Lake Atitlan, Panajachel, Guatemala

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Authors Helping Authors

Authors write the books and Authors are key in selling the books.

Nobody understands quite how hard it is to sell books like another author. How many times have you announced a publication deal and people respond by saying something like, "You'll be famous/rich/a celebrity...etc etc fill in the blank." 

What is it that makes some people think a writer with a book out is a guaranteed path to wealth and fame? NOT. Most of us are struggling to even make our mark, getting paid an hourly wage (if we would dare to add it up) that is next to nothing. But what's cool about writers is the supportive atmosphere.

This was the germ of the idea that developed into Celery Tree the online bookstore that supports and pays the author. Author support is where it all began. An awesome quote from our Celery Tree email: "I am thrilled by this 'co-op' idea! Farmers have been doing this for years, and it makes sense to have it in the writing arena!"

If you are an author who buys other peoples' books or who hosts blog tours or writes reviews or retweets other authors' news on Twitter or Likes author pages on Facebook or any of the many other ways that help and support authors-- just know that your support helps! And it is HUGELY appreciated. 

Keep it up, Awesome Authors. This A-Letter is for you!

59 comments:

  1. Great post. I'm currently learning to write and am a newish blogger - the thing I've loved the most is the support everyone has for each other :)

    Universal Gibberish

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  2. Wonderful... and advice.

    Jeremy [Retro-Zombie]
    A to Z Co-Host
    IZOMBIE: Visit the Madness

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  3. Wonderful A word and I'm thinking of it long and hard! Having a book making the rounds is wearing down my head...
    Jan Morrison

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  4. Here's to all those awesome authors. I hope to write a book one day and will need all the help I can get. Not only a great post today but a generous one!

    Gregg Metcalf

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  5. hah, don't I know it...published my first book in Oct.2011 and I've never worked so hard! But it's been a great deal of fun as well!

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  6. Had no idea about Celery Tree. VERY cool!

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  7. Great use for the letter A. Good points and well said.

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  8. Yay for authors helping authors!! What a lovely way to start the A-Zing! take care
    x

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  9. Hi Karen .. love that you're supporting all authors - and the points you make are so valid - this blogosphere does seem to provide great moral support and introduction to new authors et al .. Your celery tree concept is great and I'm sure will be hugely successful as we all follow along your route .. cheers Hilary

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  10. Amen! This truly is the most supportive community. Have a great day, Karen!

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  11. Hi Karen – Blogger’s giving me gip again .. so I’ll repost ... and will copy and paste from Word ...

    I think it’s great the support you give authors and new ones, also the fact that this particular group of authors seems to be so helpful to others – we all need support and guidance through the publication and marketing route and can gain so much from being you and your fellow authors ...

    Celery Tree – is an excellent concept for everyone ... Good luck to all authors .. cheers Hilary

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  12. It is amazing how much people want to help others. Great post.

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  13. An excellent start to the challenge Karen, good luck with the rest.

    Yvonne.

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  14. You're so right. I've tried to explain how hard being an author is, but even my close friends don't have a clue. Those writers I know who are still seeking publication don't seem to get it either. They think all they have to do is land an agent and they're home free. NOT!

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  15. The writing community is more supportive than any other I've been involved in. It's incredible. I need to get involved with Celery Tree soon. My first novel comes out in May, and I love helping other authors.

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  16. Great post. I have found some very awesome authors in the writing community. I try to do whatever I can to help other authors and find that they do the same for me.

    Great word!

    Michelle :)
    www.michelle-pickett.com/blog

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  17. I agree that authors supporting authors is key and that is why I am participating in this blog hop. Making new friends is key for both sides. Great to meet you and thanks for stopping by. For some reason your comment showed up in my email, but not on the blog itself...yet. Maybe it still will. And thanks for the compliment.

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  18. I like to write, but do not have to write everyday, which I think is the mark of a true writer. But. . .as a "lover of words," I encourage and appreciate the writing of others.

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  19. I read those awesome authors. Without them, my life would be so much poorer. Great start to the Challenge.

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  20. Love this post. I have been so amazed at the mostly supportive writing community.

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  21. The writing community is definitely Awesome. I always see authors supporting fellow authors' book launches here in L.A. :)
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  22. Great post. I am actually in the process of my first. I don't ever expect to get rich or anything like that, but I can get lost just in research for my story. I started another blog for it, to talk about my fears, insecurities all that good stuff. Can't wait for your other topics this month!:)

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  23. "Coming Down The Mountain" has been included in this weeks A Sunday Drive. I hope this helps to attract even more new visitors here.

    http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2012/04/sunday-drive.html

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  24. Figuring out the hourly wage would be way too depressing - especially for those of us not published yet!! :)

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  25. I love writing and even if I am never published I know that I am rich...in love. Blessings.

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  26. Yes! It's wonderful when authors can support each other. The rewards of being published are very often not monetary but they are many!

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  27. A is for awesome author! Gotta love that A to Z challenge

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  28. Ben a writer for years now and have only been paid for it twice. The first check was so small I thought about framing it instead of cashing it. Great thoughts!

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    1. Haa, that was supposed to be "been!"

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  29. What a loving community I stepped in!! Blogging community :-)

    I have bought several of the books authored by blogger friends. That's such a neat idea of supporting each other.

    Great start of the A to Z!

    Doris

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  30. Great post, Karen. We authors need to hang together, that's for sure!

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  31. This is so true. The best way to sell more books is to help other authors promote theirs. It's a karma thing. =D Thanks, Karen!

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  32. Hi, Interesting post. I have never been published (except for my blogging) and will probably never be, but I appreciate authors. I've been a life-long reader (since I was six years old and am now almost 79). It is difficult to think what my life would have been like without reading and writing.
    Ruby

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  33. We do all need to help one another, don't we? Thanks for all you do, and for your co-hosting the A-Z.

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  34. Good post and I like your blog. Excited about being an Author!! Best wishes. Holly Michael

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  35. What about awkward authors? Do we get an A, too?

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  36. Hmm, think I'm with Suze above. Hey, have a great Challenge!

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  37. I love helping fellow writers; thanks for the promo inspiration!

    Shannon at The Warrior Muse, co-host of the 2012 #atozchallenge! Twitter: @AprilA2Z

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  38. Authors helping authors is something we see quite often, but it never loses that awesome! feeling for me. Thanks for co-hosting this thing.

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  39. Hey Karen,
    Are you the founder of Celery Tree? I just have started to run into it here in the blogosphere recently. What a neat idea.
    I'm enjoying co-hosting this gig with you!
    Tina @ Life is Good
    Co-Host of the April A to Z Challenge
    Twitter: @AprilA2Z #atozchallenge

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  40. It is so cool to see how authors are help each other out and talk about books and promote books.

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  41. Hi, Karen! I didn't know you were an A to Z team member. The challenge is a really cool idea. As is authors helping authors! Thanks for helping to organize this massive undertaking.

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  42. Lovely post. I still haven't convinced my mother-in-law that we are not rolling in the wealth. You see, her sister read one of my books at her house. When sister went home, she went into the local bookstore to find a copy so she could finish it. The store didn't have it. So, she asked them to order and went home to tell Mom about it. Mom was ecstatic. My books are so popular they can't keep them on the shelves!! Snicker. I gave up trying to explain. She loves her little delusions so.

    To anyone who supports an author by buying a book, giving a compliment, or even just a "way to go!" I thank you. I think it's safe to say we all do!

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  43. Wonderful post. I support my fellow authors in all sorts of ways. There's so many great writers out there and they make this the best of communities.

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  44. Cool post and tribute. Indeed, it's a small world and we need to support each other. Thanks

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  45. Great post! It is great when we can support each other~
    I do try to support authors! They are amazing~

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  46. Terrific post! Writing is such a lonely profession, it's great to know that there's a lot of support and help out there from fellow authors, reviewers, bloggers, etc.

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  47. Great post. Thanks for the encouragement and the down to earth advice.

    ScribblesFromJenn

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  48. A very writerly post---authors must help authors, cos almost no one else will.

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  49. Authors tend to be a supportive bunch. There are a few nasties out there (like some of the anonymous posters of the KDP forum) but most of them don't actually publish. The real authors are 95% cool.
    And Damyanti is right: who else will help us?
    Off to check out the Celery Tree.

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  50. Loving the author love, Karen. Authors are brilliant and I love supporting them! I hope that others would do the same for me one day if I'm lucky enough to be published.

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  51. Authors supporting authors ... is really important! Thanks for th epost.

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  52. Like the part about supporting authors, they need all the help they can get.

    http://sulekharawat.com/2012/04/02/best-friend/

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  53. You've set the bar quite high with this beginning post: entertaining and chock full of help for authors, both and aspiring and established. Thanks.

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