Featured Author: Kimberly @ BooksUplift!

The “What” and the “Why” of Books Uplift

What is Books Uplift? To be succinct and a little sassy, it’s precisely what’s written on the website: “A place to share, learn, promote, and celebrate how books uplift us every day.”

Perhaps a bit trite, but trust me, this is a serious endeavor —a passion project dedicated to encouraging the positive promotion and celebration of everything related to books. And much more. 

I’m continuously asked why I started Books Uplift. After all, I’m not profiting from this venture, and it requires a considerable amount of time. I invest numerous hours each week writing blogs, reading, and reviewing books, interviewing guests for spotlights, and creating positive, upbeat, and hopefully educational articles. Not to mention the research, planning, organization, and soliciting of expert insights to keep Books Uplift fresh. I’m thrilled when asked, “Why?” because it has grabbed someone’s attention. Thankfully, this is a frequent occurrence. 

To drill down further, here are a few reasons I decided to make Books Uplift a positive, not-for-profit community.

Learning. For me, writing things down and slowing my thought process improves my learning and retention. I can’t tell you how many notebooks I’ve filled over the years, rewriting portions of texts, books, and other content-laden documents so I could absorb information. I never knew why I’d developed this habit until later in life when I was diagnosed with dyslexia. It also helped my retention process to review books as I did with the School Library Journal for over ten years. This joyful endeavor has formed a fun habit that I continue to this day. Then, one of my friends, a published author, recommended that I compile all these notes, reviews, and articles and share them with the world. “Start a book blog,” she suggested. So, I did. That’s how Books Uplift was born. 

Positivity. The majority of what you find online is negative. It’s a seemingly safe place to disparage others, and unfortunately, it provides a false sense of courage or power. Tired of seeing all the negative commentary, I wanted to build a community of positivity around something we all love — books! Books unite the masses and are the foundation for creative dialogue. And the people behind them — authors, publishers, publicists, editors, bookstores, artists — well, wow! They put their life into these little gems. No easy feat, trust me.

So, when a book is published, it deserves praise, not punishment. Though not every book is for everyone, and yes, fair and honest reviews are critical for the marketplace, they are also for the growth and development of an author’s craft. Everything that goes into a book’s creation deserves applause. No negative reviews here. Like my momma always said, “If you can’t find something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” 

Charity. Several years ago, I experimented with ads and site affiliations. It didn’t feel right. I’m always annoyed by the pop-up ads on websites, which pull me away from the content and make it difficult for me to concentrate on what I’m reading. Now, let me be clear, I don’t have a problem with this strategy per se, but it detracted from the values behind Books Uplift. Then a light bulb went off, and I decided to make Books Uplift a charitable platform. I removed all income streams and encouraged affiliates and others wanting to support Books Uplift to donate to some of the fantastic charities that are doing great things with books. The response has been amazing, and the charity partners are very grateful for the support. Of course, I had to add a column for Readers Rescues to spotlight the wonderful people who’ve adopted pets and given them a forever home.

Connecting. I’ve always been a natural connector. I love meeting new people, making introductions, and building groups and communities — ask anyone who knows me ☺ . So, the Books Uplift Community is a wonderful place for connecting with others who love books and believe in their positive impact on the world. I’ve been exploring ways to make it more interactive, and I welcome any suggestions. For now, I encourage comments on articles, blogs, and contributions, as well as joining the Books Uplift community on Facebook.  https://www.facebook.com/KBMKC22

Love. My passion for books is longstanding. I love reading them and writing them. And Books Uplift is truly a labor of love. It’s my outlet for sharing what I’ve discovered in the books I review. From how to craft a better story to running a business or improving one’s health. Whether fiction or non-fiction, each book I review teaches me something.

It’s also an excellent way to share the work of all those in this community with the world. I don’t ask for anything in return, but I do appreciate patience and support. With that being said, I hope more people will support the community by getting involved, giving to the charities spotlighted, visiting the bookstores, and offering positive comments on the blogs, articles, interviews, and reviews.

Of course, I love receiving positive and supportive feedback in my email — Thank you. However, we would all truly appreciate your positive commentary when you are moved to do so. Please share on social media all the posts, articles, charities, spotlights, or interviews that capture your interest, inspire action, or touch your heart. 

Kimberly is a published author, writer, and host of Books Uplift www.BooksUplift.com. When not creating fiction, she writes articles focused on publishing, pets, and personal success.