Why does it help authors when you add their books on Goodreads?
This month, I announced some exciting news:
MY BOOK IS BEING PUBLISHED!!
I’m super excited that THE ROSEWOOD HUNT will be coming to shelves near you in Fall 2023 with HarperTeen/HarperCollins. I’ve been working on edits for it and each time I return to this story, I love it even more. So, taking that as a good sign! I’m making some cool changes but also keeping a lot the same, especially my favorite crew of fortune-hunting teens.
I’ve already had some people ask where they can preorder it, which makes me A-level giddy. However, I won’t see preorder links for a while yet since I just announced it. In the meantime, a great way to support my book and me is to add it on Goodreads.
Goodreads is a free platform that allows users to create an account and browse a vast variety of books. You can add books to your “Want to Read” shelf, and then mark them as “Read” once you’re done. It also allows people to review and rate books on a 5-star scale.
It’s also fun because you can connect with friends and see what they’re reading. You can set up a yearly reading challenge for how many books you’d like to finish in a year. Plus, authors might even hold giveaways or do interviews or other types of activities for readers to engage with.
You might see authors (like me) asking you to add their books on Goodreads, like, a lot. This is because it’s one of the earliest ways to gauge reader interest. A lot of adds on Goodreads can be an indicator to publishers that a good number of people might purchase your book when it’s out. It’s no guarantee, of course, but it’s also a way for the author to build an early relationship with readers.
Another thing about Goodreads is it has what’s called “lists,” such as things like, “Page-turners to Keep You Up at Night” and “New YA Releases” (just examples). The more people that add a book to their “Want to Read” shelf, the more likely the books might get added to certain lists as more people become aware of them. This results in even more exposure, which is great for the author and their book, and also for readers who might not follow them on social media or be aware of them in any other capacity. It’s also a neat way to discover new books and you can “Follow” authors to stay up to date with any news that comes out.
Anyway, all that to say, please add my book! I know it doesn’t come out for another year or so, but some of these early steps are really important and I’d appreciate it so much. And while you’re on there, definitely browse around. I’ve discovered some of my favorite books just from seeing what’s on my friends’ virtual shelves and what they’re reading.
When I saw that my book was on Goodreads, it felt real. Like, people will read my words! That’s wild. Thank you in advance if you add it!
For my next post, I might talk more about my book deal and what led up to it, so stay tuned! You can sign up for my newsletter below to know when it’s posted.
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