Anyone think this might be SPAM besides me?

Me.

It's one thing to refer people to a free e-zine site, but another to ask them
to pay $$$ to view your stuff.

And the solicitation of advertising is pure, unadulterated SPAM. He's not even
recommending a third party, which is something I have done and don't feel is as
big a deal if I don't have a financial interest in any eventual or potential
transactions.

It's also an "issue", not an "edition." :-)