I keep learning more about the Kindle experience. I thought at first that kindle formatted stuff I downloaded from Smashwords couldn’t be read on the Kindle device, only on Kindle PC. I was wrong. If you ‘open’ a file bought from Smashwords it will open only in Kindle PC and then you can’t copy it from there to your desktop or Kindle device. However, if you ‘save’ that file to your desktop, then you can open it on Kindle PC or copy it to your Kindle device just fine.
The general consensus on the Amazon widgets seemed to be that I should use them on my sidebar instead of the covers by themselves. So, as you can see, I did just that. It was a lot easier than setting up the covers to be clickable anyway.
You might also notice that I now have a place on the sidebar, just below my first set of links, where anyone can subscribe to an RSS feed for my blog. I had to do that so I could link my blog to Goodreads and to the Amazon Author Page. It took me several hours to figure out how to do it, since I’m still using the original template I started with on Blogger a couple of Yarons ago. But, tis done now.
In writing news, a couple of anthologies have just come out with stories by yours truly included. These are:
1: Caught by Darkness, which contains a vampire story of mine called “Clowns in the Dark.”
2: Dusted, which has a short SF flash fiction by me called “Past Perfect.”
I have also been on a book buying frenzy for the last month, almost all of which have involved friends and blog buddies. I picked up Death’s Head Crossing and Westward! by James Reasoner, Adopted Behaviors by James R. Tomlinson, Plum Blossoms in Paris by Sarah Hina, Dark and Disorderly by Bernita Harris, What Remains of Heaven by C. S. Harris, Desert Justice by Paul S. Powers, Crossroad Blues by Steve Malley, Lancelot by Lee Whitney, Heroes of the Fallen by David J. West, Pallid Light by William Jones, A Storm to Remember and Revolt of the Dead by Keith Gouveia, Slick Time, New Orleans Mysteries, and A Short Guide to Writing and Selling Fiction by O’Neil De Noux, and Adventure Vol. 1, which contains stories by friends of mine, John Edward Ames, Mark Finn, and O’Neil De Noux. About half of those were Kindle purchases.
Unfortunately, my book buying budget is temporarily blown so no one else I know publish any books for a while. ;) Just kidding.
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41 comments:
I still don't completely understand widgets and all that myself-so I appreciate your posting your experiences.
Book buying. The 8th August is the annual second hand fair where i live. maybe this year they put some books.
We have many similar buys: O’Neil De Noux, Powers, and Reasoner.
It's really great that you are keeping us informed on the Amazon front. You're teaching others how to make this work. :)
lol. I never thought I'd hear you say you blew your book buying budget. I have too. I don't even want to admit how much money went to my book collection this year.
dummy me knows less about that than i thought, so really appreciate your firsthand experience posts!
David J. West, I'm learning pretty quickly. The learning curve isn't as bad as it seems. A lot of things work together pretty well.
Deka, I've bought a lot of books at book sales. they have some good ones here.
David Cranmer, didn't know you knew of O'Neil's work. He lives within about ten miles of me. Nice guy and fine writer.
Christina, I always buy a lot of books but man, lately, I've gone over the top. Buying Kindle books is so easy.
Laughingwolf, Fortunately I can often call upon Lana for some guidance.
You have been busy... I don't think I'll have a book out for a month or two (I wish), so you can save up your change. I just found out another friend has published a book that I really want, but it's $47!
Mine doesn't come out until October, so you're safe! Glad you figured out how to properly save and open the Kindle eBooks.
Awesome to hear all that Charles. We are all very fortunate to have you for all these walkthroughs. Thank-you so much Charles! It is greatly appreciated.
-Bryan
www.sff-hub.com
Another very useful tech post. Thanks, Charles.
I went overboard with my Kindle at first. I slowed down a lot when I realized that when I wanted to read a book I always picked it up from shelves instead of looking at the Kindle. I mainly use my Kindle in doctors' offices and on trips.
Pam and I are trying to maintain discipline with our Kindles, reminding ourselves that no matter how easy it is to get another book, we still have budgets. We're taking advantage of Amazon's wish list feature, and trying not to purchase another Kindle book until we finish the one we're currently reading.
sage, buying one for $47 would make it hard for me to buy ten other friends books at 4 or 5 a pop.
Alex J. Cavanaugh, by then the book buying well may have refilled!
Bryan, in my old age I'm becoming tech savvy? well probably not but I'm learing some things.
Shauna Roberts, I've been reading quite a lot on the Kindle at home lately, but I do use it on trips.
Travis Cody, I wish I had a bit more discipline myself. I haven't ever used the wish list function but maybe I should start. That might help.
Good advice on picking up kindle.
Good advice on picking up kindle.
Ivan, I do have to get a copy of your book. Will do soon.
"clowns in the dark"
Chilling!
thanks for the update, you two...
Aloha from Waikiki
Comfort Spiral
Man, technology is cool but complicated. The devil is in the details. Congrats on the pubs!
I am so far behind in my book reading it is scary. If only I had the cash to buy an ereader. I'm leaning toward the Nook actually.
Cloudia, I do like that title even if I say so myself.
Erik, yes, although it's amazing how easily some things interact. Others not so much. Thanks.
Travis Erwin, let me know how the nook works if you get it. I'm considering buying one myself.
Slow down there COWBOY!!! You've got to read them there books. Next on my list: "Killing Trail." And thank you thank you thank you for your support.
Amazon seems to have 'misplaced' my title and author pages... >:-/
I've taken to putting books in my shopping cart at amazon and then leaving them there for a while. Has all the fun of buying books without the big hit on the credit card. Cuts down on the impulse buying, too.
JR, I'm reading about as fast as I can. Too much good stuff to enjoy
Steve Malley, I noticed that Crossroad blues didn't show up on Amazon today, although I bought it there. I thought maybe they were just modifying something. Hope they find it quickly.
Ron, that's a good idea. I do just love to buy books, and it's very cool on kindle to hit the one click buy and it about 15 seconds it loads to your kindle and is marked "NEW"
I hope it's just me, but not only do I see no subscribe widgets or options, but most of your other sidebar stuff is totally gone, too. All I see is your profile & recent posts (& perhaps that "made with blogger" thing. Commenting on another page, I can't see it now, so I'm not sure I remember that right.)
OK, followup to my last question - does it not create a conflict to distribute e-books through both Amazon and Smashwords?
"Unfortunately, my book buying budget is temporarily blown so no one else I know publish any books for a while. ;)"
LOL. Unfortunately, I know how that feels! :)
I'm still learning how to use my Nook. I like it so far. The e-reader thing is big business, and it's the future. I'd love to see my high school daughter get rid of all those heavy textbooks and carry around an e-reader! I wonder how long it will take schools to go that route.
Congrats on setting up the Amazon Author Page, and also on the anthologies that have just come out ~ that's wonderful news.
You really picked up quite a collection ~ what a huge TBR pile! Enjoy it.
Lana Gramlich, I didn't realize when you went through google reader that it just showed the individual post. That stuff doesn't show up on the single posts.
benjibopper, what kind of conflict? Most people do it through both sites, I see, and I'm not aware of any issues related to that. I think it's because you don't really sign a contract with amazon. They distribute the book but don't, so to speak, "publish" it. Smashwords is the same way.
Kate Sterling, I have to admit I downloaded yours for free. You shouldn't have allowed that option. I can't help myself.
Kathleen A. Ryan, I've read about three of them so far, and am working on two more. It'll be a while before I get through 'em all. I've heard some talk of schools going the ebook reader route. I think we'll see it before long.
I want to go on my own book-buying spree one of these days! But unfortunately, until I get another job, I'll be going on library borrowing sprees and the occasional going-wild-at-secondhand-bookstores rampage.
Mary Witzl, I hate to have my book buying restricted but you know it has to happen at times. Good luck on the job front.
Wow. I am going to show my husband that list when he complains about the number of books I buy.
Pattinase, I'm glad it will be useful for something. ;)
I think one of the nicest things about having bloggery writery friends, is buying their books and discovering new talent. I will be ordering yours.
Akasha, thanks much, of course.
Charles, hope my pea brain can figure out how to load yours and JR's books to my ipad! You are much more technical savvy than I.
Jodi, if you download Kindle PC for free you can do so.
Charles,
There is an early edition of my The Fire in Bradford right up on the header to my blog.
Click onto "The Fire in Bradford", top right.
The new edition is changed quite a bit, with the name of the anti-heroine changed, and an afterword by the canny Dr. Mona Rahman, which I appreciated very much.
Ivan, thankee.
Glad I don't have to screw with school anymore, lol.
Wow, you weren't kidding about taking a couple of days off for reading.
Clowns...vampires...makes a lot of sense to me...the red lipts, the pasty skin, and the yeesh factor.
Heff, I ended up making it my career. Guess it was the only thing I was good at.
Artsparker, yeah there are definitely some similarities.
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