Influencer Tips: How to Continuously Support the Authors You LOVE!

You FINALLY received that long-awaited email...YOU MADE IT! You are going to be attending Hogwarts....wait...sorry...You are going to be a part of the influencer team for your favorite author! In the following weeks (and months) you are super excited to share about their upcoming book and read said book. And then...that most glorious moment that is...RELEASE DAY!!! Filled with social media blasts and confetti and prizes and chocolate...(There is ALWAYS chocolate at these things). The next morning dawns and you begin to binge said chocolate, wondering..."WHAT in the world am I to do with my life in the MONTHS before the next book is released???"

My friends...I have been there...I understand the agony of waiting months (sometimes YEARS) until one of my favorite authors releases another book (**ahem** Kate Breslin...yes...I STILL love you). 

So what CAN you do to support the authors you love in the "off-season"? (Which obviously isn't the off-season for the author...as they are madly typing away on edits for that book you are longing for.)

Today I want to share just FIVE tips how you can do that. 

1. Follow and interact with your authors on ALL Social Media! Sure you follow them on Facebook...but have you checked Instagram? Or Google+? Chances are, you can find all the links to their social sites on their website. Check out Roseanna M. White' site for an example. Don't forget to check out their Amazon and Goodreads pages and follow them there as well.

2. Follow (and READ) their blog. A lot of authors have blogs. Did you know that? Chances are you have subscribed to their newsletter already, but this is different. They have words they need to share. And TRUST me...They are POWERFUL words. The gift of writing that God has placed on these people isn't chained to just BOOKS. For some great blog posts and deep truths and encouragement, check out Kristy Cambron's blog.

3. Share, Share, Share...Social media algorithms have gotten so wonky that it can be hard for author's posts to actually be seen...even by those who LIKE and FOLLOW them. So share those posts! Share on your personal page and on your blog FB page. Make sure you are checking their sites so you aren't missing posts. You can adjust your settings in the Influencer Group and on their FB page so you get notified when they post. (see images below)

4. Goodreads! I am surprised at how many people still aren't using Goodreads. I ADORE this site. Helps me keep track of books I have read, books I like...and introduces me to new authors daily. You can vote for books on Lists, add books that aren't there...and create your own lists! Don't forget to SHARE these lists!

5. Spotlight your authors' books on your blog. Especially those that you haven't had a chance to read yet. Some of my favorite authors I only discovered in the last 4 years...And they had several books already published by that point (Jody Hedlund, Jen Turano....) and I just don't have the time to catch up on all of them yet. Although I DO own them all lol! Even if you don't own their books though...You can easily find the information you need on the author's website or on Goodreads. 

Bonus:

Send the author a note of encouragement. A hand written note, an email, a message on social media. You will never know the impact an encouraging word can make. And no matter how many books they write, they always need encouragement! 

Thank you to all inluencers, reviewers, readers....and book lovers...for all the support you give our authors!