Doing What You Do
I received this in an email yesterday from Billy Crook. We've never met before, he just came across my book online and sent me this message:
I just finished reading it. (I started Monday evening) I don't usually read fiction, but I couldn't minimize, let alone close your book until I had read it all. When you publish, I will gladly buy a copy. I appreciate that you didn't load down your pdf file with all sorts of no-print, no-copy restrictions. Actually I don't really know that you didn't, since I have no need to copy or print, but I use an alternative reader, which chokes up on the Adobe DRM encryption stuff. If you're open to it, at some point, you might want to add your book to Project Gutenberg, which would pretty much guarantee it's existence and instant availability to everyone for eternity.Great job on the book. You're a talented and cultured writer. Good luck on the publishing process.
This is why I do what I do. This is not the only positive feedback I've received on my book, but it's the most recent unsolicited feedback, so I asked permission to blog it. These comments have not only improved my day in general, but have given me something to think about. The idea of opening the book up and putting it on Project Gutenberg is an interesting one. Maybe this book becomes an always-free lead to the new ones I'm working on for future release.
What would you do?
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Hey Blake,
I think you making the book available for free at your site was a great and bold move.
I think Billy Crook is one of the many people who is potentially a brand-new category of devoted fan.
I have also downloaded your book and plan to buy a hardcover copy as soon as it is available. I think you have created or at least tapped into this new type of fan-base... People who are instantly so enamored with your book, and unbelievably happy to be able to legally acquire a PDF by free download... and now we want the hard-copy real-deal... even though we already own the free version.
I would consider this a new brand of "uber-fan". All the word-of-mouth (or word-of-blog), devotion and viral marketing that money can't buy.
If you run the numbers (or perhaps take a poll), I bet you'll see that you are in a unique situation where you could self-publish and sell a ton of copies of your first book overnight. Potentially gaining LOTS of media coverage in the process... launching a wildly successful career where you write your own deals with YOUR publisher of choice.
I tend to be an optimist.
Posted by: Jeff | August 23, 2006 05:37 PM
I'm with Jeff on this one. I'd self publish before I joined more free content avenues. Another fun thought would be to give some autographed copies to some of the first and strongest fans here who've read it and been part of your journey to getting it published. ;o)
Posted by: Holly Schwendiman | August 24, 2006 09:47 AM