For some time I’ve been working to move the boundaries of where to find my readers further and further out from the LGBTQ fiction nucleus. Yesterday I pushed those markers a bit further. As part of my efforts to reach more readers, I’ve partnered with fantasy authors whose books do not have LGBTQ characters to give away some free eBooks. (Mostly their books since there are fourteen of them and one of me.)

When I started this event (and my hope now is to do one every other month) I was a bit apprehensive about how I and my books would be received. Although my books aren’t erotic, they have gay and lesbian main characters. Those characters are portrayed positively in a matter of fact manner and amazingly enough they don’t die at a faster rate than their straight counterparts. Would authors of non-LGBTQ books be interested in working with me? Would they want to promote my ‘gay’ books to their readers? And would they be okay with their books being hosted on an LGBTQ author’s site?

Before I could reach out to other authors, I had to invest the time and energy (there was a cost, but it was small) to set up the infrastructure needed to run the giveaway. If I built and no one came, what then?

Still, there are benefits to being the host. Everyone else’s fans come to my website to check out the free books. Once on my site, I get to show them my books in the header and side bars. (Whether they check them out is a different story, but that holds true for all internet traffic.) I get to put my book on top, so it shows up for everyone who visits. And most of all, I get to show my book to their readers, a market that typically doesn’t see my work.

Was the risk of doing the work and no one showed up outweighed by the benefit of what I’d gain if they did? In a vacuum it’s hard to tell, but as the saying goes, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I put the event together, got a commitment from InstaFreebie (the company that helps give away the books) that if I got at least ten people to participate (nine plus me) they’d help promote it, and stepped out into the great beyond.

I posted general invites on appropriate fantasy boards on Facebook and elsewhere and reached out to some authors individually. After that, I had to wait and see the response.

The answer was overwhelmingly “yes.” I had more interest than I had slots and now I already have almost enough authors for the next event set for May and I just finished March’s.

So with that, I give you the link to the giveaway for those fantasy readers. The books offered are a diverse group, so there’s likely something for everyone. (Click the image to be taken to the giveaway.)

 

 

Andrew Q. Gordon wrote his first story back when yellow legal pads, ball point pens were common and a Smith Corona correctable typewriter was considered high tech. Adapting with technology, he now takes his MacBook somewhere quiet when he wants to write.

Since devouring The Lord of the Rings as a preteen, he has been a fan of all things fantastical. His imagination has helped him create works of high fantasy, paranormal thrills and touch of the futuristic. He also writes the occasional contemporary story.

He currently lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his husband of twenty-two years. Together they are raising their pre-school age daughter and three dogs. Andrew tries to squeeze writing time in around his most important jobs, being husband and ‘Papa.’ Along with teaching how to kick a soccer ball or ride a scooter, he has become fluent in cartoon characters and children’s books. To find out more about Andrew, his writing and his family, follow him on his website or on Facebook.

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email: andrew@andrewqgordon.com

 

Books:

From Wayward Ink Publishing:

A Closed Door

From DSP Publications:

The Last Grand Master: (Champion of the Gods – Book 1)

The Eye and the Arm: (Champion of the Gods – Book 2)

Kings of Lore and Legend: (Champion of the Gods – Book 3)

Purpose:

From Dreamspinner Press:

(Un)Masked

Self published:

Ashes of Life