8 Ways to Make a Difference to an Author

 So many books, so little time.

You’ve seen the saying. You know it’s true.

Something like 300,000 new books are published each year in the United States. Amazon.com lists millions of titles. (One online source said 32 million.)

However, only a small percentage of those millions of titles will sell more than a few thousand copies. Only a small percentage of the authors those titles represent will become famous. Sure we’ve heard of J K Rowling, James Patterson or John Grisham. But what about the millions of authors who aren’t famous and may never reach the New York Times Bestseller list?

What about the not-so-famous authors?

Not-so-famous authors write some really great books. But unlike celebrities and best-selling authors, we don’t see their names touted in the media. We won’t see them on a talk show or find their books recommended by Oprah.

And that’s too bad, because their books deserve to be read. Most authors work hard year after year, writing books to please niche audiences and hoping to increase sales enough to keep the publisher happy and win that next contract.

In my journey toward becoming a published author, I have been forced to grapple with such realities of the book publishing world. Along the way, I have learned that we everyday readers are very important to not-so-famous authors.

In fact, we have the potential to play a significant role in helping them succeed. We matter. We can make a difference.

Here are a few simple things you and I can do to support not-so-famous authors. (Note: I imagine many of these ideas would benefit other types of artists, like a not-so-famous band, or indie movie maker. They need our support too.)

1. Write a positive review (4 or 5 stars) and post it on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, Epinions and other public book review sites. The review does not have to be long or clever. It just has to tell others why we liked the book. Positive reviews can mean a lot to not-so-famous authors. Please take the time to post them. (Write one review, copy and paste it to multiple sites. Not that onerous a task, is it?)
2. Recommend not-so-famous books to friends. Mention them on social media. Pass the word when titles go on sale. Free e-books are a great way to try out new authors! How do you know about sales? First off, follow the author (see #3 below). Next, follow Facebook pages like Free Kindle Books (Updated Daily) or Christian Fiction 4 Free. Know other great sources for free or almost-free e-books? Mention it in the comments below.
3. Like authors’ Facebook pages. Visit their blogs. Better yet, sign up to follow their blogs. Publishers want to see proof that their authors have a following. Authors NEED people willing to sign up for their newsletter or follow their blog. Do not underestimate how important this may be to most authors! (And would-be authors!!)
4. If you really want to support your favorite author, consider joining their “street team.” A Street Team is a group of people who promote an author, artist, event or cause. These days that mostly means posting promotional info on social media sites, writing reviews, passing the word on special deals or contests, etc. Look for information regarding street teams on an author’s web page or newsletter.
5. Visit your local library and commend their staff for any of your favorite not-so-famous authors they carry. Then leave a suggestion for a few more titles they might want to consider. You could also give them a list of recent award winners in your favorite genre (particularly if this is a not-so-famous award.) For example, if you want to promote Christian fiction, make sure your local librarian is aware of the 2014 Carol Award winners or Christy Award winners.
6. If you don’t find your favorite not-so-famous authors at your local bookstore, ask the staff to order a title for you. Your request may get another copy or two on the shelves, which might lead to another fan for that author.
7. If you don’t read books by not-so-famous authors, maybe it’s time to give some a try. There are plenty of ways to discover great not-so-famous books. Here are a few:

Bookseller sites like Amazon and Barnes & Noble not only have an abundance of reviews, but they also make suggestions for similar books and have lists of reader’s favorites that may include a not-so-famous author you’ll enjoy.

This post reviews five major book review/book finder sites including Goodreads BookBrowse and LibraryThing. I have discovered some great not-so-famous books using Goodreads.

Another book finder not on the above list is ACFW’s Fiction Finder. (Christian titles only)

The Complete Review gives a comprehensive list of book review sites—everything from Kirkus Reviews to newspapers to book blogs.

The Indie View provides a list of book bloggers who review indie books, along with what they review. Not as user-friendly as the other sites, but you can look for bloggers who like your kind of books.

Happy reading!