As blogging as waned (though I’m still at it), author newsletters have surged in popularity. They’re straight-from-the-author messages that show up in your inbox — no need to visit a website or click over from social media. Newsletters give authors direct access to readers who have signed up to hear from them, in other words, an audience likely to regularly listen in.
Here are five newsletters I look forward to receiving and think you might enjoy, too:
young adult author, Erin Bowman
I adored Erin’s Vengeance Road. Her newsletter shares where she is in her work, information about marketing and publication, books she’s reading with her children, and valuable writing links. Here’s a great sample: Why You’re Always Hearing “Don’t Quit Your Day Job”. Sign up for Erin’s newsletter here.
young adult author, Susan Dennard
I’ve never read one of Susan’s books, but I still find her newsletter fascinating. Susan is a master when it comes to craft and story and marketing. She’s taught me so much. Here’s an example: Understanding Story Beats. Sign up for Susan’s newsletter here.
adult author, Valerie Geary
If you’ve read here any length of time, you’ve heard about Val before. She’s a critique partner I met via blogging back in 2009, an online buddy who has become a dear friend. Val’s a font of wisdom and encouragement. I’m so glad she’s sharing her words more broadly in her author newsletter, where she also recommends her latest reads. Here’s a favorite: Ideas are garbage! Sign up for Valerie’s newsletter here.
picture book author, Laura Purdie Salas
Laura is super generous in sharing her experiences with other writers. She publishes a regular newsletter called A Writer Can Be… and this year has also started a Patreon. Each week Laura shares a post for subscribers (this week it was about handling a disappointing royalty statement), an audio overview of her week, and videos about her process with her latest book. Here’s an article she shared in her newsletter and her blog that I especially appreciated: How Much Money Does a Children’s Writer Make? Sign up for Laura’s newsletter here.
picture book and middle-grade author, Caroline Starr Rose
Okay, maybe this one is cheating a little. I don’t really subscribe, but I know this newsletter best of all. In this quarterly-ish publication, I share what’s new with my work and what I’m currently reading. If you want all the details on my very latest news (like the book cover I’m waiting waiting waiting for on pins and needles), this is where you’ll find it (and where you’ll see that cover first!). Subscribe if you’d like to be included in giveaways or are interested in being a part of future launch teams. Here’s a sample newsletter: Book News x 2! Sign up for my newsletter here.
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