I once read that one of the best ways a writer can promote a book is to give it away. I’m not sure if that’s true or not, but over the years I’ve given away many books. I like to give away books and wish I could give away even more. I went to an author event once where authors were at tables with stacks of books in front of them. The books were free for the taking. Anyone at the event could grab a book, no money involved. The authors gladly scribbled their names inside each book taken if the readers wanted them to. My book that year was Small Town Girl. That was so much fun.
The intent of that event was to introduce the readers, especially bookstore owners or managers, to this or that authors’ books with the hope that the store owners would be impressed with the beautiful book covers and think their customers would want to buy the books when they stocked them on their shelves. Also, the authors and publisher hoped others, who were readers, would read the free books and be eager to read more of said author’s books. Then they might return to their home areas where they would talk about this book they had loved reading because really the absolute best book advertisement is one reader telling another reader that you have to read this book.
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that hope springs eternal in that people always want to find a reason for optimism. Writers have a lot of that kind of hope. They feel it when an idea first bursts into their heads or maybe slinks in like a determined worm. They feel it when the idea suddenly sprouts characters and a story road begins to open up. Sometimes the hope fades a bit along the writing trail, but glows hot again after every word is written and the manuscript goes off to editors and publishers. That hope burns bright when the first copy of the book, all wrapped in a lovely cover, is in the author’s hands. Usually by then, for writers like me, new hopes for new stories have begun budding or are already blooming with thousands of words. Hope is a beautiful tool for a writer to keep in his or her toolbox.
But now and then “free” is a great word too, and tonight I’m pulling that word out of my writer toolbox for you.
A while back I helped Suzanne Woods Fisher get one of her books off to a good start by doing that free thing to advertise for her. Now Suzanne has a new book, A Healing Touch, that was just released October 1. Once again she is offering a giveaway chance at multiple places and one of those places is here on One Writer’s Journal.
A Healing Touch is a captivating tale of compassion, resilience, and the bonds that form in surprising places. Bestselling and award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you into a new story that’s like medicine for the weary soul. Join Dok, Annie, and the tight-knit Stoney Ridge community as they navigate the twists of fate, discovering that sometimes the greatest healing comes from the heart. This heartfelt story of a doctor in a tight-knit community is not to be missed!
Giveaways are the best way to celebrate new books! I’m happy to offer you a chance to win Suzanne Woods Fisher’s book A Healing Touch that is fresh off the press. To sweeten the pot just a bit, I’m also offering an autographed copy of The Song of Sourwood Mountain, or if you already have that book, the winner can swap out that prize book for one of my other titles. To enter leave a comment here on this blog post or on Sunday’s post. This is a quick giveaway since I know the winner will be eager to have Suzanne’s book in hand. So deadline for entering is midnight EST October 8, 2024. The winner must be at least 18 years old and will be notified by email and announced here (first name and last name initial) on Wednesday October 9th.
Speaking of winners….
I’ve picked the winners of my Birthday newsletter giveaway. I’ve sent emails to each of the four winners who won their choice of one of my books. Two have already responded. Jennifer of Indiana says “I enjoy a good mystery, so I would like to request one from your Hidden Springs mysteries series.” She chose the first Hidden Springs mystery, Murder at the Courthouse, as her prize. Mary W. of New York chose Scent of Lilacs since she says “that book and series was so special” to her. The other two winners are Trudy C. and Mary S. I’m hoping they will check their email and claim their prize soon.
Thanks for reading and remember to leave a comment to be in the drawing for Suaznne’s book and mine.
Have you ever read a book and then told a reading friend they had to read it?
If so, some writer somewhere says thank you!
Comments 68
Yes I shared your name at a table full of Lutheran women…I love your books…angel sister waiting for me at library…thank you for sharing your talent..God bless you
Author
Thank you so much for sharing my name to a table of readers. I hope some of them followed up on your recommendation and gave some of my stories a try, Toni. I also hope you will enjoy Angel Sister. It’s a book from my heart since so many of my mother’s memories are threaded into the background of that story set in the 1930’s.
Thank you, Ann, for another opportunity to win a free book. And, I love that you’re also including one of yours!! I’ve recommended your books to several of my friends and the ones who have read them have become fans. Hopefully, I’ll be a winner and can add another book to my “Ann Gabhart” shelf!
Author
I’m smiling at the thought of your “Ann Gabhart” shelf, Judi. Thank you so much for reading my stories and talking them up to your friends. I’m always happy when a new reader decides to try my books. So, you are proof about that word of mouth being the best advertisement for a book.
YES! I always tell others about great books I read. I also take a book with me to appointments and put/lay it so others can see the cover and hopefully ask about it.
Author
That’s so neat, Susan. I do always try to see what someone is reading when I notice someone in a waiting room reading a book. Of coures, now with ebooks, you can’t always know if they are reading a book or something else. If they are playing a game, you can often hear the pings though. Ebooks do make it easy to have those books handy to read no matter where you are. My daughter came across a woman reading around a pool once when she was on vacation and had to stop to talk to her since it was my book, Angel Sister.
My sister and I always share what we are reading ! Would love to win this book.
Sounds like fun. I would love to win a book by you or Suzanne Woods Fisher.
My best friend and I used to share books before we both got so busy. She gave me quite a stack of books for birthdays and Christmases. I gave her The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright, and Secrets She Kept by Cathy Gohlke, and a few others. A couple of months ago I really wanted to talk books with soneone. I went through my bookshelf and pulled out about a dozen books, and gave them to my mom. She’s working through them, and it’s been great to talk about books with someone again.
Author
It is fun to share about books you’ve read with others that have read them, Marti. My sisters and I sometimes talk about books when we read the same titles. I’m sure you’re having fun talking books with your mom, and maybe someday your friend will be able to have more time to read to join in with your book talk again. Book clubs have grown in popularity over the last few years and I think part of the reason for that is how readers love talking about the books they’ve read and sharing what they liked or didn’t like.
I’ve really enjoyed Suzanne Woods Fisher’s books, as well as yours! I just finished the ARC of Christmas in the Castle Library by Ann Swindell and have been raving about it to my reading friends. It comes out in a couple weeks.
I enjoy reading!
Yes I have,then preceded to buy the book for my friend. I love YOUR books especially, but I do like Suzanne also.
Author
You’re the best, Lisa. I know you are very supportive to many Christian fiction writers. I appreciate you helping share about my books to your friends and family.
Being able to enter a contest is always fun & intriguing! I’m throwing my name into your “contest pot”& hoping I’m chosen!
I do LOVE to share book titles that I have read with my reading friends. Sometimes, I just give them my copy of the book telling them to pass it on too e of their reading buddies!
Author
Great, Betsy. Winning a book is fun and sometimes gives a reader the chance to try a new author or at least a chance to read a new book by a favorite author. Sharing your joy of reading and favorite books is one of the best parts of having reading friends.
I would love to be entered in tge drawing for a new book.
I most certainly have read a book and told someone they must read it…it was called Scent of Lilacs…sound familiar? I absolutely loved the series. I loved getting to know the characters and had some laughs, shed a few tears, and would love if it was revisited! Thank you Ann for taking there!
Author
So fun to read this, Pamela. I’m glad you enjoyed my Hollyhill books. I listened to part of Orchard of Hope a week or so ago to sort of see how I did on the narration. I’ve written so many books since I wrote that one that some of the scenes were almost new to me. LOL. I loved my characters in Scent of Lilacs and happily stayed with them for three books. Who knows? Maybe someday I can go back to Hollyhill for a new story.
Oh yes, I’ve done that many times. Sometimes, you get a big surprise and really love an author you wouldn’t have chosen had someone not recommended them. I am always on the lookout for new titles that friends have recommended.
Author
That is the fun of hearing about books others have liked and suggest to you, Amy. It’s great to find a new author and then have the opportunity to check out all their books.
Entering giveaway!
Entering the fun giveaway!
Author
I have you entered, Geraldine. Thanks for checking it out here on my post.
Yes, I have. It sounds like a really interesting book.
Author
Great, Diana. Thanks for checking it out here on my post.
Yes, I’ve told friends that they have to read such and such book. I buy most of my books so that I can read them in any order I want, whenever I want. Once I’ve read them, I share them with several friends. After they have read a particular book, I donate it to the library in the over-55 community where I live now, or I donate it to the used book store in connection with the local public library. Since I only buy books that have been highly recommended by someone whose opinion I trust, I usually love the books I read. Thus I can highly recommend them to others. I’d love to win Suzanne Woods Fisher’s new book; I’ve loved reading others by her.
Author
Suzanne Woods Fischer has many fans, Suzanne, and for good reason. She always comes up with great stories. I do like to read books others recommend to me, but I also like trying a new to me author and discovering new books that I like. That’s one reason I enjoy book fairs. It’s so fun to meet new authors or at least new to me and see their books. Thanks for reading my stories.
I never gave too much thought to leaving reviews until I opened my own online boutique shop and got my first review. That’s when I realized how important they are. So now I always leave book reviews and tell friends about good books I’ve read. And I leave reviews on book store sites and fan pages. Several years ago I joined Goodreads, mainly to keep track of what I read or want to read…but it’s a great way to share a review and to tell my reader friends. I will note though that I never leave a bad review. It is after all only my opinion and not everyone has the same tastes as me. I call it the Thumper rule. 🙂
Word of mouth can be the best way to share a great book! I have a couple of friends that always ask me what book to read next. (One friend always asks what your latest book is.) And my daughter knows to visit my “library” first, before buying a book. She also knows I don’t charge late fees like the library, although the thought has crossed my mind. 😉
Author
No late fees sounds good, Lavon. For years while my granddaughter was becoming a reader, she would raid my shelves for books to read. She grew up reading Christian fiction. Some of my books but many by other writers too. I loved that she was reading and that I knew they were clean reads for her that were appropriate for her age.
Thank you so much for taking time to do reviews. They are so helpful to online sales of books and of anything else you sell, such as your sewing projects. I’m like you. I don’t review books I can’t recommend. I wouldn’t want to bash another writer’s work because as you say, it is only my opinion and we can have widely differing reading tastes.
You can never have too many books! Thank you for the opportunity!
Author
I so agree, Deana, but I do think you can not have enough bookcases!! 🙂
Hope I win one of your books! I enjoy reading all of your titles!
I have! And so many of yours!