I didn’t expect this to happen in Frankfurt.
One book link, Every store Booklinker.com
10/12/2026
Hello Reader
I’m writing this from Frankfurt, Germany, where my colleague Lee and I are attending the Frankfurt Book Fair. It’s the world’s largest book fair, bringing together publishers, authors, and other publishing professionals from around the globe, before opening its doors to thousands of readers.
It’s been an incredible experience, and I want to share a couple of things that have really stood out to me.
First, sometimes the most important thing you can do is simply show up.
We came to Frankfurt with a plan and goals for what we wanted to accomplish. But some of our most valuable conversations happened during the gaps in our schedule, with people we hadn’t planned to meet.
What made those conversations valuable wasn’t a carefully rehearsed pitch. It was being curious, asking questions, listening, and being open to possibilities we hadn’t considered.
It reminded me that having a plan is important, but so is having the right mindset. Most people genuinely want to see others succeed and are willing to help when they can. Sometimes that help comes in ways you never expected.
I think there’s a lesson here for us as authors. Whether you’re attending a conference, participating in an online author group, or connecting with other writers, don’t be so focused on what you hope to get out of it that you miss other opportunities right in front of you.
The second thing that struck me was the readers.
The Frankfurt Book Fair starts as an industry event, but once the doors open to the public, the atmosphere changes. Readers were excited and eager to connect with books, authors, and other people who love reading.
It was a wonderful reminder that readers aren’t just looking for their next book. They want to feel connected to the authors and stories they love. They’re willing to spend their time, money, and energy to be part of that experience.
As authors, we spend so much time thinking about how to get readers to buy our books. But how much time do we spend making them feel like they’re part of our author community?
Your newsletter, social media, and in-person events are all opportunities to build those relationships. Give readers a glimpse behind the scenes, ask for their opinions, share your writing journey, and make them feel included.
Building an author career isn’t just about selling books. It’s also about building relationships with others in the industry and with the readers who make it all possible.
What is one thing you could do to make your readers feel more connected to you and your books? Let me know.
Happy Marketing!
~Kerrie
Kerrie Flanagan
Content & Community Manager
Booklinker
Become a Founding Author of Bookish Circle!
I want to share something new from my friend Hayley Rae Johnson. She’s a talented author and the creator of Bookish Circle, a platform designed to make life a little easier for indie authors.
As authors, we have a lot to juggle: writing books, marketing, newsletters, direct sales, connecting with readers…the list goes on.
How many different platforms are you paying for to do all of this?
Hayley’s goal with Bookish Circle is to bring many of those pieces together in one place. You can:
- Sell books directly to readers
- Build and send your author newsletter
- Share book updates and events
- Connect with readers and grow your community
- Help new readers discover your books
By combining several services into one platform, you could save money AND time. And we all know how valuable our writing time is!
Hayley is opening a limited number of Founding Author spots, giving authors the chance to get involved early and help shape the platform.
Your first month is free. After that, it’s $29.95/month or $288/year, with that price locked in for life.
Founding Authors also get direct access to Hayley to share feedback and suggest features, plus early access to new tools.
If you’re looking to simplify your author business and possibly cut down on monthly expenses, I encourage you to take a look.
Learn more and become a Founding Author
Have you seen it?
Our amazing engineer Matthew has updated the Booklinker website! Not only do the new colors and design look great, but the updated reporting on Collection Pages is top-notch.
Quick tip for Book Marketing Lab members
Before the holiday rush, take five minutes to look at your book’s categories. With the holiday shopping season approaching, the categories you picked at launch may no longer be the best fit for your book. A more specific category can also be easier to rank in, which helps your book show up where holiday shoppers are already looking.
Your Author Marketing Course can help. Go to Lesson 10, Choosing Effective Categories, for a step-by-step way to check whether your current categories are working and how to find better ones. If you want to go a step further, Lesson 11, Researching Keywords, pairs well with it.
Go to the Author Marketing Course
Not a Book Marketing Lab member yet? You’ll get the complete Author Marketing Course, a personalized Road Map to the lessons that fit your goals, our webinar replay library and The Community Lab. Choose the $9/month membership or a one-time $47 Lifetime Membership.
Learn more about The Book Marketing Lab
Industry News & Articles ✍🏽
🌟 How to Get Book Reviews in 2026
As an author, securing book reviews is a top priority, even before your official launch. But how can you persuade those first few people to read and review your book? And how can you keep up momentum over time? In this article, Ricardo Fayet shares the 5 most effective ways to obtain reviews as a self-published author.
🌟 Publishing’s AI Reckoning
Four years after the release of ChatGPT to the public, publishing is still coming to terms with the impact of AI. Today, the technology is mostly improving life in the back office, where publishers have built tools to automate everyday tasks, including developing metadata, producing royalty statements, proofreading, and providing customer service. In its 2025 Salary and Jobs Report, PW reported that 63% of industry professionals surveyed said their organizations were using AI. A forthcoming report on AI use by the Book Industry Study Group and BookNet Canada landed on the exact same figure. This article from Publisher’s Weekly explores the industry’s hottest topic.
🌟 PublisHer Excellence Awards Nominations
PublisHer is accepting nominations for its Excellence Awards, recognizing women making a difference in publishing. The awards celebrate professional achievement, diversity, inclusion, and professional development.
Conferences Booklinker Will Be Attending
- Author Nation in Las Vegas November 10-13, 2026
- Superstars Writing Seminars in Colorado Springs February 4-7, 2027
Will I see you at Author Nation or Superstars? Let me know!
Help Improve Booklinker
Do you have an idea for a new feature or how we can improve on what we already have? We want to know your thoughts about Booklinker updates.
We have created a place where you can leave us feedback about the Booklinker website, your dashboard, link features, and how the program works.
Share your suggestions and vote on what matters to you most.
About Booklinker
Booklinker is a free service that helps authors save time and sell more books with a single, localized link for readers around the world.
Booklinker is owned by Georiot Networks and powered by its flagship service, Geniuslink. In 2022, Apple Books began supporting Booklinker, helping it become a fully multi-retailer tool. Booklinker remains free for authors through the generous support of Apple Books and partnerships with other retailers.
