'Tis the season after all, anytime

Whatever holidays you do or don't celebrate, in most books, including mine, 'tis the season of giving. But we can all give year 'round, especially when it's this easy. Here's a list of FREE gifts you can give your favorite authors any time of the year:

1. Add their books to your want-to-read list on Goodreads ( if you want, you can sign in with your Facebook account rather than setting up a Goodreads account); share this with Facebook by checking the box. You can also follow the author by clicking on her/his name to go to to the author page and signing up. You get fun announcements this way about Q&A sessions and other perks.

2. When you read an author's book, rate it on Goodreads and

3. Review the book on Amazon. It only takes a minute and helps a ton. You can write a review if you've ever bought anything on Amazon, not just a book, you can use a pen name, and it only has to be 20 words long. Easy! Reviews help more people find the books they want to read. If you are on Goodreads, you can put the same review there, too, for other readers to find.

4. Follow their blogs. Like them.

5. Vote for their books on Goodreads Listopia. Anyone can add any books to any list.

6. Share this post, or any post by your favorite authors announcing the release of new books, with your networks. Your friends will thank you for the great reading ideas.

These are the gifts that keep on giving and give you a gift in return--happy authors who will write more books for you to read. And a great new year to you and yours!

the gift that keeps on giving, Wikimedia Commons IMGstocks