I have a dirty little secret to confess.
I am an addict for used-book bargains.
I confess that it's not the author in me who seeks these out but rather the reader part of my personality. Because I can't resist an abused paperback if it comes with a 25-cent price tag attached.
I know. *sigh*
But since becoming published, my addiction has come to weigh on me a bit. As an author, I know how precious every book sale is for me - how much I rely on each purchase to encourage and nudge me forward in my art.
So why, knowing this, do I continue to seek out used-book bargains and deprive my fellow authors of that same sale?
The cold, hard truth of it is that most writers don't make much money, and yet we continue to pursue publication because we love stories. More than that, we love sharing our stories with others. Only another reader understands the kind of joy a book brings - that shared bond we experience when we find out someone loves the same characters or authors that we do.
So one way I've decided to challenge myself, as a reader, is to start limiting my used-book purchases and opt instead to buy a brand-new book, at least once a month, to support my fellow authors and the publishing industry.
For me, the holiday season is a great time to begin this resolution by gifting someone with a title from a favorite author. It's one of those gifts that benefits everyone: I feel proud of supporting other writers; the recipient may discover a new favorite read; and my author has earned one more sale that will hopefully encourage them to keep writing.
This year, Loree and I would like to invite our fellow Heartwarming friends to join with us in supporting each other, as readers and authors, by gifting someone with a book, purchased new (not used or at a book-sale but rather direct from a retailer) for a friend or loved one. (eBooks count, too!)
We know our readers love us, and we count on you to share that love to keep inspiring us to do what we do. Join us in supporting your favorite authors this holiday season and in the upcoming year!
And if you choose to purchase a Heartwarming title, here are some things to keep in mind!
Remember that one way you'll be able to do that for Heartwarming authors in 2016 is by buying our titles at select Wal-Marts nationwide!
PLUS, both Amazon and Barnes & Noble will now be carrying the paperback versions of Heartwarming books in addition to the digital versions!
And you can continue to purchase current and backlist Heartwarming titles online at www.harlequin.com
Here's to a heartwarming holiday season for all our readers everywhere. Check back in 2016 for another edition of "We Talk to Ourselves...a Lot!"
Love from,
About Loree:
With nearly 6,000,000 books in circulation, best-selling author Loree Lough's titles have earned numerous 4- and 5-star reviews and industry awards. She splits her time between her home in Baltimore and a cabin in the Alleghenies (where she loves to show off her “Identify the Critter Tracks” skills). The release of Sweet Mountain Rancher (#2 in the “Those Marshall Boys” series for Harlequin's new Heartwarming line) brings Loree’s number of books in print to 105! Loree loves to hear from her readers and answers every letter, personally. Visit her at Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and www.loreelough.com!
About Cerella:
I am an addict for used-book bargains.
I confess that it's not the author in me who seeks these out but rather the reader part of my personality. Because I can't resist an abused paperback if it comes with a 25-cent price tag attached.
I know. *sigh*
But since becoming published, my addiction has come to weigh on me a bit. As an author, I know how precious every book sale is for me - how much I rely on each purchase to encourage and nudge me forward in my art.
So why, knowing this, do I continue to seek out used-book bargains and deprive my fellow authors of that same sale?
The cold, hard truth of it is that most writers don't make much money, and yet we continue to pursue publication because we love stories. More than that, we love sharing our stories with others. Only another reader understands the kind of joy a book brings - that shared bond we experience when we find out someone loves the same characters or authors that we do.
So one way I've decided to challenge myself, as a reader, is to start limiting my used-book purchases and opt instead to buy a brand-new book, at least once a month, to support my fellow authors and the publishing industry.
For me, the holiday season is a great time to begin this resolution by gifting someone with a title from a favorite author. It's one of those gifts that benefits everyone: I feel proud of supporting other writers; the recipient may discover a new favorite read; and my author has earned one more sale that will hopefully encourage them to keep writing.
This year, Loree and I would like to invite our fellow Heartwarming friends to join with us in supporting each other, as readers and authors, by gifting someone with a book, purchased new (not used or at a book-sale but rather direct from a retailer) for a friend or loved one. (eBooks count, too!)
We know our readers love us, and we count on you to share that love to keep inspiring us to do what we do. Join us in supporting your favorite authors this holiday season and in the upcoming year!
And if you choose to purchase a Heartwarming title, here are some things to keep in mind!
Remember that one way you'll be able to do that for Heartwarming authors in 2016 is by buying our titles at select Wal-Marts nationwide! PLUS, both Amazon and Barnes & Noble will now be carrying the paperback versions of Heartwarming books in addition to the digital versions!
And you can continue to purchase current and backlist Heartwarming titles online at www.harlequin.com
Here's to a heartwarming holiday season for all our readers everywhere. Check back in 2016 for another edition of "We Talk to Ourselves...a Lot!"
Love from,
About Loree:
About Cerella:
CERELLA SECHRIST lives in York, Pennsylvania with two precocious pugs, Darcy and Charlotte, named after Jane Austen literary characters. Inspired by her childhood love of stories, she was ten years old when she decided she wanted to become an author. These days, Cerella divides her time between working in the office of her family’s construction business and as a barista to support her reading habit and coffee addiction. She’s been known to post too many pug photos on both Instagram and Pinterest. You can see for yourself by finding her online at www.cerellasechrist.com. Harper’s Wish, Book #1 in her Findlay Roads series, is her third Harlequin Heartwarming novel.
I have been meaning to pack up the hundreds of books I have stored downstairs and gift them to a women's shelter or library. (I would keep my favorite ones of course; all the books were purchased new!) Reading your post, I thought...hmmm, maybe I should ship them to you! Then I got to the point of your story and decided, no, I'm shipping used books to Cerella. Let her buy them new!:-)
ReplyDeleteI agree that gifting (and receiving) books at Christmastime is a great idea. I often use them as stocking stuffers. And on the topic of buying Heartwarming books, I received in the mail yesterday my most recent purchases: Muriel Jensen's To Love and Protect, and Carol Ross's If Not for a Bee. I think of it as an early Christmas present to myself!
Happy reading, everyone!
Kate, I'm so proud of you that all the books were purchased new! But no, you better not send them to me. ;) Heartwarming books, in particular, make great gifts, don't they? Especially with those beautiful covers - they look lovely sitting next to each other on a bookshelf. And I don't think that's just my bias talking. ;) Enjoy that "early Christmas present"!
DeleteI love giving and receiving books. I also love used book stores and have gone on to buy new books by people whose writing I discovered on the 25-cent shelf. That being said, bookstores of any kind are few and far between where I live.
ReplyDeleteI love your post.
That's when the 25-cent sales benefit authors, Liz - when it inspires someone to go buy more of their books! I know that's happened to me more than once, so maybe I don't need to feel *quite* as guilty over my addiction!
DeleteExcellent post! Definitely looking forward to buying our books at Walmart.
ReplyDeleteOh, me, too, Marion! They're going to look beautiful on display!
DeleteYou've got my support. I love to buy books, it's my addiction. Being the germaphobe that I am, I always buy new. If I buy a book for my Kindle, but love the cover, I'll buy the paper copy too. Yes...I do have a problem.
ReplyDeleteYes, Jill, I totally see where you're coming from on the germ issue! I don't mind used books too much, but sometimes, I do think, "I wonder where this book has been." lol! Thanks for always buying new - you're my role model. :)
DeleteHi, excellent post. I try really hard to support my writer friends by buying their books at Barnes and Noble, because I don't want to see it fade away like other stores. I know my purchases won't keep our store open, but every little bit helps. I subscribe to Heartwarming, but intend to go to my Wal Mart in January to get the books and gift them to friends. I think used stores have a place in our lives. We may pick up new readers, and also not everyone can afford to buy a new book. I just love to see books, all books finding good homes.
ReplyDeleteWell said, Roz! I would hate to see used bookstores and sales disappear entirely. In fact, the two major book sales I attend benefit really good causes, so I'm not giving up on them entirely! But I know I also need to get better about supporting the industry and buying new more often. Like you said, though, all books deserve a good home. :)
DeleteBrilliant post (as usual) Ladies! I love to give books as gifts and they are my favorite gift to receive as well. I love the idea of spreading this idea around ( : I do think used books have a place, too. I've discovered some of my favorite authors that way. And like Liz mentioned, I've then gone on to purchase their other titles.
ReplyDeleteExactly, Carol! That's when used book sales are really beneficial - when you discover an author and then go on to buy more of their titles. I've done that, too (so I feel a smidge less guilty now!) But as an author, I've started to realize that I need to be more supportive of other authors. So I guess it's my New Year's resolution. ;)
DeleteCheers for used book stores. In our poverty-stricken days, I was able to keep reading my favorite authors, then went on to buy their books in better times. Like all of you, I love books above all else, and though it's wonderful to handle a book - especially one that's already been loved (sorry, Jill. I do appreciate how you feel, though) the Kindle is a marvel for the disabled. (Ron's now reading the very last Patrick O'Brian, (#21) and heartbroken that he has to find another literary family.)
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, Muriel, that I love reading my Kindle books on my iPad, so when I buy new, it's usually digital. And you're right, they really are a nice option for the disabled. Audiobooks are such a convenient option these days too - a lot of my reader friends are choosing audio options. I appreciate that you bought used when you had to and then went on to support your favorite authors by buying new. That's what I need to do. :) My condolences to Ron, though, on the last Patrick O'Brian novel! :/
DeleteFrom the time my daughter was small (she's now 18), books were always under the tree. One year, I purchased a sturdy Christmas gift box at an after-Christmas sale and from then on, it became "the box of books" (as in, "I know what this is! It's the box of books!") As she grew older, it got harder to surprise her with titles, but she quickly learned that giving us a list of books would help continue the tradition. To this day, filling the "box of books" remains one of my favorite traditions.
ReplyDeleteI love this. I would have swooned over a box of books when I was a kid.
DeleteBEST. TRADITION. EVER, Lisa! I think what I've missed in recent years is how excited I would get when I was younger by going to a bookstore and knowing I'd walk away with a bunch of crisp, new titles to read. That was always the highlight of a week, when I got to go book shopping. Keep up this tradition!! And thanks for sharing this post on your own blog at l2hess.blogspot.com! :)
DeleteAnd Beth, I'm with you on swooning over a box of books. In fact, I recently sent my 8-year-old niece a huge box of books by mail with the entire Junie B. Jones series, Little House on the Prairie series, and some stand-alone titles. She was so excited that she Face-Time called me and kept showing me each title as she pulled them from the box and scattered them around the room. I think she's going to be just like me. :D
DeleteI could have used an aunt like you Cerella.
DeleteAw, thanks, Laurie! :)
DeleteI grew up so poor I couldn't pay attention, so it' my nature to get bargains. :-) But I buy a lot of books, both print and digital. Digital because I have no more room! Great post. And I love to give books for presents.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I'm really starting to love digital, Patricia - I don't need to worry about making room on the bookshelf! :) And you're right, I come from a very frugal family, so it's in my nature to seek out bargains, too. That's part of my problem when it comes to book sales, I suppose!
DeleteWhat about new books that are sold at discount overstock stores? Do authors make money on those? I have purchased a lot of books from Book Outlet, Ollie's Bargain Outlet, and the Bible Factory Outlet when it was still around. These are new, but are at deep discounts.
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy a good used bookstore too. Where do you find books for $.25? The library sale is about the only place I can find anything for under $1.00. Even Goodwill's paperbacks are $1.00 or more.
Not sure about outlet stores, Sylvia. Will have to check that out. But anytime a reader gets to read one of our books, however they get it, seems like a plus to me. I always think of used books or books being passed around as our 'pro bono' work.
DeleteI'm not entirely sure about the overstock stores either, Sylvia. If an author does get a royalty on those, I would guess it's significantly less. I admit that I'm an Ollie's shopper, too. :) The 25 cent titles are from some local bookstores I'm fortunate to have in my area - my library has a weekly one as well as annual ones (50 cents to $1), and there's another one in my area that has books for 25 cents each. It's hard to resist those bargains, and I'm not giving them up completely! I'm just trying to be better about purchasing new titles, too. :)
DeleteHi Cerella!! That's a great idea, to buy a book each month for myself or a friend. I actually can't turn down a good used book deal either, but the good thing is I'm sometimes introduced to a new author through a used book and then in the future I purchase a new book by that author. Actually, I purchase used books and new ones pretty regularly. I might need to get a Starbucks job myself for my book addiction!! ( :
ReplyDeleteLOL, Laurie! I think you're doing perfectly by purchasing both used and new, Laurie. I would hate to think of the waste if we all stopped purchasing used titles. But as an author, I want to be better about supporting the publishing industry. If you get a job at Starbucks, you might become addicted to coffee in addition to books. It's not pretty when it gets to that point. ;D
DeleteLove that idea of buying books as gifts. There's nothing like getting something I love and books fit that bill! Can't wait until Heartwarming books are in all the stores!!
ReplyDeleteDitto that on Heartwarming in stores, Amy! And I so cherish the books I've received as gifts. I've given my own fair share as well, of course, but there's just nothing like books for a special occasion - or any occasion at all!
Delete