Hi everyone! My name is Emma and I am assisting Jenn this summer as she prepares for the publication of Forgive Me Not. Both as Jenn’s assistant and as an avid reader, I have often wondered what the best ways to help authors were. Luckily, there were a number of resources available online that allowed me to compile a list! While this is by no means an exhaustive summary, it should help you out if you’ve ever had the same question.
Ways to Help Authors Pre-Pub and Beyond…
Purchase: Most important…buy the book. Pre-orders help a lot and even after sales are important for hardcovers and paperbacks. Any and all sales help and it’s great to support indie bookstores that contribute to the community. If you can purchase, pick whichever means works best for you. Giveaways are also great because there’s potential to get copies to readers who may not have access.
Libraries: Alternatively, you can request a copy from your local library or donate a copy to your library. Book circulation can help with local awards and may encourage more purchases through the library system.
Media: If you have ties to media, this is a superb way to help. Authors may not have reach outside of their region or could use wider visibility. Podcasts, radio, digital or print spaces help a lot with visibility as part of promotions. Book lists, essays, interviews, reviews, are just some of the typical ways books get attention. These may be book-specific spaces, but book themes can resonate on various platforms and reach listeners (aka potential readers).
Virtual Parties: Consider attending or hosting a virtual (or in-person) pre-order party. These events can include readings, activities, or games to help promote the book. Another route is a launch party that is less formal and more fun where you can connect with readers and collaborate with other authors to brainstorm new ideas to celebrate.
Social Media: Follow the author on social media: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, BlueSky, or wherever else we may be and share their content. If authors share graphics it can be helpful to amplify on the day of publication and thereafter.
Reviews: Post the books online—and write a review! Many factors go into book sales, but word-of-mouth can be a driving factor. Posting a review of the book to Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, or your preferred social media channel goes a long way and helps raise the book’s profile in searches.
Mailing Lists: Join mailing lists from authors and publishers that interest you, which may be the easiest way to get updates versus social media posts. Mailing lists send news, like upcoming releases, right to your inbox.
Award Nominations: Winning or being nominated for an award can make a huge difference for an author. While the majority of well-known literary awards are not open to reader nominations or voting, the ones that are depend on your participation and can help bring visibility to audiences that may not have been aware of your book. (Goodreads, Shimmy Awards, Eisner, are just some up for voting or nominations.)
Schools: School connections can be incredibly helpful, especially in the kidlit market. If you are an educator or have connections to any schools or work with programs that do author visits, ask if there is potential for a book event. Universities are also great for potential adoptions. Authors can coordinate with their School & Library teams and collaborating with department heads and program directors can be a great connection.
Readings/Events: Reading series or other events, especially ones that sell copies. Does their book also fit with an event you’re planning or a panel you’re proposing? Are you part of a festival that can help support an author or connect them with new readers? Is there a talk or conference where their book or presence may make a splash? Is this an event where books may be sold? If so it may be helpful to add to sales or negotiate fees versus sales for a speaking engagement. (Keep in mind many authors do pay for their own travels. It may be worth checking with an author on whether they’ll receive support or you can provide this for an appearance.)
Swag: If you’re the visually creative type, creating swag like postcards or fan art or stickers or other goodies, can help as a pre-order perk for the author to incite interest.
Partnerships: Are there thematic elements that may work with a company or organization to package the book or bring an author in as a speaker? Would a local BIPOC-owned winery help make a cocktail and collaborate on promotion? Are their organizations that work with communities depicted in the book and may engage with it that you can plan a learning event around?
Book Clubs/Reading Groups: If you’re part of an active bookclub consider nominating the book to discuss, especially in paperback since those sales are helpful and books tend to get less publicity/marketing, if any, for the paperback that comes out after a hardcover.