Quote:
Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks
@katsumani - I don't like it either. There are a couple of things readers can do to help publishers and/or authors: Buy direct whenever possible and leave reviews. Sadly, like it or not, the most valuable reviews for an author are still those left on Amazon because of the way their algos currently work, but ANY review helps, including just a star rating on GR or Leafmarks or other reading groups/forums.
Keep a list of your favorite authors on various forums or places like facebook (liking the authors or the series on FB actually does help because the more likes an author has, the more visibility the author has. FB algos will show posts to about 5 percent of the people following an author unless the author gets shares or likes or comments on a post. The more often a share/like/comment occurs, the more often that post AND the next post will show. Basically if people show an interest in an author's posts, they are seen more. This is why many, many companies have resorted to dog/cat videos. They will run a cute animal video. It gets LOTS of likes, shares and comments, especially if the caption says something like "If you think this is the cutest thing you've seen all day, LIKE and SHARE." At the same time, the company is likely to post something that is more product related.
Radio companies on FB have INUNDATED FB with these videos or little cute sayings and people share them all day long. Right underneath or on top will be the name of the company/radio station/etc.
Now and then, if you are a library-goer, ask your library to buy books by your favorite authors. Even if you have read them, always check out a book that you request as a show of good faith when the library orders books in for you.
Those are the easiest and most obvious things you can do for an author.  I've probably left some out, but those came to mind. |
I am done buying direct from any publisher anymore. I am sticking with Amazon. Look what happens every time a store or publisher closes, you are left scrambling having to download your library and figure something out. I might know how to get stuff into calibre, but only if they are not DRM'd. And those that didn't have DRM, like the Sourcbook romance club site, I now I am stuck with them in the doc section on any device I use and they have no covers. I can't figure out how to change that as I use send to kindle. I only use calibre to store stuff and that is my extend of that. Its too much work and complicated. Now Samhain's customers have to scramble to download their stuff. Folks have lost stuff in the past because the format couldn't be saved or drm cracked.
And I would never buy direct from an author. Giving yet another site my payment info and having another site that may or may not store my library.
My books would be scattered in so many different places, my head would explode.
And I even know about calibre, what about all those average users that don't know anything about it.
I might as well use a subscription service then, at least I know up front I'll not get to keep the book, or the license to read the books.
Reviews are such a pain in the behind to me that its stress. I am not a writer, it is so very very difficult for me to put my feelings into words. So I write some here and there. Although I do always star on goodreads as its my cataloging.
Facebook, I have no clue how to use. I admit it. I tried and tried and tried. I have an account, I can't figure anything out on that site. I don't know how to find anything, still haven't found groups which some say there are book groups. No clue how I would find an author and if I did what the heck am I looking at when I see those weird cluttered pages. Its the most confusing site I have ever been on. Goodreads on the other hand, is full of books. And books only. I have no clue what all that stuff on facebook is.
Makes me sad sometimes when I see facebook only promo's or extras or whatever. I can't use it.
I just really honestly do not want to be very closely connected to the authors I read. I don't want to be their friend, or pubic fan. I just want to read their books. I just don't have that personality to follow folks like that and engage in conversation. A lot of readers do I guess, but its not for me. I talk about books and authors with other readers, but that is about it. I read way to many authors anyway, I'd never have time to read if I'd follow all their social media.
I don't really think in the big picture that any of those things will make a difference. Stuff will keep merging and all I can hope that some publishers remain as its otherwise really difficult for me to find the interesting stuff to read. Thankfully some of the big publishers have started some nice romance lines, either reviving a old one or creating new ones, often digital only. Some great stuff has come out of there. LoveSwept, Carina, Zebra Shout which is a low priced imprint from Kensington. Intermix from Penguin. And of course Montlake. I am forgetting a couple that I am following.
I guess as long as the huge publishers still creating new lines and put out stuff like that, it will have to be enough. Not sure in the long run if the other smaller publishers still hanging on today can compete long term.
I am kind of curious to see how the book market will looking in the next 5 years or so. It changed so much since my first kindle in 2008.
As long as I can find books to read, I am good. I don't have enough life in me as it is to read all the books I want to read.
