The Rowan Tree - political novel - free for Kindle

[breakingranks]

I've already posted this in a different area of DU, but one of the comments suggested that I cross-post here. I hope re-posting is not a breach of DU etiquette.

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I recently published a political/philosophical novel called The Rowan Tree. It sends an Obama-like protagonist around the world and into the White House in a modern update of the Arthurian Legend. Since my chief goal was to convey ideas about political education and democracy, the ebook version of the novel is available for free on Kindle and Smashwords:

Kindle: http://amzn.com/B00B0NH3Y2

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/274143

Also my own memoir, which gives some context for the novel, is available for free on Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/379190

The memoir can also be made free on Kindle if enough people request a "price match".

Also, if anyone knows of a good forum to announce political books, please let me know.

[Brainstormy]

1. Just curious

are you having any luck on Smashwords? Are there many downloads?

[breakingranks]

2. Smashwords

I have some luck when a book is only available for free on Smashwords. I've had more luck with my nonfiction book "Religion and Science: A Beautiful Friendship?"

Once a book becomes free on Kindle, though, most people download it from Amazon.

I've been surprised at how difficult it is to give a book away. I realize the problem for readers is discovery, but once a review site becomes a viable route to discovery, they crank up their price and effectively become a roadblock between readers and authors unless the author has very deep pockets.

We need several respected vetting/review mechanisms - several so no one person or organization becomes THE gatekeeper for distributing ebooks. Perhaps there's a role in this for librarians. Currently there's no efficient way to bring an ebook to the general attention of acquisitions librarians, and approaching them library-by-library is untenable.