Did you know that September is Be Kind to Authors (and Editors) month? Okay, I’ll concede its probably a little known holiday to anyone outside of publishing, but its been around for a few years, I promise.

At the risk of sounding greedy, I want to talk about something you, the reader, can do for authors. Or rather, something MORE. Because the fact that you read and enjoy our books is a special gift all on its own! But let’s also talk about the dreaded R (at least for authors). REVIEWS.

I didn’t realize until I published just how important reviews were. As a reader, I never gave them a second thought. Had barely even read any. Turns out, not all readers work that way. Especially not readers looking for a new author—they want to know what an author does well, and not so well. Reader reviews give them clues as to whether this book will work for them.

Having lots of reviews does help authors sell books. It helps them garner new readers, and allows authors to apply for ad space with certain companies. Guess what? Those reviews can (and should) only come from readers like you! Every review, regardless of whether its 1 or 5 stars, is a precious gift. Why? Because a reader felt enthusiastic enough about the author’s work to use their precious time to leave their impressions for others readers to see.

So in honor of National Be Kind to Authors (and Editors) Month, let me ask…have you reviewed an author today???

Dani

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