Work for Free? -- ROW80

Writing really is all about the blood, sweat, and tears; not to mention a roller coaster of emotions.

Chasing Shadows, thanks to the final editing changes I just finished, is that much closer to its release date of 5/7/14. As excited as I am to finally get it into the readers' hands, I'm also drained. 

SourceBut now comes the hard part, at least for me... marketing.

So much to plan. I don't have a publicist--although some day, when I win the lottery, I'm going to--so that's just another hat I wear.* I wish it was something that came easily to me. 

I know "free" is part of any good marketing strategy these days. Chasing Memories, book one, will go free for the five days upon the release of Chasing Shadows, book two. Free still bothers me. Maybe it's because I'm just finishing another book, and I know all too well how much work is involved. 

But I also love getting my book out to more people and love to gain new readers. From everything I've read from other authors, the best use of free is in a series. This is my first series, so we shall see.

How do you feel about free? What is the best use of it?

*****

A Round of Words in 80 Days (ROW80) Update

My immediate goals...

Last edits--by Wednesday, 4/23--✓
eARCs out to early readers--by Wednesday, 4/30
Update website--asap
Set up GoodReads giveaway--by Wednesday, 4/30
Set up Release Day signups--by Monday, 4/28
Prepare Release Day posts--by Wednesday, 4/30

Only one check mark, but it was an important one. Off to work on more. 

* An aside: as I was re-reading this post for errors, I noticed a Freudian slip. I had put "that's just another hate I wear". I had to chuckle, so I thought I'd share.