Our Stories, Your Voice:
The 2026 Reader Appreciation Giveaway

By Gary McAvoy

In association with authors Rob Samborn, PJ Peterson, Dave Bartell, and Brian H. Roberts

WELCOME, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE

As an avid reader myself, I know how personal one’s relationship with books can be. Every story you choose to read represents time, attention, and trust, and that’s something I never take lightly. To start the new year, I wanted to do something genuinely meaningful for readers who enjoy thoughtful, story-driven fiction. So I invited four fellow independent authors whose work I respect to join me in creating something special. This giveaway is simply our way of saying thank you.

WHAT YOU COULD WIN

Ten survey respondents will be randomly selected to receive a personalized digital library, created around their interests. Each winner will receive:

      • All 17 of my published thrillers to date, in your choice of either ebook or audiobook format (here’s the list—non-fiction excluded)
      • Plus up to five additional ebook titles from a curated group of invited authors (visit each of their websites in the next section)
      • Your bonus selections are entirely optional and based on what you actually enjoy reading

This is not a random bundle or a genre dump. It’s a curated library, built so the books you receive are ones you’ll genuinely want to read.

ABOUT THE OTHER AUTHORS

The guest authors participating in this giveaway write across thriller, mystery, and science fiction genres. You’ll have the opportunity to explore those worlds only if they interest you. There is no requirement to choose books outside your tastes, and no obligation to receive emails from anyone else unless you explicitly opt in (which I wholeheartedly recommend).

Other authors joining me in this campaign are Dave Bartell (Archaeology Thrillers), Rob Samborn (Dual-Timeline Thrillers), PJ Peterson (Cozy Mysteries), and Brian H. Roberts (Science Fiction Thrillers). It’s a pleasure introducing readers to notable authors who might be new to them, and if you have yet to cross paths with their work, you’re in for a treat. At minimum, I would encourage you to sign up for their personal newsletters. Click on each of their names above to visit their websites and discover their work firsthand.

WHY THE SURVEY EXISTS

To qualify for the giveaway, I’m simply asking readers to take a fairly brief, easy to answer survey, below. This isn’t about selling you anything. It’s about listening. Independent authors don’t have focus groups or marketing departments. What we have instead is the ability to learn directly from readers who care about stories, characters, and ideas. Your answers help me and the other participating authors write better books, present them more receptively, and reach readers who will truly enjoy them.

Every response helps shape a clearer picture of what readers actually enjoy, what draws them in, and what keeps them coming back. Whether you answer a few questions or many, your perspective matters, and it joins those of thousands of other thoughtful readers who are helping independent authors do their work better. Your participation is always appreciated, never expected.

THE SURVEY

Your email address will be used exclusively by Gary McAvoy for reader engagement. No one else will have access to it unless you explicitly opt in on their respective websites.
NOTE: This will ONLY be used to contact you if the email announcing you as a winner somehow goes into your spam folder. (You'd be surprised how many winners have lost out in past giveaways for this reason...). As you will note, however, it is not required.

SECTION I: WHO YOU ARE AS A READER

These opening questions help set context. There are no right or wrong answers, only a clearer picture of the kinds of stories you enjoy and how you tend to read.

This section explores how you come across books and what tends to influence your reading choices. Your answers help me understand what genuinely helps readers find stories they enjoy.

SECTION II: GENRE INTEREST AND CROSSOVER

Here, I’m curious about the broader reading landscape you move through. These questions look at how different genres intersect in your reading life, if they do at all.

SECTION III: CHARACTER AND STORY GRAVITY

These questions focus on what draws you into a story and what makes it linger afterward. Feel free to answer instinctively rather than analytically.

SECTION IV: AUDIOBOOK-SPECIFIC QUESTIONS

If you listen to audiobooks, this section explores your preferences and habits. If not, you’re welcome to skip ahead.

SECTION V: RELATIONSHIP WITH AUTHORS

The following questions look at how you prefer to engage with authors, if at all. Every reader’s comfort level is different, and all are perfectly valid.

SECTION VI: CLOSING REFLECTIONS

If there’s anything you’d like to share that hasn’t been covered, this is the place. Short thoughts are just as welcome as longer reflections.

Thank you sincerely for taking the time to complete this survey. Your thoughts and insights truly matter, and they help shape the stories, characters, and adventures yet to come.

If you are one of our ten lucky giveaway winners, you will be notified directly by email or phone. The winners will also be announced and celebrated in my next newsletter. My heartfelt thanks again for being part of this journey.

BE SURE TO TAP THE SUBMIT BUTTON BELOW!