Authors write books in hopes of their being read. But convincing a prospective reader to choose the author's book(s) out of the tens of thousands published every year is an incredibly daunting task. The percentage of writers who earn their living from writing is depressingly small. Very few have the power of a major publishing house behind them, with deep pockets for promotion, book signings, book tours, tv appearances, etc. England’s The Guardian newspaper claims 54% of traditionally-published authors and almost 80% of self-published writers are making less than $1,000 a year.

So those who do not have a large publisher behind them...and I am decidedly in that number...must do whatever they can think of to get their names and their books out in front of prospective readers. Websites do a fairly good job, when anyone takes the time and effort to stop by—but convincing them to do that is in the same league as convincing them to try a book. I provide as much information as I can about my books on my website, including posting the entire first chapter of every book there. I spend a great deal of time on social media, primarily Facebook, hoping people will get to know me there and be curious enough about me to try one of my books. However, like many other writers, the more time I spend in promoting myself and my work, the less time I have to actually write books.

Just trying to keep up with technology is a challenge in itself. First came Mr. Guttenberg and the printing press, which was basically the primary way for writers to connect with readers for several hundred years. In the last years of the 20th century technology provided writers a way to produce their books electronically, and e-books are overtaking print books as the public’s primary reading source. And in recent years have come audiobooks, where a narrator reads the author’s words to the listener. This latest advancement is a true boon to the blind and the dyslexic as well as travelers and commuters and those who just enjoy sitting back and being read to.

I am one of the writers utilizing all three…print, e-book, and audiobook, and am in the process of having all my books done as audiobooks.

But regardless of the method used, the problem remains the same: convincing potential readers/listeners to choose the writer’s work.

The producers of my audiobooks is a company called ACX, and the audiobooks are distributed via audible.com to a variety of purveyors including Amazon. ACX and Audible are easily among the most friendly and cooperative companies I’ve ever dealt with. As part of their service, when each new audiobook is released, Audible provides the author with a limited number of copies to distribute as he sees fit.

My latest audiobook release is "The Serpent’s Tongue," book #15 of the Dick Hardesty Mystery series, and in yet another effort to introduce potential followers, including those who may never have heard of me, to my work, I’m offering these “comp copies” on a first-come, first-served basis to the readers of this “Not Quite a Blog.” If you’re interested, email me at doriengrey.com.