Appreciating your favorite author goes beyond enjoying their books. It means taking actions that support their career, expand their audience, and let them know their work matters. Here are 36 ways to do it, organized by effort level so you can start wherever you are.
I think readers underestimate how quiet an author’s life gets after a book comes out. Months of work go out the door and very little comes back, and a small gesture from a stranger can be the thing that gets a tired writer to start the next one. That’s why this list is more important than it looks.
Support with Your Wallet
A purchase is the plainest vote a reader has, and I’d point people toward buying it new when they can. I’m all for libraries and a loan still counts, but a sale is the number a publisher checks before deciding whether that author gets another contract.
- Buy their books directly. Purchase from the author’s website when possible. Third-party retailers take a significant cut, but direct sales put more money in the author’s pocket.
- Give their books as gifts. Every copy you give introduces the author to a potential new fan who would never have found them on their own.
- Preorder upcoming releases. Preorder numbers affect a book’s visibility at launch. A strong preorder can push a book onto bestseller lists and into recommendation algorithms.
- Tip them on Ko-fi or Patreon. Many authors accept direct financial support through platforms like ko-fi.com or Patreon. Even small contributions add up and signal that readers value the work.
- Host a book giveaway. Buy a few copies and run a giveaway on your social media. It generates excitement and gets the book into new hands.
Write and Post Reviews
A few specific sentences are worth more than a gushing paragraph. I’d much prefer a reader say what worked and who they’d hand the book to, because that’s the review that helps the next person decide. A bare star rating with no words attached does very little for anyone.
- Leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads. Reviews drive discoverability. Amazon’s algorithm favors books with more reviews, and Goodreads is where dedicated readers browse for their next read. Even a few sentences help.
- Review on social media. Post your thoughts on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or X. Tag the author. A personal recommendation from a real person carries more weight than any ad.
- Record a video testimonial. Film a short video about why you loved the book and share it on TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram Reels. Video reviews get higher engagement than text and give the author shareable content.
- Create a book trailer. If you’re comfortable with video editing, make a 30-to-60-second trailer and share it. This is the kind of creative promotion most authors can’t do for themselves.
Spread the Word in Person
Word of mouth still beats any ad a publisher can buy. A friend saying you’d like this carries a kind of trust no algorithm can manufacture, and it costs nothing but a conversation.
- Recommend it to everyone. Tell friends, family, coworkers, your barber, your dentist. Word-of-mouth remains the most powerful book marketing force on the planet.
- Suggest it to your book club. Getting an author’s book selected as a book club pick puts it in front of a group of committed readers who will discuss it.
- Ask your local bookstore to stock it. Bookstores respond to customer requests. If enough people ask, the store orders copies, and the book gets physical shelf presence it wouldn’t have otherwise.
- Turn the cover face-out. If the book is already in a store but shelved spine-out, flip it so the cover faces the aisle. Covers sell books. Spines don’t.
- Request it at your library. Libraries buy books based on patron requests. Getting a book into the library system gives it ongoing circulation and introduces it to readers who might not buy but will borrow.
Engage Online
Keep it kind and keep it short. Authors read their mentions, and a warm line from a stranger does a lot more good than dragging them into somebody’s argument about the ending.
- Follow and engage on social media. Follow the author’s accounts. Like, comment, and share their posts. Consistent engagement boosts their visibility in platform algorithms.
- Read and comment on their blog. If the author maintains a blog, read it and leave real comments. Blog engagement shows the author that people care about their thinking beyond the books.
- Join their mailing list. Email list size matters for publishers and agents. Subscribing keeps you informed and helps the author show audience reach.
- Join their fan community. If the author has a fan club, Facebook group, Discord server, or reading group, join it. Active communities give authors a direct line to their most engaged readers.
- Start a hashtag. Create a hashtag around the book or author, favorite quotes, reading reactions, how the book affected you. A trending hashtag can snowball an author’s visibility overnight.
Give the Author a Platform
- Write about them on your blog. If you have a blog, write a post about the book and link directly to where people can buy it. This creates a permanent, searchable recommendation.
- Interview them. If you run a blog, podcast, or YouTube channel, invite the author for an interview. It gives them access to your audience and creates content both of you can promote.
- Pitch them for podcast and media interviews. Suggest the author as a guest on podcasts or local media you follow. Media appearances expand an author’s reach beyond the book-reading audience.
- Arrange a school or library talk. Work with local schools or libraries to set up an author visit. These events introduce books to younger readers and give the author community exposure.
- Invite them to your book club. If the author is accessible, invite them to attend a book club meeting virtually or in person. Authors almost always say yes, it’s direct reader engagement they rarely get.
Get Creative
- Send a photo of yourself with the book. Authors love seeing their books out in the world. A quick photo of you reading it at a coffee shop, on a plane, or at the beach makes their day.
- Write a fan letter. A handwritten letter stands out. In a world of notifications and algorithms, a physical letter expressing what a book meant to you is something an author will keep.
- Create fan art. If you draw, paint, or design, create artwork inspired by the book and share it with the author. Most authors will share it on their social media. That promotes both your work and theirs.
- Make themed bookmarks. Design bookmarks based on the book and share them with fellow readers or on social media. It’s a small, shareable token that keeps the book visible.
- Nominate the book for awards. Many book awards accept reader nominations. Nominating and voting takes minutes but can significantly boost an author’s reputation and visibility.
- Attend signings and events. Show up to book signings, readings, and virtual events. Physical attendance matters, it tells the author and the venue that readers care enough to be there.
Every one of these costs little and means a great deal to the person on the other end. Pick two or three and follow through, because good intentions don’t reach anybody. Authors notice, and I think a reader who bothers to say thank you does more for books than most of the industry manages in a year.
Author Appreciation FAQ
How do you show an author you appreciate their work?
Author appreciation isn’t complicated. Buy the book. Leave a review. Tell someone about it. Show up. Every action, no matter how small, supports the person behind the story and helps them keep writing.
Related from the writer’s calendar: Martin Luther King Jr. Day: A Master of the Word.
