Donating curso de milagros as raffle prizes can also be effective. For example, if your book is donated for a church bazaar’s raffle, everyone who buys a raffle ticket may see it listed as one of the prizes. That could be hundreds of people who see your book title, and while only one person might win the donated book, several others might decide to purchase the book for themselves.
Benefit dinners are another great place to donate books. Communities are always hosting spaghetti dinners and other events to raise money for people who have cancer, leukemia, or other health conditions that result in large medical bills. Donating a book to help with a raffle or auction at one of these events will not only help you get public attention, but it may help raise money that could save a life.
- Promoting Literacy. As authors, we love to read. But can you imagine not being able to read, or not having books to read? Illiteracy is a major problem from which poverty, prejudice, and many other social ills stem simply because people cannot read, and therefore, cannot be informed or educated. Multiple ways exist for authors to help with literacy.
Visit schools and talk to children about the importance of reading or make an author visit and read your children’s book to them to get them excited about reading. Volunteer your time to help students by tutoring or helping them with a workshop. Tell children about your own experiences as a writer. Get them excited about the world that will open up to them once they are able to read. Explain to them how reading and writing are important for almost every job out there today.
Don’t forget adult-education programs where you may find more people interested in your book. If your topic interests them, your book could be a stepping-stone for them in learning to read.
I know of one author who got a grant to offer a workshop where she’ll help at-risk teens write and publish their own books. She’s found editors and book printers who have agreed to donate time or print books at cost to help these students publish their books, which will give them the confidence that if they can write a book, they can achieve anything they want in life.
- Donate a Dollar for Every Book Sold. Many authors have donated a dollar for every book sold to a charity or cause that is important to them. This situation is especially true with non-fiction books. A book about Alzheimer’s might result in a dollar per book sold going to the Alzheimer’s Association of America. A children’s book author might donate a dollar per book to causes that promote literacy. A wildlife book might result in one dollar for every book sold going to the American Humane Society. Beyond sharing their profits, authors are likely to sell more books, the volume of sales thereby making up for the loss of profit per book. Furthermore, you can speak at conventions for these causes or sign books at conferences. People are more willing to part with their money when they feel it will go to a good cause and they’ll getting something for it, like a good book.
