7 Ways to Support a Book Without Spending a Dime

A River Between Us is now officially out into the world, and I couldn't be happier to finally deliver to you the full story of hope and home these characters deserve. 

Many readers have asked how they can support the launch of the book. Thank you!! I'm so grateful that you asked. The most obvious way is to buy a copy of the book. (You can check with your local bookstore, order a signed copy from my Etsy shop here, or shop from other retailers here.) 

But that's not the only way you can help. In fact, here are SEVEN things you can do that won't cost you a single cent. Most of these will only take a few moments.

1. Read the book and post an honest review on a book review/retail Web site. Readers are most comfortable buying books after seeing what their fellow readers thought, so this is really crucial! The goal is to reach 50 reviews on a given site as soon as possible after launch. This triggers an algorithm which will bump up exposure for the book. Reviews don't need to be long and they don't need to summarize the story. Simply share what you liked or what kind of reader you think would enjoy the book. Once you write one review, it's easy to copy and paste it into other sites. Here are the places accepting reviews for A River Between Us now:

• Amazon
• BarnesandNoble
• BookBub
• BooksaMillion
• ChristianBook
• Goodreads
• Kobo

2. "Like" a review. When you visit the book's page on one of the Web sites listed above, take a few seconds to click the "like" button on some of the positive reviews for the book. This is especially helpful on Goodreads, because every review "like" increases the book's exposure.

3. Ask your library to carry the book. Most libraries welcome patron suggestions and have a way for you to do this on their Web site. Be sure to mention that both paperback and ebook formats are available through their usual distribution channels. If they ask for the paperback ISBN, that is: 978-1625862556.

4. Add the book to your Goodreads shelf. If you have an account with Goodreads, mark A River Between Us as a book you want to read. 

5. Share on social media. Create your own graphic or use one of several I've created in multiple formats. Dowload from this Dropbox folder. You could also "share" someone else's post when you see it on social media.

6. Like and comment on a post you see. Every "reaction" to a post on Facebook and Instagram will increase its visibility. 

7. Tell a friend. There is absolutely nothing like good old fashioned word-of-mouth. If you know someone who might enjoy a Civil War story of finding hope and home, let them know about A River Between Us. If you're part of a book club, consider including the novel as one of your selections. 

Thank you so much for supporting this independently published novel! By the way, the ideas above apply to any book at all, so please make use of them for all your favorite authors' releases!