A number of new Filipino authored books are growing each year. This is evidently seen among the big bookstores who now devote additional shelves for these type of books. Several movie adaptations were also made from them. But, amidst these developments, are we really showing our support to our Filipino authors and their books?
One Mantra made a list of the 5 Ways I Can Support Filipino Authors / Books
1. Buy! Buy! BUY!
This has got to be the very first and easiest way to show one's support. That 150 paged book that's priced at around Php. 200, took some time before it became the book that you are reading now.
The author spent a lot of time and energy to come up with another best selling work for us to enjoy. (Money included, remember that authors are still human beings that also have basic needs such as food, clothing, shelter and access to a fast internet service.)
2. Spread the Word
This is another essential that every book must be able to achieve. The great tool to use of course would be the social media. Some publishers tend to tirelessly shout on our social media timelines about a new book that will soon be released by an author. Sometimes it will be released on a book launch. Other times it won't be.
Fans of the author would always be the best tool to promote these new books. Devoted fans are the best promoters, who usually does all of this for free. Countdowns until the books are delivered to the bookstores are even seen in some. Even the mere book sightings of it across the metro will always be worthy enough for them to tell everyone about it on their different social media accounts.
Nevertheless, spreading the word about the status of the book is still essential for some readers might miss the announcements made by the publishers and authors
A simple share or tag could do just the trick.
3. Reviews!
Another aspect that isn't usually done locally is by writing down those reviews. It could manifest in the form of a one sentence Facebook post, a short paragraph on goodreads or even a lengthy discussion on WordPress. Regardless of the medium and length of review, it serves as a gauge, both to the author and to the other readers. It guides the author on any adjustments that might be needed on his/her future works. For a reader, it helps them decide on whether they should continue to buy the book based on his/her knowledge of the author's writing ingenuity, appeal from the book's cover and the number of stars that you had given.
Some reviews are harsh. But eventually there would be those inspirational ones that continues to motivate the author in his/her pursuit for excellence.
4. Attendance on Book Launches
An author meeting his/her readers (most especially the hardcore fans) would be the best satisfaction that one could experience. Not only do fans get the chance to go fanboying/fangirling on them, some authors enter that moment of realization of his/her impact to a reader due to the love that they are showing. Of course the norm would be to bring only one of the author's books, usually it is the new book being launched at the book signing event. But I think we would be sending bigger smiles if you had managed to bring all of the author's works.
A book launch gives the opportunity for a reader to ask questions and clarifications about the book. It also serves as a direct way to give your feedback to the author.
An author tired from an extended time of book signing (other authors continue on with the book signing even while he/she is on a "yosi" break) due to the overwhelming number of fans with their abundant number of books, would always be left feeling good. (Or perhaps this was the reason why the 2 books only policy are being implemented on some book signings.)
5. Pass It On
Read a great book that you would want everyone around you to also read and enjoy? Or the book that you had just finished reading turned out to be the one you're not fond of? Whatever book you have in mind for each of these two questions, the best way to know what other people would think of them would be to pass this book on.
Each one of us have our own genres that we tend to lean on whenever we include a book on our to-read-list. A book that might be awful to us, could be an amazing one to others. There are books that might not really be the ones for us since their targeted audience might have been a different demographic altogether.
Whatever your stand on a book may be, try having others read it. The author might have lost one support from you, but with your help, he/she could have earned a new fan through the person whom you had given that book out.
There are a lot of ways that we could show our support to our Filipino authors and their books. Make your own additions to the five ways enumerated above by writing it down at the comments section below. :)
