How do you help an author? And why should you?

I've got a To-Do List the length of the Great Wall of China, so this is not a long post. One of those items is to incorporate all my editor's comments into what I'm still calling "the 4th Peri book." It has moved from MARRIED TO DEATH, to A CLOSE CALL. Jenny (my fab editor) has a few ideas that sound promising. Stay tuned on that.

Today I'm going to do a little BSP, Blatant Self Promotion. I don't do it often. People don't like it. And really, I may be talking about me, but I'm also talking about authors in general. Let's start with the big question: why should you help an author?

Do you read? Are there any particular authors you like to read? Why? 

If an author has given validation to your own views, let you forget your problems, taken you to a land you've always wanted to visit, made you feel better in some way, then maybe you could return the favor. Make them feel better. Validate their need to write. 

I confess, I don't have everyone's name and number when I write a book. But I do have an idea of who my audience is, and I write to please them. I write little romps wrapped around a puzzle. What I want to give my audience is a few hours of fun. I want them to enjoy my characters as if they're good friends, and speed around Orange County with them, solving a crime. 

Would I tell my stories if I didn't have an audience? Don't get me wrong, I'd still write. I'm a writer. It's what we do. But no, I wouldn't write novels that no one wanted to read. Do I expect anything from my readers? No.

But it'd be nice.

If you want to help an author, here are some things you can do:

1. If you tried one of their books and liked it, read another one.
2. If you liked one of their books, leave a nice review on Amazon or Goodreads.
3. If you liked one of their books, recommend it to your friends.
4. If you like their books, send a little note to the author and tell them. One note. No stalking.
5. If you didn't like one of their books, leave a fair and balanced review on Amazon or Goodreads. Surprised? Authors need a wide range of reviews, positive and negative. Otherwise, people think all the reviews are from your family.

Why do any of this? Because, in the end, we need each other. You need books. Authors need readers. 

Which brings me to, well, me. Li'l ole me, writing my heart out, with 10 books on the cyber-shelves. What do you want, mystery, romance, humor? I got 'em all, and you can get them, easy-peasy.

Want ebooks? Visit my author's page on Amazon to choose and download.
Want paperbacks? You can go to Amazon, to Barnes & Noble, to any independent bookstore and order any of my books, OR you can contact me for an autographed copy.

Here are some links to get you started: 

http://www.amazon.com/Gayle-Carline/e/B002C7FHZW/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/%22Gayle%20Carline%22

Thank you!