Thursday’s Post-Publication Post: How to Help An Author Out

I’m one lucky gal. When my friends and family started hearing that my book of short stories, Quiet Americans, was going to be published, they didn’t only ask me about ebook availability.

They also asked how they could support me.

I had a few ideas–and I was and remain overwhelmed by the generosity others have shown me. But I can’t help wishing that I had known/been able to point them to John Kremer’s list of “30 Ways to Help a Book Author You Love” from the start. (NB: The original link seems to be broken; here’s an updated link, with “51 Ways, which I’ve added in 2020—prompted by the FB “Memories” feature.)

Kremer is a book-marketing guru, and I discovered his list this week (thanks to another marketing maven, Dana Lynn Smith). The best thing about it is that it’s still useful to me: Even if my friends and family were kind enough to offer their assistance pre-publication, most of Kremer’s suggestions can still be used now that the book is out.

For instance:

1) Buy your friend’s book. Encourage other friends to buy the book. Go to your local library or bookstore and encourage them to buy the book. Buy books as gifts.

Or:

16) Suggest catalogs, associations, and other special sales opportunities. If you receive mail order catalogs that feature books like your friend’s book, tell her about the catalog. The same with associations, groups. corporations, etc. that might be interested in buying bulk copies of your friend’s book.

Or:

25) Recommend your friend’s book to your reading group. If you belong to a reading group, suggest your friend’s book as part of your reading program. Or at least tell your reading group about the book.

You get the idea. It’s a terrific list, and I am grateful to have it.

Why don’t you peruse it, too? And then, if you think of any other tips that could be helpful, please share them here!

5 thoughts on “Thursday’s Post-Publication Post: How to Help An Author Out

  1. oh, Erika, this is great! Thank you for this!!

    1. Erika Dreifus says:

      Thought that you’d like it, Susan! 😉

  2. Terrific! I think I read this a while back, but it’s worth perusing again. 🙂 Thanks.

  3. Oh and I meant to mention that I enjoyed your “Seven Things I’ve Learned So far” article!

    1. Erika Dreifus says:

      Thanks very much, Karen!

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