Music to Read By

Amazon continues to have a number of good albums and songs available both free and at a tremendous discount that make good background music when reading (or just for listening at other times).

Shanachie: Cool Urban Jazz may not be what everyone thinks of as Urban Jazz, but it also isn't elevator music (as the only negative review accuses). It is an album that you can place on the Kindle and listen along while reading, without being too distracted (or worry about having others hear what you are playing, which is not the case with all the free songs you'll find out there).

Speaking of samplers, Amazon has really pulled out the stops on Free World Music Samplers. They currently have an entire page of free albums, although it can be a bit confusing to get to the download page - first click on an album cover that looks interesting, such as the one shown here, Tuff Gong Worldwide World Music Sampler, which is almost entirely Ziggy Marley & family performances. You'll first go to a page that features related albums from the same part of the world and in the same musical genre. Look around the top of the page or on the right margin and you should see the album a second time - click on it and you'll then see the Album Page where you can download the sampler for free (always verify the price before you one-click on Get MP3). What better way to read Three Cups of Tea than while listening to Music From The Middle East?

Change Is Gonna Come, by Bettye Lavette, is one of those samples that fulfills it's purpose perfectly: it leaves you wanting more. You can't go wrong getting the rest of the album (Change Is Gonna Come Sessions, $4.95) or with any of the rest of her catalog.

The next one isn't free, but is a bargain at $2.99. Amazon has put together what they consider to be The 99 Most Essential Pieces of the Romantic Era, over thirteen and a half hours of music. I suspect the price will soon rise to $7.99, as their other Essential collections are priced (still a bargain at that price). Like the other Essential collections, this one is classical music. It contains several songs that everyone will recognize, even if they don't consider themselves classical music listeners (Also Sprach Zarathustra or The Valkyrie: Ride of the Valkyries, for example).

As a final selection, be sure to listen to Whitney Houston's new album, I Look To You ($9.99 MP3), courtesy of Oprah (if you miss it there, I've also found it as a free listen at rhapsody.com, last.fm, imeem.com and even QVC.COM (yes, the shopping network).

Click HERE to listen now.

Free Audiobook: The Divine Comedy

Looks like I forgot to include a link to this one earlier in the month; today is the last day to get this one for free (you can download it anytime, once it's in your library).

ChristianAudio's free download this month is The Divine Comedy (Unabridged) Dante Alighieri, translated by John Ciardi (Hardcover $40.78;Paperback $12.21; Kindle $9.99). After adding the audiobook to your cart (choose the Download format), enter the coupon code AUG2009 during checkout. Once your order is complete, you can download in either WMA or MP3 format. To use on the Kindle, download the MP3 files and copy them to the audible\ directory on your Kindle (or the SD card for the Kindle 1). Due to the size, you may only be able to copy over a few chapters at a time (and the filename is displayed on the Home page, so make sure to name them appropriately, so you can play the chapters in order).

Dante's poetic masterpiece is a moving human drama, an unforgettable visionary journey through the infinite torment of Hell, up the arduous slopes of Purgatory, and on to the glorious realm of Paradise-the sphere of universal harmony and eternal salvation. Translated by John Ciardi.

Free books from Smashwords: Fantasy and Sci-Fi

Several independent authors have started publishing their books on Smashwords, either in addition to, or instead of the Kindle. Not only can they set their own price (and keep more of the purchase price, compared to Amazon), but they can offer coupons for free or discounted books and support multiple ereader platforms with a single upload. There are several interesting downloads available right now; today I'll highlight some fantasy and science fiction finds. Remember that on Smashwords, there is no DRM and multiple formats, so you can read it on your PC, your Kindle or just about any other ebook reader out there. Books you purchase there stay in your library, so you can re-download them later. For a free book, just make sure to click on the "Add To Library" link just above the EBook Description section of the page.

Kevis Hendrickson's Rogue Hunter (Chronicles of the Rogue Hunter) ($1.99 Kindle) is now available in on Smashwords and he is letting everyone download it for free this weekend.

Book Description
Zyra Zanr, intergalactic bounty hunter for hire, has hunted fugitive criminals for many years. However, her true goal is to destroy the Zaragos Crime Syndicate whose agents ruthlessly murdered her father. But Zyra's vendetta with Zaragos leads her on a forlorn crusade that puts her at odds with not only the law, but also her own religious principles.

While hunting a notorious fugitive on the distant side of the galaxy, Zyra stumbles onto a conspiracy by Zaragos to murder the senators of the Intergalactic Alliance. Zyra learns that this plot is just the tip of the iceberg, for there is a clandestine force operating behind Zaragos that seeks to destroy not only the Intergalactic Alliance, but mankind as well. Zyra will have to put aside her selfish quest of revenge if she is to uncover the mastermind behind this plot and save humanity from an impending holocaust.

Zyra must come to terms with the violent role she plays in trying to keep peace in the galaxy, as well as the fact that a lone wolf may not be able to stop the coming Armageddon.

Rogue Hunter takes Zyra on a quest of adventure and descent into darkness, ultimately pitting the forces of good against evil in an epic struggle that can only result in the liberation or destruction of one woman’s soul while the fate of humanity rests in the balance.

Today is the last day, but you can download it at Smashwords for free in several formats. Click HERE for the download.

It's also the final days for the free download of Wesley Allison's Princess of Amathar. You have to use a coupon code after adding the book to your cart, RE32Y, which is valid until August 30.

Transported to the artificial world of Ecos, Earth man Alexander Ashton struggles to understand the society of his new friends the Amatharians. As he does so, he finds himself falling in love with their princess and being thrust into a millennium-long war with their mortal foes the reptilian Zoasians. Princess of Amathar is a sword-swinging novel of high adventure.

Ghost Of The Black: A 'Verse Full Of Scum, by Alan Baxter. The first time I saw mention of this one, I wasn't the only one that thought it was a poetry volume. But that is 'Verse, not Verse, and it's punk sci-fi to the core.

Book Description
Ghost is possibly the best bounty hunter in the universe and he always gets the job done. At least, that's the reputation that he rides on. When the DAP employ him to track down and capture a rogue Magicker that's running across the galaxy killing anyone that gets in his way, Ghost realises that this is a job that could cost him his reputation. It's also a job that could cost him his sanity.


Hero Wanted, by Dan McGirt, is my fantasy pick this week. This one is worth getting, just for the cover art alone (the book itself is getting pretty good reviews, as well).

Book Description
A rollicking fantasy romp across the Eleven Kingdoms with reluctant hero Jason Cosmo and cynical wizard Mercury Boltblaster. Forced to flee his home in Lower Hicksnittle and pursued by bounty hunters, demons, and the sinister Dark Magic Society, Jason goes from the bright realm of The Gods to the depths of the Incredibly Dark Forest to learn the awful truth behind the price on his head.

Monthly Kindle Book Budget: June

I'm a bit behind in posting my book purchases, so today I'll try to get caught up a bit.

June

Miss Kitty, Rocky and the Immortals	Jay A. Stout	$1.59
Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collapse	James Wesley Rawles	$6.96
Loving A Lost Lord	Mary Jo Putney	$0.00
Kiss Me Again	Dee Tenorio	$0.00
The Psychokitty Speaks Out: Something of Yours Will Meet a Toothy Death	Max Thompson	$1.59
The Psychokitty Speaks Out: Diary of a Mad Housecat	Max Thompson	$1.59
The Rules: A Guide For People Owned By Cats	Max Thompson	$1.19
Green Cost Cutting: Five Ways to Get Lean Now	Andrew Winston	$0.00
VICARIOUS	Jon F. Merz	$1.59
For the New Intellectual: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand	Ayn Rand	$1.99
Rogue Hunter (Chronicles of the Rogue Hunter)	Kevis Hendrickson, Carolyn Wright, Carol Dennis	$0.99
Her Wiccan, Wiccan Ways	Traci Hall	$0.00
The Caliphate	Jack Stewart	$0.10
Soul Survivor: The Reincarnation of a World War II Fighter Pilot	Andrea Leininger, Bruce Leininger	$0.00
Identity Crisis	Debbi Mack	$1.27
Cuba Blue (A Qui Agillar Havana Cuba Mystery)	Robert W. Walker, Lyn Polkabla	$1.59
Murder In Metropolis (Metropolis Mystery Series)	Lonnie Cruse	$0.80
Dead Man's Rain	Frank Tuttle	$0.00
The Widow	Carla Neggers	$0.00
Deception	Sharon Cullen	$0.00
MetaGame	Sam Landstrom	$0.80
The Hope Of Glory: 100 Daily Meditations on Colossians	Sam Storms	$0.00
One Second After	William R. Forstchen	$9.99
Dune (40th Anniversary Edition)	Frank Herbert	$1.99
The Clutter Diet: The Skinny on Organizing Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life	Lorie Marrero	$9.99
PARALLAX	Jon F. Merz	$1.59
Finding Juliet	Frank Sennett	$0.99
The Walk	Lee Goldberg	$1.40
Faking It	Elisa Lorello	$1.59
Summa Theologica by Thomas Aquinas. (complete) Published by MobileReference (mobi)	Thomas Aquinas	$0.99
Summa Theologica, all three parts in a single file, with active table of contents	Saint Thomas Aquinas	$0.99
Seducing Jane Porter	Dominique Adair	$0.00
The Nine Lives of Clemenza	Holly Christine	$0.80
For Love of Mother Not	Alan Dean Foster	$0.00
Magic Kingdom for Sale--Sold!	TERRY BROOKS	$0.00
Performance Criteria: Droid Wars I	Mandy M. Roth	$0.00
Nurse Jackie on SHOWTIME	Liz Brixius & Linda Wallem and Evan Dunsky	$0.00

For the month, that's 37 books, $40.39 in total, for $1.09 per book. Under budget and a very low per book cost. Two of the books were repurchases of books with bad formatting, so Amazon gave me a credit for the originals (Clutter Diet and Dune), which if purchased at full price would have bumped the total up to $52.37 and $1.42 per book. At least a couple of these are currently unavailable for purchase, due to the fallout from the 1984 book (Amazon has pulled all MobileReference books and is checking copyrights, it seems).

Here's the break-down by month, for the year-to-date:

Month	No. Books	Total Cost	Per Book
January	59	$83.47	$1.41
February	43	$29.97	$0.70
March	32	$33.44	$1.05
April	22	$13.11	$0.60
May	34	$34.79	$1.02
June	37	$40.39	$1.09
Totals	227	$235.17	$1.04

Guest Blogger: Author Sam Moffie

Today's post is from guest blogger and author Sam Moffie, whose most recent novel, No Mad, I just reviewed. You can find more info about the author and his work on his web site or by following him on Twitter.
__________________

GOD BLESS YOU MR. VONNEGUT!


When I was a boy, 5000 bottles of Merlot ago, I thought by age 47 it would be a lot easier to break into the limelight. Now I know how Kilgore Trout felt. The man had hundreds of books written, and the only magazines he could find his name in print, were rags that were very poor by pornographic standards. Wait a minute; at least he was getting published regularly.

Based upon my recent experiences in trying to find a reputable agent and/or a publishing house, it appears that American icon Kurt Vonnegut, like his creation Kilgore Trout, would only be published in tasteless porno magazines in today’s totally absurd literary world.

What do I mean?

I have spent the better part of three months sending out 90% intact Vonnegut’s Breakfast of Champions to various agents and publishing places disguised as The Perfect Martini, only to be rejected time in and time out by all BUT ONE agent, who recognized my sample 20 pages as the first 20 pages of Breakfast of Champions.

Think of that dear reader! If Kurt Vonnegut would be, say my age of 47, we wouldn’t know of him and his characters, because the publishing world would have ignored him. Or as two publishing houses said to me in their little ratty form rejection notes in envelopes THAT I PAID the postage for: “Unfortunately, we have to take a pass,” or “We made our selection, and sorry your story didn’t fit our needs.” I wonder how these two press houses being university affiliated will feel when they get the notice from me about whose writing THEY actually did turn down? For you see, Kurt Vonnegut’s books have always done so well with the university crowd.

Not only am I a huge fan of Vonnegut as a reader; his writing has also served as a sort of teacher for me to try my new trade as a writer of fiction. Although, it is very hard for me to picture Kurt Vonnegut receiving rejection after rejection from notable agents and agencies who after turning you down, do not even send you a personal rejection slip, but scribble a few lines on the original query and mail back to me in my pre-paid stamped addressed envelope how “the work doesn’t fit their need.” “Thanks, I’ll take a pass.” My favorite is: “Not taking on new writers.” How does that one strike you? Imagine how these uber-agents will feel when I inform them how they have rejected the work of Kurt Vonnegut?

This leads me to question a few things. One, obviously, did the agents I query even read the submission? Two, if they did, did they ever read Vonnegut? Three, if they didn’t ever read Vonnegut, what are they doing selling themselves to authors as literary agents who know fiction? And most importantly, four; has an agency or publishing house ever bought a stamp?

I think Mr. Vonnegut would appreciate this story. At least he would admire my imagination in attempting to shine a very small light on today’s publishing world. For sure, Kilgore Trout would be pretty happy with my attempt to kick the publishing world right in the tush, and hopefully shake it out of the slumber it is in when it comes to non-linear fiction, unknown authors, non-celebrity books, diet books, fantasy books, how-to-books, legal books, horror books, and did I mention non-linear as well as unknown authors?

I have been warned by many, that my attempt might embarrass a few people. Agents and publishing houses might boycott me. That this ”hoax” of mine will backfire, because Kurt Vonnegut has only been dead for a short time and the book I picked only 34 years old. My response is two-fold. What, they won’t publish me? They are ignoring me already! Furthermore, I turn to Kurt Vonnegut himself for help.

In 1954 he was hired by “Sports Illustrated.” Knowing very little about sports he was given a picture of a horse which was jumping a fence. Vonnegut spent some time pondering what to write as the caption. His one line was: “The horse jumped over the f---ing fence.” He walked out after leaving that masterpiece.

I guess you could say like Vonnegut, I’m taking a chance.

And, so it goes

Book Review: No Mad by Sam Moffie

Sam Moffie's No Mad ($9.99) can be a little difficult to get into, as the writing style resembles stream of consciousness and the mind of the protagonist is one that seems to suffer from ADD/ADHD. One thought leads to another, but eventually the does come back to the story line. It wasn't long, though, before the story itself started pulling me along and the style took a backseat to the plot line.

In No Mad, Aaron Abrams is an author who has just landed his first big book deal. He cuts short his daily errand run and rushes home to celebrate with his wife and after repeated attempts to reach his brother, only to discover the reason that his wife seemed distracted and his brother was unreachable was that they were having sex in the backyard pool (at the bottom of which was his brother's phone). He packs a bag and his dog, then dumps a bucket of ice on the two from the balcony and walks out, beginning a journey that lasts the rest of the book. A journey that covers not only a considerable portion of the United States, but one that ends with Aaron, if not in a state of peace, at least in a position of emotional security (good thing, with his entire family re-united at a wedding, with the kids keeping the warring sides separated).

The humor and style won't be for everyone (a good guide might be your reaction to the movie Superbad). I'd definitely recommend taking advantage of the free sample ability on the Kindle, in fact. There is plenty of adult language and explicit descriptions of adult subjects (some of which I, quite frankly, found a bit disgusting). There is a continuing theme involving the game of Jinx (not just here and there, but with mentions on what seems like nearly every other page). It' s hard to believe that someone who grew up in the 60's had never heard of the game until college, as is claimed for Aaron Abrams, but even harder to believe that he would continue to play the game thru his 40's with anyone other than his own kids and then only until perhaps their teens. But, indeed, the game of Jinx, complete with shoulder punching of friends, family, peers and even aquaintances, is featured with such frequency that I felt it detracted from the story. A more positive theme that recurs throughout the book is how Aaron relates to the world thru the music of his youth. There are frequent references to songs and artists from the 70's and 80's, along with quoted song lyrics that illustrate how Aaron feels at the time.

Overall, the book is quite funny, but there are some elements that detract from it being as good a story as it could be, and I'd give it 3.5 stars out of five. I also think the pricing is a bit steep for the Kindle edition. This is Moffie's third book, but he isn't quite at the bestseller level yet.

Jinx! I knew you thinking that, too!

Sandra Brown - Buy One, Get One Free?

Although this deal has been working for a couple of days, there is no mention of it on the Amazon page, so it may stop at any time. Be sure to check your book list on the Manage My Kindle page after your purchase -- you can always return the purchased book if the deal doesn't work and you didn't really want only the one for $10.

That said, if you buy a copy of Smash Cut ($9.99) by Sandra Brown, you also get a copy of her earlier novel, Hello, Darkness ($6.39), as a free download. If you are a Sandra Brown fan, just consider it a great bonus, essentially dropping the price of each books to $5, each.

Book Description
THE PRINCIPALS
Paul Wheeler. CEO of the Wheeler Enterprises empire. At age fifty-two, he's a pillar of Atlanta society and a brilliant businessman. But Paul is out of the picture even before the opening credits -- shot dead during an armed robbery. Julie Rutledge. A savvy, cultured, and attractive Southern woman, seasoned by a stint of study and romance in Paris. She owns the city's most successful and sophisticated art gallery on Peachtree Street. She was also Paul Wheeler's weekly companion at the hotel where he was murdered and was hand in hand with him at the time of his death. Derek Mitchell. A defense lawyer of renown. Successful, handsome, and despised by the Atlanta PD for his courtroom victories, he goes to the mat to make a case for every client - and headlines for himself. A guilty verdict is not an option. Yet he's not entirely without a conscience, as proven when his life takes a terrible turn toward the cinematic. Creighton Wheeler. The prodigal nephew of Paul. With movie-star looks and guileless blue eyes, the twenty-eight-year-old playboy has a penchant for call girls, fast cars, and designer clothes. But his passion is movies. He studies them, quotes them ... and lives them. Even those closest to Creighton can't be sure when he exits reality and enters the fantasy world of films.

STORYBOARD
The murder of Paul Wheeler has all the elements of a blockbuster: family rivalries, incalculable wealth, and a prominent man dying in the arms of his beautiful mistress. It's a case that could earn Derek Mitchell even greater star power. When the Wheeler family approaches him about defending Creighton for his uncle's murder -- even before he's charged -- he jumps at the chance. But Derek soon discovers that Julie will stop at nothing to secure justice for Paul -- and that includes preventing Derek from defending Creighton. Infuriated, Derek realizes that his hands have been tied in a way that could not only cost him the case, but ruin his entire career. Although Creighton has a rock-solid alibi, Julie is convinced that he is responsible for Paul's murder. But the homicide detectives have another theory. Caught in several lies, and keeping secrets from Derek and the police, Julie is suspected of casting blame on Creighton to cover her own crime. Meanwhile, Derek fears he's once again being duped ... yet he burns with jealousy when he thinks of Julie with her late lover. But the more Derek learns about Creighton and his darker side, the more he doubts the young man's innocence. And hiding in a squalid motel under an assumed name is the one man, a career criminal, a killer, who knows the truth. The clock ticks down toward a shocking ending as Derek and Julie seek to learn whether Creighton's fascination with movie murders is merely a bizarre hobby or depravity. Has he begun reenacting cinema's goriest scenes ... and, if so, who will be his unwitting costars? They won't know until the final SMASH CUT.

Soul Intent by Dennis Batchelder

Soul Intent ($0.99), by Dennis Batchelder, is the sequel to Soul Identity($0.01), a book of which I have three copies (two are ebooks -- it's a long story -- and one of which is a signed trade paperback). This one hit Kindle first, with the paperback to follow next month, so you get to read it before those who don't have Kindle access.

Book Description

A VILLAIN’S REQUEST
In 1946, soon-to-be-executed Nazi General Hermann Goering asks young Soul Identity overseer Archibald Morgan to take his looted gold and deposit it in a soul line collection, there to await his soul’s rebirth.

A GRIM RESISTANCE
Flora, a seventeen-year-old Gypsy girl whose father died in the Dachau concentration camp, is sure that Goering stole the gold. She struggles to persuade Morgan to reject the Nazi’s deposit, but Morgan prevails.

A MYSTERIOUS THEFT
Sixty-four years have passed. A repentant Morgan opens Goering’s collection and discovers the gold is gone. In its place lies a cryptic journal. Morgan asks security expert Scott Waverly to find the thief and recover the gold.

A THRILLING ADVENTURE
Scott must race through Europe to uncover the elusive secrets of what really happened in Nuremberg… secrets that threaten to reopen old wounds, settle old scores, and lead to the gold’s—and his own soul’s—recovery.

Offspring by Steven Harper released on Kindle

Offspring, by Steven Harper, the fourth and final book of his Silent Empire series, is now available on Kindle and is bargain priced at $1.79. The first three books in the series are Dreamer, Nightmare, and Trickster, all of which I've bought (and I've already grabbed this one).

Book Description
The lush and beautiful forest planet of Bellerophon is home to a cacophony of noises, but its resident psychics are known as the Silent. Previously they could travel to the Dream, a telepathic plane of existence where they could twist the laws of reality. But that time is over...

One madman's lust for power tore the Dream asunder. Now only a handful of the Silent can enter it. Kendi Weaver is one of them.

As an election for the governorship of Bellerophon begins, Kendi is caught in the crossfire. Attempts on his life—and a rash of Silent kidnappings—point to a political enemy...or a personal one. Either way, the future of the Dream is at stake. And Kendi fears it may become a nightmare.

Edited to add: The above order is by publishing date. However, if you'd like to read them in chronological sequence, it's Nightmare, Dreamer, Trickster then Offspring although the author says both of the first two can be read in either order and all of them stand alone (the last two are more intertwined, though). I've chosen to read them in this order and it works well.

One Day Dollar Sale: The Legend of Oescienne - The Finding (Kindle)

The Legend of Oescienne - The Finding, by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson, is on sale today for $1.00. This is the first book in a fantasy series aimed at adolescent and young adult readers (or those who enjoy young adult fiction). This book was first released at $10 and there is no guarantee it won't return to that level after the sale, so grab a sample and, if you enjoy it, be sure not to miss this sale price. The sale has been advertised as a 24 hour one, although it may last a bit longer than that, I would not count on it.

Book Description
When the dragon Jaax receives word that a human infant has been found in the province of Oescienne, he doesn’t dare believe it. Humans have been extinct for centuries, trapped by a terrible curse and left to live out their existence in the form of dragons. Despite his doubts, however, Jaax assumes responsibility for the baby girl only to discover that what he has been seeking for so many years has finally been found . . .

Jahrra knows all about the legends and sagas of Oescienne, but never in her wildest dreams would she believe that she played a part in one of them. She’s far too busy dodging the bullies at school and seeking out new adventures with her friends to worry about what secrets her dragon mentor might be keeping from her, or that her every move is being watched by something living in the forest surrounding her home.
But the secrets run deep, and as Jahrra fights to earn her place in this extraordinary world, she will begin to unravel the truth of it all: that she isn’t as safe as she thought she was, that danger lurks around every corner, and that her role in this unfurling tale is far more significant than she could possibly imagine.

Free Ebook Roundup

The heat of summer is settling in and it looks like Amazon is taking a short break from introducing new free titles. Perhaps they just want to give us time to get caught up in our reading? Currently, I count 40 full books, a tv script, one graphic novel, 10 business book chapters and 4 rather odd entries marked "Test: Please do not purchase" (from their bestselling ratings, though, some of them have been making more sales than some of the free business chapters, on and off), all currently free in the Kindle store.

Just because they are taking a break, however, doesn't mean that there are not free reads to be found. This one isn't for Kindle, as it has DRM, but Books on Board has Lessons in Love by Kate Davies for free in several formats (Adobe Epub is the only one they are charging for) and the DRM free version Mobipocket works just fine in Calibre or on your Kindle. This one is a Samhain title and their previous freebies have been Kindle exclusives, but this one doesn't appear to be available in the Kindle store (at least, not yet).

St. Bride's College, Cambridge, England, 1905. When Jonty Stewart takes up a teaching post at the college where he studied, the handsome and outgoing young man acts as a catalyst for change within the archaic institution. He also has a catalytic effect on

Ruth Ann Nordin recently made available two new novels, Meant To Be, a time travel romantic comedy, and Eye of the Beholder, a historical romance. These join the other free novels on her web site, bringing the total to five (plus a link to another free book on the same page).

Meant To Be
While on a train heading west, Ted Jacob and Megan Crane are thrown back into the past, with no idea of why or how they got there. They get off the train at Fargo, North Dakota. To their dismay, they are in April 1898.

To their horror, the people insist that Ted and Megan marry at once! But Ted and Megan don't even know each other, and despite their protests, the preacher declares them man and wife.

Eye of the Beholder
Mary Peters despairs that she will never get married. At nineteen, she has no prospects of finding a husband, so she takes matters into her own hands and becomes a mail-order bride. When she arrives in Omaha, Nebraska to meet the man she's due to marry, he takes one look at her homely appearance and rejects her.

But fate has other plans for Mary.

At the bottom of the page, there is a link to a free novel from Melanie Nilles, A Turn of Curses ($0.99 Kindle). You can download it there, or follow the link to Melanie's web site - there you'll find not only the free book, but a description of another novel she has out on Kindle, Starfire Angels ($3.99), as well as a serialized novel Legend of the White Dragon, currently up to chapter 43.

Nineteen year old Selina has a life many would love–praised, served, and spoiled. The only problem is she didn't choose that life, because it comes with a heavy price. She will soon die, like all Healers, when the mark of Y'dom completes its pattern around her neck, and hers is nearly complete. Her gift of healing powers are sought after by all, including the ruling prince of a neighboring kingdom to heal his ailing father. Seeing this as her last chance for adventure, she makes the journey to Vastorn.

En route she encounters Faldon, the fallen leader of the feyquin, and his band of rogues. Cursed by a demon and swearing vengeance on the human who shares his curse, Faldon does all he can to stop Selina from completing her journey. But he also knows how to save Selina, if she survives the night mares.

Wesley Allison is offering a free download of his book on Smashwords, Princess of Amathar. You have to use a coupon code after adding the book to your cart, RE32Y, which is valid until August 30. One nice thing about Smashwords - once you purchase a book, almost all of them are downloadable in multiple formats and none have DRM, making it easy to get a version for your e-reader.

Transported to the artificial world of Ecos, Earth man Alexander Ashton struggles to understand the society of his new friends the Amatharians. As he does so, he finds himself falling in love with their princess and being thrust into a millennium-long war with their mortal foes the reptilian Zoasians. Princess of Amathar is a sword-swinging novel of high adventure.

Another one free on Smashwords is The Life & Times of a Boomer Baby, by L.K. Campbell, who recently had her book A Soldier's Love as a free download to celebrate her birthday (it's now $1.99).

Personal anecdotes about growing up on a farm in the rural south during the 1960s. These sometimes humorous and sometimes poignant stories give a picture of life before cell phones, home computers, satellite T.V. and all those other things we think we can't live without.

Closing out today's roundup is Raising Atlantis ($6.39 Kindle) by Thomas Greanias. The publisher is having a sweepstakes to promote his newest novel, Atlantis Revelation ($9.99), giving you a chance on a special issue Ipod Touch in addition to the book in PDF form.

" BURIED UNDER TWO MILES OF ICE. In Antarctica, a glacial earthquake swallows up a team of scientists...and exposes a mysterious monument older than the Earth itself. In Peru, archaeologist Dr. Conrad Yeats is apprehended by U.S. Special Forces...to unlock the final key to the origins of the human race. In Rome, the pope summons environmental activist Dr. Serena Serghetti to the Vatican...and reveals a terrifying vision of apocalyptic disaster. In space, a weather satellite reveals four massive storms forming around the South Pole...and three U.S. spy satellites disappear from orbit. These are the end times, when the legends of a lost civilization and the prophecies of the world's great religions lead a man and a woman to a shattering discovery that will change the fate of humankind. This is the ultimate voyage, a journey to the center of time, as awe-inspiring as the dawn of man--and as inevitable as doomsday. This is RAISING ATLANTIS.... "

Click HERE for the sweepstakes and PDF download. The link for the book is on the right part of the sweepstakes page, so be sure to grab it first, then enter the contest.

More Free Weekend Reading - PDF's

Continuing yesterday's theme, there are plenty more free PDF's out there for your weekend reading (I suspect several weekends worth, just in these two post alone). The first is a buy one, get one free offer from R.W. Ridley, author of The Takers: Book One of the Oz Chronicles ($0.99). If you purchase the first book (which is under a dollar on Kindle), you can email him at member (at) rwridley.com and ask for Book Two (which is not yet available on Kindle) and he'll send it to you in either DOC or PDF format (your choice, just tell him which). It's on the honor system, no need to send your receipt.

Takers (Book One)
The first volume in The Oz Chronicles recalls both Stephen King’s The Stand and L. Frank Baum’s The Wizard of Oz. When 13-year-old Osmond “Oz” Griffith wakes from an illness on the floor of his closet, he discovers the world overrun by man-eating monsters, the Takers, and it’s largely his fault. In an effort to make things right, he gathers a band of survivors (a baby, an aged mechanic and a talking gorilla, among others), and sets off down his version of the yellow brick road, leading to the Atlanta Zoo. Along the way, he learns that his destiny was written by Steve, a boy from his past. Afflicted with Down Syndrome, Steve created new worlds, replete with battles between good and evil, in the comic books that served as his sole refuge from the teasing of Oz and his friends. Steve’s untimely suicide leaves only the comic books as clues to vanquishing the Takers.

Ed Dunlop, a minister perhaps best known for his Terrestria Chronicles series, has several young adult/children's books with a Christian theme available on his web site. These are mostly his Jed Cartwright series, set in the 1860's, each with a specific lesson/moral. Further down the page, you'll find Phantom Pilot (aimed at older youth) and two Sherlock Jones books.

Book One - Jed Cartwright and the Midnight Escape
Orphaned by the fever of 1860, twelve-year-old Jed Barrett and his sister Mandy are sent to an orphanage. When a local farmer makes plans to adopt Jed but not Mandy, the two children run away to St. Louis so as not to be separated. Surviving many perils and setbacks, the runaways reach their destination and eventually are adopted by the wealthy Jake Cartwright family.
Theme: forgiveness and salvation.

Click HERE for the free downloads

King's Property, by Morgan Howell, The Briar King, by Greg Keyes, and The Brass Bed, by Jennifer Stevenson, have all been available as free downloads for the Kindle and in the Sony store for a while. The Suvudu free library page has now been updated and you can get these all as PDF's, just click HERE.

Droidmaker: George Lucas and the Digital Revolution ($34.95 hardcover), by Michael Rubin, is available, for a limited time, on the author's web site, as three PDF's. I did a quick conversion on part one and it looks pretty good, including the photographs. If you want to recombine it as one book, you'll need to do that with a PDF tool first, or be prepared to do some a little extra work in MobiPocket Creator to include all three in one book definition.

Book Description
The inside story of George Lucas, his intensely private company, and their work to revolutionize filmmaking. In the process, they made computer history. Discover the birth of Pixar, digital video editing, videogame avitars, THX sound, and a host of other icons of the media age. Lucas played a central role in the universe of entertainment technologies we see everyday.

Click HERE for the download.

Last, get The Complete Idiot's Guide to Wine, Second Edition (2nd Edition) (out of print) as a free download from BestDealsMagazines.com. It's the complete book (11M, 547 pages), but not one I'd try to convert for the Kindle - there are just too many graphics and too much special formatting for it to work well. Read it on you PC or on your DX. You will have to create an account (use a throwaway address, if you don't want to be on their mailing lists). Click HERE for the download.