them know. Let us all know.
