I’m going to be completely honest here: I hate newsletters. I’m guilty of not reading them, and I really don’t like writing them. Or sending them. For some reason, newsletters feel like those credit card or coupon mailers you get. You don’t remember signing up for them or giving your information to someone, and yet you now have this piece of spam in your mailbox trying to sell you on something.

Unfortunately for me, they still look to be a must-have marketing tool for authors from all walks. I re...