Basically, this is a test of a new sort of ‘business model’.

I will release a free to download, sponsored/ad-supported version of Resurgence in PDF, DRM free format with a Creative Commons license (free to share/attribution/non-commercial/no alteration/deriatives) if there are people willing to donate to make such a version available.

The donations will be my compensation as the author.

Resurgence is a short story/longer flash fiction piece of 2, 263 word count. It’s sci fi/fantasy.

Compensation amount is $ 113.15 ( five (5) cents per word).

Donate $5 or more, and you’ll be listed at the front of the sponsored version as one of the people who’ve made it available for free download. Your name and/or web site link, whichever you choose. The sponsored version will be available here, at my imprint site, and at Smashwords, and hopefully on other people’s web sites shortly thereafter.

The unsponsored version will remain available for purchase for those readers who’d rather not have ‘ads’ in their ebooks (it’s only 99 cents at full cover price).

If the response is good, I’ll do the same for more titles with different sponsorship options.

Do you want to set Resurgence free? Donate!

This is an intriguing idea, and here’s my opinions, plus the way I’d try to implement the idea.

Keep in mind I have downloaded mp3s from indie groups that have sponsors, thus allowing them to offer those mp3 files for free download, so I have had a brush with the concept.

I’d offer a limited number of advertising spaces for a fee, then release the title for free download, having been paid for my work and time in producing the ebook.

The idea being that anyone who downloaded it might go visit the advertisers (or should we call them sponsors?), and then purchase something from them.

Because well, if they didn’t, then I’d have more trouble finding sponsors for the next ebook, wouldn’t I?

And there’s the first con: showing a return on the sponsor/advertiser’s investment.

Will readers visit their links?

How will tracking be done to know that they are visiting from links in my ebook, so that the sponsors/advertisers know their investment is paying off?

Read more »

Goals are challenges we set for ourselves and I finally got around to putting mine out for people to see.

If I may direct your attention over to the right sidebar, or to the new My Goals page, you’ll see that I’m hoping to hit a total of 500 e-books sold by Dec. 31st.

I’ve taken steps to possibly better my odds in achieving that goal.

The first is an addition to my standard copyright statement on my for purchase titles listed at Smashwords, as follows:

“The following permission is granted by the author only to those readers who have legally purchased this Smashwords edition of the title:
You may share this e-book with friends or family that you believe will enjoy it, as long as you do so in a manner intended to prevent anyone other than your chosen recipient from gaining access to it.”

If the wording comes across a bit snotty, sorry. It’s meant to be all legal looking, not snotty.

My second push towards this odds lowering biz is coupons! Click on the titles to read a sample, and pop in the coupon code when asked if you decide to purchase one.

• The Harkfell Chronicles – Coupon code  ‘SF95Y‘  – 35% off of $1.50
• Moon Children: Dark Cravings – Coupon code ‘JP29Z‘  – 40% off of $4.75

My After the Fall series titles could use some luvins:

• Tria’s Tale – Coupon code ‘SU63H‘  – 40% off of $5.25
• Good Intentions – Coupon code ‘KK27T‘  – 40% off of $3.25
• By Chance – Coupon code ‘AC95E‘  – 40%  off of $3.25

Daughters of the Lore: Resurgence is regularly priced at 99 cents, and my shared After the Fall series title, A Little Nip, co-authored with JC Montgomery, is regularly priced at $1.75.

In total honesty, I’m pushing the Smashwords versions because they’re offered in several formats and because I receive 82% as my ‘royalty’.

Of course, sales won’t just edge me closer to that 500 e-books sold goal, but also to the ‘100 copies per title’ goal and something else.

My son’s desktop computer totally cratered on him a couple of weeks back. I want to buy him a laptop for Christmas, so any royalty earnings between now and the end of November (so that I’ll receive the payouts before Christmas) will be used towards the purchase of that.

Wow, three goals in one. Look at me getting all ambitious and stuff!

Of course, selling more than 199 e-books between now and then would be even more helpful and pretty freakin’ awesome.

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

Hehe. Aerin, our lovely hostess for the 2009 Writer’s Challenge both JC and I jumped in on, drew my name from those who completed their February quotas.

So, looks like I’m getting a copy of Elements of Style by Strunk & White to help polish up teh writing skillz.  Cool beans, and thank you, Aerin!