Hey ,
Indie Freebies I've discovered are at the bottom, including a fun fantasy adventure goodie giveaway! But while I was doing my usual procrastination of scouring the internet between writing/narrating audiobooks. I came across this video from National Geographic called Brain Games, and the power of FREE anything.
It got me thinking about how our brain psychology applies to free books as well! Because, well, my life is books and fictional worlds, and using the principles of this video has also been proven in regards to free things in general, not just free money.
Our first instinct when offered something free is "What is the catch?"
The second instinct is devaluing the face value of the free thing.
The third is permission/incentive to take the free thing/use the free thing.
Eyebrows raise, warning bells go off, and fight or flight instincts are triggered when the mention of FREE happens. If no one is looking... then we snatch and run, hoarding the free thing secretly, and doubting that it was actually free and that we probably did a bad thing by taking it. Guilt ensues.
How does this apply to free books?
What's the catch?
If this isn't explained as a clear trade of some sort, and that there is something to be gained by the person giving the free thing, then our brains don't want to take the free thing. We pass it by.
With books this means I must inform people that I benefit in some way from them taking the book, however this doesn't mean they will read it... yet!
My catch: Well, you grabbed a free book when you joined my newsletter and joined me on my author journey to chat with me, listen to me, and for us to become book nerds together.
The book--->
Just in case you missed this book in your welcome email-->
You can find your BookFunnel Library here: My BookFunnel Library
And if you want to read it outside the BookFunnel App, simply right click the book image in your library and "download". It will give you options on formats, and you can forward your epub download to your Kindle!
Because a book is free, we hoard it in our digital libraries, and less than 5% of the people who grab it will read it.
Data: I've had 3,966 downloads of My Abett since I released it last year end of July.
I've had 10 ratings on Goodreads, and 19 ratings on Amazon. Even if I said these were each a separate rating (some of them are probably people who rate on multiple platforms) I'll just take an in between of saying probably around 25 people have rated a novella that takes around 2 hours to read.
That is less than 1% of the people who have downloaded the book. 0.6% to be more exact.
This leads me to the next brain psychology:
Devaluing a free thing, and letting it languish in our digital readers. I am guilty of this as well. I have over 700+ books in my Kindle Library right now. WHAT? ONLY 700+? How do you not have more than 1,000? Yes, I know that seems low comparatively to other readers, haha. But, that's because I read a lot on Kindle Unlimited.
Either way, because of this, many books languish because I saw them on various places for freesies and picked it up, but never really had any reminders from the author to incentivize picking it up again, versus all the other books in my to be read pile.
That is the reason why it's important for any small business, including indie authors like myself, to have the ask be to join a newsletter when the free book is picked up and have you get to know us, and if you reply back occasionally, for me to get to know you! Yes, I do read and reply to my emails!
This creates the opportunity for incentive as well as reminders of the great adventures that await us. I am on several author newsletters, and I will tell you, they are who I read first before I decide to scan my digital library for the next read.
And I'll be honest with you, the newsletter is SO important that sometimes I join a well-known indie author who has MANY MANY readers and THOUSANDS of reviews, only to be disappointed in their newsletter and even their well-liked books are relegated to the back of the TBR list in favor of a lesser-known author that takes the time to have a newsletter that is more engaging.
Did you know that I've had my book mentioned in a well-known indie author's newsletter that has over 20,000 subs on their newsletter, and I only received around 6 people who actually took notice of my book? So happy you six joined the fun, but that is the psychology behind free! Our minds doubt the "FREEness" and many times we don't act on the free for whatever reasons.
I'll have another newsletter dedicated to what I think are big NO NO mistakes in newsletters, mistakes that even established authors make ALL the time, but I'll finish this one up first.
I think the best incentives to read are both being genuine in emails, being helpful, and of course, testimonies from other readers!
Here are some of the reviews from Goodreads on My Abett: A Sci-fi Fantasy Adventure!
Just because something is free, doesn't mean that it's less than things we pay for, but psychologically in our brains we need incentives and permissions to accept free as non-threatening. So, other humans give testimony that the free thing is worth their time, and that it won't eat them or give them rabies.
Also, that the story is fun, and not half-assed just because it's free.
It's been edited like any other book release, but if you do find an error that didn't get caught, please do email me and I will fix it so the next reader will have an even better experience. No matter how many edit rounds happen, there will always be something that gets missed.
That is WHY reviews and ratings are SOO important to indie authors like me!
Low risk. The book is only 2 hours long, so you can gobble it up in one sitting if you so desire... Though, for some readers this is a negative, because they want the story to live on longer. I have been known to avoid finishing a final chapter just because I didn't want the characters to stop living in my mind. Don't worry, this prequel does have another book out already, Kingdom of Acatalec.
For those of you who have finished reading both of these books, I encourage you to share your thoughts on all the places reviews are shared. Sci-fi Fantasy reading groups on Facebook? Yes, and yes! Smashing that star button on Amazon? Yes, please.
Thank you from all the inky crevasses of my heart.
Review Kingdom of Acatalec on Amazon -- BookBub -- GoodReads
Review My Abett on Amazon -- BookBub -- GoodReads
,
Okay, so if you haven't read the exciting action-packed prequel to Kingdom of Acatalec, My Abett yet, get your comfy socks on, grab your favorite beverage, and take a reading break. I promise you won't regret it. I created this book for you, and it brings me so much joy to know people are reading it.
And for those of you who are wondering... no, you don't have to read the prequel to enjoy Kingdom of Acatalec, and honestly, the prequel is good reading it before OR after reading book one. It answers questions not answered in book one, but is more of a way to enjoy the characters a bit longer and see a little insight into how they came to where they are in book one. I did write this book AFTER writing Kingdom of Acatalec.
I will say I've finished a first draft of book two in the Acatalec series.
WAY TO BURY THE LEAD, STEVIE!
Yes, I know, but it's far from being finished. Sure, the bones are there, but it needs an overhaul. Scenes have to be added, some scenes have to be redacted because I inserted information that was for me the author, and not to be revealed to readers yet. Also, just a LOT more work that needs to be put into it before I can even consider giving it to my editor.
I'll keep you posted!
For now, if you have not read My Abett, I encourage you to do so. I give you permission to lock your bathroom door and pretend that the outside world doesn't exist for a bit. Or perhaps you have a sign that says, "Leave me alone, I'm reading!" Haha. Not that a sign would work against my own kids, but that's what bedtime is for!
Talk later! Don't forget to check out the free giveaway and books below! I give you permission to hoard them, or simply check them out and leave. Afterall, this is your adventure, and how you live it is up to you! But, perhaps you find your new adventure there, if only for a couple of hours of entertainment.
~Stevie, author of all things fantasical and otherworldly adventurous, mom of a few humans in training... including my hubby. Overall booknerd, and yes... I am writing this in my pjs. Why not?
PS: And for some of you starting the Divine Series a YA paranormal fantasy coming of age adventure. If you've read through Blood Crescent, Blood Rebirth, or Blood Queen, please do share your thoughts on all the places reviews can be found. I find that middle book tends to get less love that the first and third book... people read through and then immediately pick up book three without smashing that star button. Soooooooo, if you've read this series, take a moment to smash a few stars!
PSSS: If you want to unsubscribe and are also part of my Sky Robert Romance Newsletter, please email me to remove you from this list manually, so you aren't removed from both lists. Thank you!
Now, on to the Free stuff:
I've joined C.L. Cannon to do a Fantasy Giveaway with a few other indie authors! What's the catch? Well, you are agreeing to get to know the authors that have funded the awesome prizes! You can unsubscribe from any of these authors at anytime, like all newsletters.
You all should know how I feel about mums who write, but also indies in general! I am so impressed with how she's already made more money on her Kickstarter than I ever did on my first book launch, haha! She's already at $1,765 in funding the launch of paperback and stuff. Makes me think, DAMN, I need to do a Kickstarter campaign sometime! Check her out, and maybe you've found a new author's world to love!
And last but not least!
My Launch of my nom de plume Sky Robert:
What if there was an alien exchange program for humans to visit other planets? And one of those hunky aliens happens to be your fated mate?
Join my Sky Robert Newsletter and Read Free Today!
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Disclaimer: Sometimes, not all the time, I do use affiliate links, at no cost to you, and I only recommend or promote things that I personally trust, checked out, want to read or have read myself. Books that I myself would share with friends and family. I do not sell your email/information. I also do not buy/spam emails. If you are on this newsletter it is because you clicked a marketing consent when you entered a sponsored giveaway for books, grabbed a free copy of one of my books, read one of my books, saw me on socials and thought, hey that person seems like my kind of weird and decided to click that join newsletter to find out more. Either way, if you're here it is because you wanted to join me in book rants, and if you don't want to anymore you are free to unsubscribe at any time, and also welcome to return at any time as well. I think that covers things... if I missed something feel free to email me. I am a human behind these strange goings ons, so welcome to the weird, the strange, the fantastical, and all the book love I can give.
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