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I have a confession: I’ve been going a little book-buying-crazy on ThriftBooks. It’s been a fantastic way to add to my (and my kids’) bookshelves without breaking the bank. However, as an author…I’ve been wondering something: does it still benefit the author of the books I’m buying when they’re purchased second-hand (or rented from the library)?
In short, no. It doesn’t. They don’t see a royalty because they made it the first time it was sold.
Naturally, I began brainstorming on ways you can support an author when you purchase a book second-hand, and here’s what I came up with:
- Leave a book review! No matter where you purchased the book, you can leave a review on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, or other major bookseller websites. This will give the author a warm fuzzy feeling (I know from experience) and help boost their book for other potential sales.
- Post about it on social media. Make a quick post about the book, and tag the author! This can help expose the book to a bigger audience and potentially drive more sales for the author.
- Follow them on social media. Social media can help authors with their exposure, reputation, and sales — by following them on your favorite platforms, you can keep up with their happenings and new books and support them on their journey.
- Pass it along when you’re done! Once you’ve finished reading it, share it with a friend, use it in an Instagram giveaway, or drop it off at a Little Free Library!
- Consider purchasing another one of their books. If you love the book you purchased — buy another one! Even if you still don’t buy it new, you can do the same four steps above to support the author.
Tell me if this thought has crossed your mind and how you support authors when buying secondhand!
Until next time,
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Heide Rembold 
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