[Hampshire Nanny]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

I won't start a series until I have access to the whole thing.

I'm pretty much the same -- but "having access" to the whole thing doesn't have to mean being able to get the books for free or from the same source or whatever. I plan my attack on the series looking at free books (or books included in a subscription), books which can be borrowed from the library, or books which have to be purchased. I make up my mind whether I'm willing to buy the later books in the series when I get ready for them. I **don't** buy them up front. I put them on my wish list in case someone wants to give it to me for a gift. THEN, when I get that far into the series, if I haven't gotten the book as a gift and I'm enjoying the series enough, I'll buy the book for myself. But sometimes, I really am not enjoying the series enough to put my money down. And that's fine too.

Originally Posted by copyrite

I lurk in a forum where indy authors have discussed KU strategies... and putting only the first book or first couple books in a series is one of the ideas that has been mentioned, so clearly there are a number of authors who do that deliberately.

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Perhaps it isn't for you. However, I believe the idea behind it is the same idea behind the freebie starter books -- KU subscribers can read all those starters, as well as all the other KU books, without having to pay upfront. Then if they like it enough, they will buy the rest.

And I'm very thankful that the authors and publishers have been giving away freebies. There have been quite a few that I picked up which led me to obtain the subsequent books in the series. Sometimes I buy and sometimes I borrow from the library.