I remember when my two kids were small, going to Costco was an adventure. They loved climbing around on the big stacks of toilet paper (which we were later told was a no-no! lol) and eating the samples they served there. I also loved the free food that kept the kids happy and occupied while I shopped. It was a win-win for everyone, including Costco because I always ended up buying at least one of the items we sampled.
Just like Costco, many authors love giving out freebies, too. Yes, we spend a lot of sweat and tears creating a story and its characters and we wouldn’t be able to sustain our writing jobs if we gave all our books away. But when we can offer a book for free, we’re happy to do so. Free books are how I met many of you here! I know that giving out these samples of my writing is a great way to meet the most important people in my author life—my readers!
What do you think of free books? How many of your favorite authors did you meet through a freebie of theirs? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
And if you’d like to enjoy a sample of my work, you can receive my book Second Chance Sweethearts for free when you sign up for my newsletter. Just go HERE to subscribe. I look forward to connecting with you!
A chauffeur and referee by day (AKA a stay at home mom of two), Liwen Y. Ho writes inspirational and sweet romance infused with heart, humor, and a taste of home (her Asian roots).
I must admit, but when I want a free book I just go to the library.
I love the freebies! And yes, that’s the way I have discovered most of my favourite authors, you included, and subsequently spent quite a bit on buying more books by those I enjoyed.
Blessings this Memorial Day Liwen, Inspy Romance authors and readers. When I retired a decade ago, I discovered many new authors through freebies and 99 cent boxed sets, which led me to the Inspy Romance blog. With a tall TO READ pile, I purchase most of my books. If a new release or book is more than I want to spend, as Mary Preston mentioned above, I enjoy browsing trips at the local libraries. Best wishes.
Oh, wow, my world was opened way up when I received my Kindle as a Christmas gift and found free CF books!! I found Autumn MacArthur and Hallee Bridgeman, and Autumn led me to the Inspy Romance blog. I also found Jo Grafford, Heather Blanton, and many, many more indie authors that I’d never heard before! I found that I love their books as much, if not more, than trad published ones!! And, the majority I found from a free book somewhere, which led to other authors and groups on FaceBook.
Welcome today. I am on a $0 budget for buying books right now. So getting free books from authors that I dont know is a fun experience for me. I get to sample their writing style and find out of I love it or like it or not. I have found so many new authors that I enjoy this way. I thank all of them for sharing with us so we can sample their style.
When I first got an e-reader, free books were wonderful – and I did meet LOTS of new authors that way – many that have been part of InspyRomance! I still get excited about freebies, although now I’ve usually already purchased the books most of the time :-) My library carries very few Christian romance books (unless I’ve asked them to for launch teams), so I’m very thankful for the free or 99 cent sales!
Hi Mary! That makes sense, especially if you like to read print books. Thanks for commenting!
Hi Jeannette! Yay, so glad to hear you’ve benefitted from the freebies (as well as helped the authors)! Thanks for commenting!
Hi Renate! Thank you and Happy Memorial Day to you, too. Yes, with all these freebies and sales, there are more than enough books to read, aren’t there? So glad you found Inspy Romance this way. Thanks for commenting!
Hi Trudy! Yes, it’s a whole new world! That’s a great way of putting it. :) I’m so glad you found your way here to this group. Thanks for commenting!
Hi Lori! Yes, free books are a great way to sample an author’s style! So glad to hear you’ve benefitted from them. Thanks for commenting!
Hi Margaret! Haha, I’m like you, I get excited about free books, too. :) That’s cool that you’ve asked your library to carry some Christian romance books; we need more of them available there. Thanks for commenting!
Hi Liwen!
As a reader who’s on a budget, I love them, along with the next best thing: box sets that are on special deals. :) They’re definitely a great way to sample an author’s writing and have led me to follow them on social media, subscribe to their newsletters, as well as check out some (if not all) of their backlists. Of course, I try to “give back” by reviewing those books where I can and talking about them in different groups (if there’s a chance).
I have found quite a few new-to-me authors through free books when I signed up for their newsletters. And because some of them are our authors here on IR, I have subscribed to Kindle Unlimited for the last two years because I can borrow their books :-) Win/win in my book!
Lest I sound greedy, I don’t follow the authors JUST for their free books, but because I love their writing & stories. I also follow quite a few on Facebook or through their blog too so I can keep up with what’s happening in their lives. You are one of them, Liwen, that I love to keep up with and discovered both here & reading your books & reviewing a couple of them ;-)
I have to admit that is how I have met authors and found out if I want more of their books. Though I tend to take freebies if books I am more likely to read.
Hi, yes who doesn’t like a freebie, I have met some authors from some books that I have won and have liked , I have bought more books written by them because I really liked their style. Have a Great week and stay safe.
Hi Priscila! Oh yes, box sets are great, too, and kinda like freebies considering how many books you get with each one. And you definitely give back in so many ways to help authors! So thankful for your support!
Hi Trixi! Oh yay, Kindle Unlimited is a great program for avid readers. :) And you don’t sound greedy at all! Thank you for supporting authors, including myself!
Hi Erralee! Same here! Thanks for commenting!
Hi Alicia! Yay, I’m so glad you and the authors you support have both benefitted from freebies. :) Thanks for commenting!
It was buying an iPad, hearing about e-books, their freebies and box sets that got me started on my CCF journey. I hadn’t read for years, thinking there was no good fiction available with a Christian world view.
What a joy to discover all you wonderful God inspired authors out there! I now have a TBR pile an electronic mile high!! I am quick to pre-order stories by my many favourite authors, and review as often as possible.
Hi Margaret! How wonderful! I’m so glad you found CCF. Thanks for supporting your favorite authors!
You are all so amazing. I enjoy learning about new author’s through their books. Yes, free books are fabulous to learn whether you enjoy an author’s writing. Thank you so much for sharing. Happy Memorial Day. God bless you.
I too love freebies like when I win a book. Although if I am not interested in the book or its not a book I know I will read I will say pick another winner. I did this more when I know I wasn’t reading much or I already had the book.
I have found some new authors to me. (Like you) and have bought more from that author.
I also have won or been offered a freebie which I haven’t liked and that too can be a little tricky. Especially when winning the author says to leave reviews at certain places. This happened at Christmas I actually won a book when I was commenting on posts (at a party) not trying to win just cos I like to comment (as you would know at CRRG) But when I won I was really happy till I got the book and the expectation to read it within a short time and to review at X amount of places.
When I get a freebie to help promote the book and author it is different I will only request the book if I know I have the time to read and post when the author needs it. Right now my pain is up till the next treatment which means I tire easier and concentrating can hurt. So I know not to request at this time. (Ok I am rambling)
Hi Debra, I’m so glad you’ve benefitted from free books! And thank you for your support! Happy Memorial Day to you, too!
Hi Jenny! Oh, that’s surprising that you were asked to leave a review in exchange for a gifted book. Just to let you know, authors are not allowed to require reviews in exchange for a book (Amazon’s rules), so I hope in the future you won’t feel obligated to review unless you want to.
Hope you can get some rest! Thanks for commenting!
can be interesting; one author offered a “free” book as a prize, but the author withheld the epilogue until the reader finished the book and proved it before she would send it
Hi! Oh dear, that doesn’t sound good at all. :( I would hope “free” means free, without any expectations on the reader’s part. I hope this kind of thing doesn’t happen often. Thanks for commenting!
Oh I didn’t know that. this is an author I don’t know and I think is clean not CCR. I won two from the party the other just said I hope you enjoy the book which I know I will cos its an author I have always liked. It was the first time I was asked the way I was and almost said pick another winner cos it felt like pressure. I haven’t read the book and probably won’t due to this. (It wasn’t anyone from here).
I’ve met some of my favourite authors through free book sites & then subscribe to them.
I got a few free books & became my favourite authors
I discovered Elizabeth Maddery. I like free ebooks. I have recommended many ebooks to my public library. Kindle Unlimited has opened a world of CCF. Just a tip to say money on Kindle Unlimited in the US, you can buy yourself a 6, 12, or 24 month gift subscription. On the day you set it to start you will have to call or chat with Amazon because their software does not recognize that humans buy themselves gift subscriptions and you want the money taken off immediately and all at one. There is no hassle. For example, I paid $151.71 for 24 month gift subscription which works out to $6.32 a month versus $9.99 plus tax per month for the regular price. I may work in other countries but I know it works in the Us. You can use an Amazon gift card to pay a gift subscription for Kindle Unlimited.
I omitted an important word in the above post. You can not use an Amazon gift card to pay for Kindle Unlimited. I’m so sorry about my error.
Hi Amy! That’s great how that worked out! Thanks for commenting!
Hi Sylvain! Yes, isn’t that great how it works out? Thanks for commenting!
Hi Jcp! That’s awesome that you found Elizabeth that way!
I didn’t know about this option to gift yourself a subscription to Kindle Unlimited. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Liwen,
Yes, I’m like so many of these wonderful people. Who doesn’t like free stuff!
I think I met you during a free promotion. I’ve met many authors this way and they continue to be authors I will buy books from.
I try to buy other books from the authors because I know this is their livelihood. I want to support them so we will continue to have wonderful CCR books to read.
Hi Marylin! Yay, I’m so glad we met through a freebie! And thank you for supporting authors! Each purchase does make a difference!
I couldn’t have read Christian fiction until much later if I hadn’t had a few pages of free books (especially historical ones like Julie Klassen or many of Francine Rivers) free books introduced me to Christian fiction.
Hi Lilly! Isn’t that great? So glad you were introduced to CF that way! Thanks for commenting!