I am so used to hearing about the challenges that authors (and my customers) have in promoting their books, I have become quite jaded.
The fact is that even asking your MOM or your “best” friend to write a review may be met with ridicule and rejection. I’ve BEEN there and know how much it hurts.
So when I was approached to help GIVE AWAY two children’s paperback books … I’ll admit that I was suspicious.
“What scam was this person trying to snag me into?”
So I was careful and cautious and finally decided to go ahead. I sent out an email asking my customers if anyone wanted a free … no strings attached book for their kids or grand children. Was I surprised by the low number of responses? A little, but apparently I am not the ONLY skeptic in this scam filled world.
But I found two perfect people … who wanted the book for the kidlings in their lives and who agreed to do a review.
NOTE: my request to consider writing a review was MY request. The angel giving the books away did not stipulate a review as a requirement. The giveaway really was — NO strings attached.
Then I asked the giver of the books … if she was the author … and why she was doing this.
Turns out she was NOT the author and she was doing this to support her cousin AND to be kind and generous to the absolute strangers who received the books. And not only that, she purchased a promotion package from me … to promote the sales of her cousin’s book.
I was surprised she didn’t want me to send the kindle version of the book. It would have been way cheaper. But she said that the paper version (more expensive with added shipping charges) would make MORE impact both for her cousin and for the book’s recipients.
I was GOBSMACKED.
Talk about paying it forward.
And then I found out that this angel had not even told her cousin she was doing this. It was totally anonymous.
I was even MORE GOBSMACKED.
Talk about selfless giving. Giving the joy of sales (and reviews) to her cousin. Giving the joy of a “hold it in your hands” paperback book for two families (maybe more … I don’t know).
If this amazing gift made you tingle even just a bit … consider doing this for an author in YOUR life. Your own kid who is struggling to become an author, your relatives, your friends or just pick an author whose book you have enjoyed and pay it forward.
Believe me … you will tingle even more when
YOU are actively engaged in this selfless random act of kindness!
And here’s one more way you can help. Send the link to this article to your social media networks and spread the word as far and as wide as it can go. This is such a fabulous idea I’d love to see more people engaged and giving!
Share the followings blog post link to your social media networks (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and more).
https://melanierockett.com/?p=7540
REMEMBER: The point is to make your gift anonymous. Only YOU should know … you will feel incredible, the author you are supporting will be thrilled at getting a sale(s) and your recipient will also be thrilled at getting a wonderful gift!
I can’t think of a better way to pay it forward and make THREE people happy!
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