Once upon a time, I wrote a letter to authors, from book bloggers. Now, as a book blogger and an author, I get to write a letter to book bloggers.
Know This
Book bloggers, we love that you work to help us spread the word about our books. This is a deeply personal venture for us, and it can be intimidating at times to step into the online world and talk about us and our stories. Your enthusiasm means more than you know.
Equally as meaningful is how you genuinely help. Every pin, every tweet, every blog post makes us smile because we know it took effort, we know you didn’t have to, but you believe in us and our stories.
Know this, please: We authors are grateful.
We especially love when you show gratitude for our gratitude by joining in our fun contests, commenting on our blog and social media posts, and mentioning that you passed on our book to your mom.
Consider This
1. Review them. We know it is impossible for you to read every book by every author you love; but we love that you try. When you sign up to receive a free book from us, please feel free to review them anywhere and everywhere. Amazon, Goodreads, B&N, Books a Million, Christianbook, Shelfari…every review means a lot to us.
When you post your review on a retailer site or social media, our day is made.
2. Share them. It also makes our day when you share our silly posts of us with our first author box of books or retweet our countdown to the sequel’s release. It’s a win-win situation, really. Your friends and followers get to hear about how great our book is, and we get to share with our friends and followers that people like our words. ;)
Our mutual shares drive traffic to your blogs…and to good publicity about our books, which we appreciate.
3. Love them. A simple thank-you goes a long way. Knowing that one of my favorite bloggers read my book makes the work I put into that book worth it. Tell me when you laughed at a scene, fell in love with the hero, or stayed up late reading.
But knowing that a blogger appreciates what I wrote enough to say thank you makes me feel that I have another treasured ally in this ever-changing publishing industry.
I’m speaking mainly from my own experience, of course, and I happen to think I have an amazing launch team. ;) Authors, what do you want book bloggers to know?
Read Also
I so appreciate you pulling this together, Rachelle! I’ve been doing a Book Blogger promotion feature on my group blog (Inkwell Inspirations) since May. I worry that bloggers will become overwhelmed by the growing need (and pressure) to review books and make fancy blog posts as well! I want to encourage them to do what they can and I want to encourage reviewers to give blogging a try. Authors would be lost without this amazing support. In a flooded market, reviews and bloggers are irreplaceable to the publishing industry!
Debra, thanks for commenting! And for featuring book blogger promo on your blog. It’s so fun being a book blogger; I’m glad you’re encouraging others to join in the fun! :)
Oh … good thoughts.
I’ve been on both sides of this conversation now. As an author I never want a reader to feel that they “have” to publish a positive review of a book which, in all honesty, they may not have enjoyed. I also don’t REALLY want a negative review however! :) As a reader I try to remember both those points and if I honestly can’t write a positive review then I usually won’t write a review at all.
I think the thing I find hardest as a reader is balancing personal taste with literary merit. Oh … and in using the “star” system on Amazon consistently! Is it a casual review or a formal review? Am I choosing stars according to enjoyment or worth? And where is the fine line between a Four Star review and a Five Star review anyway?!?
Maybe, being an author, I overthink being a reader! :) At the end of the day, however, I adore being able to read a book and write a Five Star review on Amazon which will, I hope, encourage the author AND encourage other readers to buy the book too.
Great thoughts! Thanks for sharing, Elisabeth! :)
Great post, Rachelle! :) I enjoyed reading it, coming from more the blogger’s perspective, yet starting the author’s perspective. :)
I would add that it’s okay if you didn’t love the book (hard as that is to say!). But I think it goes along with point three about loving the author: don’t just slam them with a negative review but consider contacting them individually first. :)
Such a good point, Amanda!