Inspy Romance

Inspy Romance—Fall in Love With a Good Book

Author newsletters – welcome gifts and more!

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I hope you’re having a lovely August so far! One thing I’ve been thinking about lately is my reader newsletter, and how I can make it offer better value for my subscribers. I’d love to hear from you about what you like best in author newsletters.

Many authors offer readers a welcome gift ebook – there’s a list of Inspy Romance authors who do at the end of the post. But many of us want to go further. To encourage our subscribers and help them feel valued – they are, very much! – not just when they sign-up to the newsletter, but when they stay on it, too! We’re all busy, all our email inboxes are way more full than we’d like, and giving someone our time is a precious gift.

So, what makes you choose to sign up to a newsletter? And more important, what makes you want to open and read an author newsletter rather than delete it unread or hit the unsubscribe button? What things have authors done in their newsletters that help you feel they truly value and appreciate you?

One comment made on this newsletter by August 30th will be randomly chosen to win the commenter’s choice of my ebooks.

INSPY ROMANCE AUTHORS OFFERING WELCOME GIFT EBOOKS
Alexa Verde
Autumn Macarthur (no need to sign-up to get the free book)
Elizabeth Maddrey
Hallee Bridgeman
Jackie Castle
Janet Ferguson
Julie Arduini
Marion Ueckermann
Mary Manners
Melanie D. Snitker
Sally Bayless
Shannon Vannatter
Toni Shiloh
Valerie Comer

Autumn Macarthur (59 Posts)

USA Today bestselling author Autumn Macarthur writes romances full of faith and hope, celebrating God's love as well as a man and a woman finding their happily ever after. She prays they’ll warm your heart and make you smile. An Australian transplanted to Britain, Autumn lives just north of London with her lovely English husband and three demanding cats, in a very small house with a teensy tiny garden. She loves talking to readers, so please get in touch! And get a free Christian romance novella when you sign up for her reader newsletter at http://bit.ly/Autumnsubscribe


Comments

  1. Hi Autumn, August is flying by! We have had a couple good dumps of snow which is always good.
    Hmm, good questions. I am happy with the free ebook- the main reason I sign up to an author newsletter is to hear updates on when new books are coming out, new book ideas and to learn more about what inspires the author.
    Blessings:)

  2. Hi Autumn! Wow! Another thought provoking topic to get my retired mind working – ALL before my morning cup of coffee! I only sign up for a few newsletters, mainly if I read newsletters I have little time to read. The newsletters I choose are from my favorite authors. I subscribe not for the free books, but to read about new releases. As a reader I feel valued when the author has a reduced rate on preorders. That makes me feel valued. Also for a multi- author series, all the authors books about approximately the same length, format, and same price. I am awed by Indie authors. You do a fantastic job not just writing inspiring entertaining stories, but creating covers, promoting your work and keeping your readers informed. That is how I feel valued.

    While this does not have anything to do with newsletters. Another way I feel valued, is when an author takes the time and Like my Review on Goodreads. Best wishes.

  3. Hi, Autumn! I only subscribe to newsletters of my favorite authors. I like to see what us going on in their world and what new books they have coming out!

  4. I only subscribe to authors’ newsletters when I know I like their writing and their books will be my friends for a long time to come. Free books are great but I won’t read them unless they’re by authors whom I enjoy.

  5. Thanks for listing my newsletter freebie!

    I sign up for newsletters once I’ve read a book by an author and I know I like their writing. I love to hear about preorders, new releases, giveaways, etc when they send out newsletters. I’ll even take recommendations for good reads.

  6. Hi, Autumn! I like to see pictures of what inspired the author to write certain parts of their book (s). Esp. small towns and older houses with a bit of history about each. Thanks :)

  7. I enjoy the free gift, but also enjoy hearing tidbits of the author’s life outside of writing. I also like and appreciate when there are pre-order deals through the newsletter. I enjoy hearing about other authors’ books, but sometimes a newsletter can feel like a commercial if it has more than a couple of links to other books.

  9. I subscribe to authors I enjoy or think I will enjoy. If the covers are too steamy they get deleted. I’m always safe with the inspy romance authors. If I have time I read them , if life gets busy I may not or I’ll come back to them later. I like free books, special deals, preorders, and KU. I like hearing bits about authors and how their books came to be and pictures of settings, etc. I appreciate all the work that goes into creating a book.

  10. I subscribe to authors that I think I’ll look books by. I usually find them from groups I’m in on Face Book. Sometimes, I sign up, and find out that we aren’t a good fit, but most of them I keep. I’ll at least glance at their e-mails. There are some, like yours, Alexa’s, Marion’s, Mary’s, Toni’s, and some others that I read the whole thing! I won’t just delete without at least looking. I’ll unsubscribe if they sent e-mails more than once a week, or if I find the books they do aren’t ones that I’d want to read. Sometimes, they write for more than one genre, and if they put more of the ones I don’t like, I unsubscribe. There’s one author that does e-mails for her different genre’s, so if you don’t like fantasy or time travel, you don’t get the e-mail for those.

  11. I love reading the what my favorite authors that I subscribe share about themselves and their lives. I know you are all busy not only writing your amazing and inspirational storys but living your life and taking care of your families. Then you spend time writing blogs and interacting with us through social media like facebook. It is very humbling to know that you care about us to as we readers to you. Thank you for sharing so such with all of us.

    As you love our reviews and someone else mentioned. It means alot when you like our reviews or others find them helpful. I am encouraged as I read other reviews to see what they thought of your books too. Keep up the good work and God bless.

  12. Honestly, I sign up for newsletters just to get freebies and enter giveaways.

    But I stick around when I learn something about the author, not just selling, selling, selling, whether that’s their own books or other authors. I like reviews, but only if the author has actually read the book they’re recommending. I really feel valued if I can tell that they’ve put some time and effort into writing the email–like when Roseanna M. White does her “Thoughtful About” segment.

  13. I agree with most of the comments above – I like to hear about my favorite authors’ lives, get word on pre-orders and special sales, see pictures of the setting of a book, hear why a certain book was written, etc.

  14. I like to sign up for newsletters from authors I like. Getting a free book has opened the door for me to finding new authors. I like to hear about their lives, sometimes a favorite recipe and new books coming out. Several authors I follow have giveaways just for opening their newsletters which is kind of a fun surprise if you see your name in the newsletter.

  15. Wow, Wendy, snow! I saw there had been snow on the Central Tablelands, where I lived for ten years. Love it!
    Thanks for sharing what you look for in an author newsletter.

  16. Thanks for a thoughtful reply, Renate!
    Hmm, I admit, I try to “like” all reviews on Amazon and BookBub, but I don’t get to Goodreads as often as I do. A good nudge that I need to do that too! Thank you! :)

  20. Oh, thanks Michelle! That’s a good one. I do loads of research finding out about places and occupations and a crazy amount of small facts I’ll probably never need again to make sure I get the detail right in the story. Everything from how an amputee would get on a horse or ride a motorbike, to the genetics of cat color inheritance, to walking streets of Google Street View. But I never think to share that in my newsletter!

  25. Lorel, readers like you are a huge blessing to authors. Truly! Being able to interact and get to know each other through social media, blogs, and emails is a wonderful thing. :)

  28. Thanks, Lori! Yes, the giveaway for opening the newsletter is a good way to thank readers. I’ve done that a few times, as well as click-to-enter giveaways or reply-to-the-email giveaways.

  29. Hello today. I feel like August is going by way too fast. But I am so enjoying the cooler weather. Still a lot of humidity but oh well, that is the midwest. This is a good question. I will subscribe to an authors newsletter 1) if I like reading her books 2) if I like hearing more about her life 3) some have recipes that they share, I love recipes, LOL 4) if i find an author that I would like to check out her books and learn more about her

  32. I usually choose carefully whose newsletter I subscribe to. I do work in front of a computer, so my email is always open and it’s easy to get distracted. But I don’t have a lot of time to read them, so I’m selective to make sure I actually don’t have an overwhelming sense of too many emails. I usually subscribe to authors I know I’ll like the book based on the style they write regardless of the storyline. But I’m mostly interested in keeping up with new releases.

  33. I love hearing everything i can about my Author’s. Their lives, their books, you name it. I love that i get to connect with each and every one of you. May your days be blessed with all you can do♡♡♡♡

  35. I know that distraction issue too well, Priscila!

    One other option for authors whose new releases you want t know about without a load of other emails is to follow the author on Amazon or Bookfunnel.

  38. Oh, I definitely subscribe to Amazon to all my favorite-authors-can’t-miss-next-release, but the newsletters actually do the cover reveal, talk a bit more about the books, and sometimes I also learn about why they wrote the books.. it’s fun. Just don’t have time to do that with all.

  39. Typically, I initially subscribe to an author newsletter for one of two reasons:
    1. I’ve read a book by that author, and want to stay informed.
    2. A free eBook offer, if I think I might enjoy the book/author/genre.

    In terms of staying subscribed, my favorite newsletters are typically funny. The author shares a bit about his/her life, and offers some humorous anecdotes. Another reason I’ll stay (and keep opening) if the “prize given away to a subscriber” in each newsletter. If you read to the end, you’ll see whether or not you were selected. If you don’t contact the author, you forfeit the prize. (Several authors I know who do this say the prize is seldom actually claimed, but I ALWAYS read the whole thing to see if I won.)

  40. Hi Autumn! I subscribe mainly to get to know the author! Quite often I already have the free book on offer. Sometimes if an author has been recommended by another author I will subscribe to the new author to get the free book and see if I like it, and wish to continue hearing from them.
    I devour every newsletter from my favourite authors! They tell me about upcoming books, good deals, and all sorts! You girls are my friends!

  41. If it’s an author I like or think I will like, I will sign up. I like hearing a little about their lives, outside of the writing process. I also like if they ask a question that I can respond to and then they reply – I enjoy that little bit of correspondence with authors. I also keep an eye out for review opportunities. One other thing I like is when they recommend a book or two of another author that they’ve recently read and liked. If an author sends too many newsletters, I might not even open them because I feel like I’d just “heard” from them.

  42. maybe do some kind of a contest helping you with your story/book. make the reader feel like their input is important to helping you be a good author you already are. can be something as small as bookmarks/books or a small giftcard

  49. I will sign up to newsletters of authors I like and some because of sweep stakes. I don’t really mind the if I get a free book or not when I sign up. If I get too many newsletters in a short time I am likely to unsub. One author had a new book coming out and from about 2 months prior she would send at least 3 a week if not more asking people to pre-order and the teaser was if you pre-ordered and had a copy of the receipt you got access to extra’s. The annoying part was the frequency of the newsletters.

    I like learning about the book and tidbits about the research, or some quirky thing about the book. I don’t mind about giveaways cos normally they are only open the USA. If there was a gift and I know some give a signed copy of a book and something related to the book it would be nice if international subscribers could get a voucher instead so they feel included.

  50. I admit I subscribe to too many author newsletters. I sign up for my favorite authors for info on new releases and sale prices. Also, I enjoy finding out more about them personally. I also sign up for free books. I’ve discovered many good new-to-me authors this way.

  51. Hi, Jenny! Oh my, yes, emails three times a week would be an unsubscribe for me, too!

    And I hear you on US-only giveaways! I always try to make mine international, as I prefer not to exclude anyone, and living outside the US myself, I know how frustrating being excluded feels!

    But I also understand why so many are US only, both because of postage costs and concerns giveaways may not be legal in some countries.

  52. Thanks for commenting, Sherri! I’m glad you’ve found freebies a no-risk way for readers to sample a new author’s books. And yes, those little personal notes in newsletters are great, helping readers know the author better. :)

  54. Didn’t think of the legal issues. I know some will use book depository which has free postage to send a book.
    I know some newsletters I have been on that I have left don’t seem to realise they have international readers. I have actually emailed to ask if someone from overseas can enter and the response is often Oh I hadn’t thought of that or will have to check.

  56. My mailing service has a map that shows where my newsletter opens come from, and it’s fascinating to see just where my readers are. The huge majority are US based, followed by the UK, Canada, and Australia. But I have one or two active subscribers in many surprising countries!
    Unfortunately sending international paperbacks via Book Depository has gotten a bit trickier for some authors now Amazon moved paperback publishing from CreateSpace to KDPP. None of my paperbacks were available on Book Depository last time I looked, which is why I haven’t been able to contribute to the international paperback prizes in the Inspy Romance giveaways for the past year. Getting wider distribution is on my very long To Do list!

  57. Weekly is too often for me. If it’s monthly, it’s more like a treat that I look forward to.

  59. I enjoy learning about the behind-the-scenes from authors. It is interesting to hear the inspiration for their stories.

  61. I’m finally HERE :) TADA lolol
    Well, I’m subscribed to my favorite authors!
    I love when they share their struggles…in writing and personal…so that we can pray and support each other <3
    I really enjoy when authors share the pics of the characters or how they see them!
    Blessings!!!

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