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Archives for April 2010

Two NB VanYoos Titles Free Today

April 30, 2010 by Michael Gallagher

I’ve recommended books from other sites from time-to-time as there are book sources for your Kindle out there other than the Amazon website.  Some of these third-part websites are pretty good, and some of them leave a lot to be desired.  Of course, that is just my opinion and it all depends upon your point of view: the sites (and authors) I think are “pretty good” you may think are awful and vice versa.  At least I’m not recommending things to you that cost you $9.99 each to try out!

One of those third-party sites is Smashwords – it’s a place where basically anyone can be published if you follow their formatting rules, and they have a lot of books out there that (a) cost money, and (b) are free.  They also allow the author to set their own pricing, and periodically authors offer discounts on their own books if you put in a coupon code that is valid for a certain time period.

One of those authors is NB VanYoos, who is offering two of his four science fiction titles at 100% off (he has two others at 50% off) through the end of May if you use a unique coupon code.  To learn more about this author and link to his books, you can click here or point your web browser to http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/nbvanyoos

Here are the two titles and the coupon codes you need to get these titles for free:

Admiral’s Ghost: Book One in the Onyalum Series – coupon code: VC53G

The Trial Of Gesh: Book Two in the Onyalum Series – coupon code: WF94T

You will need to download these books to your computer, then transfer them over to your Kindle.  If you are unfamiliar with, or need a refresher on, how to transfer files from your computer to your Kindle it’s actually pretty easy – you can read my guide on how to do so by clicking here.

Want to have this blog sent wirelessly to your Kindle vs. reading it on your computer? Try out the free two-week subscription!  Click here for the Amazon page for Free Kindle Books Plus a Few Other Tips.

Don’t have a Kindle?  Click Here to learn more!

Filed Under: Free Book Links, Free From Other Sites

Book for Children Free Today from Amazon

April 30, 2010 by Michael Gallagher

Here’s one for kids to start the weekend: Swashbuckling Fantasy: 10 Thrilling Tales of Magical Adventure by a variety of authors, and it is free today from the Amazon Kindle store from Simon & Schuster.  Since there aren’t any physical pages I can’t tell you how long it is except guess – it’s over 1.3 meg in size, so it sounds like a lot of content or maybe a lot of pictures; who knows, the price is right!  You can pick up your free copy by clicking here.

Want to have this blog sent wirelessly to your Kindle vs. reading it on your computer? Try out the free two-week subscription!  Click here for the Amazon page for Free Kindle Books Plus a Few Other Tips.

Don’t have a Kindle?  Click Here to learn more!

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Software Upgrade for Kindle 1 Owners Coming Soon?

April 30, 2010 by Michael Gallagher

 

I received an email from blog subscriber Kathleen about the upcoming Kindle 2 and Kindle DX software upgrade I discussed in a post Wednesday night (click here in case you missed it or want to see it again).  Kathleen writes:

“The kindle1 left out again. Maybe we should talk to Oprah? How many were sold because SHE showed it – I’ll go out on a limb and assume she upgraded but does she know how many of us are left out in the cold watching big sister K2 and her cousin DX having all the fun…

Just had to share my annoyance!”

Actually, I understand your annoyance and frustration as in addition to my Kindle 2, my family also has a Kindle 1 that is used just as much as the Kindle 2 (it’s my wife’s Kindle, and she won’t upgrade).  However, there may be hope for you other Kindle 1 owners – and there are a heck of a lot of Kindle 1’s in service and hopefully will stay in service for a long time.

On the Amazon Kindle discussion board, a user posted an email he / she received from Amazon customer service addressing this issue; here is the response:

We have heard from many of our Kindle 1st generation customers that you would like to have a better way to organize your growing Kindle libraries. We are currently working on a solution that will allow you to organize your Kindle libraries.

At this time we aren’t able to provide you the exact time of when this update will release, but I’d suggest you to continue checking back our website regularly.

Thanks for using Kindle!

Best regards,

Prakash T
Amazon.com
We’re Building Earth’s Most Customer-Centric Company

Of course, there is no firm date or anything saying there will be additional updates other than the library organization (which to me is the best part of the upgrade, probably neck and neck with the PDF additions), but keep your eyes and ears open: I’ll do the same and let you know if I see anything.

Want to have this blog sent wirelessly to your Kindle vs. reading it on your computer? Try out the free two-week subscription!  Click here for the Amazon page for Free Kindle Books Plus a Few Other Tips.

Don’t have a Kindle?  Click Here to learn more!

Filed Under: Kindle Tips, Misc. and Random Stuff

Romance Title for Free Tonight in the Amazon Kindle Store

April 29, 2010 by Michael Gallagher

Loving a Lost Lord by Mary Jo Putney is free today in the Amazon Kindle store; I believe this may have been free for a brief period about a year ago, so some of you may have it, but seeing as how a few million Kindles have been sold in the last six months there are probably more of you who do not have it, and if you like romance novels this one sounds like it is for you.  Who knows how long this one will be free again, so if you are interested please click here to pick up your free copy.

Here is the book’s description from the Amazon website:

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. The enchanting first Lost Lords novel confirms bestseller Putney (The Marriage Spell) as a major force in historical romance. In early 19th-century northern England, Mariah Clarke inherits beautiful Hartley Manor. George Burke, Hartley’s former owner, claims that Mariah’s father won the estate by cheating at cards and attempts to regain it by courting Mariah, who recklessly claims she’s already married. When she rescues an amnesiac man from the sea, she sees her chance to make the lie true, naming him Adam and convincing him she’s his wife. Sensual romance heats up between the couple until Mariah reluctantly reveals the truth. When she learns of Adam’s real history, Mariah must make a terrible choice. Entrancing characters and a superb plot line catapult this tale into stand-alone status.

Product Description

In the first of a dazzling series, Mary Jo Putney introduces the Lost Lords-maverick childhood friends with a flair for defying convention. Each is about to discover the woman who is his perfect match-but perfection doesn’t come easily, even for the noble Duke of Ashton. . .

Battered by the sea, Adam remembers nothing of his past, his ducal rank, nor of the shipwreck that almost claimed his life. However, he’s delighted to hear that the golden-haired vision tending his wounds is his wife. Mariah’s name and face may not be familiar, but her touch, her warmth, feel deliciously right. . .

When Mariah Clarke prayed for a way to deter a bullying suitor, she didn’t imagine she’d find the answer washed ashore on a desolate beach. Convincing Adam that he is her husband is surprisingly easy. Resisting the temptation to act his wife, in every way, will prove anything but. And now a passion begun in fantasy has become dangerously real-and completely irresistible. . .

“Intoxicating, romantic and utterly ravishing…”-Eloisa James

Mary Jo Putney has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal, and three more made Booklist Top Ten Romance lists. A ten-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won the honor twice and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances.

Want to have this blog sent wirelessly to your Kindle vs. reading it on your computer? Try out the free two-week subscription!  Click here for the Amazon page for Free Kindle Books Plus a Few Other Tips.

Don’t have a Kindle?  Click Here to learn more!

Filed Under: Free Book Links, Free From Amazon Store

Important Dates and Numbers

April 29, 2010 by Michael Gallagher

Kindle owners do lots of things with their Kindles – some this you may already know how to do, but there may be a lot of you who never thought to do it.  There is a discussion thread going on over at the Amazon site where members are posting some of the random things they do with their Kindles in addition to “just” reading books.  I will be profiling some of these over the next few weeks – after all, part of the title line of this blog is supposed to be about Kindle tips vs. just a feature on free books!

The below is one of the tips from the discussion board:

Recently my sister put together a list for everyone in our family that has each person’s birthday, anniversary, mailing address, email address and phone numbers. I think I’ll add that to my kindle.

Want to have this blog sent wirelessly to your Kindle vs. reading it on your computer? Try out the free two-week subscription!  Click here for the Amazon page for Free Kindle Books Plus a Few Other Tips.

Don’t have a Kindle?  Click Here to learn more!

Filed Under: Kindle Tips

The Shop on Blossom Street Free Today

April 29, 2010 by Michael Gallagher

The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber is free today from All Romance Books, and you can pick up your free copy by clicking here or typing in http://tinyurl.com/26m8xdd to your web browser; it is the first book of a seven book series.  Please make sure you choose the “Mobipocket” version as that is the version that will work with your Kindle.

If you are unfamiliar with, or need a refresher on, how to transfer files from your computer to your Kindle it’s actually pretty easy – you can read my guide on how to do so by clicking here.

Here is the book’s description from the All Romance Book website:

There’s a little yarn shop on Blossom Street in Seattle. It’s owned by Lydia Hoffman, and it represents her dream of a new life free from cancer. A life that offers a chance at love.

Lydia teaches knitting to beginners, and the first class is “How To Make a Baby Blanket.” Three women join. Jacqueline Donovan wants to knit something for her grandchild as a gesture of reconciliation with her daughter-in-law. Carol Girard feels that the baby blanket is a message of hope as she makes a final attempt to conceive. And Alix Townsend is knitting her blanket for a court-ordered community service project.

These four very different women, brought together by an age-old craft, make unexpected discoveries-about themselves and each other. Discoveries that lead to friendship and more.

Want to have this blog sent wirelessly to your Kindle vs. reading it on your computer? Try out the free two-week subscription!  Click here for the Amazon page for Free Kindle Books Plus a Few Other Tips.

Don’t have a Kindle?  Click Here to learn more!

Filed Under: Free Book Links, Free From Other Sites

Latest Star Wars Saga Free Today from Amazon

April 29, 2010 by Michael Gallagher

Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith #4: Saviors by John Jackson Miller is free today from the Amazon Kindle store, and is a continuation of Amazon and the publisher offering the Kindle version of these titles in the series for free – just click here to get your copy; the first three in the series are still free and you can get #1 if you click here, #2 if you click here, and #3 if you click here.

Here is the description of #4 in the series from the Amazon website:

Twenty-five years ago the survivors of the marooned Sith ship Omen bloodlessly conquered the native population of the remote planet Kesh, installing themselves as overlords and transforming the primitive Keshiri civilization into a new Sith society. Letting nothing stand in his way-including his own brother-s life-Omen commander-turned-Grand Lord Yaru Korsin has ruled unopposed ever since. But now his days, and those of the ruthless Sith order on Kesh, may be numbered.Revolt-and revenge-have been brewing in the hearts of the two women closest to Korsin. One is Adari Vaal, the once-outcast Keshiri who rescued the stranded Sith, aided their domination of Kesh, and now leads the secret resistance against them. The other is Seelah, wife of Korsin, widow of his murdered brother, and mastermind of the plot to assassinate the Grand Lord and seize power. But have the comforts of a king and his own arrogance blunted Korsin-s cunning Sith instincts? Or is he ready to deal swiftly and mercilessly with treachery from any quarter? Enemies themselves, Adari and Seelah are unaware of each other-s destiny-altering gambits. They only know that there can be no turning back-and no escaping the consequences if they fail.

Want to have this blog sent wirelessly to your Kindle vs. reading it on your computer? Try out the free two-week subscription!  Click here for the Amazon page for Free Kindle Books Plus a Few Other Tips.

Don’t have a Kindle?  Click Here to learn more!

Filed Under: Free Book Links, Free From Amazon Store

Kindle Software Upgrade Coming

April 28, 2010 by Michael Gallagher

Amazon announced a major software upgrade tonight, to version 2.5 for the Kindle 2 and the Kindle DX; unfortunately, they have not announced anything for the first generation (also known as Kindle 1).

So, what is in version 2.5?  A lot of things people have been asking for on the Amazon discussion boards as well as in various news articles.  Here it is, straight from the Amazon website:

  • Collections: you will be able to organize your books and documents into one or more collections.
  • PDF Pan and Zoom: this one seems pretty neat – being able to zoom into PDF’s and pan around to easily view small print and detailed tables and / or graphics.
  • Password Protection: you will be able to password protect your Kindle when you are not using it.
  • More fonts and improved clarity: you will be able to use two new larger font sizes and sharper fonts, which should make the reading experience better for some of you.
  • Facebook & Twitter Posts: this one seems pretty neat – you will be able to mark and share book passages with your friends on Facebook and Twitter direct from your Kindle.
  • Popular Highlights: you will be able to see what the folks in the Kindle community thinks are the most interesting passages in the books you are reading.

The next question many of you may be asking is “when will I see this rollout?”  I don’t imagine they will do it all at once or AT&T’s and Sprint’s servers (they carry the Kindle traffic) will be overloaded.  According to the Amazon website, the version 2.5 software update is coming “soon,” and will be rolled out to a limited group of Kindle users, and they plan a broad release in late May.  To me, that sounds like we should all have it in a month.

Here’s how you get it – you can either leave your wireless on all the time, or you can periodically turn it on, and the Kindle will download the software update and install it once it gets it.  With prior software releases, Amazon would provide a link to allow you to force the update manually, but they do not have that link available at this time.  I imagine they want to stagger the software release, see if any issues crop up, and have the ability to tweak it as they continue the rollout across the Kindle community worldwide.

The Amazon website says it should take less than 10 minutes start to finish and, during the update, you will see screens showing the update progress.  When your Kindle displays the home screen after the download, you should be done. 

One important note is to not turn off the power or reset your Kindle until the update is complete.  You can check to confirm the software your Kindle is running by going to the Settings screen.  To do that, follow these quick and easy steps:

  • Make sure you are at the Home Page.
  • Click the “Menu” button.
  • Select the “Settings” option.
  • Look in the lower right-hand column to see the software version.

Here’s to hoping the next software update includes the ability to put your own screen saver pictures on the device (you can do that with a hack, but it will void your warranty)! 

Want to have this blog sent wirelessly to your Kindle vs. reading it on your computer? Try out the free two-week subscription!  Click here for the Amazon page for Free Kindle Books Plus a Few Other Tips.

Don’t have a Kindle?  Click Here to learn more!

Filed Under: Kindle Tips, Misc. and Random Stuff

Douglas Cooper Book For Free Today from Amazon

April 28, 2010 by Michael Gallagher

Amazon’s Kindle store has a book available for younger readers for a penny, which to me is free as you just can’t seem to find anything for a penny these days, with Douglas Anthony Cooper’s book  Milrose Munce and the Den of Professional Help.  It has received a perfect 5 out of 5 stars based on 12 customer reviews; I’ll also point out the hardback version costs $49.95 and the paperback is $41.99.  You can pick up your copy by clicking here.

Here is the book’s description from the Amazon website:

No one except Milrose Munce knows that ghosts of former students live in his school. Not only is Milrose aware of these ghouls – he’s on a first-name basis with all of them. Of course, some are more likeable than others: the third floor is the home to nearly all of his good friends. Most of them – like Imploded Ig, Deeply Damaged Dave, and Toasted Theresa – were the victims of science experiments gone wrong though they do manage to maintain a sense of humour about their demise. Then there are the ghost athletes who lurk in the basement – a pretty disagreeable group, the majority of them having died after a particularly clumsy maneuver on the school’s sports field.

After Milrose is given yet another detention for offering his teacher an answer that was just a bit too clever, his life takes an unexpected turn. He is sent to a hidden den in the school’s basement to receive Professional Help. Here, he and the quick-witted Arabella, a fellow captive, are put under round-the-clock supervision of the maniacal Massimo Natica. Fortunately for Milrose and Arabella, once they join forces with their ghostly friends, Massimo Natica doesn’t stand a chance.

In the tradition of Edward Gorey and Roald Dahl, the dark comedy and imaginative brilliance of Milrose Munce and the Den of Professional Help will appeal to adults as much as it will to younger readers.

Want to have this blog sent wirelessly to your Kindle vs. reading it on your computer? Try out the free two-week subscription!  Click here for the Amazon page for Free Kindle Books Plus a Few Other Tips.

Don’t have a Kindle?  Click Here to learn more!

Filed Under: Free Book Links, Free From Amazon Store

Harriet Beacher Stowe Classic Free Today from Amazon

April 28, 2010 by Michael Gallagher

Amazon is offering a classic for free today, with Harriet Beacher Stowe’s The Minister’s Wooing’ Ms. Stowe was the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin.  This is a little strange, as you’ve always been able to find this one for free on Amazon and other places like Project Gutenberg, but I believe there is a major difference with the formatting.  There is a cottage industry out there taking a lot of the public domain books and formatting them with an active table of contents to allow you to maneuver around, making sure the book is formatted for your Kindle (nothing is more annoying to me than a poorly-formatted book for the Kindle), etc.  then charging a buck or more per book to compensate the person / company for formatting it for you.  Many times, to me at least, that is worth the dollar.

For example, if you look at most books from Project Gutenberg, you would have numerous pages at the beginning and end describing Project Gutenberg, the table of contents would not be hyperlinked, and the formatting leaves a lot to be desired.

The Amazon offering is published by a major publisher, which I will assume has been formatted properly, has a table of contents, etc.  You can pick up your copy of this by clicking here.

Here is the book’s description from the Amazon website:

From the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, a domestic comedy that examines slavery, Protestant theology, and gender differences in early America.  First published in 1859, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s third novel is set in eighteenth-century Newport, Rhode Island, a community known for its engagement in both religious piety and the slave trade. Mary Scudder lives in a modest farmhouse with her widowed mother and their boarder, Samuel Hopkins, a famous Calvinist theologian who preaches against slavery. Mary is in love with the passionate James Marvyn, but Mary is devout and James is a skeptic, and Mary’s mother opposes the union. James goes to sea, and when he is reportedly drowned, Mary is persuaded to become engaged to Dr. Hopkins.  With colorful characters, including many based on real figures, and a plot that hinges on romance, The Minister’s Wooing combines comedy with regional history to show the convergence of daily life, slavery, and religion in post-Revolutionary New England.

Want to have this blog sent wirelessly to your Kindle vs. reading it on your computer? Try out the free two-week subscription!  Click here for the Amazon page for Free Kindle Books Plus a Few Other Tips.

Don’t have a Kindle?  Click Here to learn more!

Filed Under: Free Book Links, Free From Amazon Store

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