Feeling Christmassy yet?
It seems as if it was just summer and here we are on the brim of some of the darkest days of winter, but cheer up. Things are about to get better!
Recently, Amazon made changes to the Kindle Unlimited program. Kindle Unlimited is Amazon’s monthly subscription service that gives a person unlimited access to a large digital library of eBooks, audiobooks, comics, and magazines for a flat monthly fee, currently $11.99/month in the U.S. and Canada, but Canadians need to pay taxes on their subscrition. But what a deal this is.
Think about it. Here are the basic rules for a subscription:
Cancellation: You can cancel, pause, or manage your subscription anytime through your Amazon account settings.
Flat Subscription: You pay a recurring monthly fee (separate from Amazon Prime), with a free trial often available for new users.
No Device Required: You do not need a physical Kindle e-reader. You can read or listen on any device (smartphones, tablets, PCs, or Macs) using the free Kindle app.
Borrowing Limit: You can borrow up to 20 titles at a time.
No Due Dates: There are no late fees or strict return dates. You can keep books as long as your subscription is active, though you must return a book if you hit the 20-title limit and want to borrow a new one.
And here’s my favorite and newest benefit:
Audiobooks Included: Many titles come with companion audiobooks or Whispersync support, letting you switch between reading the text and listening to the audio.
What does that last one mean to you? Well, for me it means that when I have the time, I can read the ebook on my kindle or computer, but if I have to do something like housework, yardwork, or run errands, instead of putting my book down and hoping I can get back to it soon, I can just switch to my headphones–I have a bandeau kind that covers my ears and keeps me warm in winter and the sweat off my face in the heat. Then I find the place where I left off and listen to the story I was recently reading.
I appreciate that not everyone is a fan of virtual narration, and in a perfect world, every book would be narrated by a voice actor, but the truth of it is, few independent writers, myself included, can afford to hire voice actors. Kudos to those who can, but for the rest of us, using Amazon’s virtual voices is the only way we can participate in this benefit and bring our books to those who prefer to listen to our stories.
As of this morning, I have done the work necessary to put 11 of my novels into audio format, and I hope to have more of them converted by the end of the year. It takes a couple of days to get the books ready for audio, and juggling that with my writing schedule, I don’t know for sure how many will be available. Here’s what I have so far:
Available in audio, ebook, and paperback are the following:
Paranormal/Fantasy/Past Life Experience
The Awakening, Book 1 of Listen to the Stones, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DX3665V4
The Homecoming, Book 2 of Listen to the Stones, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G5RDY5RB
Beneath the Ashes, Book 1 Timeless Love, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C6635WNF
Paranormal/ Suspense
The Tigress, The Punishers Series, Book 1, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Z5F4VNZ
Cozy Mystery
A Case of Mistaken Identity, Evie Chambers Mystery, Book One, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPR5SP48
A Case of the Missing Prince, Evie Chambers Mystery, Book Two, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HGY3Q8C6
Suspense Romance
And Justice for All, Protecting the Innocent Series, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FH2R6TPP
Sworn to Protect, Protecting the Innocent Series, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072MHFQJF
Cold Heart, Protecting the Innocent Series, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HGYQ56T7
Romantic Comedy
Tequila Sunrise, Cocktails for You Series, Book 1, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08PCCXH1W
Champagne Cocktail, Christmas theme, Cocktails for You Series Book 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08Q4LJPCD
Watch here to learn which books will be ready to listen to next. Craving for one in particular? Let me know in the comments. I’ll do my best to accommodate you. You can find a complete listing of my books on my website: https://mhsusannematthews.ca/
Thanks for following me and reading my blogs. This has been a busy year and I appreciate knowing someone out there cares. Have a terrific week.
