Republic released as free eBook, too.
Author Charles Sheenan-Miles knew he was breaking a few rules when he decided to make his own audiobook version of Republic: A Novel of America’s Future and then give it away for free. He’s now decided to be doubly bold, making the eBook version freely available as well.
Okay, so maybe you are wondering why? After all, I’m hoping that within the next few years, I’ll be making enough money from book sales that I’ll be able to write full time. Isn’t giving the book away somewhat counterproductive to that goal?
I don’t think so. Here’s why: the biggest challenge most authors face isn’t online piracy. It’s not people out there diabolically copying their works and distributing them for free. In fact most authors (including yours truly) suffer from a different problem entirely — no one has ever heard of them. After all, literally hundreds of thousands of new titles come out every year, and only a few hundred writers in the entire United States (if that many) actually live off their books full time. So, by giving away the book, I hope more people actually read it.
Well said, Charles. You’ll find many examples of where that’s true here and on several other places around the net. Content wants to be freed, and enterprising authors are discovering that “the system” of old isn’t very conducive to the “underpublished” author. Thank you, new media, for letting us break the rules and realize some dreams!
