Field Trip!
Hello, Smut Fam!
I am so excited to share with you what I have in store for this week. If you subscribe to my newsletter, you already got the heads up as to my April plans. I've spent the last few weeks preparing, and I'm excited to announce that this is the week I'll be putting those plans into place!
This week, I'll be traveling around Orange County to release copies of my debut novel, FOUND, into the wild. I first heard of this concept while doing research on how to gather book reviews as a new, indie author. As someone who frequents the library weekly and regularly contributes to the shelves of my local Little Free Libraries, I was intrigued.
I did some reading and learned of BookCrossing. Through this platform, I am able to create a unique ID for each book I release, add notes about my book's location, and (most excitingly!) track the location of the book as it travels from reader to reader.
I've prepared a large box of books to release into the wild this week! Each of my books is marked with a QR code and unique book ID information. The reader who captures each book will then be able to view the BookCrossing profile for the book and write a note, if they desire. And anyone who would like to follow along can click here to view the current location of books that have been found (hehe - pun intended).
In February while I was on a cruise to Mexico, I brought along two copies of FOUND with me to release into the wild at the ship's library. One had already gone missing from the bookshelves by the time we debarked. Congratulations to the lucky reader who captured this copy! The second copy was still there on debarkation day. If you are planning a cruise on the Carnival Panorama, be sure to keep a look out for my book on the ship's library shelves!
Last month, a friend of mine released a copy of FOUND at the SAMLARC Beach Club in Rancho Santa Margarita. As of March 29, the copy had been claimed! Congratulations to this reader!
Of the three books I've released thus far, it appears that two have been claimed! If you do capture a BookCrossing book, I encourage you to update the location and any notes on its capture. I look forward to seeing the profile for each of my released books updating soon! I'm so excited to see where my books travel to and to hear the thoughts and feedback from the readers who devour them.
For this week, I've taken to Google Maps and created a route around Orange County with over a dozen stops at various public places. At each of these locations, I will be leaving an author-signed copy of my debut novel, FOUND, for a lucky reader to capture! I've also tucked a custom bookmark and tree emblem sticker inside the cover. My greatest hope is that the readers who capture my book will find joy, entertainment, and, of course, pleasure in this story I've created. I hope to see the notes for each location updated at BookCrossing soon! And it would be wonderful if more reviews populate in the coming weeks and months.
Reviews mean a lot to me! Along with the QR code and book ID info, I've left a note inside the cover of each book kindly asking each reader to leave a review. Many readers won't give an indie book a chance, and especially not one without reviews. I am deeply grateful to each and every person who picks my book up and takes the time to read and review it. My appreciation for you and your support cannot be overstated! Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!
Good luck to my Smut Fam locals! I hope you snag a copy of FOUND for yourself! And, even if you aren't local, don't despair! One of the greatest things about BookCrossing is the global database of books. It's an amazing resource! You can search for books that are in the wild near your location by searching in the Go Hunting tab. (Note: I am in no way affiliated with BookCrossing - I'm just a passionate user!)
I encourage you to check my bookshelf regularly to see if anyone who has captured my book has since released it in a new location. Releasing books while on vacation, road trips, or traveling to meet family is a great way to share the love!
Be sure to follow me on Instagram, where I'll post in my stories to share the location of each book I release into the wild. This is going to be a very busy week. Can't wait for my field trip!
Until next time, happy reading (and book hunting)!
xxx Ellie