How to Support Your Favorite Authors When You Can’t Go to Events

Readers have more power than they realize when it comes to supporting authors. Even small acts can lead to more book deals, continuation of series, and more success for your favorite writers. With events being postponed as a precaution against spreading COVID-19, many authors and readers are feeling unsure of how to help the book community. Here’s a list of ways to support authors during this unique time.

 

Leave (and share) reviews
As NetGalley members, you already know the power of reviews in helping to encourage readers to pick up a particular book. By writing valuable reviews for books you enjoy, and sharing those reviews on retail sites and social media, you’re helping to expand the reach for that author and bring them new audiences. 

 

Buy books
If you’re financially able, buying books is helpful to authors, publishers, and independent bookstores! If your favorite author has a release coming in the next few weeks, consider placing a pre-order. Think of it as buying your future self a present.

 

Subscribe to their newsletters
Receiving an email from your favorite author is thrilling. Plus newsletters often contain information on new releases, giveaways, bonus content, pre-order campaigns, virtual signings and events, and more!

 

Follow them on social media
Similar to an author’s newsletter, their social platforms provide a great way to be the first to know about upcoming books, adaptation news, and more. You’ll also be able to easily share (and amplify) their announcements to your own social followers! 

 

Signal boost
Did an author recently announce a pre-order campaign? Retweet it! Did they post the cover? Share it! If you’re excited about the news they’ve announced, chances are your fellow readers will be too and you can help that information reach them.

 

Request (and check out) their books at your library
I often check out books I’ve already read from my library. Why? It shows my library that this is an author, book, and genre that I love. Librarians learn about their community by engaging with patrons and by looking at their behavior. If your library doesn’t have your favorite authors’ books, ask your local librarian how to submit a request to acquire them!

 

Attend virtual events
COVID-19 concerns aside, traveling to events isn’t always an option for authors or readers. Many authors host virtual events such as Instagram live sessions, Twitter chats, Facebook group meetings, and more! Attending is a great and safe way to get to know your favorite authors a bit better and to meet other readers who love them. Here’s a list of upcoming virtual events for readers.

 

Invite authors to virtual gatherings
Are you a teacher, librarian, or book club leader? Consider inviting an author to participate virtually in a discussion on their latest work!

 

Use the platforms you have
One of the easiest ways to show support is by using the tools you already have: Bloggers can participate in virtual book tours, reviewers can share lists of releases they’re excited about on Twitter or Instagram, book clubs can use Facebook as a meeting and discussion platform. 

 

Give the gift of reading
Raise your hand if you’ve finished a fantastic book and immediately told your best friend, coworker, or significant other to read it. Help them along by giving them a copy of the book. You could even offer to buddy read it with them!

 

Don’t forget to support your libraries and indie bookstores!
Even while staying home, there are still many ways to virtually support businesses you typically frequent in person. 

For libraries, use your library’s virtual lending library with handy apps such as Libby or Hoopla.

For bookstores, you can place orders online. Also take a look at Libro.fm, where you can get audiobooks and select an indie store to support with your purchase. Here’s a list of more ways to support your local bookstores.

 

Let us know if you have any extra tips below!

Kelly Gallucci

Kelly Gallucci is the Executive Editor of We Are Bookish, where she oversees the editorial content, offers book recommendations, and interviews authors and NetGalley members. When she's not working, Kelly can be found color coordinating her bookshelves, eating Chipotle, and watching way too many baking shows.

3 Comments
  1. My library allows me to recommend one book a week. The numbers help decide how many copies/ebooks to buy!

  2. Thanks for this! It’s so heartening to see all the support for indie bookstores and authors with books coming out. Another recommendation for supporting indies is bookshop.org. It doesn’t give a store as much of the cut as ordering directly from them, but it helps.

  3. Thank you this is very important currently in our community. Not only for our own sanity to escape the walls that we are now contained in, but because our kids are not in school and these businesses are suffering we need to focus on these small businesses not only now but after as well. Thank you again i never thought of continuously checking out my favorite books and what an impact that has!

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