The world is currently a very stressful place with the COVID-19 pandemic. In the United States, and elsewhere, we are being asked to self-isolate which means hunkering down at home. For introverts, which many romance readers are, finding an activity to pass the time while being at home is not difficult. Romance readers will be reading romance, attacking their To Be Read piles with a vengeance.
But small brick-and-mortar businesses and people whose livelihoods depend on in-person interaction are already, and will continue to be, greatly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Brick-and-mortar businesses, such as your local bookstore, rely on foot traffic and in-person purchases. No customers means no sales. Many people forced to stay home cannot work remotely and will lose income. No income means no book purchases.
How can romance come to the rescue?
Support Your Local Bookstore
Buy your paperback romance books remotely! Many brick-and-mortar bookstores have an online presence. For example, The Ripped Bodice, a romance-only bookstore in Culver City, California, has an online presence. They even carry most of my paperbacks!
How can you order a paperback from a bookstore? By supplying them with the ISBN (International Standard Book Number; a 13-digit number which specifies the title and format) for the paperback (or hardback or large print edition) you want to order. You can call your local bookstore, perhaps email them, or possibly order a book directly from their website. You’ll need the title and ISBN to make your order.
Want to order any of my paperbacks? Here are all the titles and ISBNs of what I currently have in paperback form:
The Pleasure Device (Harwell Heirs Book 1): 978-0-9910166-3-1
Disobedience by Design (Harwell Heirs Book 2): 978-0-9910166-5-5
Where Destiny Plays (Harwell Heirs Book 3): 978-0-9910166-7-9
The Westerman Affair (Art & Discipline Book 1): 978-0-9910166-9-3
The General’s Wife: An American Revolutionary Tale (American Revolutionary Tales Book 1): 978-0-9910166-0-0
Hadrian and Sabina: A Love Story: 978-0-9978893-1-4
Resistance: A Common Elements Romance: 978-0-9978893-2-1
Yes, you can purchase my paperbacks online at Amazon or even Barnes & Noble, but if you want to help out a local business in your community in this economically uncertain time, buy from them instead.
Read for Free: Check Out Your Local Library
Want to read my books for free? Request them from your local public library!
Let me clarify: I mean ebooks. Many public libraries are closing to encourage social distancing and self-isolation. But public libraries don’t just have books inside, they have ebooks in the ether!
Digital services offered by libraries to their patrons include ebooks, e-audiobooks, streaming movies, music services, plus access to magazines and newspapers. You can access lots of romance books and movies with just your library card!
I have made all my ebooks available to libraries via several library ebook suppliers: Overdrive, Baker & Taylor, Biblioteca, Hoopla, Gardners, and Odilo. You might have to request your library purchase one of my ebooks first, though. Please do!
Check the Top of My Homepage for COVID Sales
I mean it. Really. For example, Eden Books is having a 10% off sale until March 31st with the checkout promo code COVID19SUCKS
I’ll post any other sales at the top of my homepage. Or follow me on social media, as I usually post sales there as well.
UPDATE: MORE SALES!
I’m having some special sales for The Pleasure Device (Harwell Heirs Book 1)!
Kobo: 99¢ (+ the international equivalent)
Google Play: 99¢ (+ the international equivalent)
Smashwords: Free!
Eden Books: 10% off with promo code at checkout: COVID19SUCKS
Most Important: Take Care
Of yourself, of your loved ones, of your community. We’ll get through this and we’ll get through it together.