The published! They are the hardy souls who have climbed the Mount Everest of the writing and publication process. They scaled the foothills of writing, ascended the steep cliffs of agent-finding, and rose to the pinnacle of authordom without being felled by a freak storm and resorting to cannibalism (that you know of).
These pioneers make the multi-year climb, they stand atop the peak… and then realize it’s sometimes a little lonely and chilly up there.
They shout, “Please! Buy my book (book book book echo echo echo)……. Um… please? (um… please? um… please? um… please? echo echo echo)
How can you help out these writers, the ones whose book you happened to hear about on a blog or picked up off the street or checked out at the library and loved?
The best way: buy a new book.
Authors don’t get royalties for used book sales, their sales reports aren’t padded when 10 friends pass along their book to each other, they only get credit for one sale no matter how many times people check it out from the library.
So: In honor of published authors, especially the ones who are living in non-bestsellerdom… let’s help these people out.
For Published Author Day on Writer Appreciation Week I encourage, nay, require, nay, okay you can do whatever you want, everyone to buy a new book. And then brag about it in the comment section.
If times are tough for you at the moment: totally understand. There are lots of ways to support our favorite published authors. And it just so happens that Eileen Flanagan has a great post on how to do just that. (via Janet Reid)
Write a positive Amazon review! Or a Goodreads review or Tweet or blog about how much you love it! Help out your favorite authors. And then brag about it in the comments section.
I just bought LOST CITY RADIO by Daniel Alarcon. And THE GHOSTS OF BELFAST by Stuart Neville.
What about you?
"buy a new book. And then brag about it in the comment section"
Excellent idea. OK, today I happened to be in my local bokostore asking them if they'd stock my new book, and I realised – hang on, I ought to do my bit for them back. So I ordered a book I've been wanting for a long time but always putting off – Josephine Hart's "Sin". Damage is one of the very best books I've ever read (as well as a brilliant film). I am sure Sin will be just as good.
And I am constantly amazed I see so few copies of Josephine Hart's books in the shops. So my request to everyone. Look through your bookstore, and if you don't see Damage or Sin, order it. But through thebookstore, not through Amazon. Because that's the way to get books back onto the shelves
Great timing for this post, as I recently bought several new books while making progress in reading books from my To Be Read piles. I've been buying lots of books, including books by authors I've met online, for years. I have bookshelves filled with books! Last week and this past weekend, I bought more books, specifically including some by authors I know. I recently gave someone a gift of money to purchase THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman for their Kindle (I read this book in paperback a few weeks ago, and absolutely loved it!) and bought THE SHACK by William P. Young in paperback for myself. Since last week, I also bought the following books by authors I’ve met online: BREAK by Hannah Moskowitz, WAKE by Lisa McMann, and EYES LIKE STARS by Lisa Mantchev.
In my To Be Read piles are several books by guest bloggers here on Nathan’s blog: BLUE BOY by Rakesh Satyal and NEFERTITI and THE HERETIC QUEEN by Michelle Moran. I also bought a book recommended by a commenter on this blog: THE TERROR by Dan Simmons.
This summer, I read: ENDER’S GAME and SPEAKER FOR THE DEAD by Orson Scott Card, THE LACE READER by Brunonia Barry, THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES by Sue Monk Kidd, BONES OF FAERIE by Janni Lee Simner, and THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman; and I’m currently reading THE HISTORIAN by Elizabeth Kostova.
I completely understand how writers only make money on new books, so I sometimes buy several copies of a book in order to support the author. When the HARRY POTTER books were published, I bought individual copies for each member of my family.
After leaving my last comment, I thought about your challenge some more. Buy a book today-all the books I mentioned have been bought within the last couple weeks, but not today.
So, during my lunch break, I went to my nearest (and favorite) bookstore and fulfilled your challenge with gusto. I just bought:
The Hunger Games and Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Wings by Aprilynne Pike
Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
Also, the first season of DEXTER, 'cause I just couldn't resist (don't you worry, though-Darkly Dreaming Dexter is on my list of books to buy as well, I just had to stop myself before going too overboard today).
Ink / Bane-
I agree re: INTO THIN AIR. It was haunting, almost. I've though about it quite a bit since I finished reading it, I think that's one sign of good writing – it didn't end when I finished reading. I barely stopped to consider the prose I was so enthralled by the story and how it was told. Sure, he uses the words "arrest" and "hypoxic" a lot, but I can get past that. I also really liked INTO THE WILD.
(now adding Kristi)…I can't wait to finish FREAKONOMICS. The first half is truly enlightening, I'm eager to see what the latter half has in its pages. It's the kind of book that can affect the way you look at life in general, very cool that Levitt and Dubner could pull that off.
AMEN. Please buy my book!
(I just bought a booooatload of books this week. I'm in the middle of Amy Efaw's AFTER right now.)
Great post! Great ideas!
Here's for the diehards–host a salon/reading for a fav author coming to town. Someone did this for my husband who is a musician. Hosted a little musicale in their house. Hubbie played for free. It was a chance to expand his audience and sell some CDs. And so novel that it got on the local Fox affiliate news program.
Bought six hardbacks in the last month: Inherent Vice, The Tourist, The Girl Who Played with Fire, Awaiting Your Reply, The City & the City and The Magicians.
Can't wait for 22 Sept release of Jess Walter's "The Financial Lives of Poets."
Does getting books with audible credit count as buying abook? If so I recently purchased Across the Nightingale Floor by Liane Hern.
These are the books I've been buying new recently – for me and for friends.
DUST OF 100 DOGS, A.S. King
NOTES FROM THE UNDERWIRE, Quinn Cummings
ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN, Garth Stein
HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET, Jamie Ford
There, all your gift shopping done.
Most recent purchase: Threads by Sophia Bennett. Brilliant debut YA novel that's building a bit of a buzz in the UK.
http://www.threadsthebook.com
Just bought Chinese Cinderella and a few books for my friend's baby the other day.
Don't really have the funds to buy a lot of books but I try to spread the word as much as possible and buy the books that really deserve it.
And in case people need suggestions, some YA books that totally deserve it:
Also Known as Harper by Ann Haywood Leal
Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick (comes out in Oct.)
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain (comes out in Dec.)
As You Wish by Jackson Pearce (SO GOOD.)
Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert (edgy, honest, and the best book I've read all year <333)
Willow by Julia Hoban (fave after Ballads!)
I plan on buying my own copies of all of those books soon!
I bought Jay Asher's THIRTEEN REASONS. It's wonderfully written.
Also, GRACELING by Kristin Cashore and I have A DIFFERENT SHADE OF BLUE by Adam Eisenberg on order.
Great idea!
I purchased quite a few books today for the school library. The newest ones are…
"Far World" Waters Keep by J. Scott Savage
"Leven Thumps and the Wrath of Ezra" by Obert Skye
(Both are great books for the "Harry Potter Type" readers)
Personally I purchased Glen Beck's "Common Sense"
and Mark Levine's, "Liberty and Tyranny"
I just bought 7 copies of SEW DEADLY, by Elizabeth Casey (Laura Bradford). I like to give signed books as gifts. Laura's bookmark adds a nice touch and tells when her next two books come out.
I'm buying Jess Lourey's latest Murder by the Month! There are about three hardbacks I'm dying to buy, but no cash for that this month. NEXT month!
Actually I will buy the books that David Fitzgerald mentioned – signed in under the wrong gmail account. 🙂
I bought 14 books within the last week at Barnes & Noble (though, some were on the bargain table…BUT! they are still new ediions!). I can't wait to dive into all of them (but I still find myself heading to BN to buy more…it's an addiction).
Yes! Buy our books! *grin*
I just bought "Shakespeare's Kitchen" –
Yesterday I bought Wake by Lisa McMann, Evermore by Alyson Noel, and the Tales of Beedle the Bard. Thursday I'm going back to the bookstore and planning to buy Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, Break by Hannah Moskowitz, and one other book that I haven't decided on yet.
Just bought "Coop" by Michael Perry (signed by the author); "Red Rover" by Deirdre McNamer (two copies–gifts); "The Night of the Gun" by David Carr; "The Prince of Frogtown" by Rick Bragg (a gift); "Jazz Ear" by Ben Ratliff (to replace a filched copy). A replacement copy of "On The Road"–I don't think the author is going to benefit from my purchase.
All are new.
I just bought The Lace Reader by Brunonia Barry and The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. Loving them both so far!
Bought a kindle copy of The Hunger Games today. Who knew I was doing it on your official published author appreciation day? 🙂
Some people buy too many shoes, I buy books:) Just bought:
Blood Promise
Haunting Beauty
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers
If I Stay
& Collective Soul's latest CD, Rabbit, because I always need music when writing.
Now I just need a bigger house.
Support writers!
When John Grisham was on Charlie Rose recently, he told the audience to never loan his books to friends, make them go buy their own copies.
Nathan, you’re preaching to the choir here. I work in one of the large chain bookstores and it is a job I dearly love. But it is an insidious place to have an employee discount. I should be wearing a sign that reads “Will work for books”.
I’ve bought two new books this week, both presents for a friend:
Greyhounds by Barbara Karant
Caternal Instincts: The Feline Guide to Mastering Motherhood by Christine Montaquila and Kim Levin
Later this week I’m planning to buy:
Julia's Kitchen Wisdom: Essential Techniques and Recipes from a Lifetime in Cooking by Julia Child (with David Nussbaum)
(Btw, I've noticed that ever since the Julie & Julia film came out I've had many customers asking for Julia Child's books, but only a couple have asked for the book by Julie Powell that was the basis for the film.)
Awww… I bought three new books last week, do those count? WILDWOOD DANCING by Juliet Marillier, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and THE DEMON'S LEXICON by Sarah Rees Brennan.
Do you want me to buy another book this week?
Hmm… the movie "The taking of Pelham 123" is being released here in New Zealand next week. I wonder if I should get the book of that? I wonder who the agent was for that book…. 😉
I just bought new books at the Monterey Bay Aquarium: A book on the Aquarium and "The Consumer's Guide to Effective Environmental Choices."
I also am reading "Spade and Archer" by Joe Gores, which I bought new. Too bad I'm not liking it . . . .
if I haven't mentioned it, I wrote about a local bar last week at my Red Room Web site: https://www.redroom.com/articlestory/local-color-big-beer-a-small-room
(nothing this week due to illness).
I guess I technically pre-ordered it last night. Since it comes out today, I'll just say it counts.
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
It's estimated to come tomorrow! 🙂
I read lots of books, some borrowed, some gifted, but for some reason I tend to enjoy a book more if I purchased it with my own hard-earned money.
I bought Mean Little deaf Queer – a memoir by Terry Galloway and The Confederate General Rides North by Amanda C. Gable.
OK, I bought CYBELE'S SECRET by Juliet Marillier.
Only for you, Nathan!
😛
Doing my part!
From author interviews on NPR I ordered:
The Philosophical Baby-Alison Gopnik
NurtureShock- Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman
For research:
Fitzgerald and Hemingway:Works and Days- Scott Donaldson
Tender Is the Night- F.Scott Fitzgerald
After seeing him on Bourdain's show No Reservations:
Saving Daylight- Jim Harrison
The Raw and The Cooked Adventures of a Roving Gourmand- Jim Harrison
And on my master list of things to read:
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie:A Novel (P.S.)-Muriel Spark
Ink, Bane and Rick, mentioning Into Thin Air, reminded me of this excellent book I read about a journalist's walk through Afganistan in 2002. The Places in Between- Rory Stewart. Wonderful narrative.
I win! I spent over $300 for new books this week. My daughter started college this week. OK, Mosaicos: The Spanish Language, America Firsthand and Intro to Statistics wouldn't have been my first choices but…
And Rachel, they are broadcasting an interview of The Hunger Games author right now on NPR. You may be able to pull it up on their site.
I just bought Jonathan Tropper's "This Is Where I Leave You"–have to force myself to leave it at home or I know I'll spend the whole day in the loos, snickering away. Fantastic read. Next: The Battle for America 2008.
I did my part last time I was in Singapore, buying six novels and two non-fiction.
Bali has bookstores that specialize in local and Asiana and bestsellers, but doesn't have a book-y bookstore, if you know what I mean.
Can’t believe I forgot this – I also read THE BEAN TREES by Barbara Kingsolver this summer: awesome novel by one of my favorite authors!
I bought Hunting Ground and ordered The Hob's Bargain by Patricia Briggs last week. From Borders. 😀
Before that, the last book I bought new was Cry Wolf (same author, and Hunting Ground's the sequel). I want to increase my new book purchases to one every other month, at least.
I mean, seriously. I can get a novel for less than lunch at the Chinese place I like to eat. All I have to do is skip lunch one day (not hard for me) and get a novel instead.
I find that if an agent has done his or her job, and if the book is good, there isn't a need to buy a book just to be supportive. If we buy books because we think we'll love them, that will persuade writers and agents to focus on the writing.
As a published author with bills to pay (and a brand new book just out on Friday, Mac users — hint, hint), I heartily agree.
Buy a book!
Of course as a bookseller, buying new books also protects my job, as we don't sell used books at our store. So when I buy books, I often rationalize that I'm helping my company stay in business.
Okay, I'm game.
I went out and bought a copy of a best-seller called The Bible.
In this best-seller, a kind of super-natural thriller, we're told that the world was created in six days, by somebody named God (in fact, God is the author of this book), and that this God fellow also created man, even though there's overwhelming evidence to the contrary, that man wasn't created by God, but rather that man evolved… that's right… evolved… out of, well, a sort of primordial ooze, really, which arrived on the planet earth from outer-space. (I know, how ridiculous is that!)
The author of this book, God, claims to have sent his son here, to find out what it's like to be mortal (he could've saved himself the trouble and just asked me: it sucks). What He wanted was for His son to love everyone, and for His son to teach everyone how to love everyone else.
The son's name was Jesus, and if you're wondering if it all worked out for him, well, guess.
Short story: The Great Unwashed basically decided to scourge him, and to nail him to a cross.
But don't worry there's a happy ending here: a few days later this Jesus chap came back to life, and returned home to California, where he got a job working at McDonalds.
Anyhow, great read, this Bible.
All proceeds go to the Supreme Maker, who will quickly cause another million people or so in Africa to die of starvation tonight. Is this really the type of person we want to be supporting here?
You see, this support a writer thing CAN backfire.
I'm just saying let's proceed with caution here. We need to think these things through before we jump onto these bandwagons.
That is what I am saying, my friends – that is what I am saying.
(Also, nice to see that anonymous commenting has been restored to this blog. Dare I say we all benefit greatly from frank discussion. Thank you.)
anon@5:12-
Uh, the idea is to go and buy book you might find enjoyable, not to go buy a book indiscriminately. Support the market you want. If you want good writing, reward the writers you think are good and the publishers who publish them.
Just recently purchased:
AFTER, Amy Efaw
PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS, Michelle Zink
A perennial recommendation:
SOMEDAY THIS PAIN WILL BE USEFUL TO YOU, Peter Cameron
I bought three yesterday for Father's Day. Last week I picked up Robin Hobb's latest, Dragonkeeper. I must admit, my latest purchases were all from established authors. I looked at brand new authors but in the end I went with the tried and true.
I personally think that's a frightening outcome of the GF Crisis – we're all being more conservative in our choices… tending to stick to the tried and true rather than experiment. I guess it makes sense on one level – I mean if we have limited funds, then we'd rather spend them on something we're sure we will enjoy.
As an aside – I think this is also why a web presence where word-of-mouth can strike up some excited chatter about your novel is so important.
On the other hand, I've seen some excited commentary about American novels I can't even purchase in Australia yet. So that might mean holding off on ourchasing until what I really want actually arrives. (Abercrombie, Carey, McKinley, for example.)
Vic K
I've been buying Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Tree House boxed sets – one a month – and am reading them to my five year-old.
🙂
G.
There is something quite tantalizing about holding a crisp new book in your hands. You've inspired me. I'm off to the book shop today 🙂 Can anyone suggest a "must read before I die" book for me?
Just hooked up with your blog and love it. Thanks for the humor and insight!
Had a blast at B&N today though I didn't realize I was participating in Writer Appreciation Week – icing on the cake right there.
So, just purchased:
The Warrior Heir by Cinda WIlliams Chima
Carrie by Stephen King
Shutter Island by Dennise Lehane
And preordered Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins as well as Echo In The Bone by Diana Gabaldon.
Oh and a great book on writing called Thanks, But This Isn't For Us by Jessica Page Morrell.
Should keep me occupied for at least a week. 🙂
Hey Marilyn – I love THE BEAN TREES. My sister-in-law actually bought for my mom one Christmas. My mom never read it, so I "borrowed" it. I've since read it over and over again. I LOVE Kingsolver's prose. I've since bought all of her published novels and proudly display them on my bookcase.
Laura – You're welcome =)
I buy way more books than I can keep up with; don't know when I'll read them but the most recent are:
Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning
Wild Inferno by Sandi Ault
and
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Plus a book by the Dalai Lama, a NM history book, a recipe book, two anthologies published by Glimmer Train and Zoetrope.
I'm on my way to B&N to get Catching Fire, and The Hollow, by new author Jessica Verday. I was going to go today anyway, but after reading your post, I feel extra happy. Book shopping makes me soooo happy!
Perhaps now would be a good time to mention that my publisher, Echelon Press, has just debuted today a new line of short stories called Echelon Shorts. My own story, 'Chasing His Own Tale', is one of the clever tales available, and I will be the spotlight author tomorrow, 9/2, on the Echelon Shorts blog. I hope someone will actually read this comment and stop by.
https://echelonpressshorts.wordpress.com