Earn Free Books Through the Subscription Referral Program

Since I’m new to the whole novel serialization process, I’m experimenting with new things. I brainstormed and came up with a lot of different ideas for getting the word out, and realized it would be easier to combine everything into a single program instead of trying to run a few different contests.
Thus, I have come up with the Subscription Referral Program.
Why a referral program?
For a book to be read, people have to hear about it. And the best way to do that is through word of mouth. But how to get that elusive word of mouth? I’ve been analyzing various techniques that have been used on websites and social networking sites, and realized that most of them wouldn’t work for me. As much as I want to get word out about my novel, I also don’t want to turn into a commercial. Social networking, generally–and in my opinion–should be used for connecting with people. Not their wallets.
I want my readers to feel like I care about them as readers, as people, not about convincing them to spend money on my novels. Am I happy when someone purchases my novel? Very. But the most important thing to me are the friendships and people I’ve met *because* of blogging, Tweeting, on forums, and Facebooking.
I want to know what I’m referring

Totally understandable. There are two ways you can sample THE FAIRY GODMOTHER DILEMMA. The first is to purchase the first 12 chapters for $0.99 on either Amazon or Barnes and Noble. The second is to download the PDF of the first 8 chapters for free. (I would have done all 12 in the PDF, but don’t want to be in breach of contract with Amazon or B&N.) I will have the PDF available later on this evening and will place a link here, in my sidebar, and on my website.
How does this work?

The referral program works by way of personal referrals. Blogging, Tweeting, Facebooking, and any other share on social networking sites is appreciated, but (in general) won’t count toward earning free books.

Once you’ve referred people, come back and fill out the form that will be your entry for a $50 gift certificate as well as your proof of purchase for the novel. Novels 1-4 will be available for download on November 7th. Novel 5 will be available November 14th.

How do you earn free books?

By telling people about the novels (and/or subscription) individually. So, for example: you *could* achieve this through Twitter by addressing someone directly instead of sending a blanket tweet to all your followers.

Hey, @mybestfriendforever! Have you heard about the serial novel THE FAIRY GODMOTHER DILEMMA? You can check it out here: X

Something like that, but hopefully less sales pitchy. 😉 Then, once you’ve done the minimum number (let’s say 5), you fill out the form to let me know, and you’ll be able to download a copy of your book November 7th. You can do this in person, through email, by addressing a specific person through social networking, and any other way you can think of. The key is that you’re telling one person at a time.

So, let’s say you’d also like to shoot for book 2. You’d need to find 10 additional people (the 5 you’ve already told won’t count toward book 2) and refer them. Then come back, fill out the form, and you’ll be able to download book 2 on November 7th along with book 1.

I’ve broken it down here for you. The parts in green are the totals for if you want to earn the entire series through referring.

Level 1

Refer 5 people–>   Receive a complimentary copy of CATSPELL (TFGD#1)
You’ll need to have referred 5 people.

Refer 10 people–>  Receive a complimentary copy of FIRESPELL (TFGD #2)
If you want this book in addition to book 1, you’ll need to tell 15 people total.

Refer 15 people–>  Receive a complimentary copy of APPLESPELL (TFGD #3)
If you want this book in addition to books 1&2, you’ll need to tell 30 people total.

Refer 20 people–>  Receive a complimentary copy of FROGSPELL (TFGD #4)
If you want this book in addition to books 1-3 you’ll need to tell 50 people total.

Refer 25 people–>  Receive a complimentary copy of TROLLSPELL (TFGD #5)
If you want this book in addition to books 1-4, you’ll need to tell 75 people total.

To simplify my life, this will be by the honor system. My goal is to share my books with as many people as possible, so for that part of the referral program, your word is your bond. Also, it doesn’t matter whether or not the people you refer actually purchase a subscription. All that matters is that you’ve told them.

Level 2

The next tier will be for those that want to earn a complete box set without having to refer 75 people. Due to the costs involved, you will need to either give me the names on the form or have the people who purchase the Collectible Subscription put your name on the form.

If you refer 5 people and they purchase the $24.99 Collectible Subscription, you’ll receive a complimentary THE FAIRY GODMOTHER DILEMMA Box Set!

Level 3

Regardless of how many people you refer, if you fill out the form, you will be entered into a grand prize drawing.
The person who gives the most referrals (and remember, these are individualized referrals, not blanket referrals) will win a $50.00 gift certificate to Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
If 50 people subscribe (doesn’t matter which subscription), there will be 2 $50.00 gift certificates available, and two winners–1st and 2nd place.
If 150 people subscribe, there will be 3 $50.00 gift certificates, and three winners.
If 200 people subscribe, there will be 4 $50.00 gift certificates up for grabs, and four winners.

I’ll add more as needed, but this is how it works. The more you personally refer, the better your chances are of winning.

Level 4

This is for SWAG and where you can earn things by sharing THE FAIRY GODMOTHER DILEMMA news in a more general way.
If you do a blog post about it–> You’ll get a signed post card for CATSPELL (TFGD #1)
If you do a blog post *and* put something about it in your sidebar (I’ll have buttons available this weekend)–> You’ll get a signed post card and a bookmark for CATSPELL.
If you do 3 general shares via Twitter/Facebook/other social networks, etc.–> You’ll get a bookmark for CATSPELL.
If you do all of the above–>You’ll get signed post cards for all 5 books in the series.

So there you have it. Any questions? Suggestions?

And ha! I guess I’m going about this a bit backwards. Part of the reason I’ve been largely absent the last couple of months, is because I’ve been working very hard on getting  this series finished. I’ll announce things in more detail as November and December approach, as well as do cover reveals as soon as I’ve got them.

There will be a total of 5 novels with a 6th companion novel of short stories that take place during book 3 when the fairy godmother decides to become a wicked faerie instead. The companion novel will be available sometime next year (probably June-ish or so). As my thanks to all of the wonderful support I’ve gotten, anyone who has or will have subscribed to THE FAIRY GODMOTHER DILEMMA will receive a free copy once it’s finished. (Again, this won’t be until around June 2012.) The subscription is winding to a close mid-October, so you must be subscribed prior to the close in order to receive the companion novel free.

So, the series?

CATSPELL: (current serial) While trying to avoid her fairy godmother, Breena accidentally gets turned into a small, white cat. But she soon discovers that she’s going to need her fairy godmother after all.

FIRESPELL: Mara escaped from the scepter and is using the mythical Firebird to put the Elwythian Empire back together again, and it’s up to Nerissa to stop her.

APPLESPELL: Heart broken over her failure with Mara, Nerissa decides to become a wicked faerie instead. Now, instead of creating Happily Ever Afters, she’s working to destroy them. Only things don’t turn out quite like she expects.

FROGSPELL: Nerissa is on probation to earn her right to fairy godmother back, so she’s determined to do a good job. But what’s a fairy godmother to do when the damsel in distress she’s helping turns out to be the wicked stepsister instead?

TROLLSPELL: Nerissa sets out one last time to help Mara find her Happily Ever After. And things are proceeding along just fine until a great, white bear appears. Finding this Happily Ever After will be Nerissa’s greatest challenge yet.

Click here to be taken to the FAIRY GODMOTHER DILEMMA Subscription Referral form.

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