Caring for Your Readers

 

By Cindy K. Sproles

 

I recently read a book called The Door to Door Bookstore by German author Carsten Henn. From the first page, this little book drew me into the doors of a quaint old bookstore and to a sweet, elderly bookstore employee named Carl. The more I read this little book, the more I fell in love with its message. This story was all about caring for the customer—I mean, really caring. Knowing who they are and what they like. It was about relationships.

Why do I share this with you? Well, it's simple. As authors, we need to care about our readers. It's vital to our success, but more so, it restores hope in humanity. Wow, that's a pretty aggressive remark, but it's true. When someone openly cares, folks see hope.

Here's why. After reading this book, the story had such a profound impact on me that I took the time to write a note to Mr. Henn. I looked up his website, found his contact info, and went out on a limb. How would this German-speaking author, 1) translate an English-written note, and 2) would he even care?

As a child, my mother was a fanatic about writing notes. If I received a gift, I had to respond with a thank-you note that same day. She encouraged me to take the time to write a note of encouragement, offer a birthday wish, or whatever the occasion because, in her words, "it will show people that you care and that you are grateful." It stuck because I have continued that practice through the years. That said, what does this have to do with the price of eggs? Plenty.

Once I hit send on my note to Mr. Henn, I said goodbye, knowing I'd made the effort to encourage him and thank him. Momma would be proud. With the letter gone, I pretty much forgot about it. Until …

Until I opened my email to find a response from Mr. Henn. This German-speaking author, who took the time to translate my note, and not only that, responded with a full letter, not just a thank you for your note. In his letter, he went into detail about how much my note had meant to him because his publishing team was not behind the project. Mr. Henn told me the history of how this story came to be and why it meant so much to him. He lived out the story he'd written about the importance of relationships.

Now, you may ask, How does this apply to me? I'm going to tell you. 

As a writer, you already know the value and power behind the words you pen. Those words hit the page and make their way into the hands of the folks who enjoy your stories. That said, there is something even more valuable than the story. It's your responsibility to your readers to make the opportunity to offer a moment of your personal attention.

Our local library invited me to set up a book table and meet and greet their patrons. They wanted book lovers to meet the authors behind the books. I took along a good friend and supporter of my work, and we set up a nice table display of my books. I'm an introvert, so stepping out to greet people is tough for me; hence, why I brought along my extrovert friend. She snagged up a book from the table and showed this clumsy author how to interact with readers. It wasn't long before I wasn't letting anyone pass by without extending a hand, asking what they enjoyed reading, and then introducing them to the world of Appalachian historical fiction. Building relationships. Talking to readers. The time was amazing. I was allowed to sell books, but honestly, that was not the focus. The focus was to build relationships. I handed out business cards with my email address, and to my surprise, I received notes from folks I'd met at the library later that day and throughout the week. I took the time to reply to every note and made an effort to say more than “thank you” for the email. Yes, it took a little time, but it was well worth the effort. I made friends. I added new readers to my work, and I even sold a couple of books.

My point of this entire post is that your readers are the lifeblood of your work. They enjoy your books, and they will become faithful followers, but writing the story is only the beginning. When a reader contacts you, take the time to respond and do so with a little extra care. Let them know how much they mean to you as a reader. Encourage them to continue to read your work and the works of other authors. It will pay off in the long run. You've heard about platform building … here, you have it.

As for me, I've made a friend across the pond. I can't read his other books because I don't know German. The Door to Door Bookstore is Mr. Henn's only book translated into English. Still, I will continue to sing the praises of this endearing and charming book. I may never meet Carsten Henn face-to-face, and he may not remember my name in six months, but I can guarantee that he will remember a mountain girl from Tennessee, USA, who sent him a note to encourage his work. And I—I will most certainly remember the wonderful letter he sent back.

 

Photo courtesy of Freedigitalphotos.net and marin.

Cindy K. Sproles is proud of her Appalachian Mountain heritage and loves to share it with others. She is an author, speaker, and conference teacher, teaching across the country. Cindy is the co-founder of Christian Devotions Ministries, and she has served as a managing editor for two publishing houses. Cindy is the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference, held each February at the Cove, Asheville, NC. She is married and has four adult sons and two grands.