This is such a friendly industry. ♥

I have really been enjoying connecting with real-live authors! 

Here are some great and easy ways:

1. Check out blogs that frequently host authors and agent guest posts! 

• Many times, if you comment, you might get responses from these super cool people, and even win 30-min ask me anything sessions, or critiques, or signed copies of their books. Here are a few of my favorites!
  • https://taralazar.com/
  • https://susannahill.com/blog/
  • https://www.12x12challenge.com/blog/

2. Socials

• Post reviews of their books on your socials, tag the author, illustrator, and publisher if possible.
• Follow your favs--sometimes they post ways to connect with or support them
• Enter contests they post--that's how I won and connected with author Katie Lee Reinert! (P)

3. Subscribe to Author Newsletters

• Everything is connected! 

4. Join 12x12

• Lots of published authors are members of this amazing community, and if you join, you will be too! You can help them out and connect by 
  • Reviewing their books on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes and Noble  (even if not part of 12x12 do this!)  
  • Requesting their books be added to your local library system (also do this anyway! Then let them know on a blog post or social)
  • Critiquing any manuscripts they might post for review ( 🤯 )
  • Getting critiqued my them
  • Messaging and sending encouragement and good vibes
  • etc.

Stay connected, be connected. It's a community! Participate as much as makes sense to you and keeps you inspired and happy.

-Dana Dillaman