I know we were scheduled for Luther today, but something really bad happened to one of our friends. I had to make some arrangements. Luther will have to wait till tomorrow.
In other news, our holiday surprise is finished. We are both quite tired, but we hope you’ll enjoy it.
Meanwhile, let’s talk about this.
has HA considered putting any of the blog content behind a pay wall?
there’s great content that, in my opinion, should be compensated and there seems to be an insatiable demand for it.
I would totally pay a monthly subscription fee to get short stories, POV, and interviews from all these interesting secondary characters. I’d happily pay for the weekly serial too.
Maybe the commitment would create undo stress or take away too much time from writing longer published works. I know they’ve shied away from Kickstarter for good reasons.
I only thought of it because another author I discovered here (or maybe it was originally on Jessie Mihalik’s blog, I can’t remember, but she’s been recommended here) started a $5/ month Patreon where you vote on characters for short stories once a month, you get different POV or background and then readers/writer can discuss. I love it and I realized it’s basically what FrInnday is.
Nothing I say below is any kind of condemnation of anyone who is using Patreon in any capacity. Every writer’s fandom is different.
This question pops up frequently. Gordon and I discussed it for a couple of days, and here are our thoughts on the matter.
First, thank you so much for worrying about us. The COVID and the recession – even though everyone is very stubbornly avoiding this word – hit us hard, as it hit everyone. Our income fell, while prices on everything rose, and it is very gratifying that you feel our work has value and that you remember that we are people with bills to pay. Thank you. It made our week.
Our novel prices will probably go up by a couple of bucks to stay in line with the market prices. We haven’t raised prices in almost 8 years so it’s about time. However, it’s unlikely that our ebooks will cross the $9.99 threshold. An average novel in ebook form is about 90,000 words and costs about $8-9, and we’ll likely stay somewhere around there, unless something weird happens.
If we charged you $5 for access to extras, we would need to reasonably put out 30-40,000 words a month to justify it. That would leave no room for actual fiction. We also can’t ignore the question of quality. Nothing we do on this blog in any given month is worth $5. ::points to collection of recipes, weird short scenes, and assorted silliness::
It’s not like we are writing complete short stories. We tried to do one, and it ate a month and a half.
Then there is the matter of the BDH. Book Devouring Horde is the best fandom out there, and the coolest thing about it is that it’s inclusive. We have readers of all ages and backgrounds. A lot of our readers are on a limited income. Some readers are based in other countries, where $5 is a much more significant amount. Our books are bestsellers in Taiwan, for example. They sometimes make $5,000. That’s great for that market.
Putting up a paywall would cut those people away from all the fun.
The extras we provide are meant as a gift. They will remain as a gift. We love you all. We’re happy you come to hang out with us. If you would like to support us, please buy our books and request them from your local libraries.
We will see you tomorrow with Luther.
Frinnday rules!!
Yet another reason why y’all are awesome.
+1 ????
+ 1 :0)
Truth!
+1
+1
+1
+1 ❤️
+1
+1
isn’t that the truth ????
Beautiful reply – I do free content for my followers (soul family ) – yep I too have bills and ups and downs in income as I am self employed. Patron has been suggested to me by several caring folks – their caring is appreciated much appreciated ! My free conferences are just that – gifts and gratitude for all the years of support and a wonderful community- nothing against patron – I support a few artists on it – 🙂 In alignment with your -beautify reply, thank u for sharing your gifts M
you’re silly ????
Many thanks as always! A lovingly devoted member of the BDH ❤️❤️
Thank you, HA!
I’d only read the intro on my other post. sorry about your friend. whatever you do or need to do is fine with th bdh and with me.
For what it’s worth, I had this same darn reaction around _Sweep of the Heart_; that’s a real book, with real value in it. It was *awesome* being able to read it every Friday for free, but I was confused about how it wouldn’t canabalize sales from the eventual publication. Having been through the entire process, I understand better now (and yup, just checked, already pre-ordered for the 13th; squee!) but I really do want to make sure you folks keep making money from your work, if only selfishly so that I get to keep reading. So please do keep having those conversations, making your best judgement, and feel free to explore alternative pathways as makes sense to you. We might explore them with you :-}.
Yeah…we’ll be the large group of weirdos surrounding you (only tryin’ to keep you safe!) as you wander thru the jungle.
Careful!
Don’t touch that!
Don’t put that in your mouth!
Sorry, we’re kinda annoying…
➕1️⃣❣️ You’re such a selfless friend to those close to you and to all of us.
Don’t forget to take time for yourselves.❣️????????
+1
I hope your friend will be fine!
Thank you so much for our weekly gifts on this blog. You are the best!
Thanks for thinking about us but hope you and your friend are both okay!
And thank you, in advance, for the surprise – whatever it may be, I’m sure the BDH will love it, devour it, and run off and bury it for safe keeping!
You are the best! And we love you and want to shower you with gift.
But I understand completely what you are saying, which is why I have your ebooks but also paper format for most of them.
Sorry about your friend, I hope it gets better.
In the meantime, I’m sending you my love from France,
Laurence
Your big hearts are probably what makes you so great. Hope you and your friend is well.
And this is why the BDH’s answer to anything you say is “Shut up and take our money”. The fact that you respect and care about us makes it so very easy to respect and care about you. Thank you for everything, you have no idea what a gift all of your work is, even the shopping lists. You wrote something short and stupid during one of my chemotherapy appointments last year which had me laughing to the point of tears when I was otherwise feeling pretty rotten and hopeless. Thank you.
Me too! Re-reading everything got me through treatments, except when the benadryl kept knocking me out. Good luck to you.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for all you do! You are so appreciated! Blessings to you and Gordon and Mod R and Kid 1 and Kid 2 and the non humans.
On Sunday the 20th of November my family got together for a birthday brunch for my dad. The topic of books and libraries came up and I told my sister how much I enjoyed your works, all of them. She asked me for a recommendation and I suggested she start with Burn for Me. A week later I got a text that said “what book should I read next”? I said it’s a series, read the next one. She tells me “I already read them all this week, just finished Ruby Fever “. I told her welcome to the BDH, now try the Innkeeper series because there’s a new one out in December.
One of us! One of us! Hehe, a warm welcome to your sister!
You will be assimilated.
Also, enjoy the cookies.
Resistance is futile.
Dear heaven…what kinda weird bug is that? and why is it smiling?
Best. Assimilation. EVER.
I second Mod R’s post. Welcome!
I third Mod R’s post. Welcome Sarah’s sister and greetings from Brisbane Australia.
Dear House Andrews, Thankyou for the joy you bring into our lives and the generosity with which you treat the BDH.
If you point her to KD next, she might last through January. 😉
I would’ve happily signed up, but this gave me warm fuzzies!
????
BDH loves House Andrews!
You guys are simply the best! Much appreciation for your generosity of spirit!
Patreon is an option for authors but it devours the time they have for their main books because they have to provide content for their patrons. One author I have read for over 20 years has a Patreon account and I have to wait 4 to 6 years for a book from this author. Between book 2 and 3 of the series was a 9 year gap.
I am very thankful for the laughter, amusement, happiness, and smiles this site has provided for me over the years.
Truth!
Thanks IA for thinking of us and your continued gifting. The regular blog whatever the content was, is always a bright spot in any given day.
Definitely looking forward to the holiday surprise full announcement.
Have a great weekend.
I hope the situation with the friend gets better.
Thank you so much for all you do! Happy weekend!
Thank you, HA. I’m one of those who could not possibly afford to pay for a Paetron subscription.
Bright Blessings on y’all, and all your endeavors!!
HUGS!
thank you. Thank you. An author I like took all of her snippets and updates and random thoughts to patreon. She even stopped updates on FB about when her next book would be out. Her publications have slowed a great deal. I will still read her books but I will be getting them from the library. Her patreon even has a 1,000.00 a month level.
An author I was real life friends with started a patreon and now you have to pay to hear updates and find out how she is doing. There is zero communication unless you pay her basic subscription level. She also hasn’t published anything outside of patreon since. ????
This is why I preorder your books without fail. You provide a space (BDH)where we share goodwill, knowledge, enjoyment and some crazy obsessiveness. Thank you so very much!
you are one of the authors that I buy, I read lots on unlimited so I have an Aussie account one a table. my first kindle account is US one and that’s where almost all my books are. so a $8 book is $15 for me. thank you for writing.
Thank you.
Very sorry to hear about your friend. Sending you hugs and asking the universe for strength for all.
We love you, too!
That’s all. I don’t think that needs explaining.
Thanks for all your hard work and wonderful books.
I have a question about pre-ordering books versus waiting to buy your books…
Our pre-orders counted and helped it show up on the best-selling list. Will it count again when we actually purchase the book? I hope so!
Thanks again and looking forward to your merchandise!
If I’m understanding the question correctly, yes- preorder sales count as first week sales ????
Hope that you all can help support your friend during this time (and find some room for yourselves as well). Thank you for the collection of the most lovely gifts. It’s always a ray of sunshine to get to read them.
The joy of Luther interview will not be diminished by waiting a bit longer.
What Relin said.
You both are the greatest! I’ve never read an author’s stories that I love as much yours, and it’s awesome that we get to experience your thoughts and tidbits for free. I happily buy every thing you publish! So proud to be part of the BDH. ????
Typo! “…I love…”
thank you so much for not putting a charge on the extra content. I love your books and I always buy them (i have them all) but I would not subscribe if there was a charge and I think that limits so many people from seeing the little extras you provide and leaves people feeling left out because they possibly cannot afford it.
Yes. I agree whole heartedly. There was a time when I could only read HA books when they were at my local library. The choose your own adventure site and the anime/comic site, I appreciate them as hard work for those involved that should be compensated, but the blog has always been a welcoming community of stories, tidbits and enjoyable nonsense. I always buy Innkeeper when finished but feel a firewall would irreversibly alter what we have. And what we have is awesome and I’m extremely grateful for it.
You are so generous. Thank you for the gift of the blog 🙂
Thank you for taking us through your thought process!
The BDH thanks you ????
A big thank you from someone who enjoys the blog very much and its wonderful content. I love the posts just as much as the comments and I always learn new things.
It is great that you could help your friend and that you always find the time to answer questions never ceases to amaze me. A big virtual hug from me and FrInndays are a beautiful thing, but should remain fun for you as well so that they can be enjoyed without extra pressure on you.(Don’t know if that comes across as intended, sorry, long week here). Luther will be just as fun whenever he is ready to reveaal some of his secrets.
I am really looking forward to the latest Innkeeper coming soon to my kindle, the serial was so much fun and I can’t wait to read it again- plus the end which I’m sure is going to be something I never expected.
Have a great werkend, and thanks again.
You have just summed up my thoughts perfectly!
I’m sorry to hear your friend had something awful happen, and I’m glad you were able to help out. Thanks for the update on blog stuff, and happy to look forward to Luther’s interview a little longer!
This has always also been my feelings about, my … hesitancy … to do a Patreon myself. Especially with unedited, etc, work. So I understand even though I would totally pay for anything you decided to write in any format. Ha.
*hugz* As always, appreciate, enjoy and incessantly recommend all your published offerings to anybody who exhibits even a smidge of being a book reader.
Thank you! This blog is one of my favorite corners of the internet.
I hope your friend is okay. Sending good thoughts into the universe for you, as well.
Thank you for caring about your readers and followers. I love your books, in the middle of re-reading the Hidden Legacy series again, and I’m working on getting my teenager hooked on the Innkeeper series.
Thanks!
You two are the *best*!
The BDH probably doesn’t deserve you, but we really appreciate you!
I am looking forward to the surprise when you are ready to unveil it and SotH in a few(!) days – An abundance of goodies is coming our way.
Luther will show up in his own good time…
You guys are simply the absolute best! You bring so much joy to so many people. Thank you thank you thank you ????
You all are the greatest. While I have read everything you have written, I am so, so fine with your decisions on your writing. It is your gift to us and the world and you need to take care of yourself. I say this as someone who still does a lot of techical writing for non-profits. I find myself at times over committed and I believe we all need times to just breathe and enjoy our lives. I have pre-ordered the next Innkeeper and so looking forward to reading it this month as I vacation at the beach 🙂
Heart y’all in the heart – you are amazing and awesome
Yessss Luther!
I’ve only managed to do it x2 but if I have the extra dosh I buy a copy on play books and on Kindle, you guys hardly ever charge as much as some of my other authors have to so why not 🙂
We could also support you by buying your merch! Hope the graphic designer hunt is going well. ????
That’s my plan! I’m sure there will be cool, funny, and kooky things (well I hope for some).
I didn’t order the Subterranean book run, wishing I had. Maybe if enough of us would commit to purchase another run of the special prints could be done.
Thank you for all your wonderful Blogging, I look forward to every new post. As a voracious member of your loyal and devoted BDH, I vow to remain ever loyal!
I hope your friend is ok.
Thank you! ♥️????????
You guys are the reason the BDH is the way it is. You’re the best
This is the true spirit of “we belong to each other”. Your work brings me joy, thanks for sharing it.
This is what makes you amazing authors ????