do you wonder why authors give books away?

Hey, friends: I get it! It’s hard to commit to buying a book, to reading a book, to giving a new author a try when there are so many new releases by authors you already know begging for your love.

But I’ll tell you what’s even harder: finding readers as a relatively undiscovered author.

A case in point: I just finished reading a book by a fellow Historical Novel Society author, Laurie Marr Wasmund. Catching It Lovely was published in 2025. It won a 2026 Colorado Authors League award for historical fiction, and it is short-listed for the 2026 Colorado Book Awards. In the novel, Laurie brilliantly evokes mid-1800s immigrant New York, Chicago before and after the 1871 fire, and the front range of the Rockies before the vistas were spoiled by housing developments. It explores her family’s legacy through the story of her great-great grandparents, who homesteaded on the Colorado plains in 1875, and required extensive research, a deep understanding of her Scottish heritage, and, I’ve no doubt, oral histories handed down by her ancestors.

It’s beautifully written and original. No AI here. But this book on Amazon has only two ratings (both 5-star) and only one review (mine). It ranks as number 1,564,819 on Amazon by sales.

This is a crime. So many fans of historical fiction should discover this book, read it, and tell their friends about it. But how do we make that happen?

I have the same issue with my latest three books: Once Upon a Marriage, The Little Iowa Bookshop, and What She’d Do to Save You. Those three books, despite a Colorado Authors Award and a plethora of appearances at bookstores and book festivals, have garnered a total of twelve 5-star reviews on Amazon and two anonymous 3-star ratings from critics too disinterested or compromised to write a review.  After fifteen years writing fiction (and twenty years as a journalist writing non-fiction), I have yet to attract a loyal audience, with the exception of two or three long-held friends, friends I’ve had from as far back as kindergarten.

What does work?

Clearly, winning awards is not the answer. For one thing, when a book wins an award, it raises the expectations of readers – many of whom have never read a book by that author before and owe her no loyalty. As soon as a book receives a Pulitzer or National Book Award, its ratings on Amazon decline.

Further, there are too many awards out there. I know writers who enter every money-grubbing book-award contest they can find to collect medallions for the front covers of their books, to no avail. There are respectable contests, but I’m afraid the proliferation of awards from for-profit companies that have no intention of helping readers separate the wheat from the chaff are robbing the good ones of meaning.

What does sell books, of course, is the endorsement of a TikTok influencer, who is most likely a reader of fantasy, romantasy, romance or sci fi. Not a lot of influencers with a big following are historical fiction fans.

Another key to boosting sales: a large number of reviews with an average rating above 4.0. That encourages others to give a new author and a new book a try.

What also “sells” books are give-aways. Obviously, that’s not “selling,” but it can help raise a book’s profile by generating reviews. An author can give away her ebooks on Amazon for a short period of time, hoping to garner enough readers that the meager 5-10% who write reviews will begin to add up. I know of one self-published author who acquired nearly 5,000 reviews this way.

Of course, you can’t eat reviews. Selling an ebook for 99 cents can boost both sales and reviews but accrues no profit for the author. What a great business model, huh?

 But, barring a miracle of unbidden publicity or literary serendipity, it’s one of few recourses indie writers have. So, I’m putting the ebook of Once Upon a Marriage out there for free this week. It’s a limited time give-away. I hope the freebies generate enough reviews that more people will give it a try, and maybe some of them will even pay for the book. Eventually, I’ll also do a short-term sale of the book for 99 cents, as well. I’m not sure people who only read free and cheap ebooks are the best judges of literature or writers of reviews, but I really want people to discover and enjoy it. You can get your free copy by going to Amazon and choosing the ebook version. Select the Kindle version for $0.00 to buy.

Meanwhile…

I released my two new books, What She’d Do to Save You and The Little Iowa Bookshop, at the

beginning of this month. You can find them on Amazon, and your neighborhood bookstore and library can order them for you from Ingram.

Reading, reading

I’m reading The Crazies: The Cattleman, the Wind Prospector, and a War Out West, by Amy Gamerman, a fascinating and extensively researched book about a battle over windmill construction in the Crazy Mountains of Montana, which was once one of my favorite backpacking destinations. It’s a dense 400+ book that covers everything from the history of the region – going back to the geologic formation and the arrival of Clovis man – to the court fight over whether a couple of ranchers would be allowed to build a windmill farm on their property, affecting the view of the mountain range from their neighbors’ homes. It’s not a quick read, but it’s a great way to understand both the West and the promise or failure of wind energy to mitigate climate change and fossil fuel pollution. (I wish I could read faster! I have 35 books on my wish list and 12 on my reading table. So little time!)

I also started to listen to the audiobook for Land, by Maggie O’Farrell (Hamnet), but I stopped. While I was listening, I grew extremely jealous. “I want to read this,” I thought. “I don’t want the narrator to have all the fun!” Listening to audio while I’m on my morning walk doesn’t allow me to stop, go back and “reread” a great sentence or terrific description. It doesn’t allow me to bask in someone’s great writing, which is what O’Farrell famously produces. So, I discarded the audiobook and bought the book. It will be my next read, before the others…

Have you ever had this experience? Deciding that you need to read rather than listen in order to get the most out of a book you’re enjoying?

I’ve had two of my books turned into audiobooks: The Rebel Nun and The Candlemaker’s Woman. If you’d like a free download of The Candlemaker’s Woman audio, let me know. I have just a few left to give away.

Coming events:

Sandra Dallas and I will be discussing our latest books and other things at West Side Books in Denver (3434 32^nd St.) starting at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24. Sandra always draws a crowd; I am lucky to get to present with her.

Other events:

Oct. 4-7, Mountain and Plains Independent Booksellers FallCon. Renaissance Hotel, Denver. A few of my books will be included in the CIPA booth.

Oct. 10, Everyday Girl Adventures, 2506 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs. 10 a.m.-noon, book signing.

Oct. 23, Author Showcase, Colorado Authors League and Tri-Arts Project, Cantril School, 312 Cantril Street, Castle Rock, 4:30-7:30

November 21, Aspendale Littleton Book Fair, noon-3 p.m. 5355 S. Alkire St., Littleton, CO

Thanks to all of you who read, and especially those who read my books. Please, consider writing a review for whatever books you read.