I work part time at an indie kids bookstore, and it's the best job I've ever had! Preordering books is a HUGE way to show support for forthcoming releases, especially if it's a newly emerging author. Preorders show the publisher that there are eager readers excited and waiting for the book. A FREE way to do this is requesting that your local library buy the books that you're interested in. Then, you get to read it without spending your limited funds, AND members of your community can too!