Comments on: Manage your expectations

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 20:49:54 +0000

Thanks, Arabella. Nobody’s disappointed when a friend buys dozens of their books as gifts, so no need to manage expectations in that situation. I’m curious about something else in your comment, though. Do you ask friends outright to buy your book?

Sandy

By: Arabella McIntyre-Brown

Arabella McIntyre-Brown — Sun, 27 Mar 2022 14:09:14 +0000

Good advice. But even if family and friends don’t read your books, some of them may either recommend them, and/or buy them as gifts. One friend of mine (bless his little cotton socks) has bought dozens of my books to give to his clients, friends, new friends. He gets me to sign them, and they make good introductions for him. Win-win. Some friends expect freebies, and get moody when I ask for a slice of their weekly wage packet because I’m their chum. They don’t always get the point, and even if they do they still never buy a book…

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 01:35:03 +0000

In reply to Katharine. That's generous of you. I like it! Sandy

By: Katharine

Katharine — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 01:27:05 +0000

I also am one to give my books to family. I would not want to be the one they cringe to see b/c I might dun them about a book.

Again. 🙁

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 14:41:07 +0000

In reply to Rebecca J. Wetzler.

I’m glad it struck a chord with you, Rebecca. As you’ve realized, your goal is to reach the RIGHT readers, and that isn’t always the people closest to you. It’s not personal — it’s just life. We’re all different and because of that, we have different interests.

Whether or not somebody buys and/or reads your book shouldn’t be a friendship test, right?

Sandy

By: Rebecca J. Wetzler

Rebecca J. Wetzler — Wed, 02 Jan 2019 09:27:40 +0000

Thank you for this encouragement, and reminder that not everyone who knows an author will be interested in reading what they write! That has been slowly dawning on me since my book was published. Some say they will buy it, but really don’t. Others have bought it, and it really is ministering to them. Which is what the goal is anyway.

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 17:14:04 +0000

I’d want to read a relative’s memoir, too, W.M., just for fact-checking purposes!

Sandy

By: W. M. Raebeck

W. M. Raebeck — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 22:17:49 +0000

Good article. But I was thinking just the other day that [some of] my family and friends seem the MOST interested in my books. I write memoir—maybe they’re just checking to see if I renamed-then-bashed them, or they’ve seen me scribbling forever and wonder what all the practice has amounted to. Some are also loyal reviewers (with prodding), and they do seem to earnestly enjoy the books. But your point about finding appropriate readers holds true in my case just as much. We want being ‘a household name’ not to mean ten households.

By: Sandra Beckwith

Sandra Beckwith — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 13:57:23 +0000

In reply to Gail Baugniet. Thanks! Sandy

By: Gail Baugniet

Gail Baugniet — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 05:07:27 +0000

I tend to give family and close friends my published books. Those interested in writing a review are greatly appreciated but mostly they offer verbal comments.