| Authors think of their books as being like their | | | | ask him for a free book-they simply were |
| children, and while authors can often be thick-skinned | | | | uninterested. He has also quit sending gifts when |
| enough to deal with critics and reviewers they don't | | | | these people have babies or embark on their third |
| know, they need to be toughest when it comes to | | | | marriages. |
| dealing with criticism and responses from family | | | | As for the "I can't afford it" people, the best thing to |
| members and friends. Just what should an author's | | | | do is to let them know they can check out the book |
| expectations be for support from those he or she | | | | at the library. I suspect most of them won't. |
| knows? | | | | People Reading Your Book |
| Let's face it. Publishing your book has been a top | | | | Believe it or not, more books get purchased than are |
| priority for you. You've spent a long time working on | | | | ever read, by a huge percentage. Another author I |
| that book and now you've seen your dream brought | | | | know has a cousin who has bought all five of his |
| to fulfillment. But remember, your dream is not Aunt | | | | books, but she's never read a single one. |
| Milly's dream, or even your best friend's dream. They | | | | People who get free books do not necessarily read |
| might be happy for you, but your book is not a | | | | them-in fact, I suspect many people are less likely to |
| major event for them. | | | | read the books because they got the books for |
| I'll say up front that the best advice I can give you is | | | | free-therefore, the value of the book appears to be |
| to have no expectations concerning excitement or | | | | less to them. |
| support from family and friends. Do not coerce | | | | And always be prepared for negative criticism. You |
| people into reading your book, and don't expect | | | | will have many people tell you they enjoy your book, |
| anyone to do anything to promote it. Let people | | | | but then there will be the ones who will say |
| know your book is being published and that now you | | | | something like, "I found seven typos in it"-that will be |
| have to figure out how to promote it; then if they | | | | the only feedback they give you. Ignore these |
| offer help, take them up on the offer. If they don't, | | | | people. Just respond with, "Thanks for telling me" and |
| don't badger them. In the long run, you'll have less | | | | move on. |
| hurt feelings and disappointment. | | | | However, if someone points out good and bad things |
| Here are a few considerations regarding dealing with | | | | about the book, you may want to pay attention. |
| family and friends and their reactions when your | | | | You always want to learn how to improve as a |
| book is published. I've collected several of the | | | | writer. |
| examples from different authors I know. | | | | And then there are the people who will just be plain |
| Buying Your Book | | | | jealous-even, and perhaps especially siblings. Even if |
| One author I know tells me that when he told his | | | | out of kindness, you give these people free copies, |
| best friend his book was going to be published and it | | | | do you really care whether or not they like your |
| would cost "$25.95" his friend replied, "That's a pretty | | | | book? Authors are the last people who should let |
| big burden to put on all your family and friends." The | | | | others' negativity affect them. |
| author of course gave his best friend a free copy, | | | | Book Reviews |
| but he also realized that the cost of giving free | | | | Even if people read your book, it is unlikely they will |
| copies away was not going to help him any. He | | | | do anything beyond that. Make a point when |
| limited free copies to his parents, siblings, and a few | | | | someone tells you he or she read and liked your |
| friends who had previously read parts of the | | | | book to ask the person to post a book review on |
| manuscript. | | | | Amazon and to tell other people about it. The truth is |
| While several friends and family members bought this | | | | that most people won't think about how they can |
| author's book, he heard many others tell him, "I can't | | | | help an author unless it is pointed out to them. |
| afford it." After watching those same people going | | | | If people ask for a free book and you feel inclined to |
| out to eat and spending money on several other | | | | give one to them, then make the stipulation that you |
| non-necessities, it's clear to him that it's not the price | | | | only give away free books to people who promise |
| that keeps them away. They are just using the cost | | | | to write a book review for you. |
| as an excuse when they simply have no desire to | | | | Exchanging books and reviews with other authors is |
| read his book. As authors, we have to remember | | | | a great idea for helping each other; however, many |
| that everyone is not a reader, and everyone may | | | | authors I know have found that even other authors |
| not be interested in the topics of our books. Bottom | | | | are unlikely to reciprocate. I know an author who has |
| line: don't expect people to buy your book. | | | | written a couple of dozen different reviews for |
| Giving Away Books | | | | authors he knows, and yet, he has only had one or |
| If you really want people to read your book, you | | | | two of those authors ever reciprocate. Nevertheless, |
| might decide that you will just give copies away to | | | | every time he writes a review, as long as his name |
| your family and friends-especially those people who | | | | and his book are attached to it, he still builds buzz for |
| "can't afford it." | | | | his own book. |
| I've heard many authors complain that they give | | | | In short, the lower you keep your expectations for a |
| copies of their books to people who never read the | | | | response from family and friends, the less |
| books. Even brothers, sisters, and parents don't | | | | disappointment you will have. Celebrate when a loved |
| always read the book. | | | | one does buy, read, or review your book, but don't |
| We have to remember that reading a book is a big | | | | spend too much time worrying about why Uncle Joe |
| time-commitment, but again, if people don't read the | | | | has let your book gather dust for two years. |
| book, or don't express interest in reading it, there's | | | | Plenty of readers are out there beyond your friends |
| no point in giving books away. | | | | and family members. Remember, no man is a prophet |
| One author I know has published several novels. He | | | | in his own town. Similarly, few authors achieve |
| gave away quite a few the first time. By the third | | | | celebrity status among those they know, but the |
| book, he had cut down the number he gave away | | | | greater world of readers may be waiting to embrace |
| to about just a half-dozen people. He found that the | | | | you as a favorite author. |
| friends he no longer gave free books to did not even | | | | |