Listen to Bestselling Books (For Free)


By Terry Whalin @terrywhalin

Many libraries have temporarily closed (including the one down the street from me). The good news is their online feature are still open and accessible if you have a library card. I continue to check out and listen to books from my library--and you can too. 

Recently I listened to the new memoir by actress Demi Moore  called Inside Out. About the time I finished listening to the book, the hardcover print memoir was #1 on the nonfiction bestseller list from Publishers Weekly.  

While Inside Out was unusual listening for me, it wasn't the first time I heard a current bestseller about the time of its release. In fact, it happens to me often. I read or listen to many bestselling books. In this article, I want to show you how you too can listen to the latest books about the time of their release and when people are talking about them and you are reading about them in the news.

1. Read about forthcoming books and use free online publications like Publishers Weekly, Shelf Awareness, newspaper or magazines. As you read, be watching for the information about forthcoming books and then take action. The action that I'm encouraging you to take is to sign up to get the book coming your direction (free).

2.  If you see something of interest, search for it at your local library on Overdrive and get on hold list for the book. You will have to learn how to use the search tool of Overdrive then get on the waiting list for the book. The beauty of this process is to find the book, put a hold on it, then get in line for when the book is available. Using the hold process, when the book is ready for you to check out, it will automatically be checked out to you and you will receive an email that the audiobook is ready for you to download on your phone. I love the Overdrive process because it is free, easy and I carry the books everywhere on my phone. It allows me to listen when I'm in my car for a few minutes or a longer drive. I can listen to an audiobook when I exercise or even when I travel on an airplane—because the audiobook is on my phone. After 21 days the book “expires” and returns to the library. This expiration process is automatic and does not involve physically returning the book since it is all done electronically.

3. If you can't find it, then make a request for it through your local library. They can possibly buy the book and if you have requested it, you get to be one of the first people to get the book. I've gone through this process a number of times with books and my local library has ordered the book.

4. From looking at the books that I've been reading and writing about on Goodreads or Amazon (follow these links to see the books), I hope you will see the diversity. While I'm a conservative Christian, I do not read or listen to only conservative Christian books. I mix into my reading books from people who are at the opposite political spectrum from me. For example, in recent days, I listened to Susan Rice's memoir called Tough Love. I enjoyed this audiobook and heard it cover to cover (which I don't do with every book). 

Also I vary the types and genres of books that I consume. The diversity builds something intangible but important in my life. It is a pattern I recommend for you as well. Don't be in a reading rut but be open to many different types of books. Because I'm using the library, there is a wide spectrum of available books.

I've given you the steps and ways I learn about forthcoming titles and then listen to them for free. Are you listening to audiobooks? Maybe you do something completely different. Let me know in the comments below.

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You can listen to current bestsellers for free. Get the details here.  (ClickToTweet)


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W. Terry Whalin is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. His work contact information is on the bottom of the second page (follow this link).  His latest book for writers is 10 Publishing Myths, Insights Every Author Needs to Succeed. One of Terry's most popular free ebooks is Straight Talk From the Editor, 18 Keys to a Rejection-Proof Submission. He lives in Colorado and has over 205,000 twitter followers 

6 comments:

Karen Cioffi said...

Terry, this is a great idea. I hadn't thought about the library's online features. I'll have to check my library out. Thanks for sharing.

Terry Whalin said...

Karen, Thank you for this feedback. Libraries have a lot of resources for us. Terry

Linda Wilson said...

I agree, this is great advice, Terry. I'm a big audiobook fan. I've listened to books on CD's at the library, by tapes, and the small play-along book that you can actually wear around your neck (while walking, doing housework, etc.) and takes one AAA battery. Lately, I've been listening to audiobooks via Audible and have so many in my library from Audible that I haven't listened via the library. Audible costs about $15/month, and for that you get one book per month, and sceons of emails with low-cost deals. However one chooses to listen, audiobooks can be a good companion at times when you can't sit down and read.

Terry Whalin said...

Linda,

Thank you for this comment about Audible. I've known about it but never used it. I know many people use Audible and enjoy it.

Terry

deborah lyn said...

Thanks for covering these points of interest, Terry. Your mention regarding Overdrive simplifies the path I've been shown previously. Audio books are great--I read many titles that way when I commuted in heavy traffic a while back. I've been missing audio reading and this article encourages me to make it happen again.

Terry Whalin said...

Deborah, thank you. I'm glad it was helpful. I don't commute any longer but still listen to audiobooks when I walk for exercise or travel or even at home in my easy chair. Terry

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