Discovering New Authors

We all have our favorite authors. You know, the ones whose books we clamor for and buy at the first available opportunity. The ones whose books we buy without a second thought because (insert favorite author name here) wrote them.  Darn, those books are good – and hard to put down! But in your reading adventures, don’t forget to discover new-to-you authors, too!

The Write Way Café has introduced me to many talented authors, most of whom I would not have discovered through my normal channels. I’ve been intrigued by their blurbs and excerpts, and entertained by their interviews. I’ve followed them on social media and visited their websites and blogs, eager to learn more. I’ve purchased and read some of their books – and added them to my ever expanding list of favorite authors!

If you’re not used to reading outside your usual genre, you can still find new authors to read. Your favorite authors probably share books they enjoy reading, or books written by their friends. Follow social media for various publishers and you’ll be exposed to new authors there. And don’t forget to connect with other readers, either in person or on social media, who often share their favorite reads.

If you’re a romance reader, I urge you to check out the Common Elements Romance Project. Over seventy romance authors have come together to write stories that have just five things in common:

• a lightning storm
• lost keys
• a haunted house (really haunted or rumored to be)
• a stack of thick books
• a person named Max

Books in this project will be published between October 2019 and January 2020. The books do not have the same “world” and they are not connected to each other. Book lengths vary, as do romance sub-genres and heat levels, so there’s something for everyone! Each month, there will be a drawing, and the winner will select a free eBook from the Common Elements books releasing that month. Check out the Common Elements Romance Project website to learn more.

I’d love to hear how you discover new-to-you authors. Please share!

HiDee Ekstrom never goes anywhere without a book or a pen and paper. Reading, writing, and chocolate are important elements of her daily life that inspire her to write. She also finds inspiration in and enjoys photography, scrapbooking, camping, hiking, and spending time with her family. Writing as Lainee Cole, two of her short-stories have been self-published in anthologies: Captured by Christmas and At Midnight. Follow Lainee at Facebook Author Page, Facebook Author Profile Page, and on Twitter.