[Taylor514ce]

My personal experience regarding Mr. Herley's books might be representative: I downloaded one, and started to read it immediately. I didn't really have the time then, and moved on to other things. Plus, I had other things on my reading list to work through. By the time I got back to it, I found I didn't particularly care for it. I won't go into why - it isn't relevant.

So, I have it, yet won't buy it, because those were the parameters. Here's where it gets interesting, though speculative. I still have it. It's on my reading device. I can well imagine myself finishing up a book while stuck in Logan International and reading what's at hand: this book I downloaded and never read. Will I even remember where it came from or whether or not I paid for it, and if not, how to do so? I suspect not, and the impetus to pay decreases with longevity.

I think there are two types of "buyers" for you, Richard. Those who already like your work, and will download and pay immediately, and those who will pay "on impulse", for a variety of reasons (altruistic support of a writer, of a e-book author, of a fellow forum member). But I think the model of download it now, read it later, and pay much later, doesn't work, if I'm any case in point.

Note, I don't think the failure of the model represents my failure as a paying book consumer nor yours as a talented writer. Time to adjust the model... is the software shareware model at all instructive? "Nagware"? What about how forums such as this exist and even make a profit? Advertising, dare I say it? If you want a free version of the book, you'll have to endure an advert every so many pages, otherwise, pay up front?