Monday, August 1, 2011

RANDOM THOUGHTS - FREE KINDLES AND A FLASH FICTION


Hi folks, 

Since I have several novels and a collection of short stories coming out this year as ebooks, it occurred to me that perhaps there are some who visit this site and might be interested in purchasing those books who don’t own a Kindle or Nook or other e-reader… and who might not be aware that people can download a free Kindle application for their computers.

In fact, that’s how I got acquainted with ebooks. By downloading a free Kindle application to my ‘puter. It takes about five minutes and you can get all the directions at http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=200388510

So, if you don’t have an e-reader at present, this is a great way to get a free one and see how it works, how it looks, etc. And… it’s FREE! What’s a cool bonus is that once you buy a handheld Kindle, all of the books you buy also show up on your free PC version.
  
Today, Luca Veste published one of my flash fictions at Guilty Conscience, titled “My Father and Robert Frost.” Check it out at http://guiltyconscienceblog.blogspot.com/. This story originally appeared in the Blue Moon Literary and Arts Review, Issue 6, Fall-Winter 2010 (http://www.bluemoonlitartreview.com/), and will also appear in my story collection, Gumbo Ya-Ya, forthcoming from Snubnose Press (http://snubnosepress.wordpress.com/) in December.

This is a true flash fiction. The only story I’ve ever written where the author’s bio was longer than the story…

Guilty Conscience is one of my very favorite blogs. Luca has some of the best interviews out there each and every week and it’s one of my main sources to find great authors and get great writing tips.

Blue skies,
Les

Kindle 

13 comments:

Writer Pat Newcombe said...

Thanks for that bit of info, Les. I never knew there was a pc application for kindle. I'll give it a go...

Les Edgerton said...

Cool, Pat. The best thing is... it's FREE! It gives you a good feel for e-readers, esp. Kindles.

And, if you do purchase a Kindle, everything you buy will be on your desktop Kindle as well, so if you're someplace where you have your laptop but not your Kindle, you have the same access to your books.

I use it also as one more storage place for my manuscripts--can't have too many off-site places for those!

Debbie Maxwell Allen said...

That's how my Kindle habit got started. I ended up accumulating so many books on my computer, I wanted to be able to read them more conveniently.

One thing you may consider is a site I discovered today, where Kindle authors can "sign" their books. Readers just go to the site to download the inscription.
http://kindlegraph.com/

~Debbie

Les Edgerton said...

Wow, Debbie, thanks! I had no idea of that feature. If you know any others, please let me know,okay?

Debbie Maxwell Allen said...

Sure thing, Les! It was just a matter of time before someone figured this out. :)

~Debbie

Les Edgerton said...

Debbie, I went there to figure out how to sign in as an author as I have several of my print books available as ebooks and got the part where they ask for the "Amazon ASIN" and I don't have a clue what that is! Any suggestions?

Debbie Maxwell Allen said...

I'm not sure what that number is, but here's the Facebook post that alerted me to the site. Maybe you can get in touch with one of the authors who have done it:

"Have you registered your ebook on Kindlegraph yet? Not published myself (yet!) but I have two Kindlegraphs from two wonderful authors: Leslie Tentler for my copy of Midnight Caller, and Sarah Barnard for her work The Portal Between. It took approximately 7minutes for Sarah's to appear on my kindle, slightly longer for Leslie's. But what a terrific technology! And the inventor will be adding Nook shortly (see his site for deets). What are you waiting for? It's FREE!"

Hope this helps!

~Debbie

Les Edgerton said...

Debbie, a friend of mine, Don Miller, sent me the info explaining the ASIN # and it's listed in the Kindle page of your book on Amazon. I entered the two books I already have on Kindle (Hooked and Perfect Game USA), and am now set up. As it turned out, I already had an autograph request waiting for me for Hooked! This is so cool! Thanks for alerting me to it. I owe ya!

Debbie Maxwell Allen said...

So glad you were able to figure it out. A few months ago I read an article mentioning a guy who came up with software that inserted a blank page into Kindle books, so the author (with some kind of special pen) could actually sign a Kindle in person. If I ever find that article, I'll send it to you.

~Debbie

Jack Getze said...

Thanks for this one, Les. If I don't watch out, you're going to drag me all the way into the twenty-first century.

Les Edgerton said...

My pleasure, Jack. 21st century isn't all bad--means the Jack is aged a bit more...

Hey, do you hear from Brian or Sandra about the review? I'm worried...

Good luck on your new novel!

Robin B. said...

Thanks, Les! I feel like I'm missing out, not having Kindle.

Les Edgerton said...

Hey, Robin--I fought it myself for a long time--just thought nothing could match the physical experience of a physical book... but, boy was I wrong! I read so much more now simply because it's just so convenient. And, where can you get books such as Anthony Neil Smith's novels for 99 cents?