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.

DIY Audiobook. A bit of equipment, good advice and lots of patience

I want to create an Audiobook - should I? Ever since the release of book one in the "Cannabis Preacher" series of thrillers, that question has been on my mind. The "Cannabis Preacher" books were quite long. To produce an audiobook from each of the four, including voice actors and audio production with a turn key service, I was looking at around $15,000 per book. Financially, that was a non-starter for me at the time. That amount represented a LOT of books and audiobooks to sell to recover the investment, and I shelved my plan again. With the popularity of the "Magical Papillon" cozy mystery series, I found myself coming back to the growing popularity of audiobooks. I knew that audiobooks could reach a wider audience and catered to busy readers who prefer listening while multitasking. The idea of bringing my characters to life through narration excited me, as it offered a new dimension to my storytelling. The cozy mysteries were only 60-65,000...

Writers, Don’t Be a Slave to Word Count: Let the Story Speak for Itself

As writers, we’ve all asked ourselves that nagging question: “Is my book long enough? Too short? How long should it be?” It’s easy to get caught up in the numbers, obsessing over whether our work fits neatly into arbitrary word count guidelines. But here’s the truth: Word count should never dictate the quality of your story. The heart of storytelling lies in the narrative itself, not in how many pages it spans. The Pressure of Word Count From NaNoWriMo goals to publishing industry standards, writers face constant reminders about “acceptable” word counts. A novel must be 80,000-100,000 words. A novella shouldn’t exceed 40,000. Short stories have their own limits. These guidelines are helpful, but they can also be stifling. We begin to pad scenes unnecessarily or trim meaningful moments just to conform to these benchmarks. I’ve been there. I’ve wrestled with my manuscript, forcing it to stretch or condense to meet expectations. And you know what happened? The authenticity of the...

The Glamorous Life of a Writer (Or, Mostly Just Staring at a Screen)

There’s a persistent rumor floating around that writers live thrilling, adventure-filled lives. Perhaps it’s all the dramatic author portraits on book jackets—moody, windswept, staring off into the distance as if contemplating the fate of the world. Perhaps it’s the movies, where writers are always dashing off to Paris to write the next great novel in a charming café (suspiciously never interrupted by spotty Wi-Fi or overpriced croissants). I hate to break it to you, but real writing? Not quite so cinematic. In reality, my writing days mostly involve staring intensely at my screen, willing the words to appear through sheer force of will. Occasionally, I engage in deep philosophical debates with myself—such as whether my protagonist should turn left or right down a hallway (the fate of the fictional world depends on it). And let’s not forget the highly intellectual process of naming characters, which can take hours because somehow every single name I think of is either the name of ...

Thinkingdog Publishing

Search This Blog