Thursday 24 October 2019

How To Help An Author Friend

Not all authors are like J K Rowling (although her struggle was real in the beginning). They actually have a part-time or even a full-time job as they need a reliable monthly income. They hope one day, when they "make it" - like J K Rowling - they can give up the day job.

However, for most of us, it's a reality that we can't ever give up work and become a full-time writer, and having recently talked about this, a friend suggested I put a blog post together to help guild those wanting to support their author friends but aren't sure how.

Firstly, I've found myself explaining how royalties work and that some don't understand the process.

To clarify, the days of advances are long gone for most writers. Authors only get paid if you buy their books. And then it could be something as little as 10p per copy sold depending on the RRP of the book.

Where you buy their books is important, too.

Ebay, for example, is possibly selling used books. Yes, the author would have been paid at some point for that copy, but when you buy a second-hand book, the money is going to the seller and not the author. (And the irony is they'll make more out of the sale of the book than the author ever did).

I will argue at least with a charity shop the money is going to charity. And I would much rather a book exchanged or re-sold than burned! It can be a good way to gain new readers, too. However, we're not talking about your Stephen King's of the world. We're talking about your author friend with the other job to bring in a reliable income...

And by buying second hand, without sounding ungrateful - because it is great a new reader is trying you out - it hasn't helped boost rankings like it would have done if you'd bought the book/ebook new from Amazon. And some ebooks are cheaper than buying the paperback second-hand!

Actually, all other good ebook sellers will have rankings, so whether you've bought from Amazon, Nook, Google Play, iTunes, it would have boosted the books visibility. Authors are just obsessed with Amazon and getting into the top 100 of something!

So if you can, please buy new!

Or borrow from the library! (The author gets paid lending rights and it's not cost you a penny.)

These are the best things you can do for free to support your author friend:


  • Comment on/Like/Share their Facebook posts about their books. This increases visibility and is free advertising for your friend.
  • Tell people how much you've loved your author friend's books (if you've read them - if not, why not?) and recommend they buy one.
  • Leave reviews on Amazon and wherever you purchased the book. Again, this increases "traffic" to your friend's book and helps others decide whether to buy the book or not. It also gives the author something to share and shout about over their social media accounts.
  • Tag them on Facebook and share a photo of you reading their book. Authors like to see the exotic places their books have travelled to, even if  they've not left their front room, let alone the UK in a while... 
  • Support your author friend with local book signings, help spread the word. Bring new friends along to introduce them to your author friend... or be there to drag people in off the street. Either way, your friend will be grateful. 
  • If you want to avoid Amazon and prefer to support local bookshops, order the book from there. Although depending on the publisher, Amazon maybe your only go-to for paperbacks. But if you can order from a local bookshop, and you want to keep them in business too, order your books from them! But if you can't afford to buy, remember, check out your local library. 

Your author friend is not going to suddenly get rich and forget you by these small tokens of goodwill. They're more likely to hug you till you ask them politely to put you down. But if they do become the next J K Rowling, they'll remember the friends who got them there. 😉



Saturday 12 October 2019

12th Day of Birthday


On the twelfth day of my birthday, I would like sent to me...

A Coffee Machine 


I really, really, really want a bean to cup coffee machine, with milk frother and everything. My old machine gave up the ghost, and deciding pods weren't exactly environmentally friendly, I didn't replace it. Bean to cup machines are far more expensive, so I'm saving up. I keep saying the next book sold, I'm buying a machine with the royalties.



To be honest, I love opening presents! And now my boys are old enough to let me open them, so it's more exciting! Before, when they were much younger, they would open them for me.

Yes, imagine my angry face. But how do you tell a four-year-old you don't need help opening presents!?



Today is my birthday, so I'm hoping to have dinner out with the kids and my best friend, and her children. I have more plans for my birthday month, which I'm sure you'll hear about if you follow my Twitter and Facebook accounts!


Friday 11 October 2019

11th Day of Birthday



On the eleventh day of my birthday, I would like sent to me...

Tom Hiddleston




I would love to meet this guy in the flesh! My obsession started when I saw a YouTube video of him dancing, and it was instant love for the man! (I then stalked more YouTube videos of this man!) Nothing sexier than a man who can dance - in my opinion anyway.



Brilliant actor, fun guy (or at least he comes across that way). Blue eyes and blond hair! Love love love!

I have a Pinterest Board just for this guy too! He's on my inspirational hero list for writing.


Thursday 10 October 2019

10th Day of Birthday



On the tenth day of my birthday, I would like sent to me...

A Fiat 500



I swear, I need David Beckham's garage. There are too many cars I'd like to collect. One day, when I no longer need to take the kids on holiday to Cornwall, I want a Fiat 500. New model obviously. I love the powder blue, and I like the idea of a convertible!

I've actually written one into the book I'm currently writing! My heroine, Beth, drives one.

Wednesday 9 October 2019

9th Day of Birthday


On the ninth day of my birthday, I would like sent to me...

A Room With A View



When I attended a writing retreat day the beginning of this year, I was able to work at a writing bureau (see photo above). It was by a window (to the left which you can't see but giving the natural light for the photo) and behind (as you can see in the photo), the door opened, to make you feel like you could be outside.

I dream of owning a house with a room I can use as my writing room, and it will have a view. The view will either be looking out to sea or the countryside. How inspiring would that be?

I also dream of owning a bureau. Every time I visit a National Trust property, I'm always admiring the writing bureaus. This one (below) is at Killerton House.




Tuesday 8 October 2019

8th Day of Birthday



On the eighth day of my birthday, I would like sent to me...


A Holiday




There are many places I would love to visit, but somewhere with sun, sand and sea is a preference. I would just love to go back to Kos with the boys, if truth be told. But I am missing my 'abroad' holiday this year. We had so much fun last year, I yearn to return to a Greek Island.

Just wherever I go, please ensure I have my own personal sunbed which I don't have to get up at 7am in the morning to go claim!

I do dream of visiting different cities, and sitting in a cafe drinking coffee and watching the world go by, soaking up the atmosphere.


Monday 7 October 2019

7th Day of Birthday



On the seventh day of my birthday, I would like sent to me...

Champagne




I do have a taste for Champagne, which I clearly can not afford. It stems from my years working for Procter and Gamble, and ordering champagne in business class flights! So yes, Champagne is definitely on my birthday wish list.

Sunday 6 October 2019

6th Day of Birthday



On the sixth day of my birthday, I would like sent to me...

Henry Cavill 





Oh, how I would love to meet Henry. He's played my favourite superhero and he comes across as just a really nice guy. Henry was also my inspiration behind Harry in Meet Me At Wisteria Cottage.  I would love to meet him. Probably go completely shy, for the first time ever, but even so...


For more up to date images of Henry Cavill... go visit my Pinterest Board. 

Saturday 5 October 2019

5th Day of Birthday


On the fifth day of birthday, I would like sent to me...

A Ford Ranger 




If truth be told, if I was rich enough, I'd have a garage like David Beckham's with all my favourite cars (and trucks). (I am my father's daughter!) And this would be there. More practical than the Mustang, it'll get me and the boys to Cornwall with all our holiday stuff and some! (I'd have the body cover on the back so it's like an estate car only bigger! And taller!)

Friday 4 October 2019

4th Day of Birthday



On the fourth day of my birthday, I would like sent to me... (hope you're singing this along to the tune of the twelve days of Christmas).

The Cursed Child Theatre Tickets



My friend lent me the book which is actually a script of the story, and I would love to see this now. Only £75 a ticket, per show. Because of course there are two parts. And obviously I'd like to take my eldest so I'm looking at £300 - and I don't even know if they're good seats! 


Thursday 3 October 2019

3rd Day of Birthday



On the third day of my birthday, I would like sent to me...

Diamonds





Is it so wrong to want some diamond earrings?

I can't wear earrings anymore, well not cheap jewellery anyway. Gosh, and to think in my teens I wore all sorts of earrings! Now, it has to be real gold or silver, and even then, my ears may complain.

But who doesn't like diamonds?

Wednesday 2 October 2019

2nd Day of Birthday


Continuing my birthday wish list...

On the second day of my birthday, I would like sent to me....

A Ford Mustang! 




This car is on my bucket list... it's whether I could afford one with a V8 and the fuel... But I do love these cars.

I wouldn't say no to the classic version either...






Tuesday 1 October 2019

Birthday Month Is Here!



It's October. Although I don't like how fast the year is passing, and I dread Christmas will be upon us faster than I can say snow, I still get excited about this month - because it's my birthday month!

Last night, I wondered that because we get the twelve days of Christmas, and my birthday is on the twelfth, why can't I have twelve days of my birthday?

So I'm taking a look at my wish list... the more unrealistic one... and seeing what I'd like for my birthday.

On the first day of my birthday, I would love sent to me...

Adam Levine. 







I would love to see Maroon 5 live. I'm not really a concert goer... but I would love to see this band!