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Chautona Havig

Chautona Havig

Using story to connect YOU to the Master Storyteller

5 Easy (& FREE) Ways You Can Help Your Favorite Author

by Chautona Havig · Leave a Comment

At least once a week an email arrives.  While the words are always a little bit different, they all say the same basic thing, “I love your books.  What’s the best way to tell everyone else how great they are?”

Translation: “How can I help promote your books?”

Look, I need to say something right here. My favorite emails say things like, “Your book really blessed me” or some variation of that.  When someone sends her story about how she’d walked away from the Lord, someone gave her my book, and now she’s studying the Bible again, going to church again—just got baptized… (yep, that one happened, too!), my soul is so encouraged.

It’s enough. Really.

That said, those messages and emails from eager readers who just want to help people discover my books—those also bless the socks off me.  Don’t worry. I live in the desert. Sockless feet are much more comfortable here.

It occurred to me recently that having a blog post to send people to would save me a lot of time, might get shared around and help other authors, and would give people answers—quicker.  So, here I am.

5 Easy (& FREE) Ways You Can Help Your Favorite AuthorNote: links may be affiliate links that provide me a small commission at no extra expense to you.

5 Easy (& FREE) Ways You Can Help Your Favorite Author

  1. Social Media

Almost everyone is on some form of social media. Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter… you name it. One of the simplest ways to help your favorite author is by using the magic of social media.  You can:

  • Take a picture of the book you’re reading and post a line or two about it. Can’t think of one?  Wait and post a quote instead.  Reading on Kindle?    Take a picture of the cover on your Kindle screen. It counts!  And it helps!
  • Did your favorite author share a sale on a book, something about a new release, a quote from one of his books? Share it.  Just hit the share button and boom!  Easy peasy lemon squeezy (you can thank #4daughter for that one).
  • Reply to requests for book ideas with the title of your author’s most recent book.
  • Pin it, tweet it, snap it, chat it—just kidding. I couldn’t resist, though.  Seriously, social media has made sharing your likes so easy, there’s no reason not to hit that share button!

Instagram example

  1. The Library

Next time you see a book you want but can’t buy, write it down on a sticky note and slap it on the back of your phone.  Then, when you’re at the library, pull it off and pass it to the librarian.  Say these seven simple words, “Can you get this book for me?”

How does it help your favorite author when it’s one book sold for dozens of reads? Okay, that’s true. It doesn’t give us hundreds of book sales.  We don’t get paid for every read from a library like we do from Kindle Unlimited, but when a book gets onto a library shelf, people read it.  And when people like a book they’ve borrowed from the library, they often want another… and another… That either means more requests for books (that more people may discover), or sales.  Because sometimes you just don’t want to wait for them to order a book or for another patron to return it.

  1. Book Clubs

Did you know that book clubs read books?  Shocker, I know.  Such a novel idea!  If you want to help your favorite author, suggest her book to the leader when it’s time to decide on the next book. “Amazing Authoretta has this new book coming out that I’ve been dying to read…”  That’s it.  Just a suggestion. You don’t have to push for it, lobby, get picket signs, and chant, “Amazing Authoretta or Bust!” or anything.

book club

  1. Forward a Newsletter

Author newsletters are there to let their readers know all the things—sales, new releases, books they read, blog posts they wrote, you know… all that cool stuff. Not all your friends are on your favorite author’s email list. Maybe you just met a new friend and discovered she’s dying to get “back to the land” in a simpler way of living.  Then, a week or two later, your favorite author’s newsletter shows up in your inbox with great news. That book she wrote about a gal who lives on a hobby farm without electricity—almost off grid—is FREE for a few days.  What’s a gal to do?

Forward that newsletter!  Just hit the forward button, add a few words to the subject line (Something like, “Had to share this”), and then add a couple more lines inside about why she will like it. “Remember when you were talking about wanting to get back to the land?  Well, this book is about someone who lives that way. It’s one of my favorites, and it’s free right now…”  Boom!  Helps her, and helps you.  Double whammy!

This one is tricky, though.  See, the last thing an author wants is for their newsletter to annoy someone.  So don’t just forward to everyone in your email list. Authors spend a small fortune to build and maintain those email lists.  They really cannot afford to aggravate potential readers and those email services.

Newsletter

Bonus tip: If you don’t want an author’s newsletter anymore, PLEASE unsubscribe instead of hitting the “junk” or “spam” buttons.  When you do that, other people on that list who use the same email provider as you may not get the newsletter they really want. Additionally, the author gets to pay for the privilege of you not receiving that email.  Unsubscribe really is a kinder way to stop emails you no longer want.

  1. Review the book

Come on. You knew I was going to “go there.”  You did.  But it’s true.  See, reviews are written for potential future readers.  They are.  And when you write a review, that person is who you should keep in mind.  However, those reviews help your favorite author, too.

How? I’ll tell you:

  • They may prevent purchases by people who will only leave a bad review later!
  • Many book promotion companies won’t accept a book until there are a minimum number of reviews (depends on different sites, but almost always over 20).
  • Some bookstores and libraries won’t touch books without a specific number of good reviews.
  • Once the author has 25-50 reviews, Amazon begins to recommend his books to other readers, will sometimes pop that book up on a Kindle, and other lovely little things like that. So, reviews are magic juice!

I can hear your protest. “But you said that this was a list of EASY ways to help an author. There’s nothing easy about writing a book review!”

I disagree.

In fact, I’ve even written two blog posts on how to write good reviews.

One requires four sentences (five if you feel generous). The other uses ten.  Seriously.  That’s it. And even better, I tell you EXACTLY what to write in each sentence.  The first is:

The Quick and Dirty Guide to Book Reviews 

How to Write a Helpful Book Review in 10 Easy Steps  

review meme

Hey, I even wrote one on how not to write a book review!

How to Ruin a Great Book Review in 5 Simple Steps  

And of course, there’s one easy  (but not always free) way to promote an author’s books, too.

Buy the book.

Believe it or not, sales help promote the book, not just fill the author’s nest egg.

So, if you really want to go the extra mile (or is that dollar?) to help your favorite author, just click the “buy now” button now and then—especially if you notice she’s really promoting a particular book.  It helps that book get recommended to people who bought other books you have, helps it show up in promotional ads, and gives her a leg-up next time she tries to get it on a few good book lists.

Oh, and remember how I suggested forwarding a newsletter up there? 

You know, if there was a FREE book?  Well, anyone who knows me also knows I almost always have a free book on Fridays.  I call it “Freebie Friday.”  And, I do tend to send out newsletters about it.  However, sometimes I do a blog post.  Like this one.  And see those little share buttons above and below?  Those make that #1 idea so easy.  Click and done.  Meanwhile, Will Not See is FREE through Tuesday, March 12.

Will Not See FREE 3-8-19 through 3-12-19

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Episode 48: A Chat with T.E. Price
by Chautona Havig

What happens when you combine domestic violence with suspense?  A hair-raising ride you won’t want to miss.

On March 2, T.E. Price ‘s book, Take Flight, releases on eBook, and boy is this one excellent story.  Join me as I talk with Tiffany about her book, the inspiration, and all the excellence you’ll find within the can’t-put-it-down pages.

Note: links may be affiliate links that provide me with a small commission at no extra expense to you!

The 3 Best Things about This Domestic Abuse Suspense Novel

A new author to me, T.E. Price knocked her suspense (and almost thriller) out of the park with three excellent elements to the book.  

Aside from wonderful and realistic characterization and edge-of-your-seat storytelling, T.E. Price also digs deep into a subject Christians sometimes like to pretend isn’t a thing.  And boy does she do it well. 

So if a great story that grips you and won’t let you go isn’t the best thing, what is?  Well… I’ve got three.

First, the writing is stellar.

Let’s face it, domestic abuse victims have cyclical thought patterns and actions that can feel redundant and become boring when you see it on the page, but Tiffany managed to avoid that while still showing how real and confusing it can be both for the person going through it and for those watching from the outside.

Second, her laser focus on her subject.

Domestic abuse is a multi-layered and faceted subject that spans so many different aspects of life. It would be easy and natural, even, to try to show it all with the one person who experienced it all, but T.E. Price keeps her focus on one woman’s escape from that life and how it affects her relationship with the Lord and others. That’s it.  

Third, T.E. Price shows her heart for the Lord and His people in every word on the page.

While not preachy at all, and while often just the undercurrent of the story, there is no doubt in the reader’s mind that Price wants the reader to learn both how to overcome as the victim of domestic violence and how to aid others in the church going through it.  Additionally, that steady reminder of Who the only true support we truly have touches every aspect of Hallie McClain’s life.

There are so many other excellent elements to Take Flight, but I’d be chatting all day with Tiffany (and nearly did!) if I kept going.

Don’t forget!

T.E. Price’s book releases March 2, 2021 and on March 5, 2021  from 7-8 pm (EST) she is having a Facebook launch party with prizes and lots of information about it.  HERE is a link to that party and I hope to be there to celebrate with her!  Please join her and maybe you’ll win an eBook copy of Take Flight!

You can find more about T.E. Price (Tiffany) at her WEBSITE where you can also find her other novel, Love’s True Colors.

Title:  Take Flight Author: T.E. Price Synopsis:  

Within Take Flight, readers follow Hallie McClain as she is faced with numerous fight-or-flight decisions in her attempt to escape her abusive husband, Jonathan McClain.

Hallie has made the decision to leave him for good, but Jonathan has no intentions of complying. During their separation, Hallie grapples with trusting those closest to her, the gossip-mill of her small town, and her wavering trust in God. Living alone in a secret, secluded cabin in the woods, she is thrust into multiple circumstances where she has to balance her safety with the reality of inescapable encounters with her soon-to-be ex-husband. Jonathan soon discovers Hallie’s whereabouts, forcing her to escape to the city while awaiting the divorce, but her move isn’t the solution as her safety is still compromised.

Hallie has to learn to trust God with her safety while leaning on the church body for support. The tantalizing storyline of Take Flight weaves through one “fight-or-flight” scenario after the next, filling Hallie with angst regarding her constant need for escape. Take Flight addresses the ugliness of domestic abuse and the need for support from the church community. Furthermore, it affirms God’s trustworthiness in the midst of difficult, sometimes even life-threatening, situations.

Like to listen on the go? You can find Because Fiction Podcast at:

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You can find the Blog post HERE.

Episode 48: A Chat with T.E. Price
Episode 48: A Chat with T.E. Price
February 23, 2021
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Episode 47: The Drew Farthering Mysteries
February 16, 2021
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Episode 46: What Romances Do I Think Are Perfect for Valentine's Day?
February 9, 2021
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Episode 45: A Gush about Things We Didn't Say
February 2, 2021
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Episode 44: A Chat with Carolyn Miller
January 26, 2021
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Episode 43: A Chat with Allison Pearl
January 19, 2021
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Episode 42: A Chat with J'nell Ciesielski
January 13, 2021
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Episode 41: A Chat with Jennifer Pierce
January 5, 2021
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Episode 40: My Favorite Book of 2020
December 8, 2020
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Episode 39: A Chat with L.K. Simonds
December 1, 2020
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