Friday Focus

Do you like to read? Do you have a favourite author?

Most people enjoy a good read. Their choice may be thrillers, comic books, non-fiction, fantasy, sci-fi, romance or one or more of the many other genres available in digital, paperback, hardback or audio format. When readers have enjoyed a book and they turn the last page, they get a feeling of satisfaction. If the book has been a particularly good one they search to see if the author has written any more in a similar vein.

My questions are  – how does the author know her readers have enjoyed the book? Was there anything in the book that the reader felt could have been handled better?

The sales levels answer part of the first question, more sales – happier readers, right? This is only a partial answer to the author knowing if their readers have enjoyed the book. So how can a reader tell the author how much they’ve enjoyed reading their work? Send an email? Write a letter? There is one way which is much easier and can also lead to more sales for the author. The main reaction to the author finding the book is entertaining a lot of people is not to rub the hands with glee and picture dollar signs floating from above. It’s the warm glow inside that all he hard work of writing and publishing the book has been worthwhile. Someone enjoyed it!

So how can you let the author know? Write a review.

Most online bookstores have the ability for a reader to post a review about ebooks and audiobooks. Your comment doesn’t have to be long, merely write about the parts you enjoyed the most or that you think it’s one of the best of this genre you have read. Did you read the book in paperback or hardback? Write a review on Amazon or Goodreads or any of the other many review sites online. Local newspapers also do reviews of books and might be willing to accept your views. If you enjoy reading let the author and the world know by writing your thoughts on the book on the places it is sold or where other reviews are placed. Go on. You know you can do it and the author will thank you – not personally but with fingers on keyboard they will carry on writing for your enjoyment.

Sue Perkins