April News

Contents

1. Introduction and updates
2. Book recommendations
3. Closing remarks
4. My books

Hi ,

Before I get into where I'm at with Once upon a Betrothal, I wanted to bring up something important that's come to my attention. I noticed a while ago that Amazon removed my ability to allow readers to loan my books to friends. Then there was the weird message beneath every ebook I've bought for a while now about a "limited license" that made me feel uneasy. I don't typically keep up with current events or other news because I can only handle so much negativity that I can't do anything about. But something my brother made me watch the other day really drove a point home for me. For all digital content, whether games, books, movies or whatever, the world seems to be moving in the direction of saying that we're only renting the content for an undetermined amount of time rather than buying it.

I usually avoid picking sides in debates and hot topics because I almost always see where both sides are coming from and I don't like alienating anyone by being on the opposite side of them. However, this is something I feel strongly about and I realized that unlike most things I hate in the news, there is something that I can do about this problem, even if it's only a small thing.

I believe that when you buy a book, whether physical or digital, that you should own that book for your enjoyment. With a physical book, how long you own it depends on how well you care for the book, but ideally, it can be passed down through generations. For a digital book, there is no issue of wear and tear, but it should at least be available for the rest of the buyer's life. But the limited license stance means that the store you buy it on can erase it from your account at any time.

I can't change what everyone else is doing, but I can and will say that I don't support that stance. Books are meant to be enjoyed, but they are also meant to be shared. From a reader's perspective, if I buy a book, I should be able to share it with my friends and family. And from an author's perspective, anyone a reader shares my books with may become a loyal reader of my work. So sharing books is really a win-win situation.

My offer to you is this. If you email me at arsummersauthor@gmail.com with a receipt for one of my ebooks you've purchased on an authorized retailer, I'll send you a drm-free BookFunnel copy that you will own. I can't change the world and the unfair practices of these retailers, but I can give you true ownership of my books.

Since my offer is not without risk, I am trusting you to respect my work by not distributing it widely or enabling piracy. I am simply doing my part to make sure that when you buy my books, you have true ownership, the way it should be. Because unless you're dealing with a subscription like KU, Patreon, or Ream, where you know you're only getting access as long as you're subscribed, nobody should have the right to take that access away from you.

Now that I've got that off my chest, I can say that developmental editing for Once upon a Betrothal is nearly finished. Soon I'll be working on the technical side of editing. Once that's finished, I'll be sending out ARCs. If you're already on my team, you'll be getting that soon. If you aren't on my team and want to join, you can sign up here.

Want to read a slightly less polished version, before ARCs go out? It'll be on my Ream page until right before release. I have to pull it from Ream at that point because it will be going into Kindle Unlimited. Once it's published, I'll be pulling The Lost Assassin to publish wide. The current renewal date for KU is July 5, so unless something goes majorly wrong, it should be pulled by then with Once upon a Betrothal published.

For this month's giveaway of a $5 Amazon gift card, hit reply and let me know how you ended up on my list.

Giveaways and Promotions

Book Recommendations

The Jabberwocky Princess by Cece Louise

He thinks she's peculiar. She thinks he's a joke. They're about to discover that nothing is what it seems. 

Kainda is the daughter of a disgraced monster hunter. She longs to use the hunting skills her father taught her, but kitchen maids don’t get to have adventures—especially not a girl everyone thinks is crazy.

That is until devil-may-care Prince Ander enlists her help in defeating a monster troubling a nearby kingdom. As irresponsible as he is charming, Ander won’t let this opportunity to prove himself slip away—especially with a politically advantageous marriage to a beautiful princess on the line.

When Kainda and Ander join forces, they soon realize that what they’re fighting for and where their hearts lie may be at odds. Can they defeat the mysterious monster, or will duty, riddles, and secrets be their undoing?

Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s poem “Jabberwocky,” this standalone read is perfect for fans of clean romance, suspense, and fairy tales!

Cloaked Legends by S. Bingham

As darkness spreads, the heart of the storm rests in the hands of a loyal protector.

The Shadow is free. Kaida has vanished. The protectors must lean on each other as they navigate the unknown.

Jack feels the weight of his calling bearing down on him. He wishes for the carefree whimsy of his legendary doppelgänger, Jack Frost.

Driven by a powerful vision, Jack races to confront a looming disaster. He battles the forces of nature and his own inner storms to protect those in danger.

In the midst of his greatest storm, will Jack find the strength to overcome the darkness and do the will of the Creator?

Fans of the eternal battle between good and evil will be captivated by this urban fantasy, woven with Christian themes of redemption, spiritual warfare, and the power of faith.

Closing Remarks

If you skipped down to the bottom, you should know that I'm offering a drm-free BookFunnel copy of any purchased ebook of mine if you email me your receipt to arsummersauthor@gmail.com. This is my part to circumvent outside control and ensure that you truly own my books when you buy them.

Don't forget to reply for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card.

If you want an ARC for Once upon a Betrothal, sign up here to join my team.

In case you need it, here is the link for the subscriber free content.

Best of wishes,

-Amber

My Books