Publications
Partners
Your local library is your best friend.
If you’re looking for a book and can’t afford it, ask your local librarian to try and get the book in stock. According to a former book seller I was recently chatting to, libraries are supposed to get books at a discounted price (librarians – you need to be taking advantage of this), so ask and chances are you’ll receive.
Second-hand bookstores have a treasure trove of undiscovered reads at your disposal.
Not only that, but they’re cheaper by the dime. Unfortunately, there is a downside to this as it often means that authors aren’t afforded any royalties from sales that are made. If you want to support the author, my advice would be to buy the book at the full price when you’re able to – especially if it’s a book you really, really want – or wait for it to go on sale.
There’ll always be book sales
I tend to prefer the online ones because it means I avoid a stampede of people, but many bookstores have sales on a regular basis. All you need to do is sign up for their newsletters to keep up to date with any news regarding pending sales.
Search online and compare prices
Without a doubt one of the most important things you should be doing, is doing a comparison search of book prices between different retailers. There are a good number of them that offer books at a discounted price; don’t just settle for the first site you visit because it promises quicker delivery. Sometimes waiting longer for a book that’s cheaper is the better bet.
Join online book clubs, follower publishers on social media and keep up to date with newsletters
Want to get your hands on the latest and greatest books without having to pay for them? Publishers on social media, online book clubs (like us – yes, I’m being cheeky and self-promoting here) often host giveaways and give readers a chance to participate in epic competitions. Are you following them on Twitter? Liking them on Facebook?
Check out Jonathan Ball publishers, Pan Macmillan SA and Penguin Random House (or Random Penguins as I like to call them), to mention but a few.
Also, online retailers also do a lot of giveaways, so make sure you’re up to date and following them too.
Start a book blog
If you’re really, really passionate about books the way we at Women24 are, then the best way for you to get books is to start a blog where you review books. Publishers are often willing to send books to people who are willing to read and review them, but take note, they only send to people who are genuinely invested in keeping their blog updated.
My advice to you if you’re starting out? Write reviews of books you’ve previously read. Establish your content first and then reach out to publishers.
Follow Tammy on Twitter
Follow Women24 on Twitter and like us on Facebook.
