C Gockel Writes

Why Do a FREE Box Set?

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I Bring the Fire Part I is in a new Urban Fantasy and Paranormal box set: Urban Mythic. Why do box sets as an author? Even more specifically, why do a FREE box set?

The hardest thing to achieve as an indie author is visibility. By combining email lists, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media followings, a group of authors is able to reach a lot more people than they can alone.

Box sets also appeal to voracious readers who are looking for a good value, hence they tend to be downloaded at a much higher rates than single books. The more downloads you get, the higher in the rankings you go, the more visibility you receive. Most readers won’t read all the stories, but it’s one of those instances where you still wind up exposed to so many more fans just because of the sheer volume of exposure.

GMFinally, box sets can allow us to reach slightly different audiences. A book only has one cover, but a book often has multiple facets, and a slightly different cover on a set can appeal to a different audience. The Gods & Mortals cover is more romantic. Urban Mythic has a more urban fantasy/adventure feel to it. Both types of readers will find I Bring the Fire satisfying, but they’ll be drawn by different covers.

Both of these sets were coordinated by my friend Christine Pope and me. Christine’s excellent Djinn War series appeals to I Bring the Fire fans who like mythology and the intersection of magic and science. Her series is unique because it offers a rather canonical take on Arabian djinn.

There are a lot of other gems in this set. There are stories about Norse and Greek Gods, a twist on vampire lore from a Greek perspective, werewolves, faeries, centaurs, and several interesting and respectful takes on the Christian mythos. I’m really delighted to introduce my readers to all these novels. Which is another reason to do a set–the opportunity to share with your readers stories you know they’ll love!

Urban Mythic is FREE on Amazon US (UK and Canada too–we’re working on Australia), Kobo, iBooks, GooglePlay, Nook, and Smashwords.

Ragnarok is Now Available in Audiobook Format!

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If you own the Kindle version it is only $3.47 to purchase the audiobook from Audible! If you don’t own the Kindle version, the least expensive option is an Audible trial, or to request your local library purchase it. However, if you are an iBooks fan–or Audible is unavailable in your country–you can get it on iBooks, and it’s also available from Barnes & Noble.

It isn’t announced anywhere … but my publishers snuck The Fire Bringers in at the end, just like the slipped The Slip in at the end of Fates.

 

Why I participate in free Kindle Giveaways

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CJ Brightley’s Kindle Giveaway. Besides the opportunity to win a Kindle, CJ gives readers a chance to win free ebooks, including the box set version of I Bring the Fire, a $7.99 value. She also gives readers a chance to opt out before receiving offers from the various authors.

For a long time as an author I avoided Kindle promotional giveaways.

Here’s how they usually work:

  • Authors collaborate to pay for a Kindle and raffle hosting.
  • All the authors in a giveaway send an email to their mailing lists and post the offer on their blogs, Facebook pages, Twitter, and other social media accounts.
  • Readers enter the giveaway by entering their email address.
  • At the end the organizer contacts the winner(s), and shares all of the collected email addresses with the various authors.

I was worried that by participating in these giveaways I was spamming my readers and betraying their trust.

What changed my mind? An author posted on a public board about how her computer died. She couldn’t write, and at the time she didn’t have money to buy a new one. She also has kids, so she couldn’t easily just take a second job to save for one. She began entering every single laptop giveaway she could find. She eventually won one, got her free laptop, and was able to resume her writing. She is now a full-time author.

Kindles are terrific for people who don’t have a lot of funds. eBooks by indie authors are cheaper than paperbacks, and traditionally published eBooks are becoming more common in libraries. Also, traditional publishers are more likely to put the eBook versions of books on sale.

Kindles and other eReaders are also great for people with various disabilities. First, the text can be blown up to accommodate poor eyesight. Brightness can similarly be adjusted. Kindles are also lighter, which is great for some muscular disorders. Finally, because eBooks can be bought and borrowed online, there is no barrier for people who are housebound .

I’ve begun participating in Kindle Giveaways, and I may host one myself in the not too distant future. They give my fans opportunities to win free books, and Kindles. They give me a chance to network with other wonderful authors, grow my mailing list, and hopefully make some new dedicated fans.

I have noticed that they vary in quality. One organizer of a giveaway I subscribed to (because I subscribe to all the ones I participate in) emailed readers three times afterwards. It may have been an error in mailing list management, but I had to unsubscribe from her list 3 times before she stopped sending me emails, and it was frustrating! To protect my fans from that sort of annoyance, I won’t participate in one of her giveaways again. But I will participate in ones like CJ Brightley’s and e.b. browns. E.b. limits mailing list signups to just authors readers chose to be contacted by, not all of them. CJ sends a welcome email and lets readers unsubscribe just once before getting a deluge of emails from participating authors.

So, if you need a Kindle, or know some one who does, try them!

CJ Brightley’s Kindle Giveaway

e.b. browns Kindle Giveaway and mega ebook sale.

Warriors is Now Available as an eBook, Paperback, and Audiobook

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Warriors: I Bring the Fire Part V (A Loki Series) is now an audiobook available at Amazon/Audible and iTunes (Start listening to Wolves: I Bring the Fire Part I for as little as $2.99–find out how.)

It is also available as a paperback from Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.

Of course it is still available as an ebook from Amazon, Nook, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play and Smashwords.

When science meets Chaos, what could go wrong?

Bohdi Patel is keeping the revelation that he is Chaos incarnate a secret, and handling the revelation about as well as one would expect. He’s in a downward spiral: losing his lease, totaling his car, and trying to keep everyone he cares about at arm’s length.

Veterinarian Amy Lewis is wondering what happened to the funny, flirty, curious Bohdi she knew in the land of the Norns. He’s become moody and sometimes cruel. She is definitely glad she didn’t become romantically entangled with him … most of the time.

When tragedy strikes Amy’s beloved mutt Fenrir, and Odin strikes Bohdi’s best friend Steve, they have to work together again. Amy’s knowledge of science, Bohdi’s talents for theft, and both of their survival skills are put to the test. But more than Steve and Fenrir’s lives are at stake. Amy and Bohdi may unlock the key that saves mankind from the gods … or bring about the apocalypse.

 

Start Listening to I Bring the Fire on Audio

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Audiobooks

The I Bring the Fire series audio versions are complete! Start listening to the series in audio at Amazon US, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia

Kobo, GooglePlay, or borrow them from Scribd

LISTEN TO (OR READ) THE WHOLE SERIES FREE

I Bring the Fire is available via Overdrive, the ebook and audiobook service for libraries. If your library participates you can read or listen to the whole series free of charge … all you have to do is request they order them. Someone asked me if I “minded” readers getting my books through the library. Loki’s whiskers! I am delighted to be in libraries. Please, request away. Heck, even if you own them, request them from your library so other people can discover them!