West of Mars

Maybe you’ve caught my Twitters about it. Or seen me talk about it on Facebook.

This is one of the top reasons I’m glad I’m not bound to the rules of a publisher. Yeah, okay, so I’m giving my books away. But you know what? They’re going to people who badly need the diversion that reading gives them. And it doesn’t cost me a dime.

For someone who started building her audience by giving her fiction away for free right here at the Meet and Greet, it’s fitting, isn’t it?

I’m talking about Operation e-Book Drive, of course, Ed Patterson’s baby that’s providing free e-books to deployed troops.

I can’t give Ed ALL the credit, although huge amounts are due to him. Smashwords founder Mark Coker grabbed onto the program and opened it up to all of us who have books available via the Smashwords service. (And can I rave a minute about Smashwords? Wow. Not only do I get a great royalty rate from anything purchased there, they’ve made good on a number of their promises, including listings with Barnes and Noble and the Sony store.)

And today comes word of something new: A private company that’s trying to buy Kindles to give to the Troops. And yep, they’ll be loaded with Operation e-Book Drop books. Hopefully The Demo Tapes (both of them) will be included.

I don’t know how many authors have signed on to participate in Operation e-Book Drop by now. Last I heard, there were forty of us. It doesn’t really matter; every single one of us is doing something precious. Nor does it matter that I’m not getting actual money for this.

Like I said, you guys all fell in love with Trevor and Mitchell and the gang by coming by and reading. No money involved. It’s because of you guys that The Demo Tapes even exist.

This has never been about money for me (for which I’m thankful for), although it’d be nice to be enough in the black to give the extras to charity. This has always been about sharing my world with others. If I had to become a bottom-feeding self-publisher to do it, so be it. (and yes, I’ve been told I’m a bottom-feeder. And a fool. Idiot. Stupid. And all sorts of other things. Why can’t people understand I LIKE the choices I’ve made???)

But being a bottom-feeding self-publisher has allowed me to give my books to the men and women serving our country. It’s a small way to say thanks for doing a job I frankly don’t have the guts for.

If you know someone whose troop has been deployed, why not get them in touch with Ed? If you’ve got the ability to lean on your publisher, or to open a Smashwords account yourself to get your books to our troops, please do.

This isn’t about whether or not you agree with where these people are deployed, or your thoughts on the jobs they’re sent to do. I know you regulars around here won’t turn this post into a discussion of that.

This is about BOOKS. It’s about giving back.

And yeah, it’s about hearing “Another serviceman was killed in the line of duty” and hoping it’s not someone who you met, even if only long enough to offer a coupon code to.

Maybe it IS about more than books.

It doesn’t change things, though. I’m grateful to be in a position where I can make the decision to participate in Operation e-Book Drop. To spread the Trevolution around and let it expand and grow…

Now, pardon me for a bit. I hear rumbles from you guys about how The Demo Tapes have been nothing more than a tease and you want the whole thing.

Greedy groupies.

I’m on it for ya.

(and don’t forget: Demo Tapes on sale 10% off this month!)