To expect people I know to read my book?

I find this all a little odd @bethc765

I'm in the process of trying to get published and network with a LOT of other authors, some I know in person, others just through online writing groups. All my close friends constantly ask if I've got a publishing deal yet.

What I've found is that the ones who are published (in the last year) are doing a HUGE amount of self-promotion as book shops were closed with Covid or not allowing signings.

My friends are active on Facebook and Twitter trying to promote their books. They say this is essential as publishers don't do much.

So, I find it really hard to accept that you have not shouted your book from the roof tops.

The friends I know ask everyone to read their book (some give away free copies) and write an Amazon review to get it up the rankings.

I've done that for several, last year.

I am wondering if you have posted to market your book and want people to know about it.

Can you tell us the title? Just out of interest? Please? :)

My sister in law wrote a soft porn novel that has sold extremely well. There is no way on gods earth I would ever read it - I know full well whose faces I would inadvertently put on the characters…

You’ve done a great thing and I’m sure all your friends are very proud of you but I wouldn’t take the not reading personally - it might really not be their thing.

@BoredZelda gosh, I’m lucky I’m in the 5%

@MargaretThursday if that is the case, they haven't given us much to go on!

There is a big difference between supporting someones dreams and spending hours and hours reading a book.

One of my friends is a published author. I stopped reading after the first book because I think her writing is absolute shit. I won't be spending any more time on it. I do own all her books and have them displayed in my living room to make her happy Waste of my money if you ask me. Won't tell her that of course because I love her and I want her to keep going.

Maybe they’re not interested in the type of book. You can’t force people to read it!

There are some shitty friends out there it seems.

I would totally buy a good friend’s book, especially one who has supported me.

What kind of book is it?

I’ve contributed to a few academic books, I’ve a copy for sentimental reasons but as I don’t get paid from it (shit I know) didn’t expect my friends, parents or husband to buy or read it, probably would have bores them to tears.

A novel or fiction I think is different

That’s kind of rubbish! They’re not very supportive friends.

Congratulations on your book!

The only person I know who has written a book is my uncle, and that was an academic book about… taxes I think? I don’t understand his job. But I think I can be forgiven for not reading that!

Have you got a link to the book? Or was it self-published?

Books are cheap especially fiction. Cost of a couple of coffees really

*them

Buy it then for Xmas

My friend told me she wrote a book. I had little interest in the topic but of course I bought it and I did feel very happy for her! Your friends are a little heartless!

Why did your dh buy it? Which publisher didn't give you gratis copies? They are usually built into to the contract.

A novel represents months, if not years of work. To expect someone to that away, when they're only getting 10-15% of the cover price as their part of the royalties is disrespectful, imo. Why should anyone be expected give their work away?

To be honest a lot of it is probably jealousy (especially with women). So few people can achieve something like getting a book published. Good for you! A good friend of mine has done the same and even though the genre wasn't really my thing, I bought it and read it because it was written by her - and I actually enjoyed it. Too bad on them.

I wouldn't expect friends to buy my book, though I would hope they would. I think I would give out some author copies to close friends.
A friend of ours self published a book a few years ago, and I bought it to support him. It was turgid, badly written and full of typos. He's since written two more, but I haven't bought them. It's changed my view of him in that I think he must be incredibly arrogant and egotistical to put out such rubbish, and expect friends to leave good reviews on Amazon.

Congratulations! But I think YABU. Just because they like you, doesn’t mean they are interested in your work. Is it fiction or non fiction? I would find it somehow cringy to read a fiction book by someone I know.

Worth noting that 95% of the two million books published per year sell fewer than 100 copies.

I recall an author once saying, Write a book because you want to write a book and the experience is a good one. The odds are nobody will ever read it.

unici5 I didn't know that, that's interesting x

Actually I’m wondering if PP is right and this is essentially a stealth publicity/advertising post.

Yeah, maybe. People seem to be PM'ing for details so she can't even be deleted for self-promotion

Weird. I would definitely want to read a book a friend had written.