I would like to point out one fact Re.Kindle and other E'Books.
There lots of sites to download E'Books free and Paid. Some want new authors to put their work out there in the digital world.
Amazon for one encourages new authors to submit books in E format for sale on their sites. It does give budding authors the chance to put their writing and story tellings skills out there.
I would imagine a budding Author would welcome the opportunity to publish their work without that rejection slip from a publisher.
I do get lots of free books from a website called Epub Books. Lots of older classics which I read as a young man and re-reading again.
https://www.epubbooks.com/
It does ask for a donation but not needed if you don't want to.