One of the things I never fully appreciated until I wrote a book was just how much happens before anyone ever reads the first page.
People see the finished product sitting on a bookshelf or arriving through the post. They rarely see everything that came before it.
There are editors, proofreaders, cover designers and illustrators. There are advance reader copies to print and post. There are complimentary copies for reviewers, podcasts and event organisers. There are award submissions, advertising campaigns, websites, launch events and countless hours spent speaking about the ideas behind the book.
It’s an investment of time, energy and, yes, money.
The interesting thing is that very few authors write books because they’re financially lucrative.
A Kindle Unlimited read-through might generate around 40p.
A paperback sale might earn an author only a couple of pounds in royalties.
An Apple Music audiobook is less than 20p.
Books aren’t where most authors make their living.
They write because they believe the ideas are worth putting into the world.
That’s why something as simple as a recommendation can have a disproportionate impact.
If you’ve read a book that genuinely changed your thinking, don’t underestimate the value of:
📚 leaving a review,
📚 recommending it to a colleague,
📚 sharing a photo or a post,
📚 buying a copy as a gift.
Those small actions often do far more for an author than people realise.
I’m incredibly proud that Constellation has become a finalist in the Business Book Awards, and even more proud of the conversations it has started about how leadership can work differently in a connected world.
If you’ve already read it, thank you.
Every review, recommendation and conversation has helped it reach people I could never have reached on my own.
And if it’s still on your reading list, perhaps now’s a good time. It might even make a worthwhile gift for someone who’s rethinking what leadership should look like.
Sometimes, the biggest contribution you can make to an idea is helping it reach someone else.
…and I – and every other author – genuinely appreciate it.
Thank you.
