Mini-Muse Monday-Do Free Books Hurt Authors?
Be sure to enter my WAGERS GONE AWRY #giveaway HERE
I try to read a few blogs each week on the latest publishing and author tattle. A reoccurring theme is authors’ shooting themselves in the foot with either under-priced or free ebooks.
I’ll admit to selling my novellas for 99¢ and having sales that either reduce the price of my books to 99¢ or free for a short period of time. Heck, I have HEARTBREAK AND HONOR available for free through Valentine’s Day.
It’s a Scottish Valetine story, so why not?
At least it will be free when Amazon decides to price match. I have it free on all other vendors, but Amazon insists on proof and then readers requesting a price match.
Anyway, I digress.
They have a valid point.
Personally, I like the idea of occasionally offering reduced price or free books to reward my faithful readers and to entice new ones to take a chance on me. However, there is a growing trend that disturbs me, and that is the expectation that all books should either be available for free, via lending programs, or priced ridiculously low.
I have a very good author friend whose books consistently are bestsellers, and yet, she told me just a few days ago, even her loyal readers complain 99¢ is too much to pay.
Seriously?
I could go into the time and cost of publishing a well-written, finely crafted book, but that’s not what this blog is about. HEART OF A HIGHLANDER has my lowest review rating average because readers have complained it’s too short. The cover says novelette and the description says short story, and yet, readers get ticked because they aren’t getting several hours of reading for under a dollar.
By-the-way, as many of you know, I used to be a teacher, and picture books and short stories for children are more expensive than full length romance novels.
A KISS FOR MISS KINGLSEY got a raving review from a reader, yet she gave it 3 stars because the book was too short. It says novella right on the cover, and the reader didn’t pay for the book. I had it up for free.
You can’t even buy books at a used book store for under a dollar most of the time, nor can you rent a movie for under a buck either. And how long does a mocha or latte last which usually dings the drinker $3-$4?
I think putting a book on sale, just like any other retailer does with their product, is smart marketing, but if readers begin to think they are entitled to read every book for little or nothing, we have entered the entitlement zone again.
There are places readers can do that. They are called libraries. I’m talking legitimate libraries, not the on-line pirating dens.
What do you think?
Do you snatch all free and 99¢ books that grab your interest, even if you might never read it?
How much are you willing to pay for your favorite authors’ books? Does length make a difference?
HEART OF A HIGHLANDER
My Scottish Valentine Story is FREE!
For a limited time
AMAZON Or at least it will be in a few days!
If it is free and looks interesting I one click. I might read it and I might not. Yes Length makes a huge difference I am not going to pay 99cents for a 100 pages of reading. For ebooks I like to pay 4.99 at the most. For favorite authors I am willing to pay 8 an ebook and 25 plus for a hardcover. My mom reads a lot of freebies and then ends up buying the other books or using unlimited to get they others.
I’ve grabbed some books for free or very low cost and when I didn’t care for the story, writing, etc. I didn’t feel badly about setting the book aside. I’ve also found some fabulous authors the same way.
i find so many new authors by reading free or $.99 books. Quite often, after reading a book, I purchase many others by that author especially if it’s an entire series.
Exactly. 99¢ is so little that it’s worth the risk to try a new author.
First I want to say I enjoy reading your books & I want to say thank you for your hard work. Second I will say that I agree with you….. I am new to this ebook game. I only started reading them because I “won” an ebook in a giveaway!… I have told friends that you authors are smart cookies! You give away the 1st in a series…then we are hooked on the stories and want to read more and have to purchase the other books in the series…. Tada!…. Great marketing! The concept of complaining because I was given something has never occurred to me….lol… It was a gift…you do not complain …good manners and all…lol. You know the old saying you should not ” look a gift horse in the mouth or beggers can’t be choosers” etc etc . You should accept the gift/prize and be gracious. If you think about it retail you pay at least $8.00 for a paperback book so the price of an ebook for $3.00 or $4.00 is not bad…. Then you reduce the price to .99 cents…. I am happy and snatch it up….
Again I thank you & hope I was not to long winded….. (I am off my soap box)
I’ve read a lot of great books from authors I admire for 99¢ but I also pay full price sometimes. And occasionally I’ll even grab a book for free if it’s an author I’d like to try.
Free books from a new-to-me author has enticed me to pay full price for other books by said author.
denise
I actually look down on cheap books. I am of the belief that you get what you pay for. I purchase some free books, and, of course, some $.99 books, usually, not always, that is exactly what they’re worth. Not very good. Having said that, after a year or so it’s time to lower the price, and I have done that with my books. $.99 & $1.99. As far as what I will pay for a great book, or author, just yesterday I paid $12.99 for a Kindle book. My goal is not to cheapen my work, but to raise them to the quality of commanding a higher price.
Exactly, Denise!
Belle. I just taught a workshop on author branding and one of the components was added value. Well-known authors can charge more for their books and get the price. It’s harder for newer authors but it can be done. The product has to be worth it, and that’s why we must strive to put out the very best books we can.
I do get free books and 99 boxed sets. I am on Social Security so I have to be careful with my book money. I will buy some authors no matter the cost (JD Robb, Lynn Red, and a few others) and some boxed sets (for charity) depending on the number of books and cost. I wish I could buy $3.99 to $5.99 books but I read fast and I would have fewer books to read. I do give a passing thought about the author and how much money that they get, I especially dislike an author when a book looks interesting and it is $2.99 and 80 pages (for example).
I don’t have money to spend for books right now, so I can only buy free or with the occasional Amazon Gift Card that I have won. That means being very picky and keeping the cost around $1.99 or less. I only purchase ebooks and don’t agree with spending the same amount as I would for a paperback. I will try to buy books from authors I like when I can. I don’t get upset when the stories are short. We are forewarned. In my reviews, I might mention that I wish it had been longer, if I had enjoyed it, but that’s a good thing, not a complaint. I wish I could spend more on books. I know you authors work hard. I just think that most people have a harder time with the pricing of ebooks, because they are not printed on paper. When you see 99 cents or more for less than 100 pages, it is a little frustrating.