Slightly Off the Mark: draft2digital

I tested a theory this month, and sadly came to the conclusion that I was right. I've learned that my predictions and theories are usually only right if they're bad. Is that pessimism? Come to think of it, I should write a science fiction story about the subject. I could call it The Eeyore Presumption.

"But you probably won't."

Anyway, I'm sure you all know that my novel Coming Attractions has been in the Smashwords Summer/Winter sale for a few years now. My hope was that a whole lot of people would download it for free, and some might leave a review and/or buy some of our other books. I mean, it's free, right?

But Coming Attractions first came out seven years ago, and I've been promoting it the whole time. My rather pessimistic theory is that if anyone who knows or follows me wants to get the book for free, they already have. Social media isn't the promotion platform it once was, and while I see new faces from time to time, all the old faces have had several chances to pick it up.

As I write this, the July promotion is mostly over, and I've moved ... four copies.

Some of you might remember that old expression, "You can't give them away". It's not a complimentary expression.

Maybe what I should do is write a sequel, and use the original as a loss leader (as promotion people put it). I had a side character in mind to be the lead in a second novel, anyway, and I like writing series. I even established in a Christmas short story that the world of Coming Attractions is set in the same world as the Storm Chaser series. Crossover potential?

Well, then ... back to writing. I should be encouraged to hurry by this photo I stumbled across online:

A little spooky, ain't it?

There's still a little time to pick up free and reduced price books over at Smashwords. Here's mine:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ozma914

But we’ll still be selling the soap, in all those old familiar faces:

· Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0058CL6OO

· Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/search?attributes.contributorId=13727646

· Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4898846.Mark_R_Hunter

· Blog: https://markrhunter.blogspot.com/

· Website: http://www.markrhunter.com/

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozma914/

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkRHunter914

· Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markrhunter/

· Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarkRHunter

· Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarkRHunter

· Substack: https://substack.com/@markrhunter

· Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ozma914

· Audible: https://www.audible.com/search?searchAuthor=Mark+R.+Hunter&ref_pageloadid=4C1TS2KZGoOjloaJ&pf

Remember: Free books have value, too.

Sometimes I get the feeling Smashwords wants Coming Attractions to always be free. This time, as they put it, it's the:

17th annual
Smashwords Read an Ebook Week
Super Sale, running March 1-7!

Only I'm not saying it so loudly. They seem to be making money, and honestly I don't get many sales of Coming Attractions there anyway, so why not free?

You can find the promo here: https://www.smashwords.com/shelves/promos starting--let me check--um, two days ago. This is a great chance to get the books of other authors, free or at a promotional discount. I only have one novel on Smashwords, along with two anthologies with my short stories in them, but those e-books will be free.