I know what you’re thinking. This has to be some kind of gimmick. There is no way that I or any other author, would give you my e-books for free. After all, you know I’ve put hours of labor into the books, from writing, editing, formatting, cover designing, and publishing them.
This isn’t a trick. There are two ways to get e-books for FREE.
1. Apply to be a reviewer
Did you know that authors are always looking for someone to be a reviewer? After all, reviews are ways to get noticed in the author world. Amazon supposedly promotes books more on their website if it has 50 reviews. People who are unfamiliar with a book will often determine a book’s value by reviews.
Reviews don’t have to be complicated. They can be as simple as: I liked the book because of _______. Or this book has great characters and a fast-paced plot! Or I recommend reading this book! It was awesome! Simple reviews can make an impact, even if it doesn’t seem like it. Also, if you don’t like the book and don’t want to leave a review, you can. Authors, by law, can’t require reviews (though we can beg for them!).
So, if you like to read books, can write a few sentences about them, then please apply to be a reviewer!
Etania’s Worth E-Book: https://storyoriginapp.com/reviewcopies/013b06e6-82ee-11eb-8c94-fb3b96450a8e
Etania’s Calling E-Book: https://storyoriginapp.com/reviewcopies/908a1e0e-68ee-11ec-8f1c-23014aadf654
Etania’s Destiny E-Book: https://storyoriginapp.com/reviewcopies/67e99f7a-f513-11ee-8656-b764d56e33ee
By the way, if you join StoryOrigin as a reviewer, you can get other free e-books, too!
2. Borrow the book through the library
I made the difficult decision to put my books on OverDrive rather than offering them on Kindle Unlimited. I’m not alone. Many authors have decided to put their e-books on OverDrive so that they can access libraries.
Why? Because they don’t want to feed the Amazon beast, but still want to give people with low book budgets a chance to get my books for free.
So, how can you get my books (and many others)? Here are the steps:
Step 1: Get a library card.
You can do this by searching for your library and applying online or going to a library in-person. Library cards are free and usually require very little information.
Libraries in the United States: https://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/CommunityServices/find-libraries.aspx
Public Libraries in the World: https://publiclibraries.com/world/
Step 2: Download the OverDrive app.
This app is available in your Kindle store or on your phone. So wherever you read, it is easy to access.
Libraries that use OverDrive can also be found here: https://www.overdrive.com/libraries/
Some libraries may not use OverDrive or its sister app, Libby.
Step 3: Use the library card to log in.
Usually the OverDrive app asks for your card number to sign up for an account, so have it nearby for easy access.
Step 4: Make an account.
Even though it says you can sign up with your card, I had to go the extra step and put in my name and email address. I imagine you will, too.
Step 5: Put in the library’s name.
Even though it says “add a title,” it requires you to know the name of your library or county of your library.
Step 6: Find an e-book.
Using the search bar, look for the e-book you want. Not all e-books are available, which leads me to…
Step 7/8: Borrow or request an e-book.
Click on the book and click borrow. Then, it will ask you if you have a kindle or want to download an e-pub. It will also ask how long you want to borrow the book for. You will need your Amazon username and password if you want to download it directly on to your Kindle.
Requesting a book is a bit more complicated. You have to fill out a form to request an e-book, and you get put on a waiting list. But trust me, it is worth it for authors. If you and your friends all request an e-book, you might just get it! Plus, the author actually gets paid for every library that purchases their e-book.
3. Join an Author’s Email List
Most authors, including myself, offer e-books for free in exchange for an email. They will often join with other authors to expand their reach. Sometimes these books are short stories (like mine), others are full novels. If you want to know about them, consider joining my email list or another author’s. I’m sure you’ll find out about many more great e-books.
