Should I buy your book or read it at the library?

Someone in Hydernation asked today about libraries. I told her to hang on for lots of words—and I meant it. Forgive any typos, this is long enough to go to my editor. Ha!

Here’s the reader’s original question:

Question for you, Elicia Hyder- I love reading and have always wondered how authors get paid from library rentals? I always purchase books from authors I really love (like you and Darynda Jones) but I’m curious to know how it works with libraries? I’m only asking because I want to make sure I do what I can to help authors since I’m an avid library user!

Libraries have always been highly debated in the publishing community. I get it now that I’m a publisher. We’re all about maximizing profit because—as much as I love writing, and as much as I love my readers—this is my business. It’s how I support my big ass family.

My big ass family:

So here’s the short truth of how I feel about libraries (Read on if you want more):

Writing and producing a novel takes a lot of time and money. Sometimes even blood, sweat, and literal tears. If you can afford to buy my books, please do! But if you can’t afford to, please ask your local library to buy them. Yes, I still get paid. (Libraries pay more for each copy, with restrictions on lending.) So you can read it,  and then it’s there for maybe another reader to fall in love with my series.

Just please keep reading. Keep talking about my books (and others you love) because that’s still the best form of advertising. This world needs more readers. Libraries don’t hurt us in the long run; only book pirates do. Don’t read for free anywhere online because it feeds that thieving beast. Please, I beg you.

Now here’s the (very) long truth:

This isn’t a post about if books are worth their price. I’m going to assume everyone here agrees that $4.99 is steal for a quality eBook! But if you’re under any delusions that self-publishing is cheap and easy, let’s just say I’ve spent a year writing and publishing Detached, spending enough $$ to buy myself a very nice car. And that’s just getting the product! Don’t get me started on the costs of advertising!

But I’m not going down that bunny trail today.

PLEASE, if you are able, buy all the books you can. Mine and others.

If you are unable, I understand. I’ve been there too.

Life happens. Shit happens. 2020 happens!

If you are struggling financially, or if your book appetite is simply bigger than your budget, PLEASE keep reading and discovering new authors by supporting your local library. Again, NO BOOK PIRATING. 

Here’s my story about libraries:

Once upon a time, a friend gave me a copy of Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris. I loved it, but my husband had just died, so I couldn’t rush out to the bookstore and buy the rest of the series. I read as many as books as the library had, and then I bought the rest. Then I found Grave Sight (book one of the Harper Connelly series). I read it at the library and bought the rest.

Since then, now that I’m able to, I’ve purchased every book I’ve loved by her. Some, I own multiple copies of: digital, print, hardback, audio… Some are even signed (and personalized with my name)!!! OMG!

Why?

Because I love them, and because I want to do my part to keep more books coming!

I’ve given back in other ways too.

Since publishing The Soul Summoner, my book that finally cracked the door to the room where my heroes abide, I’ve shouted Charlaine’s name everywhere I could. If you’ve been around me for more than five minutes, I do not need to tell you this. 🤣 In fact, some of you are probably like, “When will Elicia shut up about Charlaine???”

Do you know why I shout about Charlaine? Or why I gush about Darynda Jones, Heather Graham, Jennifer Estep, or—I’d better stop because this post is wordy enough. 

I gush because I’m grateful.

Me and all my gratefulness:

I’ve experienced the life-changing, life-saving magic books truly are.

Books are more than just stories.

Books are hope.

Books are escape.

And sometimes books are salvation.

When I started devouring books at the library, as a young, recently-widowed single mom, I was barely keeping my shit together. Sure, those books gave me an escape, but they also gave me hope! The women in them aren’t called heroines because they get the guy. They’re heroines because they kick ass and make shit happen for themselves, which is exactly what they helped me be brave enough to do! 

Where would I be without Harper Connelly, Sookie Stackhouse, and Aurora Teagarden? What if I’d only been out partying, drinking, and trying to find a new dad for my kids?

It scares me to think.

I know you think I’m waxing poetic about the library and my favorite heroines, but I know one thing deep down in my bones: without them there would be no Sloan Jordan.

No Music City Rollers.

No Saphera Nyx.

I want as many people as possible to experience that kind of magic, so by all means, help KEEP THE LIBRARIES OPEN. And don’t ever feel guilty for using them.

(You can feel guilty as hell for book pirating though. That shit is killing us all.)

Here are some practical and priceless ways you can help authors you love:

• Snap a photo of the book you just loved and Tag the author on Facebook or Instagram
• See an ad on Facebook of a book you loved? Share it and add your recommendation
• Add and share on Goodreads
• Highlight and post lines from the book you’re currently loving
• Write a positive review that you believe in. And unless you feel a book could damage another reader, don’t bother posting negative reviews! (I could write a whole post about this!)
• On that note, give a book 5 stars—not 4 stars simply because it’s not Pride and Prejudice. Haha! Did you enjoy it? Is it worth someone else’s time if they read it? Then it’s a 5-star read.

I really could go on and on, but I’ll finish with one more:

Please gush. Please fangirl (or fanboy) over your favorite authors. Write letters, send emails, and post online what a book has meant to you. Because we authors are often a fragile bunch.

Even one of the greats once said (paraphrasing here), “With every book release I fear this is the one where they’ll find out what a terrible writer I really am.”

^^^ That was Charlaine Harris! (You didn’t think I’d let another opportunity to mention her slip, did you?)

If she sometimes feels that way, then NONE of us are exempt. You never know if your note might keep us writing the next book.