Tag: tips

5 ways Canadian readers can boycott and still support American authors

In support of Canadian readers boycotting U.S.-made books and authors, I’ve put together a list of ways you can still support your favorite American authors.

🇨🇦 Buy Canadian. Boycott U.S. 🇨🇦
Yes, even the books!

It’s getting a bit ugly in some bookish spaces online, so before any of that ugliness comes here—not that any of my readers even act like that—I want to say something.

It’s good and right that Canadians are boycotting U.S.-made products and services. They have to, because of Trump’s insane tariffs. I’m American and adore my Canadian friends, readers, colleagues, associates, and publisher. That will never change! I don’t take Canadian boycotts personally because they aren’t personal attacks on me.

Authors, please don’t be angry with readers for your sales dropping. There are a few elements at play, here (one of those is Amazon’s sudden move to prevent readers from downloading ebooks they’ve purchased on their Kindle to their computer). People are speaking out with their dollars, and we should be supporting that; everyone wins when we support each other. (Amazon’s abuse of authors is something we need to talk about, but not today.)

I don’t want to get all soapbox-y, but we really do need to stick together and work cooperatively.

Here are some ways Canadian readers can still support their favorite American authors without spending a dime!

Join authors’ email lists ✍🏼

I’m genuinely surprised every time a reader doesn’t know I have a newsletter. I feel like I’m always pushing it, sometimes obnoxiously so, haha. Most authors have a newsletter (and if you don’t, you should). Joining an author’s email list lets them know you’re a fan, and doesn’t cost you a dime (it actually costs us). It’s also a great way to ensure that no stupid social media algorithm will keep you out of the loop.

My newsletter is free, and I typically send one every month. You’ll also get exclusive goodies and instant access to my serialized books.

Like, comment on, and share authors’ social media posts 💬

I’ve been serializing my River Reapers MC dark romance books here on my website, which doesn’t cost anything to read. If you’re a Canadian reader boycotting U.S. authors, liking, commenting on, and sharing those chapters is still a great way to support me. It’d actually help me out quite a bit, as it helps other people discover my website.

Even if authors aren’t doing anything like that, they’re usually posting on their socials, and engaging with those posts in any way is a huge help. Just like traffic, likes, comments, and shares helps people discover author websites, your interactions on social media help other people discover those author pages.

Email authors ✉️

Emailing an author out of the blue might feel awkward, but authors love to hear from readers! When I get an email from any reader, it always makes me smile. You don’t have to write a long letter or explain that you’re boycotting or tell us how much you love our books. You can simply say hi. It’s really encouraging to know there’s someone out there.

Post a review or rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For indie authors especially, a book’s reviews and average rating are everything. If you’ve read an author’s work in the past, and didn’t get to leave a review, now’s a great time to throw down a quick 1-5 star rating. If you’ve got the time, write a couple sentences about what you enjoyed.

If you haven’t read the book yet, ask the author about their ARC team. I did a short-term review program for readers who weren’t able to buy my books for whatever reason, and I’ve been thinking about opening that list back up again. It was such a win/win.

Borrow books from the library 📖

This can be a bit tricky, since libraries have to purchase both print and ebook licenses, and if the publisher or author is American, Canadians may not want to borrow. If the library already has the book or ebook in circulation, though, it’s your tax dollars already spent, so you might as well make use of it.

A note on print-on-demand (POD) 🖨

In the same vein, purchasing indie ebooks in Canada gets really tricky. Although POD services like IngramSpark will ship to Canada, they don’t have printing facilities there (I asked).

Good news for Aussies, though! If you purchase one of my books in Australia, it’ll be printed in Australia. Same goes for American readers who like supporting U.S. businesses (Ingram Content is an American company operating out of Tennesee).

KDP does not have any printing facilities in Canada or any countries outside the U.S., as far as I know. I don’t use them, so if someone could get me a definitive answer, I’d really appreciate it!

I support all readers (and people) who are boycotting. It’s not easy, and it’s so important. We all need to do our part if we want to enjoy the world we live in and make it better for the future. I really hope these tips help.

Happy boycotting, and happy reading! 🖤

Photo by Nong on Unsplash

How to read my tattoo shop romance series if you don’t have a Kobo ereader

Getting a book deal was a dream come true for me, that came with some of its own challenges. Like being exclusive. That was almost a dealbreaker for me; I prefer my books to be available to all readers, with easy access. The good news is, I didn’t have to compromise. There are a few ways you can read A Touch of Gold, Tattooed Heart, and the rest of the Stagwood Falls: Love in Ink series if you don’t have a Kobo ereader.

Kobo app

If you’ve got a phone, you can read my tattoo shop romances. Download the Kobo app for your phone or tablet, then start the series in the app. This option requires a purchase from Kobo.

Libby App

As usual, libraries have our back. Get Libby set up using your existing local library card. Then download or request A Touch of Gold through the Libby app. This option is free (your library purchases the license).

calibre

This tip comes from reader Katy, who gets headaches from reading on her iPad (so the Kobo and Libby apps aren’t good options for her). She says: purchase the books through Kobo, then use Calibre to convert to Kindle. Goodbye headaches!

paperbacks coming soon

Good news! Paperbacks are coming to Maietta Ink in 2025. Please stay tuned for updates.

Thank you so much for your support!

I’ve Been Publishing for 10 Years! Here’s What I’ve Learned

On October 11th, 2011, I published my award-winning short story, “Moon Prayer,” to the Kindle and Smashwords stores. Only a handful of people bought the ebook edition, but I was hooked. Over the next 10 years, I chased my next high over and over.

My first ever signing, sometime in spring 2012.

Writing is my addiction. It’s also the way I figure out the world, and myself. Hemingway once said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at the typewriter and bleed.” He was right. Writing is my release; after the gush and then stanch comes the rush of endorphins.

In the 10 years since I started this journey, if I’ve learned one thing, it’s that this career is not romantic or glamorous—it fucking hurts. To survive, you have to be strong and resilient. It helps if you’re really stubborn. It really helps if you’re a little crazy. Most days, I don’t even know why I’m still going at it. So many writer friends have disappeared, never to publish again, because the mental toll is too expensive.

It scares me, that something I love could destroy me.

But then I remember why I write: for me. I write the kinds of books I want to read. I’ve been entertaining myself with stories for as long as I can remember. Some of my favorite memories are the elaborate soap operas my sister and I played out with our action figures. (We had a whole tiny town built out of shoe boxes, doll houses, and chairs, full of all these characters with individual backgrounds and lives.) Eventually I taught myself to type on my mom’s word processor, and I started writing fiction. (I still don’t type properly today.)

I started writing for me, but other people really like my stories. It’s hard for me to find readers, because I’m not writing for the standard person. I’m writing for the people like me: the outcasts, the black sheep, the ones who paved their own road.

So, on my 10-year anniversary, I give myself the gift of a new manifesto. This list is for me, but maybe it’ll resonate with you. Take what you need and leave the rest.

  • Don’t give away everything.
  • Learn the rules of your genre, and then break them in ways that make sense.
  • Protect yourself, your IP,  your privacy, and your mental health.
  • Figure out what you do best, then keep doing it.
  • Ads don’t work for all books, or even all authors.
  • Build and manage your own ARC team.
  • Don’t forget about local readers.
  • Make your newsletter your #1 marketing priority.
  • Set yourself up for success.
  • Let go of the things you can’t control.

My most recent signing, at RomantiConn 2019.

A Note on Making Money: Every author wants to know to make a living from writing. There’s no timeline or instruction manual that fits everyone. I’m still trying to figure out how to do it; I came close in 2019 when I released A Risky Prospect. There are so many factors involved, and even two authors writing the same sub-genre and tropes are going to have completely different career experiences. It can be maddening, so try not to compare yourself to others. That’s easier said than done, and I know it also sounds like a cop out. But there truly is no secret, one-size-fits-all answer. It’s something you have to figure out as a business, through time, experimenting, and commitment.

A Note on Burnout: This gig is stressful. I’ve seen a lot of authors come in hot, publishing and rising fast, and then crashing just as quickly. Make sure you’re pacing yourself. Make sure you’re refueling your soul. Make sure you’re on top of your mental health. Set your expectations and goals at a reasonable place, with actions you can actually control (like “I will write and publish this book by this date,” instead of “I will make this book a bestseller that pays my bills”).

Writing isn’t just a career; it’s who we are. The world needs us because we put into words the things that many people can’t say. We tell it like it is, and we build a better tomorrow, all with the power of our words.

I don’t know what the next 10 years hold for me, but I hope they give me 10 more things I’ve learned and dozens more books on the shelf under my name.