TAKING CHANCES

Social media posts focus primarily on babies & travel, food & events, and all manner of pets. And, since I joined in 2016 with the publication of Honeysuckle Holiday and later, Marble Town, I've noticed the growing number of newly-published authors introducing their work -- with passion -- to the FB and Twitter communities. Their books are, in essence, their babies, their travels.

The publishing world is very competitive. And unless an author publishes traditionally, with a "big house," their chances of reaching a significant level of success are about as strong as winning the lottery. But, with your help, those numbers are not nearly as daunting.

Hundreds of thousands of books are published every year in the U.S. The average book sales are -- for most new authors -- about 500 copies. But, the good news is that there are exceptions. With your help, as readers, there are exceptions. And each new author finds great promise in that possibility.

If you'd like to support a new author, consider one or more of the following options:

1. Buy the book directly from the author.

2. Order the book from a local, independently-owned bookstore.

3. Request the book at your library.

4. Leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads.

5. Go to a book signing event where you can meet the author.

6. Give the book as a gift -- there's nothing better.

7. Talk about the book and the author on social media, sharing their book posts.

8. Recommend the book to a friend.

In this game of chance, the odds have been with me. I've enjoyed the support of friends and community. Each book signing event has been well-attended and resulted in sales, and book club gatherings have been passionate. Libraries and independently-owned bookstores offer my work, and readers take the time to post reviews. Friends mention my books on social media and buy them for gifts. Each show of support is appreciated so very much and propels me to continue promoting and marketing my work, hoping to reach even more readers, for that's part of what writers do.

SUPPORT AN AUTHOR. Who knows . . . you might have a dream of writing a book one day, or maybe there is a budding writer tugging at your shirttail already.