Into the Fire

Readers are the spinal column, the brain power, the spirit of publishing. Without readers the biz of books is dead. While I sometimes think the readers don’t realize the power they hold over the life and death situations of books, I also think sometimes they get all wrapped up in the pleasure and forget the additional purpose of reading.

Readers, you have unlimited strength in the publishing world. It is because of you that a book succeeds or fails. Your favorable word spoken to others, the power of your purchasing a book you’ve read for another, the posting of how thrilled you were with the latest novel you read on any internet medium—these simple actions basically control the publishing business. And the careers of many, many authors who hold themselves up for your appreciation or scorn or worse: your ignoring them rest with you. That, my friends, is a measure of power most of us never get to feel in this life.

I’m a novel promoter. I can’t tell you how many novels I’ve pushed, postulated, praised, and pressed readers to take a look at or buy outright. It’s exceedingly easy for me to evaluate readers’ tastes and make recommendations from the CBA selections within my genre preferences. I often ask those patrons within the fiction sections of CBA book shelves what they like to read. If they like similar genres, I’m out there giving them recommendations. It’s fun to share the stories I love.

A few readers remain quite close-mouthed about their favorite tomes. Don’t much care who knows they read the books and simply move on to the next one. Ack! Forgive me for this, but that’s selfish. Surely there are some people in your world that care about fiction who might be blessed—or hindered—or encouraged by your opinion. There are plenty of novels I’ve read which didn’t particularly grab me, but I can still recommend them to others whose tastes seem ripe for these less-than-appetizing-to-me novels.

Readers, in this competitive industry, writers need your support. They need your opinions. They need your readership. They need you telling a friend, neighbor, stranger, acquaintance—whomever—how much you liked a particular book(s) you read. So do it! Share the experience. If you can, buy the novel for a friend. As I told you in October, Christmas is coming and a good book is a great gift.

As a reader, you not only influence the publishing industry, you make it work. You are the lifeline to keeping books in existence. Read them. Then share those novels with others.

This from the Starving Writers Anonymous. 😉

God, you are my promoter. All I truly have. All I truly need. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.