Have you ever subscribed to an author's newsletter for free eBooks?

ownedbycats · 05-18-2023, 01:31 PM

Some authors offer to send a free eBook if you subscribe to their newsletter. Have you ever taken them up on this?

Sirtel · 05-18-2023, 02:42 PM

A handful of times, if it was a book I was interested in. I wouldn't do it just for any freebie.

I unsubscribed from most of them a couple of years later, because they had published nothing else interesting (to me).

ownedbycats · 05-18-2023, 02:46 PM

Same here; if the freebie looks interesting, I subscribe and get it. (I also use an email specifically for the newsletters to avoid spamming up my main one.)

Then I keep the newsletter for a few weeks. If I find the newsletter interesting and not obnoxious I keep it; otherwise unsubscribe.

Deskisamess · 05-18-2023, 02:48 PM

Not recently, but I did a couple of times in years past. I usually unsubscribe after a few months unless I'm really interested in the author's blog.

Gormagon · 05-18-2023, 03:28 PM

No, never. And I don't see a reason why I ever should. The only living author I actually would look forward to for new books doesn't even seem to have a website. And so far Joe Keenan has only written 3 books/novels. But I really like all 3 of them.

meeera · 05-19-2023, 12:30 AM

Yes, but only for authors I already read and like.

gmw · 05-19-2023, 07:39 PM

I refuse to be bribed.

But mostly I just haven't subscribed to any author newsletters, freebie or no.

hildea · 05-20-2023, 11:39 AM

I've done it a few times, and a few times read, or started to read, the free book I got. I can't remember liking any of them well enough to buy more books from the author, though.

On the other hand, there are at least five authors I've discovered by reading fan fiction they wrote and shared for free, and who I've bought two or more books from.

I get several author newsletters that mostly stay unread in a folder, and which I probably should unsubscribe from. The ones I read are by favourite authors. Courtney Milan has one that's mostly about tea

Apache · 05-20-2023, 07:26 PM

I am subscribed to only one author, and it was not for a free eBook. The author is David Drake and I find his emails interesting in a human-interest sort of way.
Apache

Martinoptic · 05-21-2023, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Same here; if the freebie looks interesting, I subscribe and get it. (I also use an email specifically for the newsletters to avoid spamming up my main one.)

Then I keep the newsletter for a few weeks. If I find the newsletter interesting and not obnoxious I keep it; otherwise unsubscribe.

Me too.

Kromaa · 05-21-2023, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martinoptic

Me too.

I'm starting to get into it too. It feels like the early 2000's when I started reading my first lines. The y2k didn't do me any good lol

haertig · 05-22-2023, 12:26 AM

Usually it's because I like an author and want to get updates on future novels. Then I find that they are offering a free book (usually a short story that relates to one of their series that you can buy, as best I recall).

Critteranne · 05-27-2023, 10:56 AM

I've done this a few times. But if I'm interested in the author, I don't need a freebie. I just want the newsletter.

I'd rather sign up for a free book, knowing I will be subscribing to an author newsletter, than enter sweepstakes and get newsletters from about 12 different authors.

mt.msla · 05-30-2023, 09:30 AM

And I regretted it immediately because they started with all the spam

kyrilson · 05-31-2023, 08:51 PM

I subscribe to a few authors I like, regardless of whether there are free ebooks or not.

View Poll Results: Have you ever subscribed to an author's newsletter to get a free eBook?
Yes, and I continued to receive the newsletter	17	28.33%
Yes, but I used a throwaway email or unsubscribed afterwards	5	8.33%
Yes, I have done both 1 and 2 depending on author	12	20.00%
No, I have not	25	41.67%
None of these options fit	1	1.67%
Voters: 60. You may not vote on this poll

05-18-2023, 01:31 PM	#1
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 11,347 Karma: 79528341 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Have you ever subscribed to an author's newsletter for free eBooks? Some authors offer to send a free eBook if you subscribe to their newsletter. Have you ever taken them up on this? Last edited by ownedbycats; 05-18-2023 at 01:34 PM.

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05-18-2023, 02:42 PM	#2
Sirtel Grand Sorcerer Posts: 13,983 Karma: 243829945 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Estonia Device: Kobo Sage & Libra 2	A handful of times, if it was a book I was interested in. I wouldn't do it just for any freebie. I unsubscribed from most of them a couple of years later, because they had published nothing else interesting (to me).

05-18-2023, 02:46 PM	#3
ownedbycats Custom User Title Posts: 11,347 Karma: 79528341 Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Libra H2O, formerly Aura HD	Same here; if the freebie looks interesting, I subscribe and get it. (I also use an email specifically for the newsletters to avoid spamming up my main one.) Then I keep the newsletter for a few weeks. If I find the newsletter interesting and not obnoxious I keep it; otherwise unsubscribe.

05-18-2023, 02:48 PM	#4
Deskisamess Wizard Posts: 2,775 Karma: 45827761 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Ohio Device: iPhone 13 Pro, iPad mini, iPad Pro 12.9",Paperwhite 6.8", Scribe 2022	Not recently, but I did a couple of times in years past. I usually unsubscribe after a few months unless I'm really interested in the author's blog.

05-18-2023, 03:28 PM	#5
Gormagon monstrous mythical beast Posts: 52 Karma: 3494030 Join Date: May 2023 Device: Tab Ultra C, Meebook P78 Pro, TCL 50 Pro Nxtpaper, TCL Nxtpaper11	No, never. And I don't see a reason why I ever should. The only living author I actually would look forward to for new books doesn't even seem to have a website. And so far Joe Keenan has only written 3 books/novels. But I really like all 3 of them.

05-19-2023, 12:30 AM	#6
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,862 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	Yes, but only for authors I already read and like.

05-19-2023, 07:39 PM	#7
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	I refuse to be bribed. But mostly I just haven't subscribed to any author newsletters, freebie or no.

05-20-2023, 11:39 AM	#8
hildea Wizard Posts: 1,321 Karma: 69134700 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Norway Device: PocketBook Touch Lux (had Onyx Boox Poke 3 and BeBook Neo earlier)	I've done it a few times, and a few times read, or started to read, the free book I got. I can't remember liking any of them well enough to buy more books from the author, though. On the other hand, there are at least five authors I've discovered by reading fan fiction they wrote and shared for free, and who I've bought two or more books from. I get several author newsletters that mostly stay unread in a folder, and which I probably should unsubscribe from. The ones I read are by favourite authors. Courtney Milan has one that's mostly about tea

05-20-2023, 07:26 PM	#9
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,306 Karma: 90981752 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I am subscribed to only one author, and it was not for a free eBook. The author is David Drake and I find his emails interesting in a human-interest sort of way. Apache

05-22-2023, 12:26 AM	#12
haertig Wizard Posts: 1,939 Karma: 34855886 Join Date: Sep 2017 Device: PW3, Galaxy Tab A9+, Moto G7	Usually it's because I like an author and want to get updates on future novels. Then I find that they are offering a free book (usually a short story that relates to one of their series that you can buy, as best I recall).

05-27-2023, 10:56 AM	#13
Critteranne Guru Posts: 815 Karma: 23183490 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: MD Device: Kindle, iPad	I've done this a few times. But if I'm interested in the author, I don't need a freebie. I just want the newsletter. I'd rather sign up for a free book, knowing I will be subscribing to an author newsletter, than enter sweepstakes and get newsletters from about 12 different authors.

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05-30-2023, 09:30 AM	#14
mt.msla Enthusiast Posts: 49 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2021 Device: PW 2 3gb	And I regretted it immediately because they started with all the spam

05-31-2023, 08:51 PM	#15
kyrilson Fanatic Posts: 548 Karma: 13511506 Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Cleveland, OH Device: Voyage, Oasis, Kobo Glo HD,iPad Pro, Sony 350 and T2	I subscribe to a few authors I like, regardless of whether there are free ebooks or not.