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handling requests for free books
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Tell them you'll mail them a signed bookplate to put in their copy, and give them the URL to buy it at? Encourage them to bring their copy when they come to visit? Explain that each copy costs you money and you wrote the book to make money?
Can I jump in, at the risk of sounding frazzled? - I am frazzled, I've written a book for eight years, I've sunk serious money into the research, and I've come to the awareness I'm too strange to trad-publish. When I mention I'm writing a novel, friends, family and people on the street - few of whom offered much along the journey - ask, first thing, Can I have a free copy?
Ooh, very honestly, I've resolved that my answer's going to be: I'm an indie. I'll be lucky to make back what I've spent on research. Cough up the five bucks.
Mind you, my resolve hasn't been tested.
Bryn wrote: "Can I jump in, at the risk of sounding frazzled? - I am frazzled, I've written a book for eight years, I've sunk serious money into the research, and I've come to the awareness I'm too strange to t..."I hope you can stick with your proposed answer, Bryn. I've just ignored most of these requests and they eventually stop. If they won't spring for a $1.99 ebook, why should I "give" them the paperback that costs $12.95?
I wonder if this kind of request goes back to the time when you had to order hundreds of books from a vanity publisher and therefore people assumed you needed to "get rid of" them? Maybe an explanation of what POD means would work. We pay for each and every book we order, plus postage, and see very little profit. Good luck!
I included my potential "giveaways" as part of my advertising budget. I just tell family and friends that they are now part of my marketing team and that they need to spread the word about my great book. Sort of the ol' "With this book, I charge thee to go forth into the wilderness and spread the word of this most excellent story." Most family and friends join the team.I don't have hard evidence, but I am pretty sure that I have at least broken even on each of my giveaways.
I didn't give away any copies of my paperback. Not even to my parents. :) I felt that if I started to give them away then anyone who didn't get one would feel bad. It was easier for me to say no to everyone. It didn't seem to negatively affect my sales or friendships. People were usually happy to feel like they were helping me out by buying a copy. If someone really didn't have the money I pointed out that they could go the library and borrow one for free.
Missy wrote: "I didn't give away any copies of my paperback. Not even to my parents. :) I felt that if I started to give them away then anyone who didn't get one would feel bad. It was easier for me to say no to..."That makes me feel a bit better Missy. The requests...er...demands came from my brother and his adult kids who haven't even sprung for the $1.99 ebook! Or told their friends about my book. If they have so little pride in my accomplishment, why should I give them a book they'll never read???? Answer: I won't!
Harriet wrote: "Missy wrote: "I didn't give away any copies of my paperback. Not even to my parents. :) I felt that if I started to give them away then anyone who didn't get one would feel bad. It was easier for m..."Glad I made you feel better! I think people ask for free books because they don’t understand self-publishing. I was trad-published when I was younger, and I received free copies of the book from the publishing company (which I did give away). I also had the ability to buy copies of the book at cost to sell at my own readings. It’s different with self-publishing because you usually have to shell out quite a bit of money up-front, and then you are constantly battling your debt which makes it more stressful. As an artist, I would love to give away a book to everyone who really wants one but realistically I know I can’t. My ebook is cheap (99 cents) because there is no cost to me at any stage, and I consider it free publicity.
Missy wrote: "Harriet wrote: "Missy wrote: "I didn't give away any copies of my paperback. Not even to my parents. :) I felt that if I started to give them away then anyone who didn't get one would feel bad. It ..."I'm a published author, with over thirty titles in print, and I have to confess I give away one book to my parents with each new book, and if I've dedicated the book to anyone, they get a copy too. But everyone else has to pay. I still get the author copies, but I work hard to sell them - basically because I need the money (being published doesn't make you rich). It constantly amazes me how many folks assume they can get a freebie. You don't expect a professional plumber, builder or decorator to come and work on your house for free, after all. In my case, I keep getting requests for books from all my backlist, and that always seems to cause some surprise when I don't discount by 50%, too. But since I get an author discount of 50% . . .
Personally, if you write a book, you're a professional, is my attitude. And professionals deserve to be paid for their skills.
Absolutely right, Missy & Michael. Although Legacy of the Highlands is my first novel, I've been a professional journalist for 30 years and as a professional I expect to be paid for my work. Like you, Michael, I gave books to those who provided feedback, etc. during the writing process. Some of those people, in recognition of the work that goes into producing a 350 page novel, refused the freebie and bought their own copy. Plus, they're enthusiastic promoters. 'Nuff said.
Harriet wrote: "Absolutely right, Missy & Michael. Although Legacy of the Highlands is my first novel, I've been a professional journalist for 30 years and as a professional I expect to be paid for my work. Like ..."
And when you promise a book to someone who helped with research or in some other way, for God's sake don't forget to send the book on! Someone did that to me once - promised me a book for a morning's work, and I never got my copy. That did irritate the hell out of me - still does!
Michael...I just looked at your author page. Your books sound like something I'd enjoy reading. I haven't done much promotion in the U.K., but two newspapers in Scotland have run stories about me and my book. I'm more famous there than here (the state of Maine in the U.S.).
Harriet wrote: "Michael...I just looked at your author page. Your books sound like something I'd enjoy reading. I haven't done much promotion in the U.K., but two newspapers in Scotland have run stories about me ..."
Well, the Scots called me a "national treasure", so I have great respect for their judgement! Good to meet you here.
The cold, hard facts of life are that books cost money, and the costs of postage and handling, especially overseas, are quite considerable.Sometimes I give away books as Christmas or birthday presents to close family members. This works well, I believe.
I usually give one free paperback copy to my mom, one to my local library and one to the person who helped me with the editing. And, like you, Margaret, I'll sometimes give a book away as a birthday, Christmas or wedding gift. Other than that, I encourage people to buy it.Writing is as essential to me as breathing and I don't expect to be able to quit my day job any time soon with the proceeds from the sales of my books, but it certainly is nice to enjoy some financial compensation for all those hours and hours (and, sometimes, years) of blood, sweat and tears.
Absolutely, Cheryl! Sure we love it, but writing is time consuming, and requires effort, probably far greater than non-writers realise!
Question: When friends and family state,"You'll send/give me an autographed copy," how do you reply? Of course a few close friends and family members will receive books as gifts, but how do you diplomatically handle the question from more distant relatives and friends?