When I think of all the books still left for me to read, I am certain of further happiness. – Jules Renard
Know This
Authors, we love that you work for months and years (and perhaps decades?) to craft the stories that find their way into our hands sometimes miraculously.
Equally as miraculous sometimes is the way your books change our minds by making us think, change our hearts by making us feel, or change our lives by making us do both in an insanely intricate, exquisite combination.
For that reason, we read your books, review your books, and ramble on about your books even after the eyes of our parents, peers, and pets have long since glazed over.
For that reason, we create these things called blogs and learn to post. We create accounts on all the retailer sites and learn to write reviews. Because we want you to know how much we appreciate your writing. Because we want you to be able to keep writing.
Know this, please: We of the tribe of book bloggers are grateful.
We especially love when you show gratitude for our gratitude by allowing us to join the ranks of your influencer/review teams. We probably would have bought your newest releases anyway, but we accept those paperback or e-book copies with pride. They want us to have these, we think. Because they want to know what we thought–and they trust us to share what we honestly think and share it well.
It can be a humbling responsibility–being a book blogger and knowing that in some small way the fate of our favorite authors is in the palm of our hands.
How You can Support Book Bloggers
1. Read them. It would probably be close to impossible for you to read every review of your book. But often we book bloggers make a special effort to make sure you know about our review by tagging you in our tweets and Facebook statuses or by emailing/DMing/writing on your wall.
When you comment or reply that you read our review, you make our day.
2. Share them. It also makes our day when you retweet our tweet about how much we loved your book. It puts a smile on our face when you share a link to our review on Facebook. It’s a win-win situation, really. Your friends and followers get to hear about how great your book is and why they should buy it (but it’s not you saying it–which reduces the self-promotion anxiety).
Your shares drive traffic to good publicity about your book…and to our blogs, which we appreciate.
3. Love them. A simple thank-you goes a long way. Knowing that one of my favorite authors read my review of her outstanding book makes the work I put into that review (and there is work involved) worth it. Knowing that author shared the link to my review on social media makes me smile.
But knowing that author appreciates what I did enough to say thank you in a comment beneath the review or elsewhere makes me feel that author has become an ally in this ever-changing publishing industry.
I’m speaking mainly from my own experience, of course. I only accept complimentary, influencer, and review copies of books I’m almost completely sure I’ll love. So this post may be tipped to the positive.
Book bloggers, what do you want authors to know?
Read More
- What Authors Want Book Bloggers to Know
- How to Write a Book Review
- How to Write Creative Book Reviews by Jessica on Kindred Grace
Can’t tell you how much we appreciate how much you've done for Playlist Fiction! We value you and all of the Street Team members exponentially!
It is indeed a community, Katherine. Great word choice there! Congratulations on your new release!<br /><br />Robbye, aww, I'm so glad it made your day! :)
Rachelle,<br /><br />I agree completely!<br />I notice I will go out of my way to get a book by an author I've reviewed that subsequently contacted me. There is something awe-inspiring about having an author (especially a favorite one) contact you!<br />I enjoy my blogging and love to read but sometimes it feels like WORK, when I have a sick child, busy schedule, etc. so the kind words mean
Thanks for much for this post. I loved it. I am fairly to new to all this as my debut novel, Dear Mr. Knightley, releases this November. It has been amazing to find such a welcoming community, "meet" you all on Twitter and read your wonderful blogs. Thanks!
Many *are* very kind and willing to talk, Rissi, you're right. I think that surprised me at first because I saw authors as very busy people, but the fact that they love talking to readers shines through! :)<br /><br />Joanne, you've blessed me right back! Thank you!<br /><br />Mrs. Pederson, exactly.<br /><br />Brandi, I'm right there with you. Unless I have committed to review a book
Rachelle…you said this so well! It does make me smile to have an author or a publisher acknowledge my review. I appreciate those that understand when I decline to do a review. I have a policy that I won't publish a negative review. Not all books are my cup of tea, but they may be just right for someone else. I just feel like the author doesn't need my negative view on their hard work.
I have to echo what others have said–it's an honor to have author's leave a friendly word on my blog or e-mail. Makes the work seem extra profitable. :)
Great post, Rachelle! You do what you do so well and you've blessed me as an author and a friend and I just know you bless others!
Agree, Rachelle – it's pretty special when an author stops by with a friendly word. It's been lovely to connect with so many of my favorite authors on Twitter and most of them are very kind and willing to converse with you. That says a lot about them as a person and I am delighted to be a small part of helping to promote the beautiful, romantic, dramatic and comical stories they
Charity, that's so true! Authors ARE celebrities to me. :)<br /><br />Thanks, Mary!<br /><br />Laura, really? Wow. THAT makes ME smile. :) (By the way, LOVING Perfect Glass. Like capital letters loving. #bigdeal) :)
I can't tell you how much this post made me smile! Big, huge, toothy grin for a good fifteen minutes. You said everything an author wants to hear from a book blogger. It is a relationship. It is a give and take and win/win. And it is built on trust. Thanks for doing what you do. Someday soon, book bloggers will be reviewing your books and they'll be blessed to do so.
I loved this post and I agree 100%!
Yup! Since joining Twitter and Facebook, I've really loved personal contact with authors — who, to me, are just about as important as if a very popular actor or political figure were to take notice of something I wrote about them! Friendly authors make me want to read more of their books, even if I don't LOVE the books. But when I love the book and the author is awesome? THAT will be the
Totally agree, Rachelle! I'm with you, it truly makes my day when an author comments on my review or retweets my links. :D
Thanks, Bethany!
I totally second this!!! I couldn't have said it better myself!<br />Bethany<br />—-> http://www.theliterarymaidens.blogspot.com <—– The new book review/giveaway blog I just started with a friend, would love for you to check it out! :)
Glad to have someone agree with me, Emily. ;)
I'm a reviewer who accepts almost anything that sounds like a 40% or higher chance of me liking it, and sometimes I even accept a book that looks sketchy. Sometimes I was right all along and don't like it. Sometimes I discover a new favorite author, instead. (Case in point: http://www.cidneyswanson.com) Either way, I still feel very much the same way you do about book blogging.