Something rather interesting has been happening with Elm Brook Manor lately.
The ebook is free. Completely free. Readers can download it through Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble and Kobo without spending a penny.
That was always the idea: to give people an opportunity to discover Coby McTavish and the strange world he inhabits.
But recently, I've noticed something I didn't quite expect.
Every so often, a paperback or hardcover copy sells. And around the same time, a new review appears.
Now, I'm not suggesting that I know who's buying those books, or that the person leaving a review is necessarily the person purchasing a physical edition.
I don't have that information.
But I can't help wondering.
Did someone download the free ebook, enjoy the story and decide they'd like a printed copy?
Did they want to keep it on a bookshelf, lend it to someone or simply own a physical edition of a story that entertained them?
Perhaps.
Or perhaps the timing is entirely coincidental.
Either way, it's a lovely thought.
And then there's the feedback.
Recently, Mary left a comment describing Elm Brook Manor as "a thoroughly unputdownable book" and saying how much she loved Coby McTavish.
I smiled when I read that.
Because Coby isn't merely a name on a page to me. He's a character I've spent a considerable amount of time with, someone whose adventures have grown far beyond that first haunted manor.
To discover that a reader has developed an affection for him is enormously rewarding.
I sometimes think independent authors spend so much time worrying about visibility, rankings, sales and marketing that we forget something fundamental.
Somewhere, someone is reading.
Perhaps they're laughing at a ridiculous exchange. Perhaps they're turning the page to discover what happens next. Perhaps they've grown rather fond of a fictional character.
And occasionally, they tell us.
I don't know whether the recent print purchases are expressions of gratitude. It would be presumptuous to claim that they are.
But if even one reader enjoyed a free story enough to return for a paperback or hardcover, I'd find that rather touching.
And if all they did was read the ebook and enjoy themselves?
That matters too.
After all, the reason I began writing was to tell stories.
If you'd like to discover where Coby McTavish's adventures began, the ebook edition of Elm Brook Manor is free.
And if you prefer the feel of a real book in your hands, the paperback and hardcover editions are there too.
Thank you to everyone who has read, reviewed, recommended or simply spent a little time inside Elm Brook Manor.
You make this journey worthwhile.