What do you think about free books? We writers are always debating the topic. Many of us put the first book in a long series free, hoping that it’ll entice readers to follow up and buy the rest of the series. Other authors do occasional sales where they’ll set a book free.
However, lately there has been some debate about whether freebies are such a great idea. Lots of readers download so many freebies that they’ll never ever finish them all. Sometimes readers who really don’t like a particular type of book download it simply because it’s free and then write scathing reviews… maybe they have a beef against Christianity, but they download a free Christian book and then are shocked by its religious content. I am not kidding.
Some analysts theorize that readers who like free books are somehow different from readers who readily spend the money for a full-priced book; it’s been said that these “free book Friedas” won’t ever become true fans, but will simply move on to the next author who offers books free.
One thing is for sure: there are enough free books at Amazon alone that you’d never have to pay money for a book again, and you could still read a book a day.
So I’m curious: what are your reading patterns regarding free books? Do you download too many? Read all you download? Avoid them? Only read free books? Do they lead you to the next book in the series, even if that book is $3.99 or $4.99?
One reason I’m asking: the two books above have been free for a couple of years… and I”m about to take them back up to full price. So if you haven’t read them and you DO like free books… now’s the time to find them on your favorite online retailer, and download them. Here are the Amazon links:
Thanks so much for adding your input about free books below–I really value it! And hey…. don’t forget to enter our big Back to School Bash… today is the last day!
Prizes galore in our Back-to-School Bash now on!
Lee Tobin McClain read Gone With The Wind in the third grade and has been an incurable romantic ever since. Lee is the author of the Sacred Bond series of contemporary inspirational romances and also writes the Rescue River books (angsty, but full of fun kids and dogs) for Harlequin Love Inspired. When she not writing emotional Christian romances, she's probably driving around a carload of snarky teen girls, playing with her rescue dog and cat, or teaching aspiring writers in Seton Hill University's MFA program. She is probably not cleaning her house.
What a great question, Lee! I’m going to be watching the answers as well :)
For me as a reader, I really only grab freebies if they were something I’d been looking at anyway. When I first got my Kindle I grabbed a ton of free books and the perusal of same has helped me realize that not all of the books that are free have the level of quality that I prefer in a story. So I’ve started being choosier, even though it wouldn’t cost me anything to grab it.
Hi Lee. Great question- when I first got my kindle, I was not working (stay at home mum) so very rarely purchased books, relying on freebies with rare purchases. I found some great books and was introduced to some new authors whose books I now readily purchase. Now that I am working full time, I have a book budget, so am more likely to buy a book than simply download a free one. Having the first book in a series free has gotten me into a few series that I may not have otherwise tried. I have read your books- I found Baby/Brother Bond for free and got into your books that way.
Blessings:)
Hi, Lee! Awesome question! I honestly never thought of all those negative aspects of free books! I like the first book free if I have never read that author…it’s how I found several of you and how you guys became my favorite authors! If I like the first one, I will pay to get my hands on everything that author has written!!
I download free books from authors I haven’t read before; it’s a good way to try a new author out. Unfortunately (although my intentions are good) that means I have a bunch of freebies on my Kindle that I’ve never cracked the cover on! But for an author I’ve read before, and loved their work, I will gladly pay full price.
I love free books but I don’t download every single one out there. I only download Christian fiction and only the authors I’ve enjoyed in the past or have heard good things about. I’ve found quite a few authors I now follow from reading their free books (and subsequently bought some of their other books).
I love free books but I don’t download every single one out there. I only download Christian fiction and only the authors I’ve enjoyed in the past or have heard good things about. I’ve found quite a few authors I now follow from reading their free books (and subsequently bought some of their other books).
Hi Lee! I understand the author’s dilemma with free books, especially when the purchaser writes a scathing review over reasons that are clearly stated in the blurb. It was through a free book that I was introduced to many of the authors on Inspy Romance. Unfortunately i also have free books on my Kindle that I have never read. Another point to discuss is Amazon Unlimited. A few authors say this is when they receive negative reviews. Readers only read a few pages and make a judgement. I am willing to pay for an author’s work. Since most Kindle books when I preview, just like a hard copy at the bookstore, I often do that with books I pay for. I appreciate authors that for a series have a discounted rate for preorders. My main pet peeve is when I pay full price for an ebook series and then six months later the series is on sale. Another is when an ebook costs as much as a paperback. Great question. Best wishes.
I’m with you in that I don’t grab a freebie unless it looks really intriguing or I love the author. Too many books, too little time!
Thank you for giving the Sacred Bond series a try via a freebie… this is exactly the kind of thing I wanted to know.
That’s great to know, thank you!
I hear that! I have taken to getting the “sample” on my kindle so I know it was a book I just wanted to try out.
It definitely makes sense to be selective. Thanks for commenting.
Ah, yes, the expensive ebook problem! Most traditional publishers price ebooks too high, in my opinion.
I download a lot of free books. Do I read them all? No. But once I “purchase” them, the option is there. I read a LOT of books. I could not afford to buy that many. I’ve been introduced to many great authors through free books (and also kindle unlimited). I often go on to buy other books from these authors. You are one of these authors.
It’s sad to think some readers use this great opportunity just to bash authors. I have read a few free books that were pretty bad. If I can’t give at least 3 stars then I typically don’t even rate the book. A few times, I’ve mentioned the need for an editor in my review but that’s about as scathing as I get
Lee! I know why traditional publishers price books high! I was at a Meet the Author at our local independent bookseller, I paid $15 for this author’s paperback. During the book talk all the author did was praise the publisher for her book tour. The publisher paid for her hotel & meals. This author had been on the road for a month. Made me appreciate the dedication of indie authors and the authors at Inspy Romance! Thanks! That is why I purchase few best sellers! I get those from my library.
Hi Lee,
I have “bought” both those free books of yours, read them and gone on to buy/read the series. I do read free books and if I enjoy them I do go on and read others in the series and I do spend a lot on books. I can’t imagine only reading free books, too many good ones would be missed!
Like so many other readers, when I first got my kindle years ago I was like a kid in a candy store and downloaded lots of free Christian fiction, but now I am as selective with the freebies as I am with those I purchase. I either have to recognize the author, get drawn in by the cover (very important in indies for me) or be intrigued by the storyline. As it is right now I cold probably read 10 years off my kindle without buying another book, but what would be the fun in that?
Wow, that kind of book tour would cost some big bucks! To be fair, most of us who publish with traditional publishers like Harlequin Love Inspired will never go on tour… although if it ever happens, you guys all have to come see us!
Your kind attitude is much appreciated… and if editing is needed on any of my books, I want to know about it!
Tracey, it’s true for me, too, that I could read off my Kindle for ten years. Which is reassuring if I ever get stuck on a desert island (although it would have to have electricity to charge the thing I guess!). Thanks so much for reading my Sacred Bond series!
I only grab free books in the genres that I like. I have discovered new authors that I love from downloading those free books and some wonderful series too! I have not read all the free books that I have downloaded but that is because of the new authors and series!
I have to say that free books is how I’ve found a lot of new authors. If’s the first in a series I always want to know what happens to some of the other stories so I will buy the next books in the series and I hate it when I miss one
I love free books! I definitely buy free books that I might not have otherwise simply because they are free, but I don’t buy books I don’t think I’ll enjoy just because they’re free. I have used free books to help me find authors and series I might have otherwise missed. On the other hand, I have kindle unlimited, so I buy fewer books in general and fewer free books as well because a lot of authors I enjoy have books in KU. I think there probably a lot of readers who buy free books and never read them, but I wonder if they’re like me and always have an ever growing pile of books to read and just never catch up vs them being flippant about free books?
It’s a good way to find new authors to follow, for sure.
That’s exactly the kind of thing I wanted to know. Thanks, Brenda!
I think you’re probably right… most readers have good intentions when they download a book, but to twist my dad’s old saying, “our eyes are bigger than our stomachs,” especially when it comes to books.
This is such a great post. I do like free books to check out an author. Or from an author I like. But if I like what I read and it resonates with me, I will pay for the next book and the next book to keep reading her work. I like giving reviews. I know this helps the authors.
I love free/discounted stuff just like the next person, but I’ve learned to never buy a book (free or otherwise) unless I read carefully the reviews (unless I know and like the author, then I’m just a happy girl). There are just too many books out there and I don’t think they are all worth of my time (regardless of cover, backstory, etc). I have already too many books (kindle and paperback) to last a lifetime, so I’ll only download a new book if I feel like reading it.
I also rarely buy books that cost 3.99 or 4.99 unless I’m in a book club or something (if I get a gift card or really really really want to read it), because honestly, I have enough books (and very little time to read) that I don’t *need* to buy new ones, but if I see a bargain 0.99 (specially books sets) with my favorite authors, I’ll definitely grab it.
Unfortunately this means I don’t read a lot of books from my favorite authors (I’ve been known to spend 9.99 or more in books every once in a while, but just think the free/cheap book industry has corrupted me and I rarely buy them anymore because–and this will sound repetitive–I already own too many books).
It’s sad that people would write bad reviews for no reason other than their wrong choice of preferred book genre. I’ve read pretty bad books in the past (free and otherwise), but I just place them in a “not good” collection even if I don’t finish them, just to make sure I don’t stumble upon them again and as a reminder not to read from those authors again. I have a huge “not good” collection compared to my “great/to be re-read” and my “good” or “okay” collections (yep, I organize all my online books).
I sometimes feel the urge to just go online and say “I’ve never read such a horrible story” but then I remember I don’t write review for all of those that I’ve loved, so no reason to just bash on something someone else might enjoy. I make a point of not reading from those authors again.
There, I just wrote too much about this.
The paperback if the Creek don’t rise was published by sourcebook. It cost $15.99. Only reason I purchased the book is to support the local bookstore Forever Books.
I am on a very limited income and can’t afford to buy books very often so I frequently get the free books offered by authors. When I first got my kindle I did download a lot of your books and other authors books from Instafreebie as well as Amazon. Now I still only get the free one unless I can get gift cards (either as gifts or from giveaways). I have read all of the books of your that I have and really enjoy the and hopefully can get the rest of them sometime soon. I have found now that after I read the first one and if I really liked it, I like to wait until I can get all in a series before I read the rest of them.
I love free books, but….yes, there is a but….I have so many books I won’t ever get to, since I’m focusing on authors I know (or on street teams where they take precedence). I think .99 is a great intro deal too, and I will buy the rest of the books in a series if I like the first one. Their price depends on when I’ll even start the series, since I like to read everything back to back if the series is published. That said, there are a couple inspy writers that I usually wait to read on until the whole series is out, which I’ll have to make a priority to get caught up on them now.
Truthfuly, I’m not a fan of free books. I do love getting one for free, but when it’s from a giveaway or as a gift. I’ve read free ebooks before and I didn’t like them as much.
It’s totally oposite when I do love an author and he/she gives an ebook for free for a limited time. Also, I’m mostly a paperback reader. Now, if I’d read a free book that was a part of the series and I’d have to pay $3.99 or $4.99, I’d pay.
I like freebies BUT I never take free books out of my prefered genre. I have my prefered authors and I buy their books as I love their stories. Luckily you are one of my prefered writers ;-)
When I first got my Kindle, I loaded up with free books quite greedily. As I began to find new authors to support, I became more selective about freebies. Now, I am able to purchase other books by an author after reading their freebie. Hope this makes sense. I like freebies to get a feel for a new author. ??? Have a great day!!
I’m going to be honest and admit that I’m a “freebie Frieda.” My husband has absolutely forbidden me to spend any more money on books when I can get so many for free. I don’t read books in a series that must be read in order, because I don’t have the money to finish the series. Although, when I did have the money, I preferred series. I’m writing my own series. I love series. However, I just can’t afford them. If they’re at the library, I will binge through them! If not, I will not pay for the next one. On the off-chance I get money for a gift, I still refuse to pay more than $1.99 for an ebook. Paperbacks are my jam, and I will pay up to $12 for one as a gift. I have learned the hard way not to accept a freebie unless I really think I’m going to like it. But sometimes it’s hard to tell from a description how faith-filled a “clean” romance is. Sometimes Christian authors put their freebies in with a group of other “clean” books and then I get confused about which ones were supposed to be Christian. I will put in my review that I was expecting more faith and didn’t get it.
Great post, Lee. I’m a paper book kind of girl. I like turning pages, feeling the cover, smelling the book, seeing the spines lined up on my shelves. I buy books. Even authors I don’t know if it’s a genre I like and the blurb interests me. If I don’t like them, I pass them on and don’t buy anything else by that author. The only free e-books I own are by my favorite authors that don’t come in print. I don’t really feel like I own e-books.
Since all of my books are traditionally published so far, I don’t have much choice on how my books are priced. What I’ve done is give away free print copies on blog tours on Christian romance blogs, so I know that the readers like my genre. I have one permanent free e-book on my website that readers get when they sign up for my newsletter. It’s the first book I got the rights back for in a series. The rest of the series is still for sale with some of them marked down.
I really bugs me when the ebook is so close to the print book price. You don’t have all that paper you are printing on and shipping, so why no a better price break? For those, I’ll usually wait until they go on sale, under $10, but preferably under $7.
I’m like a lot of the above commentators – when I first got my Kindle, I loaded up on freebies. That introduced me to lots of new favorite authors (like this InspyRomance crew). Now I’m a lot more selective. A few times I have paid a lot for an e-book to finish a series, but not often. Recently I’ve been in the mood to go back and read some of the freebies I got way back when, and have been very pleasantly surprised.
I find new authors by downloading free books. When I find ones I love then I will download all their books!
I am not a big e-book reader so I’ll only download a book if it’s short and if I want to “test read” an author or if there is a free novella in a series I’m already reading. I read free novellas by Kristi Ann Hunter and Melissa Tagg and then went on to buy the paperback novels in those series.
I love free books and book giveaways (print or e-books). That is often how I find new-to-me authors and since I am on a fixed income, the free or even below $2 price is so helpful! It really helps stretch my thin budget. I do download free books for my kindle (I “buy” free ones or get ones free with Prime reading), but I usually it is only if it’s an author I already love or the book/story sounds interesting or the recipes sound like those I might like to try. I love it when authors discount their full price e-book to $1.99 or $0.99. I have gone on to purchase more of an author’s books, within the series or in another series (if they are affordable or if I have enough amazon no-rush shipping credits on my account). I love finding new-to-me authors I like and I have found many of them here on inspyromance.com. I’m sad to hear scathing reviews from people who don’t actually read the book, that is super disappointing! I’d say if you do go to full price on your books, discount some of them at least once a year for those of us on a budget (please & thanks) and to help lure in new readers. I do have books on my kindle that I haven’t read yet, I think everyone does, but I do read several books a week too! :)
I do get free books from Amazon, I do review free books, I am a librarian and get a lot of free books by using my library and I buy a lot of books! I guess I am not a certain “type” but a hybrid of them all! Except I would never get a free book to write a scathing review, that is horrible!
I love free books but only download ones in my favorite genre. I have found new InspyRomance authors that way. I don’t buy books very often but will buy from favorite authors, think InspyRomance authors. I can only afford a limited amount each month. I enjoy Kindle Unlimited, not sure how that works for the author. For expensive books I will see if the public library has it.
I don’t download every freebie I see, but I appreciate free books when I am intrigued by the premise and/or book cover in my favorite genre. Some free books have introduced me to authors that I like and follow, but on the other hand, other free books have just gotten lost in my TBR abyss – though not entirely forgotten. Even if I haven’t had the chance to read their book, that author can still be on my radar.
Thank you for reviewing–it really does help us!
Thank you for sharing the details, Priscilla–that’s fascinating that you organize your books that way!
Teresa, you just gave me an idea for a future blog post: how do people feel about series, and do they buy them all before they start? Thank you!
Ooh, I’m curious if you’ve read the Arcadia Valley books and whether you waited until they were all out… that’s a lot of books!
Good point, Irma–if you’re a paperback reader then the whole free book debate is irrelevant to you. It’s pretty rare to get a paperback free. And pssst… I prefer paperbacks, too.
Thank you, Carlien–I’m honored to be on your “preferred” list!
Robin, your red hat always makes me smile! I think we’ve all become more selective about what we load onto our Kindles these days.
You make a good point about expectations, Lila. There’s a wide spectrum of clean books and of inspirational books, and you can’t always tell from the blurb where a particular book falls.
Thanks for commenting, Shannon. It’s true for me, too: I don’t feel like I own ebooks. I often forget to finish them, too!
Hooray for you, Margaret… reading freebies TWICE in some cases! That’s a far cry from those of us who download too many and don’t read them at all.
Thanks, useful information, Linda!
Hi Ellie, sounds like you are a paperback reader at heart. For some, ebooks just don’t cut it, and that’s okay!
This is a useful perspective, Candi. So glad you’ve found authors you like here on Inspy.
Katie, thank you for reminding us that free books have been around a long time… at your LIBRARY. The perfect solution for those on a limited income who prefer to hold a physical book in their hands.
Diana, hooray–another library patron!
YES–the TBR abyss is a real thing! I find books have more of a chance of escaping that status if they’re on a TBR pile, i.e. they’re physical books. On the Kindle… it’s hard to escape the abyss!
I started reading your books because of the freebie His Baby Bond!
I have, and I did wait til they were all out. Read them all in a matter of a couple week I think, maybe 3. Still anxiously awaiting the last one. :) I have all of your Bond series (both of them I believe), but have not read them yet.
I generally like a free book like anyone else but if it’s not a genre I know I like I usually won’t get it. I will try a new author out of curiousity quite often though and when I find one I like I’m lrettty loyal and don’t care how much the books cost.
I admit to getting free books on amazon. I am retired and do not have a budget for new books. I enter a lot of contests and win books also.
I do have a lot on my kindle but I plan on reading them. I try to be selective. And I have bought a few books that are written by a favorite author or novella collections that include my favorite genres. I have only had a few that I haven’t cared for the content or writing. But I rarely write a scathing review. I try to find something positive or don’t say much in the review. I try to pick what I think I’ll enjoy.
I am guilty of getting free books just because they are free. But I have found some great new authors and read some genres that I probably wouldn’t have read it the book hadn’t been free. I have also bought the rest of the books in a series occasionally when I really liked the first one I got for free.
Great question and so interesting to read everyone’s comments!
I tend to buy books only when I know either the author and their books well. So I find free books are a good way to explore new-to-me authors, and if I love the book, I will go on to buy more from that author..
I had one of my books permanently free for an extended period, but I recently took it off free and put it back on sale again at 99c as a lower-priced intro to that series. But I plan to give it regular free days, to reach new readers. I completely understand that many readers simply don’t have the budget to buy books.
I’ve also encountered those freebie seeekers who give negative reviews. A few of my freebie were so scathing I clicked through to see what else that reader had reviewed. Seems some people get their fun or deal with their bad days by downloading free ebooks simply to leave nasty reviews!
When every single book a reader reviews was one I know was a free download, and every single review is a 1*, there’s more going on than “not my sort of book”!
Hi Lee! I too found you through the Sacred Bond series! I’ve read them all. I usually down free books especially if I’m not acquainted with the author. I’ve found several new authors I love by doing this and a few I have not purchased any more. I usually by the whole series if it grabs me.
I read a LOT, so I love free Kindle books, and check the “Top 100 Free Inspirational Fiction” chart on a fairly regular basis. I’ve become choosier over the past few years, and only pick up something with a well-written blurb that catches my interest, or anything by an author I enjoy. Other than box sets, this is how I have discovered many of my current favourite authors. If I enjoy a book, I’ll subscribe to the author’s newsletter & generally purchase pre-orders of future releases. If the price of a book doesn’t fit into my budget, I’ll request that my local library purchase it (which they typically will do).
I am an avid story reader, it’s my # 1 form of entertainment. I’ve to admit that I used to download too many free books. But I have so many books in my Kindle library (purchased & free), that I’ve not read yet. So I’ve gotten very picky what free books I download now. But to me, a free Christian story is one worth checking out, if I like it’s description, & it’s reviews (if it’s been more than a month since it’s publication.
To answer your question, I prefer to read the 1st book in a series, because then I can decide if I want to purchase the following stories. I have 2 exceptions: if the story is a stand alone, even though in a series; or if I’ve read an author’s previous book(s) & really enjoyed it (them).
From all the replies, I feel a little late to the party, but here goes…. free books have allowed me to “try” new authors without using my limited book funds.
Sometimes I’m more than thankful I didn’t spend money on a book I couldn’t even bring myself to finish.
Sometimes I walk away feeling a bit “blah”, knowing I’ll just avoid that author in the future.
And other times I’m left with the delightful prospect of having found a new favorite author. When that happens, I’m more than happy to start collecting books—that I pay for.
Sadly, one major issue I have with free books is the lack of quality, especially in self-published books. In some cases it feels like the author is posting the first draft of their novel, rather than the finished product, the mistakes are that frequent and that noticeable. It almost feels like the authors might put in more effort if people were paying for their work.
However, on the flip side of the coin…having been burned by so many riddled-with-mistakes books in the past few months, there’s no way I’m going to pay even 99¢ to try a new author.
No, I’m not talking about picky mistakes like whether it’s correct to use the Oxford comma, or finish a sentence with a preposition. I’m talking about double words, quotation marks in the middle of sentences, and switching names. Like—Jake is Jake when he’s closing the car door, but when he knocks on Mary’s window he’s Caleb, but, when she opens the window he’s Jake again. Simple things that are obvious to the reader and could be picked up by a once over by the author, or a trusted pre-reader.
Don’t worry, if I find a book I don’t like (it happens and I just relegate those books to the “blah” pile), I don’t leave a scathing review. In fact, I don’t leave a review for a mistake-riddled book either. I’m one of those readers who doesn’t leave reviews at all. I prefer word of mouth and when I find an author I really like, I’ll tell anyone who’ll listen to go buy those books. And when I find an author I like, I’ll buy their books. Two per month at the moment…
(And I probably answered your question and a whole lot more! ?)
When i first got kindle, i only read free books. In fact most of the authors i read now came to be my new favorites because i read their free book first. I think its a great way to check new author s out. Sometimes i get a month of kindle unlimited when i can afford it. I tend to try out new authors that way too. Otherwise i look for 99 cent deals by my favorite authors or put certain new books on my wish list until i can justify spending a little without my husband noticing. Lol. It depends. When i really love a book after reading it once, i will buy it when i know ill read it again and again. But theres other free books on my kindle that i will prob never read and wish i could delete. I deffinitly judge a book by its cover.
I like it when the first book in the series is free, especially when I don’t know the author. If I like the book, I’ll definitely buy the next ones in the series. In fact, I’m on book 3 of a series right now and the first book was free.
I have found so many authors that way!
I do, however, end up with a lot of books at times. I am selective with the free books though. If I know I’m not interested, I don’t download it. I read all of the descriptions first.
I know reviews help authors, so I leave a review on the books that I like. (Which is most of them!)
I don’t know if this helps, but I hope that it does. :)
I first downloaded valerie comer “rasberries and vinegar” i thought eh, maybe. I read it. Then i bought the entire series. Then arcadia valley happended. Ive bought 6 so far. But all of those books are on my wish list. The same thing happended with hope callaghan, carol moncado, traci hilton, christy barritt, lee tobin McClain janice thomson and so many others.
I cannot do ebooks and I like the paper back books love to hold the book in my hand Thanks so much!
I often find new authors through free books, before I discovered groups that discussed Christian Fiction authors, that was the only way I knew to find new authors. I’m still picky about price, I love 99c preorders and always grab favorite authors new books that way, if I really enjoyed an author I will gladly pay $2.99 for a book, $3.99 to $4.99 is okay, over that it had best be someone I can’t bypass. I have not read books because I felt it was too much for a book. I have a higher threshold for the cost of a physical book, but still prefer under $10 for one “I must have”. I prefer ‘owning’ my books so I buy vs Kindle Unlimited or a library.
I’ve been disappointed too many times with free books so I prefer to stay loyal to my favorite authors!
I love free books. I have found new to me authors through free books.
Same here! I love reading all of those authors now and own or want to own all of their books. I also didn’t know who they were or how they wrote until after I received one free book from each.
As a Church Librarian, I enjoy getting free books.
Our budget is small and doesn’t leave us any room for books or supplies just our computer program.
I’m not much for “free e-books” but when it comes to “real” books, count me in.
I have found a number of great authors through picking up free books. I have also run into some horrible books that weren’t written very well or edited very well. I’m much more selective now. I don’t just scroll through Amazon’s free books. If I see a suggestion for an author that I have never read I will look to see if they have a free book that I can try first.
For me. I love new book whether or not they are on Kindle or in Paperback. I would also prefer more giveaways and free books from authors for leaving comments in reading their posts.
I love Love inspired genre of books, as well as the amish and would love to add more books to my collections that I have.