Do Giveaways help Sell your Book? With Guest Blogger Joshua Graham

Win an autographed copy of Beyond Justice today at the Book Boost!


We are chatting with author Joshua Graham, here's what he had to say...


The Advent of Ebook Readers

Gone are the days where you could only get a taste of a book by browsing through the shelves of a library or physical bookstore. Since Amazon.com started offering free samples chapters online, you could now—from the comfort of your home—preview free excerpts. You could thus decide if you wanted to buy a particular book or not. And by doing a quick keyword search, you could browse through dozens of titles in mere minutes.


Along came ebook reading devices such as SONY E-reader, Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble’s Nook, etc.) Now, with 3G/Wifi network connections, you can browse, sample and buy ebooks anywhere. Even at the beach!


Have you noticed how some writers are giving away entire ebooks for free? “But they’re going to lose money,” you say, with a mixture of worry for the author and secret joy as you find the link and download your copy. Why would an author give away their books for free, or next to free in the form of an ebook?


Well, first of all, it is written: It is more blessed to give than to receive. All right, so maybe you’re not of that persuasion. But if you are in any kind of business that involves customers buying your book, you need to give them a reason to chose yours (besides the obvious of having a solid and desirable product.) One of the best ways to gain favor with people is to give them a gift. I’m not talking about a gift with strings attached. (You can get a free ebook…as long as you agree to buy five more from me in the next three months. You can cancel at any time, yada-yada.)


On occasion, my publisher does free ebook giveaways of some of my titles. The belief and hope is that more people will sample my work because it’s free. And if they really like the free ebook, they are going to want to buy my novels. If not, at least they have a gift with no obligations.


But by giving away books and ebooks for free, the marketing net is cast considerably wider. People who otherwise would not ever bother looking at my work are suddenly downloading the free copies. I believe if my product is that good, they will happily buy other works of mine. And I have found this to be the case.


Amazon.com (Kindle) and Barnes and Noble (Nook) both have regular free ebook giveaways. Many publishers and independent authors are doing the same, hoping to get more fans for their ebook authors.


I am convinced that blessing people with free gifts, while it may seem counterintuitive, will bring you many more fans, if you give them a good reason to come back for more.


Writers, independent as well as traditional publishers do well to be confident in the value of their product and give some away for free. You’ll find readers that might not have ever looked at your book otherwise, and maybe, just maybe find new fans.


A Note from the Book Boost: I totally agree with your observations and as both an author and an owner of (2) e-book reading devices--I can say that free samples and free e-books are crucial in my shopping routine these days. Thanks for joining us today and please tell us more about your book.


Blurb:


THE DESCENT INTO HELL IS NOT ALWAYS VERTICAL…

Sam Hudson, a reputable San Diego attorney, learns this when the authorities wrongfully convict him of the brutal rape and murder of his wife and daughter, and sends him to death row. There he awaits execution by lethal injection.

If he survives that long.

In prison, Sam fights for his life while his attorney works frantically on his appeal. It is then that he embraces the faith of his departed wife and begins to manifest supernatural abilities. Abilities which help him save lives– his own, those of his unlikely allies–and uncover the true killer’s identity, unlocking the door to his exoneration.

Now a free man, Sam’s newfound faith confronts him with the most insurmountable challenge yet. A challenge beyond vengeance, beyond rage, beyond anything Sam believes himself capable of: to forgive the very man who murdered his family, according to his faith. But this endeavor reveals darker secrets than either Sam or the killer could ever have imagined. Secrets that hurtle them into a fateful collision course.

Beyond Justice, a tale of loss, redemption, and the power of faith.

Excerpt:

The question most people ask when they first meet me is: How does an attorney from a reputable law firm in La Jolla end up on death row? When they hear my story, it becomes clear that the greater question is not how, but why.

I have found it difficult at times to forgive myself for what happened. But a significant part of the answer involves forgiveness, something I never truly understood until I could see in hindsight.

Orpheus went through hell and back to rescue his wife Euridice from death in the underworld. Through his music, he moved the hearts of Hades and Persephone and they agreed to allow Euridice to return with him to Earth on one condition: He must walk before her and not look back until they reached the upper world. On seeing the Sun, Orpheus turned to share his delight with Euridice, and she disappeared. He had broken his promise and she was gone forever. This failure and guilt was a hell far worse than the original.

My own personal hell began one night almost four years ago…

Want More Joshua?

Visit his website here: www.joshua-graham.com
Follow him on Twitter here: www.twitter.com/JoshuaGraham
Pick up your copy of his book today. Click here!

Contest Time:

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