Despite the costs associated with audio, there are several options for free or inexpensive audiobooks. First of all, free! I keep my audiobook REBEL HEART permanently FREE so you can sample my audiobooks for yourself before making a bigger investment. Other authors do the same.
Of course, not everything in life is free, but there are bargains to be found, too! Here are several tips:
If you’re new to Audible, your first book is free. Just browse around and click for your free copy. Here are two examples you can pick from: click on this link for a free copy of FIRE MAIDENS: PARIS or this link for a free copy of LURE OF THE DRAGON. You can only get one free book that way, but it's a good start.
Once you're a member of Audible, you can purchase credits to apply toward books. That’s a great deal, especially when it comes to box sets, because you can get a bundle of books for a single credit! I currently have two audio box sets with more coming soon.
You can also save on audio if you own an ebook copy of a book, because Amazon will give you the audio version at a significant discount (as cheap as $1.99 in many cases). That works even if the ebook version is temporarily on sale for free or 99¢, so make sure you’re subscribed to your favorite authors' newsletters to be informed of such deals (here's mine - Anna Lowe). Then you’ll be able to grab the ebook on Amazon and qualify for the discounted audiobook price! You can also go to Amazon Matchmaker, a tool that tells you which ebooks you already own that qualify you for reduced audiobook prices.
Finally, you can try checking with your local library about the audiobook you seek. Many libraries are tapped into networks that allow them to cheaply obtain & lend audiobooks. It never hurts to ask!
Whatever you do, DO NOT download pirated audiobooks. You're stealing from an author who paid thousands of dollars to have their work produced. As much as we'd love to share all our stories for free, we can't. Like you, we have to feed our kids, keep a roof over our heads, and so on. Also, listening to pirated copies is illegal. So, don't. Just don't! If you absolutely, positively cannot find a way to listen to an audiobook you are dying to hear, get in touch with the author and explain your situation. They may have a few review codes available, and you can thank them with an honest review.
Above all, enjoy your listening experience, whether you choose to listen while you walk, do chores, or while you drive. Happy listening!
