"You have a new book? Do I get a free copy?"
Yes, I believe I actually said that once or twice, although not recently.
Writers do give away books - to review journals, blurbers, book bloggers, influencers, and maybe a library or two that wouldn’t stock them otherwise. We chalk that up to marketing expense. We may give copies to people who were instrumental in the book’s creation - a cover designer, an audiobook narrator, a copyeditor or authenticity reader. A weird number of copies seem to disappear unaccounted for, in odd moments of gratitude or perceived opportunity or absentmindedness.
I’m not saying I expect friends and family to buy my books - after all, I write for middle-graders. But if we love books, we gotta love writers, and there are many ways to show love besides buying a book.
I’m beyond grateful for positive reviews or recommendations of my books online. One friend offered to give out my bookmarks at her son’s school. A sister-in-law searches for my books at her local library, and if they don’t have one, she requests it. (Did you know writers get paid when someone borrows their book from a library, and that librarians love suggestions for purchases?)
As a lifelong library user, I save my book-buying budget for books written by friends. I know a lot of writers! I can’t buy all their books, but I try to support them in ways I can.
For instance, as the Southside Chicago co-rep for SCBWI,* I organize local events for children’s book writers where the authors or panelists can promote and sell their books. I regularly post reviews at online book retailers and reader sites. In my monthly newsletter, Writer, Editor, Helper (2022-2024), I gave my subscribers space to advertise their own newly published books.
If you’re inclined to make my day, here’s an easy way for those of you who use the Libby library ap. It costs only a minute of your time.
Search in Libby for the audiobook of Maddie’s Ghost. (You might have to click on Deep Search, which includes books not yet available in your library.)
Next to the thumbnail of the audiobook cover, click on “Notify Me.”
If there are other writers you’d like to support, do the same for them. My marketing consultants tell me that an accumulation of requests can make a difference, so thank you!
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** Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.