Give The Gift Of Books (And Help Authors End The Year On A High Note)

Well, it's that time again. We're prepping turkeys, eyeing Christmas shopping lists, and plotting how we're going to survive the rest of the year with our combined sanity and waistlines intact. And that means it's also time for me to take a moment to gently remind folks that authors are trying to close out the year in the black rather than the red.

So if you've got folks on your list who like books (or that you just wish read a little more than they do), I have a couple of recommendations for you this year! So please take a moment to go down the list, and see if there's something for the special someones you're hoping to get memorable gifts for.

Or if you're making a list of books to get with your incoming gift cards. That is also acceptable!

Help us help you!

Before we get into the nitty gritty this week, don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Lastly, to be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree!

Lastly, don't forget to check out my Vocal archive for additional fiction, articles, explorations of weird history, and more! And, of course, check me out on Blue Sky, since that's what we're talking about today!

Shout Outs For Authors I'd Recommend This Holiday Season!

All right, first and foremost, I want folks to buy my books. So whether you want to get a copy of Old Soldiers for someone who's a fan of dystopian sci fi thrillers featuring alien/human hybrid shock troops, or you want to check out the Hardboiled Cat series where Leo sticks his whiskers into the darker doings of New York City in Marked Territory or Painted Cats, I would absolutely recommend you give those books to as many folks on your list as possible!

There's even a great audio preview for that first title, courtesy of Altered State Adventures, which you should check out over on YouTube!

With that said, though, I know there are regular readers here who have already read all of my work. You may even have gotten copies of my RPG Army Men: A Game of Tactical Plastic, and subscribed to the Azukail Games YouTube channel where I regularly share free audio drama fiction. But if you've already gone through my catalog (or it's just not quite right for the people on your list), I would recommend checking out the following authors for your gift-giving needs!

Author #1: Alice Liddell

Does this not tell you everything you need to know?

Alice Liddell, also known as Lauren Masterson, is a talented author who has made her mark in a number of different genres. If you have anyone on your list who loves period dramas and gothic romances with vampires, get a copy of Succumb To Darkness. If you have someone who loves Japanese history, handmade art, and a well-researched story, consider checking out Geisha Hands instead! Fantastical mermaid romance? Yep, you can find that in her book Love of The Sea.

It's actually easier to check out her author pages Lauren Masterson and Little Alice than it is to list all her titles here. And just as an additional plug, if you are interested in learning the ins and outs of being an author, or if you enjoy cozy gaming streams, check out her YouTube channels Alice The Author and KHR Arts respectively. She can absolutely use all the subscribers (and views) you can give, if you want to make her holiday season that much better!

Author #2: Clinton Boomer

If you haven't checked this out, I'd highly recommend it!

Most folks who are familiar with Clinton Boomer's work know him as a TTRPG writer. He's contributed to the Pathfinder setting of Golarion, and he's published a lot of World of Darkness supplements (including 100 of the NPCs in the 200 Black Spiral Dancer Kinfolk supplement I wrote with him for Werewolf: The Apocalypse). However, in addition to all the gaming content he's put out, he also has a handful of other books I'd recommend folks check out!

The most popular are Team Murder Hobo: Assemble, and its sequel Team Murder Hobo: Flaming Love Icosohedron, which are essentially collections of hilarious moments between various members of an adventuring party. If you read between the lines you can find some kind of emerging plot, but mostly the books are just there for the lulz, and they make solid gifts for any fantasy or D&D lover in your life. For those who want something a little more serious, though, I'd recommend checking out his modern fantasy novel The Hole Behind Midnight. A tale of murder, detective work, and the things that happen in that nowhere-time just after the end of one day and the start of another, it's a compelling read! You can find these books, and more, on Clinton Boomer's author page.

Who Would You Recommend?

Full disclosure, I generally try to use this space to big up folks in my community whose work I think deserves a wider audience. But since Alice is my partner, and Clinton a friend of mine, I can see how this might seem a bit biased to readers out there. So let me ask you, who would you recommend for a holiday shout out? If you have an indie author whose work you think should be seen by folks, tell us about them in the comments below! What do they write, why are they good, and where can we find their books?

Let's get as many folks as we can into the hands of fresh readers!

Support The Literary Mercenary

If you want to see me produce more work, consider some of the following options!

- My Facebook

- My Blue Sky

- My LinkTree

- My Weekly Newsletter

- The Azukail Games YouTube Channel (where I contribute video content)

And if you happen to have some spare dosh lying around, and you want to be sure my supply doesn't run low, consider become a Patreon patron, or leaving a tip by Buying Me a Ko-Fi!

Also, if you're curious about how to write for tabletop RPGs, don't forget to check out my show Tabletop Mercenary, which you can find on both the Azukail Games channel, as well as my Rumble channel listed above!

Like, Follow, and Come Back Again!

That's all for this week's Business of Writing! For more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, or at My Amazon Author Page where you can find books like my sci-fi dystopian thriller Old Soldiers, the Hardboiled Cat series about a mystery solving Maine Coon in Marked Territory and Painted Cats, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife, or my most recent short story collection The Rejects!

 

And to stay on top of all my latest news and releases, collected once a week, make sure you subscribe to The Literary Mercenary's mailing list.

The 1 Gift Every Author On Your List ACTUALLY Wants

It's the holiday season, and we're all asking that same question we always ask around this time of year; what does that special someone on our list really want this year? Whether we're trying to get a gift for our parents, our siblings, our partners, our children, or even just friends, it can be tough. You want to get them something they'll like, something that's meaningful, but also something that feels personal and shows you took an interest in them. However, if anyone on your list this holiday season is an author, I'm going to save you a lot of time, energy, and effort on this one. Because there is one thing that every author out there wants, and it will make them absolutely beam this Yule time.

Are you listening? All right, here it is...

Support their work. That's it. That's the secret!

There you go! Now start placing orders.

Before we get into the nitty gritty this week, don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Lastly, to be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree!

Lastly, don't forget to check out my Vocal archive for additional fiction, articles, explorations of weird history, and more! And, of course, check me out on Blue Sky, since that's what we're talking about today!

The Kinds Of Support You Can Give

All right, so you want to give the author in your life the kind of support they're going to appreciate, and which is going to make them feel special. I'm going to give you a descending order of impact regarding the kinds of support the authors in your life need.

#1: Become A Patron

Whether the authors in your life have a Patreon, they're still on Only Fans (yeah, some of us use it for writing rather than... other content), or they've got another way for their audience to crowdfund them, just do that. An extra $20 or more a month can make a big difference to a creative professional... and if you can get a few other family members together on this one, it's possible you all could quite literally pay their bills throughout the year so they can work without worry. Or at least make paying those bills a bit easier.

I cannot overstate how much direct assistance helps. And, of course, if you're not as tech savvy or you want to have a physical something to hand over, suspicious envelopes of cash are a great universal gift.

#2: Buy Their Book

It sounds obvious, but authors get paid when people buy our books... so just do that when you can! And sure, it might not be that big of a deal if just one person buys one copy, but ask yourself how many people are in this author's extended community? How big is their family, their friend circle, etc.? Tally up what kind of royalty check they'll have if all of those people bought a copy of their book, as well as getting one for their friends, in-laws, and so on, and so forth. And, while you're at it, imagine the look on their face as everyone in their circle comes up to ask them to sign the copy they got for Christmas. Also, review their books online, because once they break 50 reviews, that's when the Amazon algorithm starts actually giving them attention.

Seriously, I cannot overstate how that feeling never really stops hitting you when you're an author. And for those who don't know, I've got all sorts of books on My Amazon Author Page, so go check it out if you haven't! Or grab yourself a copy of my new RPG, Army Men: A Game of Tactical Plastic... after all, who doesn't love a new game for the holidays?

#3: Consume Their Free Content (If It Pays Them)

Whether the author in your life puts work on platforms like Vocal.media, they have a podcast, they livestream themselves doing something creative, they have a YouTube channel, etc., support on those platforms is what determines the size of their check. So read their articles, watch their videos, listen to their episodes, and leave upvotes, comments, and share it around as best you can. Even if you don't have money to spend, showing your support like this can help them reach a wider audience through you, which can be encouraging, but also boost their signal enough to help them gain traction so they can earn more.

For folks who don't know, you can find a slew of my content on the Azukail Games YouTube channel, as well as over on My Vocal Archive.

#4: Follow All Their Social Media Pages

You know how when you have an indie band that's playing their first handful of shows how there's nothing more discouraging than looking out and seeing no one but the other bands and their significant others? How there's no fans filling the space, and no one interested in their performance, but they pick themselves up and play anyway? Well, following a writer's social media pages is basically you choosing the be the warm body in the audience cheering them on.

This matters more than just moral support, too. The social media algorithms pay attention, and if there are people following their pages, liking the things they share, leaving comments of at least 7 words, and resharing the content, that will make them more likely to get bigger boosts from the website itself.

There's Something For Every Budget

Some of us have a big, fat budget to buy gifts with. Some of us just have time, energy, and a willingness to try to make our loved ones smile. But if someone in your life is an author, the best thing you can do is help support their work in whatever way you can this holiday season.

And who knows? If you're not already an avid reader of their work, maybe you'll find out you like their books a lot more than you thought you would!

Support The Literary Mercenary

If you want to see me produce more work, consider some of the following options!

- My Facebook

- My Blue Sky

- My LinkTree

- My Weekly Newsletter

- The Azukail Games YouTube Channel (where I contribute video content)

- My Rumble Channel (longer videos that won't show up on YouTube)

And if you happen to have some spare dosh lying around, and you want to be sure my supply doesn't run low, consider become a Patreon patron, or leaving a tip by Buying Me a Ko-Fi!

Also, if you're curious about how to write for tabletop RPGs, don't forget to check out my show Tabletop Mercenary, which you can find on both the Azukail Games channel, as well as my Rumble channel listed above!

Like, Follow, and Come Back Again!

That's all for this week's Business of Writing! For more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, or at My Amazon Author Page where you can find books like my sci-fi dystopian thriller Old Soldiers, the Hardboiled Cat series about a mystery solving Maine Coon in Marked Territory and Painted Cats, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife, or my most recent short story collection The Rejects!

 

And to stay on top of all my latest news and releases, collected once a week, make sure you subscribe to The Literary Mercenary's mailing list. 

4 Holiday Gifts For The Writer on Your List

The holidays are upon us, and if you have a writer on your list it can sometimes leave you scratching your head about what to get them. While the best present is buying copies of their books as gifts to other people, as well as leaving reviews online (incidentally, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife is still on Amazon, and my dystopian sci-fi thriller Old Soldiers was recently re-released), sometimes you want to get them something special, too.

Not only that, but you don't want it to be more of the usual. After all, most writers would be all too happy to get a pack of journals, a set of personalized ballpoint pens, or other sorts of presents, but that's the kind of thing they might expect... more importantly, it's the sort of thing other folks in their circles might think of.

So what should you get them? Well, I'm not an expert, but if you want a stocking stuffer, or just something they'll actually use down the line on one of their projects, consider some of the following items.

Practical and thoughtful, as well!

Before we get into it this week, don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron! To be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree!

Lastly, make sure you check out my Vocal archive for several hundred other articles about geek ephemera, weird history, writing, and more!

#1: Bluetooth Keyboard

This is #1 for a reason.

The image of the writer out and about with a laptop is iconic for a reason, but sometimes you don't want to bring your whole rig with you. Either you aren't sure if you're going to be working on something, or you know you aren't going to have a lot of space. But if you have a tablet or phone, and an Internet connection so you can reach your Google docs, then this is an ideal gadget to keep in your jacket pocket.

I have a model just like the Omoton foldable keyboard, and I was testing it recently at Friendsgiving while I was on an editing deadline. It took a bit of getting used to, but it allowed me to make some progress on my most recent TTRPG supplement guide without monopolizing an entire table to myself. One recommendation I might make, if you think someone is going to do more than just type up stories and documents using this keyboard is to go for a full mousepad version like the Geodmaer, which gives you that extra bit of functionality.

#2: A Rubber Ducky

Trust me, I'm going somewhere with this.

This entry might seem like a gag gift, but I'm very serious about this. If you're not familiar with The Rubber Ducky Method, it's something that was created by programmers. In short, you take a rubber ducky, and you walk them through every, single line of code until you've pinpointed the problem, treating them like an outside consultant. Writers can often benefit from the same process... and even if the writer on your list doesn't personally use it, everyone loves a themed rubber ducky!

If you happen to have a lot of writers and programmers on your list, you can even get a rubber duck variety pack, and choose which ones best fit your friends and family. As a final recommendation, consider giving the ducks names and personalities, then writing them on a small card to personalize them to a person's tastes that much more. It's fun, cute, and it's something they're likely to keep on their desk long after the holiday is over.

#3: Pen Holder

Kitschy? Absolutely. But well loved.

There are few weird little gifts that are better loved than a pen holder, in my experience. That is, of course, assuming the writer in your life uses pens, pencils, etc. But there are a variety of these out there, ranging from the typewriter pictured above, to the kneeling knight (my own customized squire that I gave a Warhammer 40K sheen to is Brother Pencival), to a revolver cylinder for those who want a weaponized feel for their accouterments. So you've got choices.

As an additional note, find out if the writer on your list goes to conventions, or regularly hosts book signings. These little accessories can be ideal for adding some details to your table, but if they're going to travel with this gift, make sure it's tough enough to handle a little jostling from time to time.

#4: Gamification of The Craft

Because sometimes work should feel like play.

Story prompts are things we're all intimately familiar with, whether we use them professionally or not. However, tools that turn writing into a game can be a good little exercise for the mind, especially if (as tends to happen) the writer on your list has writer friends that would show up to a game night for something like this.

The Storymatic is one such game, but for those who like things a little more freeform there are also things like Writing Dice which let you roll up a new prompt with a wave of your hand. A little on the lighthearted side, tastes will vary on this one as a gift.

Support The Literary Mercenary

For folks who just want to do their part to help keep me making more content, please subscribe/follow me in these locations:

- My Facebook

- My LinkTree

- My Weekly Newsletter

- The Azukail Games YouTube Channel (where I contribute video content)

- My Rumble Channel (longer videos that won't show up on YouTube)

And if you happen to have some spare dosh lying around, and you want to be sure my supply doesn't run low, consider become a Patreon patron, or leaving a tip by Buying Me a Ko-Fi!

Like, Follow, and Come Back Again!

That's all for this week's Craft of Writing! For more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, or at My Amazon Author Page where you can find books like my sci-fi dystopian thriller Old Soldiers, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife, or my most recent short story collection The Rejects!

 

And to stay on top of all my latest news and releases, collected once a week, make sure you subscribe to The Literary Mercenary's mailing list. 

If you'd like to help support my work, then consider Buying Me A Ko-Fi, or heading over to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page! Lastly, to keep up with my latest, follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now on Pinterest as well!

The Best Gift You Can Give An Author This Holiday Season

It's almost that time of year again. Even in the age of Covid-19 people want to reach out to their friends and loved ones, and let them know they're thinking of them during the holidays. And if you have an author on your gift list, you might be scratching your brain more than usual to find an appropriate gift for them to let them know they're in your heart even if travel restrictions and safety precautions mean you'll likely be limited to face timing.

I mean, what do you get for writers? A novelty pen holder shaped like a knight? A set of Moleskine notebooks for all their ideas on the go? A bottle of their favorite spirit of choice so they have something to crack open either when they land their next big contract, or when they need a shot of something when their current manuscript turns into a slog?

Is it coffee? Is that the secret?

Well, the thing about writers is that each of us are different and unique individuals with our own wants, needs, and tastes. However, I will guarantee you that if you really want to make the writer in your life feel special, there are two things you can give them for the holidays that will make them smile.

Reviews, and sales.

 

Also, if you haven't done so yet, sign up for The Literary Mercenary's newsletter! As a preemptive gift for me, and for you.

A Gift For Every Budget

I want to drop a little knowledge on you. Most folks who are regular readers around here have likely come across these facts before, but if you're new, this single image lays it all out for you.

You can probably see where this is going.

Every single notice on this digital cork board is a reason that the holidays can be an ideal time to really make an author's month. If you have a friend or family member that you know would enjoy one of their books, buy them a copy, wrap it, and put it under the tree. You can get them a hard copy or buy them an ebook, the author doesn't care because they get royalties either way. Heck, if you've got several friends that you know would enjoy a particular book, make it a holiday book club!

I can personally attest to that fact in the upper left hand corner. There have been some years that I've barely cracked that $10k mark, and only a fraction of that income came from my book sales. Every little bit really does help when that royalty check comes in.

Also, your regular reminder I have a new novel out!

If you don't have a budget to buy a whole bunch of books, though, then you can make a big difference to your author friends by reading their books, leaving reviews, and boosting their signal on social media.

I'm not kidding about this, either. At time of writing, Marked Territory just picked up its 11th review. My novel Crier's Knife rounded 21 reviews a few weeks back. My short story collection The Rejects has only managed to snatch 3 reviews since it came out a little less than a year ago (not surprising, short stories are a tough sell, but it is disappointing). There's only so much you can do on your own (especially in a pandemic with no in-person events you can attend), and authors need all the help they can get right now. So if you can give an author you like a leg up, that is a big deal! It might not feel like it, but it is.

If you're wondering why, it's because you are seen as an unbiased source to all the shoppers on the Internet. Of course we think our books are great; we wrote the damn things! But when you leave a review or share a post on Twitter or Facebook, people who see that see a person who is giving their honest opinion about a book. And if a few dozen of you all have the same high opinion of something, well, then the onlookers are going to have to check it out for themselves to see what the fuss is all about, aren't they?

Need Some Authors To Help Out This Holiday?

While I will never say no to more sales, ratings, and reviews, I did want to take a moment to boost the signal on some of my fellow authors and their books this week. We're almost into the time of thanks, and then the season of giving, so consider checking out some of the following!

- Geisha Hands by Lauren A. R. Masterson: Written and illustrated by the author, this historical fiction novel is definitely worth your time.

- The Hole Behind Midnight by Clinton Boomer: If you need your modern fantasy hit, and other authors just aren't packing the punch you need, Clinton has you covered. When you turn the final page, you'll with you didn't have to leave the bizarre world of the 25th hour!

- Bitter by Ruth de Jauregui: For those mystery lovers who like a side of grit, this is one you shouldn't let pass you by. Ruth's been working on the Bitter series and setting for some time, and this is enough to give you a bit of a taste.

Like, Follow, and Stay Tuned!

That's all for this week's Business of Writing! If you'd like to see more of my work, take a look at my Vocal archive, or at My Amazon Author Page where you can find books like my noir thriller Marked Territory, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife as well as my recent collection The Rejects!

If you'd like to help support my work, then consider Buying Me A Ko-Fi, or heading over to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page! Lastly, to keep up with my latest, follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now on Pinterest as well!