No Losers
Tuesday, July 8, 2014 at 8:24AM I've been doing giveaways on my blog for years. Pretty regularly. Right now I'm giving away six of the ten Take Me With You audiobooks the publisher sent me. I enjoy it. I don't mind the postage costs (it's a tax-deductible promotional expense, after all). And I know avid readers struggle with book budgets. And I like rewarding the readers who are so faithful to me and my books.
There's just one thing I don't like about it.
Every time I pick winners, a few of my wonderful fans who did not win leave comments, here or on Facebook, that quietly say something like, "Congratulations to the winners." You can hear the sigh. Some are more directly honest and say, "I never win." Or just sigh.
I don't want readers signing up for giveaways over and over and over and coming away feeling like they never win. That it's always somebody else's name coming out of the hat.
So I've come up with an idea. I sat on it a while. And the more I sit with it, the more I like it.
If you enter seven giveaways and don't win a book, just point out to me the seven you entered. And I'll send you a book. For the dedication of that continued effort. For being someone who's so closely involved with my blog and my books. You can even pick which book you want me to send. Just don't pick an audiobook, please, because I don't keep extras of those lying around the house.
This can be retroactive, too. Think you've already entered seven giveaways? Look back and see which ones they were and then email me. (Hint: There's a blog index in the right-hand sidebar of the blog page. All the giveaways are under "Announcements.") Count them up and only get five or six? Well, I have a giveaway going on now and at least one more for the month of July. Won't take you long to get there.
No more sighs. More reading, less sighing.
Reader Comments (30)
Wow... you are amazing and so generous!!! I am working on seven... I don't think I am quite there yet, but I'm going to count right now! Thank you!!!
Yay! I love this idea! Love it so much!
I love it! There are no losers in life, only whiners!!
What an amazing thing to do!!!
That's what I'm after. Lots of happy enthusiasm. I want the people who follow my work to be happy they do!
Your generosity is amazing. Love your books!
Of course, from a wonderful author, only comes wonderful things!! I's fun to participate but if I don't win, I just keep buying your books!!!
Everyone is a winner if they are reading your books. I have loved them all.
Well, I love your responses, folks. Thank you. But I figure I can give you one book ands you're welcome to keep buying the others. :) Everybody wins!
Catherine, you are an amazing lady! All this coming from the person who invented the phrase "Pay it Forward." You certainly do that, each and every day. Patty Ann and I are so glad to be among your friends and followers.
Wow, that is so generous. Thank you!
Just love your books!!! Can't wait till your new one comes out!!!
Thanks, Pat! You and Patty Ann are just the kind of faithful readers I want to encourage. And Karen and Tina, I left you a message on the audiobook giveaway suggesting you check out this post--but you were way ahead of me!
Where do I enter to win?
Great idea! I've been faced with the same dilemma. In fact my most recent blog post is on that very subject. You solved it in a gracious and uncomplicated fashion. I may have to borrow that!
You are more than welcome to borrow the idea, Eileen. I would love to see a thing like that catch on.
And Viv, you enter each individual contest by commenting on its blog post. The currently active one is for When I Found You audiobooks and the post title is July: the Giveaway Month. There's a link to it in the above post. The words "Right now I'm giving away" are a link.
Catherine, you are a sweetheart. What a nice thing to do. I don't bother entering contests, as I rarely win, but I appreciate that many like doing it and it's one way of getting books. I've read a couple of your books and have enjoyed them immensely. Whoever wins will be getting quite the treat.
Well, now you can enter mine if you choose, Diana, and know that you will win. If you do it enough times. I think you've entered at least two of mine already, haven't you?
What a wonderful gift!
Happy to, Kelly! Where would I be without my readers?
I think so. Thanks, Catherine.
Sounds like a. great story Catherine. I love your writing...Pay It Forward one of my favorite stories.
Thanks, Ann!
I am a new fan and love your books!!! I have read 3 and I am on my fourth now!!! I love your style of writing and development of your characters. Can't wait to read your newest release in a few days!
Wonderful, Laura! Happy to have you as a new reader!
Sorry to say, I haven't entered your other contests. And I'm not entering this one, either, because I never read audio or e-books. I only read hard copy because I have a large bookcase to fill with books.
I can offer this in exchange for a hard copy of TAKE ME WITH YOU: I'd be glad to write a review and post it to various Internet sites such as amazon.com, goodreads.com, librarything.com, and powels.com.
Hi techeditor, Thanks for visiting the blog. I do often give away physical books, so I hope you'll check out future giveaways. I don't give people books in direct return for a promise to leave user reviews, as some consider that review manipulation--a very sensitive topic. Others don't have a problem with it, but I try to be extra careful.
You're right, Catherine. And sometimes (often?) it's true that a book reviewer is dishonest and gives a book a great review because the author provided the book. Heck, I know of a book blogger who refuses to put bad reviews on her site, even comments that disagree with the good review. I know personally.
But I've found that I almost always get a book I want from the author if I say I'll write a review. So I thought it couldn't hurt to say that to you, too.
I'll subscribe to your Web site and watch for a hard copy giveaway. Thanks.
LOVE your "no losers" plan! How very kind and generous of you!
I really value my readers, Julie, and the last thing I want is to send people away disappointed.