Calling All Sky Pirates
There is much talk about eBook piracy around the internet, but for the emerging author, obscurity is far more frightening.
Today, along with my alter-ego, begins a piracy experiment. In the constant struggle to be seen with 800 new books published daily (and that doesn’t count eBooks), I want you to steal my Amazon Gothic Romance bestselling novel Avalon Revisited.
The Kindle version of this book is what hit and stayed on the Amazon Gothic Romance charts for over four months, and now you can download it for free.
Each month, Avalon Revisited‘s Kindle edition consistently sells between 40 and 60 copies. It’s currently ranked at #58,326 in the Kindle Store (4/14 6:36 am).
It’s currently ranked at #184.411 on Barnes & Noble.
Here is the experiment:
- Click here to download a .zip file of Avalon Revisited. It contains the PDF, ePub, html, mobi (for Kindle), and others. No matter which eReader you own (or if you read on your phone or computer), you should be able to read one of the zipped files on your preferred device.
- If you download the free eBook and feel the need to give me something for it, you can donate $1.99 (or any amount) to PayPal. Certainly not necessary, but appreciated.
- For the Kindle, you can buy it for $2.99 from Amazon here.
- For the Nook, you can buy it for $2.99 from Barnes & Noble here.
- For every other eBook reader, you can buy it for $2.99 from Smashwords.
I’ll keep track of my Amazon & BN rankings, Smashwords downloads, PayPal donations, and free downloads from the above link over the next six weeks. At the end of May, I’ll post the results.
Furthermore, spread it around. Tell everyone. Post the .zip files anywhere you like. Leave a comment here (anonymously if you prefer) and tell me where you post it, then I can Tweet it to my followers.
Tweet it, too. “Steal @omgrey‘s book. She wants you to. http://tinyurl.com/4xkdjqw #free #ebooks #steampunk. Plz RT”
Use the buttons at the bottom of this post to share on your networks.
-_Q
Additionally, I’m giving away the eAnthology, Caught in the Cogs, Vol. 1. It is a collection of short stories, poetry, and articles, most of which have been taken directly from this blog.
—->STEAL IT<—-
Alternatively, you can buy it on Amazon, B&N, or Smashwords for $2.99.
What do you think will happen?
Will Avalon Revisited find its way back to Amazon’s bestseller list? Or will it sell fewer copies because I’m giving them away here? Will buyers seek out my other titles? Will anyone donate through PayPal?
I’d love to hear your predictions, as well as any questions or concerns about piracy in general and how that might affect authors.
Caught in the Cogs 
Fascinating experiment! I can’t wait to see the results! Thoroughly enjoyed Avalon Revisited, btw!
Thank you, Sarah! I’m so pleased to hear it. I’m looking forward to the results, too. Konrath saw a 600% increase in sales. I’d love to see those kinds of numbers.
This is terrifically interesting. I’ll be looking forward to hearing about the results in a few weeks!
Thanks! I can’t wait to see what will happen.
Ooooo… I love experiments! This should be fascinating since there are pretty strong opinions on both sides of the ‘give it away for free’ debate. Can’t wait to see how it turns out.
I love experiments, too! This is going to be fun!
I love this experiment, and look forward to hearing about your results! Since I’m writing about e-books, I’ll be sure to “steal” your book when I get home this evening. For now, I’m spreading the word!
Excellent, Laura. Thanks!
[…] O. M. Grey’s *STEAL THESE BOOKS* promotion. […]
Stole then purchased. Really enjoyed it. I think this is a great model for those willing to take the risk. I know I have listed to quite a few pieces of podio fiction over the years(including Sigler, Hutchins, Lowell, and Lafferty to name a few), and then purchased the dead tree edition to say thanks. I don’t know how the experiment works out in all instances… but I’ve found it a great model for me – and hopefully for the authors that I enjoy so very much.
Thank you so much, Doug. I’m happy to hear you enjoyed it. xo
For those of you following this, the results will be posted on http://christinerose.wordpress.com on Wednesday, June 1st.
[…] & Marketing Realities for the Emerging Author and over on O. M. Grey’s blog with Avalon Revisited. And as promised, today I’m posting the results of that experiment. The results are […]
Stolen for the Kobo, purchased on the Kindle. 🙂 Well after the deadline.
Thank you so much!
[…] & Marketing Realities for the Emerging Author and over on O. M. Grey’s blog with Avalon Revisited. And as promised, today I’m posting the results of that experiment. The results are […]