Why Do I Give Books Away? (Hint: It’s Not Just Because I Like You

Why Do I Give Books Away? (Hint: It’s Not Just Because I Like You—Though I Do!)

I have a confession. You may have noticed that I give books away. A lot. It’s not because I enjoy throwing my hard work into the literary void like a parade float tossing candy to a sugar-starved crowd (though that does sound fun). No, there’s a method to my madness. A sneaky, strategic, brilliant (if I do say so myself) plan behind the generosity.

But before we get to that, let’s talk about something I have waxed poetic about many times: Amazon reviews.

If you’ve followed me for a while, you know I treat book reviews like they’re a rare and precious mineral. You may have even caught me dramatically swooning over a five-star review. (Or whispering sweet nothings to my laptop screen when a particularly glowing review comes in. Don't judge.) The truth is, for indie authors like me, reviews aren’t just nice—they’re survival. They tell Amazon’s mysterious algorithm that my books are worth recommending to new readers. They help readers decide if my story about a ghostly sidekick and an enchanted Papillon dog is their kind of thing (spoiler alert: it totally is).

So, why do I give books away? Simple. Because I’m hoping you’ll read them, love them, and leave a review. That’s right—I’m bribing you with free stories in exchange for your kind and thoughtful words. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement, like those adorable symbiotic relationships in nature. I give you a book. You (hopefully) enjoy it. You (hopefully) tell the world. I do a little happy dance. Everyone wins!

But wait—there’s another reason.

You see, I write series. Which means that if you enjoy one book, there’s a highly likely chance you’ll want more. And if I can get you hooked on Book One, well… let’s just say I’m not above a little literary bait-and-switch. One free book leads to an entire bookshelf of my stories. Sneaky, right?

I like to think of it as the book equivalent of a bakery handing out free samples. You walk in, thinking, Oh, I’ll just try a tiny bite of that cinnamon roll. Next thing you know, you’re staggering out with three loaves of sourdough, a dozen cookies, and a cake you definitely don’t need but absolutely deserve.

That’s my dream scenario for my books. I give you a taste. You fall in love. You come back for more. And bam, you’ve got a new favorite series, and I’ve got a new devoted reader. Everybody’s happy.

So, the next time you see me giving away a book, know this: I’m not just being nice (though I do like you, really). I’m on a mission. A mission to bring more book love into the world, to rally support for indie authors, and—if we’re being completely honest—to lure you into my series like a literary Pied Piper.

And hey, if it works, let’s just agree not to call it manipulation. Let’s call it… strategic generosity.

Now, go read that free book and leave a review. You’ll make this indie author’s day.

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There comes a moment in life when frustration bubbles over, and the only logical response is… well, a good, solid, soul-cleansing swear word. I’m not talking about casual, everyday muttering under your breath. No, I mean that moment when nothing else will do. The kind of moment where dropping your toast butter-side down feels like an act of war, where technology conspires against you, or when you stub your toe so hard you briefly see your ancestors. Now, I was raised in a house where we had a rule: Use your words, not you hands. This was my dad’s way of preventing sibling-induced concussions, and frankly, it worked. We weren’t an inherently violent bunch, but three kids in one tiny household meant tempers flared, and so did elbows. The logic was simple—if you had time to yell, maybe you’d have time to think twice before swinging. Or at least give your victim a solid head start. This philosophy stayed with me, though in adulthood, I’ve adapted it to use a well-placed expletive now a...

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