Everyone Likes "Free"

Free seems to be the magic word today, especially when it comes to ebooks. I hear comments like "there are so many free books, you don't have to buy anything." It's a great enticement to grab as many free books as you can. Some of my friends have hundreds of books on their device and they haven't paid a penny for any of them.

I like free, too. Who doesn't? But the truth of the matter is someone spent countless hours writing, revising, and formatting that book so others could have it for free. Interesting. As an author, I have made some of my books free for a brief period of time hoping to get name exposure; and sometimes my book would appear free weeks after I had changed the price to normal. Thousands of copies of my book were downloaded onto reader devices at no cost whatsoever to them. While I would like to build up a readership of loyal fans, I didn't plan my writing career to be an unpaid volunteer position.

When I made a decision to be a writer and not hold a day job, my goal wasn't to continue making the same amount of money I had in the corporate world. I wanted to pursue my passion for storytelling and share it with others who enjoy escaping into a good book. I want to entertain, to touch a heart, to bring a smile, a tear, enjoyment to those who read my words.

Writing isn't easy work. It takes months of writing, researching, editing, and rewriting to get my book ready for the public. I spend money on ink, software, paper, computers...all to put out a quality product. I send my work off to editors and then take their input to make the book even better. My story and characters are in the forefront of my mind while I'm driving, cleaning, gardening, cooking, and even in my sleep. It takes me six months from the idea stage to the finished product. That's a lot of hours. I don't know anyone who would go to work for six months for no pay, do you?

Readers might think writing is easy and perhaps that's why they don't think twice about that book they snagged for free. What do authors want from readers they have "given" their book to? Maybe an honest review from the place where they downloaded the book. Maybe a quick note to say "Thank you!" Maybe a recommendation to a friend.

As for me, I plan to "value" my hard work by putting a price tag on it. My books are currently priced at $2.99. What does that make the hourly wage? Less than two cents an hour. None of my friends or family would work for that kind of money. I'm happy to do so, and I hope readers will understand when I don't offer my services for free.

Remember When...Laugh 'Til You Cry!

Below my blog is the information on who won an ebook of Moselle's Insurance by commenting on LoRee Peery's guest blog about the Sisterhood of Romance Writers.

****
Yesterday family gathered at our home to share food, conversation and fun. Our home is not large, nor do we have room for a lot of people in any one room. Since the weather was nice, we turned off the air conditioning and opened windows and the sliding doors from the kitchen to the deck. The food covered the table in the kitchen. The men congregated on the deck to eat and watch football, while the kids carried their plates down to the family room to watch television, and the women congregated in the living room to talk. Eventually, the kids moved outdoors to play. We, the women, listened to the kids laughing and having a good time and began to reminisce about things the kids had done when they were younger. One story led to another, and soon we were laughing so hard tears were rolling down our faces. My cheeks and my sides ached from laughing so hard. Occasionally, one of the men would wander in just to see what they were missing.

And that's what I love most about getting together with family. Sharing memories made over the years and laughing together. Family is one of the greatest blessings God has given me. I'm looking forward to Christmas because more of the family will be able to join us. The house will be overflowing with people and love.

I pray all of my friends who are in the US and celebrated Labor Day this past weekend had a fun and relaxing time. Thanks for stopping by!

****
And the winner is....Donna B.

So, Donna, if you would, please email me through the contact page of my website http://www.carolannerhardt.com/ and give me your email addy to receive your book. Thanks to everyone who commented.

Also, Donna and everyone who left a comment now have their names entered twice in my monthly drawing for a Bath & Body Gift Certificate. There is no limit to how many times your name can be entered. Every comment on one of my blogs gets one entry each and every comment on a guest blog or interview gets two entries each.

The winner of Mended Heart will be announced here on my blog on Friday! Be sure to stop back and see if you are a winner!

Free Ebooks for a Year!!!!

My publisher is offering a very sweet deal for our anniversary Bash! Check these out. All it will cost you is a few minutes of your time!

http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/

Learn all about it: http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/pages/Cross-My-Heart-Free-Read

Book covers, ebooks, and more!!

With the changes in the economy and in technology, the future is uncertain for many writers. There is evidence that times are changing in the publishing world. Publishers are scaling back staff; that's a fact. New authors are having a difficult time getting their manuscripts into the hands of an accepting agent or editor. Many new ebook publishers are opening doors of opportunity for new authors to break into the publishing world.

In a roundtable discussion at a recent Central Ohio Fiction Writers meeting, Sue Grimshaw mentioned the only thing holding back the explosion of ebooks is a "universal" reader. Personally I have a reader and it's a bit clunky in comparison with the newest Sony and Kindle ereaders. I'd love to own a new reader because of the ease of carrying multiple books, and opening a page whenever the opportunity arises. I love reading books, whether they are printed or ebook. What I don't like about ebooks with Kindle is the mentality that I must purchase through Amazon. Each reader takes a particular "format" in order for the book to appear seamlessly.

Another thing that surprised me about book buyers is the importance put on the cover of the book. I asked the question "On what factors do you base your decision when purchasing a debut author's book?" The answer surprised me: book cover, author quotes, and voice. Sue shared several cover flats with us and discussed what's hot and what's not in romance book covers. Since authors have such little voice in what their covers will look like, it's horrifying to me that a cover could make or break sales! Evidently, established and best-selling authors have a small amount of power when it comes to changing book covers. She also said that "yellow" covers do not sell well. Wow! So, yellow isn't appealing to the reader's eye?

Lots of interesting tidbits to consider.

Here are my questions to you:

As a reader, what types of covers are you drawn to? (What tempts you to pick a book from the shelf to peruse it?

Do you own an ereader? If so, does this limit the amount of shopping you do in a bookstore?

Looking forward to seeing some discussion. Thanks for stopping by!

P.S. For a chance to win a free ebook, and a grand prize of lots more, check out the following link: White Roses in Bloom Blog

Free books and more!!

Have you checked out the White Roses in Bloom Blog yet? This is week four in our seven week giveaway. Each week you have a chance to win a free e-book by one of our fabulous authors.

How? By joining our scavenger hunt. Each Saturday two to three new author’s web-sites will be added to this blog. What your job is to locate the WHITE ROSE PUBLISHING cup hiding somewhere on their site. Jot down the author’s name and what color cup is on their web page and e-mail the correct answers to carolann.erhardt@gmail.com (Please place in the subject line WRiB Contest) Each Saturday, starting September 19th, a winner’s name will be drawn and your prize will be awarded.

But that’s not all, each time that you send in an entry—regardless if you win that week or not--your name goes into a larger kitty for the grand prize drawing October 31st! (That prize consists of: seven e-books, a box of White Rose Organic tea, your very own beautiful White Rose mug, and a little basket of Arbonne skin care products.)

What are you waiting for?

Go here to play: http://whiterosesinbloom.blogspot.com

Fall Contest - My Cup Runneth Over

A group of White Rose Publishing authors, myself included, have decided to hold a contest to give away free books. The contest began on Saturday, September 12 and runs through Saturday, October 31st. Each week we'll be giving away a free book and everyone who enters has a chance to win. At the end of the contest, all entrants will be entered into the Grand Prize drawing for a lot more books and more.

Check it out at our White Roses in Bloom blog.

I'm proud to be a White Rose Publishing author. Our books are full of heart, wonderful characters, adventure, suspense, and coping with real life situations. All the books offered are sure to please readers who love character based romance.

Check us out!