Are Publishers April Foolish?

If you've been reading other book blogs lately, whether written by readers, resellers or authors, you can't help but know that that April 1 has been designated as the change-over date for ebook resellers to cease to resell books and instead act as commissioned sales agents for five of the biggest publishers in the business. It's hard to see how anyone wins in this scenario (although some resellers will make more, percentage wise in the short term) - retail prices are expected to rise (although some prices may decline, if publishers keep their promise to lower ebook list prices to close to 1/2 the hardback price), so consumers will pay more. Authors will get less per book, as they are paid based upon the suggested retail price, not the selling price, the publishers will get less (70% of the new, lower prices) and book sales may decline (even without the $9.99 boycott movement, there are proven psychological barriers when sale prices add an extra digit and some author experiments on the low end brought substantially increased revenue as prices dropped). The resellers don't win long term, as they will no longer be able to offer sales pricing or discount/reward programs (at least, according to the blogs from several of the smaller booksellers), leaving perhaps only the range of platforms where you can read the ebook and the management of your bookshelf as their distinguishing factors when making a sale. Even the temporary increase in profit per book may be negated if sales drop (although it might be hard to do worse than losing money on the majority of sales, as Amazon has been doing; then again, they did it on shipping for many years to get customer share).

If there are books you know you'd like to read that are newly out in hardback and are on the $9.99 Kindle books book list, I'd go ahead and order them today. But otherwise, I would not panic, as the more popular books will drop into paperback prices (or at least, they will according to the publishers, who have been known to keep a book in trade paperback instead of traditional or mass market size, just for the higher prices) at some point. I did, however, pick up two books today, that I might have waited on otherwise (but only for a short while, as I have all the previous books in the series), which I've included below. One is a good deal as a pre-order and the other is at that magic $9.99 price today and I didn't want to chance having to wait until it came out in paperback (and I'm paying well over paperback prices for both, something the publishers should consider more - I think their inflated hardback prices have greatly contributed to the decline in reading).

We'll just have to keep track of our wishlists a bit better, so that we find mainstream books that drop to paperback prices. In the meantime, my Kindle has hundreds of unread books on it, most of them obtained free or at minimal cost, due to author sales and promotions, so I shouldn't run out anytime soon. If I do, there are several independent publishing houses that are not participating in the agency model, along with Random House (so far), as well as hundreds of independent authors, some of whose writing rivals or exceeds what is often on the best-sellers lists.

Silver Borne ($9.99), by Patricia Briggs

Book Description
When mechanic and shapeshifter Mercy Thompson attempts to return a powerful Fae book she'd previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down.

It seems the book contains secret knowledge-and the Fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't take enough of Mercy's attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side-leaving Mercy to cover for him, lest his own father declare Sam's life forfeit.

All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn't careful, she might not have many more to live...

Black Magic Sanction ($8.65 pre-order), by Kim Harrison

Book Description
In New York Times bestselling author Kim Harrison's most complex and nuanced adventure yet, bounty hunter and witch Rachel Morgan fights a deadly battle—mind, body, and soul

Rachel Morgan has fought and hunted vampires, werewolves, banshees, demons, and other supernatural dangers as both witch and bounty hunter—and lived to tell the tale. But she's never faced off against her own kind . . . until now. Denounced and shunned for dealing with demons and black magic, her best hope is life imprisonment—at worst, a forced lobotomy and genetic slavery. Only her enemies are strong enough to help her win her freedom, but trust comes hard when it hinges on the unscrupulous tycoon Trent Kalamack, the demon Algaliarept, and an ex-boyfriend turned thief.

It takes a witch to catch a witch, but survival bears a heavy price.

If you've read thru the comments on my post about "free samples", you already know that we are unanimous in our opinion of them. So, for the most part I'll ignore them completely. But, there will always be an exception and I'm including one today, simply because the sample is available today (and you can now permanently delete them), while the book itself is not. The full book is on pre-order for $9.99 and I have no idea if it will be affected by the pricing changes taking place tomorrow. On the off chance it is and you (or your kids) are a Rick Riordan fan, you may want to take a peek at the sample of the first in his newest series and place a pre-order for the full book today. I'm still behind on the Lightning Thief series, but picked up the first four while they are under $5 each, so haven't decided on getting this one (or the last in the other series).

The Kane Chronicles, Book One: The Red Pyramid Chapter Sneak Peek! ($0.00), by Rick Riordan. Full book is a pre-order: The Kane Chronicles, Book One: The Red Pyramid ($9.99)

Book Description
Since their mother’s death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane.

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.

Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them--Set--has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe--a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

Author Spotlight and a Free Book - Diane Duane

You can get a free copy of A Wind from the South (out of print), by Diane Duane, is the first (and so far only) book in her Raetian Tales series, from the author's website (and a few other sites). She is perhaps best known for her Young Wizards series, which is not yet available on Kindle.

Book Description
In the remote mountain village where she was born, Mariarta dil Alicg lives the untroubled life of a peasant girl...until, soon after a mysterious stranger's arrival, she starts to hear voices in the wind. The voices whisper strange secrets in Mariarta's ears -- promising her the power to command the stormwind, hinting at an unknown, magical heritage, and prophesying a fate marvelous past all Mariarta's imaginings.

Mariarta's search for the truth about the beautiful and terrible creature attempting to possess her body and soul will lead her into hidden domains of sorcery both dreadful and wondrous, and finally embroil her in the growing rebellion against her land's cruel Austriac oppressors. But not before Mariarta comes face to face at last with the immortal Lady of the Storms, and challenges her to one final battle for control of her life, her soul, and her destiny...

Here are some download locations for the free version:

• Mobileread - (nice PRC format, load right onto the Kindle)
• Raetian Tales website - PDF, LIT and PDB formats
• Author's website - has disclaimer of limited time availability (but it's been free for some time); PDF, LIT and PDB formats, with Kindle version "in the works"

I'd recommend the version at mobileread for those with a Kindle.

Ms. Duane has also started re-releasing some of her backlist books in ebook form. A few of these are in the Kindle store and a couple of others are at Smashwords. I'd ignore the special order buttons on the author's website, as these lead to yet another purchase choice (and I like to keep my purchases at as few ebookstores as possible). Here are a few of the titles that are currently under $5.

Start Trek: Doctor's Orders ($2.79)

Book Description
When Dr. McCoy grumbles once too often about the way the U.S.S. Enterprise™ ought to be run, Captain Kirk decides to leave the doctor in command while he oversees a rountine diplomatic mission. Kirk beams down to a strange planet nicknamed "Flyspeck" to negotiate its admission into the Federation, leaving Dr. McCoy to enjoy his new authority.

However, the doctor soon learns that command is a double-edged sword when Kirk disappears without a trace. Desperately trying to locate his catain, McCoy comes under pressure from Starfleet to resolve the situation immediately. Matters go from bad to worsewhen the Klingons arrive and stake their own claim on Flyspeck

Then another, more deadly power threatens them all, and suddenly Dr. McCoy and the Starship Enterprise find themselves pitted against an alien fleet in a battle they have no hope of winning.

Star Trek: The Romulan Way ($2.80)

Book Description
hey are a race of warriors, a noble people to whom honor is all. They are cousin to the Vulcan, ally to the Klingon, and Starfleet's most feared and cunning adversary. They are the Romulans -- and for eight years, Federation Agent Terise LoBrutto has hidden in their midst.

Now the presence of a captured Starfleet officer forces her to make a fateful choice -- between exposure and escape. Between maintaining her cover -- and saving the life of Dr. Leonard McCoy.

Here, in a startlingly different adventure, is the truth behind one of the most fascinating alien races ever created in STAR TREK -- the Romulans.

The Door Into Fire ($2.99) is now out of print (but you can pick up a "new" copy for $130 HERE at Amazon!). I've used the new cover at Smashwords for the blog post, but you might want to check out the cover of the original paperback to see how Tor marketed the book in the mid-1980's (there are some reviews there, as well).

Book Description
The only man in centuries to possess the Power of the blue Flame, Herewiss cannot use or control it. With his dearest friend, the exiled Prince Freelorn, and the unearthly creature called Sunspark, Herewiss searches the forbidden Waste to find a legendary Keep full of doors into other worlds -- desperately seeking the one that will make him whole... (A two-time John W. Campbell Award nominee)

The Door into Shadow ($3.99), the sequel to The Door Into Fire is also long out of print (there are some "new" copies (at $79.49) and reviews, HERE).

Book Description
Second of Diane Duane's "Middle Kingdoms" sequence, sequel to THE DOOR INTO FIRE. The quest of Freelorn Ferrant's son, exiled prince of Arlen, continues as he and his people push eastward across the Middle Kingdoms in pursuit of his lost throne. But his companion, the warrior and sorceress Segnbora, brings her own possibly deadly agenda to the search...

It looks like The Door into Sunset will be coming to Smashwords soon -- so if you get hooked on the series (which totals four books), you won't have to pick up that $189.25 "new" paperback someone is trying to sell at Amazon.

Free Book (PDF) - Living Fearlessly

As part of a promotion for Sheila Walsh's latest title from Thomas Nelson Beautiful Things Happen When a Woman Trusts God ($9.99), you can download her book Living Fearlessly (out of print; Zondervan) for free in PDF format from ChristianBooks.com.

Book Description
This book takes a poignant look at our fear-based responses to life, inviting us to live out the glorious paradox of giving up control in order to "fly" free.

Imagine what it would be like to look your fears in the face and refuse to let them keep you from living freely and fully. Think how your life would change. "God gave me the challenge of writing about fear in order to teach me how to live without fear," writes Sheila Walsh. "I was afraid of so many things. I was afraid to give an unconditional Yes! to God. What if he brought me to a darker night than I would be able to bear?" If you, like Sheila, have struggled with the seeming conflict between God's promises and life's sometimes shattering realities, you'll marvel at the refreshing honesty and insight in this book. Stripping away faith's candy coating, Sheila points the way to living with both your eyes and your heart open. With heartfelt candor, she articulates the fears and exposes the lust for control most of us avoid facing. And she points beyond them to the truly abundant life. It's not a life of unquenchable smiles and Superwoman faith. It's more real than that--and more powerful, and more joyous. Join Sheila on a journey that begins with Telling the Truth and proceeds through Facing Your Fears to your destination--Finding His Peace Along the way, the moving, gut-level stories of fellow travelers will inspire you not to retreat from life but to embrace it with open arms. Living Fearlessly helps you discover a faith that transcends the quest for security in an insecure and broken world and rests instead on who God is. His unchanging character--not life's changing circumstances--is your foundation for peace and joy. It's the key to loving well and living free, giving and receiving wholeheartedly in your relationships, and resting on God's strong grace in the face of your weaknesses. Living Fearlessly will help you loosen your grip on life--so you can receive life back with open hands from a faithful Father who loves you beyond anything you can imagine.

Author Biography: Sheila Walsh is the creator of Children of Faith and the Gnoo Zoo, a ministry to children that communicates God's love for them. She is the author or coauthor of several books including "Honestly", "Gifts for Your Soul", "Living Fearlessly", and "The Best Devotions of Sheila Walsh". As an accomplished musician, Sheila has recently released the CD Love Falls Down ($9.99 MP3). Sheila, her husband, and their son, live in Nashville, Tennessee.

Click HERE to get the free book. It's a bit hidden on the page - click on the link titles Sample Pages (PDF); you'll get a sample of the new book, at the end of Living Fearlessly (in it's entirety).

Most Useless Freebie and Most Outrageously Priced Bundle on Kindle?

As most of you know by now, I oppose the move by some publishers to put single chapter free "books" in the Kindle store, as they already have the ability to mark the portion of their book that is downloaded as a sample (it's a feature of the mobi format, which few in the DTP side take advantage of). Having any title available for free, however, gets the author and title more attention, as it turns up in searches that sort by price and can even catapult an author into the Kindle "bestsellers" list. It can also backfire and garner so many 1-star reviews that a few authors have had to ask Amazon to decouple the free title from their higher priced full volume, so that the bad reviews don't show up there. Today's freebie, however, doesn't give you the intro and chapter one, but chapter two of the book. Perhaps the $9.99 full volume will give you the intro material missing before what looks like a short biography of a female serial killer. Of course, they could have set the sample to give you the same amount of material, including all of chapter 2 (I've had up to four chapters in some samples, while others never managed to get past the preface), but that would not have gotten them any of the publicity they'll get from a "free book" being offered.

The other listing I'm highlighting today is one that was recently promoted on the Kindle blog, a compilation of nine titles from Jean Plaidy. A (deceased) UK author whose backlist has been re-released on the Kindle (presumably by heirs or her estate), at fairly high prices (discounted to $9.99 on the Kindle). This bundle claims to be the "complete Tudor" series, but the Fantastic Fiction site lists 11 titles, mostly written in the 1940's and 1950's (and one in 1982). The titles listed in this omnibus, however, don't match up to the list for the Saga (and one title has apparently been changed for the US market, as I don't see To Hold the Crown even on her credits page. All that aside, the biggest problem I have is with the pricing. In keeping with setting the list price of the individual titles at $13.95, the list price for the bundle is $127.65 - which actually works out to $14.18 per title ... a surcharge for the convenience of having the bundle (assuming, of course, that the bundle also has a good table of contents). The standard 20% discount given to Kindle titles that are over the cutoff for automatic discount to $9.99 results in a pre-order price of $102.12 for this bundle; yet, you can buy the nine individual titles (all of which are already available in the Kindle store) for $89.91.

So, tell me. What do you think of these free chapters pretending to be books? Do you want me to include them in my blog when they show up? Or ignore them, as I have been doing?

What about bundles with negative discounts or high priced backlists? In this author's case, I don't see mass market paperbacks at a discount (no doubt due to being a UK author, although I also don't see any import paperbacks; were this a US author, the lack of a lower priced book option would be negative indicator of popularity, especially after 60+ years in print, that might indicate that >$10 list prices are not such a great idea). But I've seen the same type of pricing attempted for some US authors -- asking much higher prices for ebooks that their (current, in-print) paperbacks are selling for. Do you buy these (to me) overpriced backlist titles?

The Devil's Rooming House: The True Story of America's Deadliest Female Serial Killer - Free Preview Chapter 2, by M. William Phelps

Book Description
In the second chapter of this tense account of America's most prolific female serial killer, the deadly heat wave of 1911 is engulfing the Northeast. In that suffocating heat, reporter Carl Goslee finds the first concrete evidence to confirm his suspicions, and faces a fierce backlash as he pursues the story.

The Complete Tudors: Nine Historical Novels, by Jean Plaidy

Book Description
The nine Tudor novels by beloved novelist Jean Plaidy are now available as one complete series spanning sixteenth-century England. This exciting collection includes a brand-new character guide, along with reading group guides for seven books. Read all nine novels in order for the first time digitally and delve into the lives of this fascinating dynasty—full of intrigue, betrayal, marriages, and deaths, in a complete package, never before available.

To Hold the Crown
In this sweeping tale of marriage and power, love and heartbreak, Henry VII and Elizabeth of York’s troubled ascension to the throne of England ultimately launches the Tudor dynasty.

Katharine of Aragon
Katharine of Aragon held her husband Henry VIII’s affection—but only for so long.

Murder Most Royal
One powerful king. Two tragic queens. Sophisticated Anne Boleyn and innocent Catherine Howard meet with the all-consuming—and fickle—passions of tempestuous King Henry VIII.

The King’s Confidante
The King’s servant, but God’s first. The English lawyer Sir Thomas More rises to become King Henry VIII’s most trusted advisor, but his refusal to recognize Henry as the supreme head of the Church of England ends his political career . . . and leads to his trial for treason.

The Sixth Wife
Dangerous court intrigue and affairs of the heart collide during the story of Katherine Parr, the last of Henry VIII’s six queens.

The Thistle and the Rose
The story of Princess Margaret Tudor, whose life of tragedy, bloodshed, and scandal would rival even that of her younger brother, Henry VIII.

Mary, Queen of France
The story of Princess Mary Tudor, a celebrated beauty and born rebel who would defy the most powerful king in Europe—her older brother.

For a Queen’s Love
Power-hungry monarch, cold-blooded murderer, obsessive monster—who could love such a man? Set against the glittering courts of sixteenth-century Europe, the Spain of the dreaded Inquisition, and the tortured England of Bloody Mary, this is the story of Philip II of Spain—and of the women who loved him as a husband and father.

A Favorite of the Queen
Torn between her heart’s passion and duty to her kingdom, Elizabeth I must make a decision that will shape her country and place her name in history forever.

Game of the Day - Build-a-lot 3

Amazon's Game Download of the Day is a $2.99 download of Build-a-lot 3: Passport to Europe (normally $6.99).

Book Description

• Restore Many Different Houses.
• Paint And Landscape To Increase Curb Appeal.
• Play Campaign Or Casual Mode.
• Construct Service Buildings.

Build-a-lot 3 is your passport to fun! Travel all over Europe as you restore rundown houses, develop friendly services and beautify neighborhoods with picturesque landmarks. The changing needs of the neighborhood will definitely keep you busy--you may need to brave the rain and snow, deal with noisy neighbors, or even put out a small fire to get the job done on time! Pack your bags and let the fun take flight in the exciting sequel to Build-a-lot 1 & 2!

2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award

This morning, Amazon added 500 free "books" to the Kindle store, which are excerpts from the quartefinalists for the 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.

Amazon.com, along with Penguin Group (USA) and CreateSpace, is pleased to announce the third annual Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award, the international competition seeking the next popular novel. For the first time, the competition will award two grand prizes: one for General Fiction and one for Young Adult Fiction. The 2010 competition is open to unpublished and previously self-published novels waiting to be discovered. Each winner will receive a publishing contract with Penguin, which includes a $15,000 advance.

Last year's winner, Bill Warrington's Last Chance ($16.47 Hardcover), is now available for pre-order (but not yet announced for the Kindle).

A magnificent debut about a man's odyssey toward family redemption- with his granddaughter along for the ride

Bill Warrington realizes he has Alzheimer's and his lucid days are numbered. Determined to repair a lifetime of damage to his estranged adult children, Bill takes off with his fifteen-year-old granddaughter April on a cross-country drive, bound for San Francisco, where she dreams of becoming a rock star. As the unlikely pair heads west, Bill leaves clues intended to force his three children-including April's frantic mother-to overcome their mutual distrust and long-held grievances to work together to find them.

In this dazzling road trip novel, James King masterfully explores themes of aging, sibling rivalry, family dysfunction, and coming of age, against a backdrop of the American heartland. Unflinching, funny, and poignant, Bill Warrington's Last Chance speaks to that universal longing for familial reconciliation, love, and forgiveness.

You can get more information on the award and download an extended excerpt [PDF] from last year's winner, HERE.

Free Game - Slyder Adventures

The free game this week at Sandlot Games is Slyder Adventures ($6.99 Amazon Game Downloads), a "topsy-turvy" puzzle adventure game.

Game Description

• Crazy Topsy-Turvy Adventure
• Secrets Around Every Corner
• Unique Toe Tapping Soundtrack!
• Over 150 Challenging Levels
• 4 Dazzling Worlds To Explore
• 2 game modes: Exploration & Timed
• 30+ interactive objects and items

The spherical hero Slyder returns in his latest topsy-turvy adventure. Guide Slyder and three of his friends through worlds packed with fun, excitement, peril and danger! Explore more than 150 increasingly challenging levels in four vast worlds in two unique game modes, each with unique characters and distinctive items, and collect unique items to help you in your quest! Play with simple controls using only the mouse to tilt and turn Slyder's world around him.

Click HERE to sign up for the free download. For step by step purchase and installation instructions, see this post.

Author Spotlight - F. Paul Wilson

F. Paul Wilson's The LaNague Federation Chronicles is now out and exclusive on Kindle. Each volume is $2.99 and several contain an exclusive, bonus short story (or two) in addition to the main title. I've included them below, in series order. Wilson is perhaps more recently known for his Repairman Jack series; his novels and short fiction have been nominated for the World Fantasy Award, the Nebula Award, and the Bram Stoker Award and he was the first winner of the Prometheus Award!

Healer

Steven Dalt should have died in that cave on the planet Kwashi. After all, as the natives say, of a thousand people attacked by the cave-dwelling alaret, one will not die. But Dalt is that one. He survives, but not without personal cost: he has picked up a passenger: an alien intelligence transferred itself from the alaret to take up residence in his brain. Steven Dalt will never be alone again.

But Pard, as Dalt names the alien who shares his life, doesn’t believe in freeloading. He pays his rent by using cellular-level consciousness to maintain Dalt’s body in perfect health—no disease, no aging. And now Dalt appreciates the full meaning of the Kwashi natives’ saying: Of a thousand struck down by an alaret, one will not die . . . ever.

Spanning twelve hundred years, HEALER follows Dalt and Pard through the centuries as they become known as The Healer, an enigmatic figure with the power to cure diseases of the mind. And when a wave of interstellar slaughter threatens the civilizations of the LaNague Federation, only The Healer has the resources to face the onrushing doom.

(Bonus LaNague short story: "To Fill the Sea and Air" - plus a foreword by the author)

Wheels Within Wheels

A monstrous conspiracy is brewing against the LaNague Federation and the freedoms its guarantees to its member planets—at least that’s what Old Pete says. He's come to the offices of Interstellar Business Advisors, a firm he co-founded more than half a century before, to enlist the aid of its current CEO, Josephine Finch. Dubious at first, Jo humors the old man by promising to look into the matter.

She does not have to look far before she is convinced that something is afoot, something that will not bear the light of day, something involving a revolutionary means of interstellar travel. And when one of the trails leads to the planet Jebinose, site of her father’s bizarre death, Jo finds herself personally involved.

She is soon pitted against one of the shrewdest, most devious minds in Federation politics, and against a wild-card psi who might well destroy them both. But what Josephine Finch begins, she finishes.

Wheels Within Wheels follows her on a course that involves five planets and three alien races. Before she is through she will bring the galaxy’s largest corporation to its knees, avenge her father’s death, abort a cynical political plot, and start an interstellar war.

Don’t mess with Josephine Finch.

(Bonus LaNague short stories: "The Man with the Anteater" and "Higher Centers" - plus a foreword by the author)

An Enemy of the State

Peter LaNague’s voice was low but his eyes blazed as he spoke:

"I propose a revolution, one without blood and thunder, but one that will shake this world and the entire outworld mentality as no storm of violence ever shall. History is filled with cosmetic revolutions where a little new paint is daubed on an old face or, in the more violent and destructive examples, a new head set on an old body. Mine will be different, truly radical . . . which means striking at the root. I’m going to teach the outworlds a lesson they will never forget. When I’m through with the Imperium, the people of the outworlds will swear never again to allow matters to reach the state they are in. Never again!"

Meet Peter LaNague—citizen of the planet Tolive, devotee of the Kyfho philosophy, revolutionary agent provocateur.

But LaNague is planning a unique revolution. One that not only topples the entrenched Outworld Imperium, but fundamentally alters every outworlder’s concept of government as well. To accomplish this he must ally himself with a madman, trust the word of the last of Sol System’s robber barons, make incisive use of the consummate warriors from the planet Flint without letting them run amok, confound at every turn the omnipresent forces of the Imperium, and every now and then make it rain money.

But those are the easy parts. His greatest challenge will be to see his plan through to successful completion without becoming the very enemy he has vowed to destroy.

AN ENEMY OF THE STATE is the heart and the cradle of the LaNague series. It is the story of the apocalyptic birth of the LaNague Federation.

Dydeetown World

Welcome to the future...

Where the cream of humanity has left for the outworlds, leaving the rest behind...

Where genetically redesigned T. rexes have supplanted pit bulls...

Where population control measures have created an underclass of Urchins, unlicensed children who have no rights - not even the right to exist...

Where wireheads with chips in their brains live vicariously through the downloaded experiences of others...

Where the UN has been turned into a brothel known as Dydeetown, peopled by clones of famous personalities from history and entertainment...

Where a Dydeetown clone of Jean Harlow asks a down-and-out private eye named Sig Dreyer to find her missing lover.

Though Sig loathes the idea of working for a clone, Harlow-c is paying in gold, and that's hard to turn down. Just a missing-person case...should be simple enough.

But neither realizes that Sig's investigation will tip the first domino in a cascade of events that will turn their world upside down.

DYDEETOWN WORLD whips the classic tropes of noir fiction and far-future cyberpunk into a relentlessly paced novel about freedom, friendship, and self-esteem. Beneath its hardboiled voice, its seamy settings, and violent events, are people trying to make a human connection...and changing the world in the process.

The Tery

Heroes don’t always look the part.

He was a tery, a lean, bearish creature with no name. The human soldiers left dead. Just another dumb animal on their extermination list.

But he didn’t die.

Animals weren’t the only beings on the list. Certain humans were marked for extinction as well. A fugitive band found him and brought him back from the brink. He became their pet, their mascot.

And still he had no name. He was simply “the tery.”

He soon learned that these were no ordinary humans, and learned too that he was no ordinary tery. The humans had no idea that the creature they fed table scraps and patted on the head would soon turn their world upside down and change it forever.

By then he had a name.

THE TERY – A beauty-and-the-beast fable that only F. Paul Wilson could tell, full of wonder and horror, brimming with strange landscapes and hideous mutations from science run amok. An unforgettable tale of the extremes of the human spirit—of bravery and depravity, of innocence and evil.

Free Book - Favorite Food at Home (Abridged)

Harper Collins and Kerrygold are giving away a sampler book taken from Favorite Food at Home: Delicious Comfort Food from Ireland's Most Famous Chef ($16.49 paperback), by Rachel Allen, which contains twenty recipes (which no doubt include butter or cheese as an ingredient).

Book Description
In this beautifully illustrated cookbook, Rachel Allen offers the delicious, inspiring, and easy-to-follow recipes that have made her Ireland's most famous chef. Favorite Food at Home draws on international influences, classic regional Irish fare, and good old family favorites to provide creative options for every occasion, whether planning a simple family meal, hosting a festive dinner, cooking a romantic meal for two, or just relaxing on the sofa with your favorite comfort food.

Here are the details on the giveaway:

While supplies last, we're offering consumers a download of recipes selected from Rachel Allen's new cookbook, Favorite Food at Home, absolutely FREE. This download includes twenty recipes and photos specially chosen by Kerrygold. We're confident you'll enjoy trying these recipes at home using Kerrygold butters and cheeses!

Click HERE to get the free book. After clicking on the REDEEM button, enter this redemption code and follow the prompts: KGLD-0319-2010-RACB. You'll be told that you need Adobe Digital Editions to read the book (implying that the format is either PDF or EPUB with ADE DRM), but ignore this and keep going. Once you enter the redemption code and log in to your Harper Collins account (create one free, if you don't already have one), you'll be able to download the free book in one of several formats, including one marked "Kindle". I downloaded a few and all appear to be DRM-free.

Amazon announced Kindle for Tablet PC's

Amazon has announced Kindle for Tablet Computers, of which the iPad is the first named supported device, and this Kindle App has a feature not present on any of the others: the ability to add notes and highlights (see below). There is no sign-up to be notified button yet and each device and/or OS will require it's own application, so there will no doubt be several flavors of the Kindle for Tablet Computers app.

Experience the Beautiful User Interface

• Get the best reading experience available on your tablet computer including the iPad. No Kindle required
• Tailored to the size, look, and feel of your tablet computer
• Customize background color and font size to ease eye strain
• Adjust screen brightness from within the app to make reading easier
• Page turn animation replicates the look of turning a page in a book. Or choose Basic Reading Mode for a simpler and unadorned reading experience

Read Kindle Books on Your Tablet Computer Including the iPad

• Amazon's Whispersync technology automatically synchronizes your last page read, bookmarks, notes and highlights with Kindle and Kindle-compatible devices PC, Mac, iPhone, and BlackBerry
• Customers can start reading on one device and, on another, pick up where they left off
• Already have a Kindle? Access your Kindle books even if you don't have your Kindle with you
• Create bookmarks, notes, and highlights, and view the annotations you created on your Kindle

Shop for Books in the Kindle Store

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The Resurrection of Deacon Shader

The Resurrection of Deacon Shader ($0.99 Kindle), by Derek Prior, the first book in his fantasy series The Deceptions of The Demiurgos, has recently been updated. Since it is a bit of a process to get a new version at Amazon (you have to return the old version for a refund, then repurchase), Derek has set up a coupon (which ends today) so that you can get a replacement or just try out his writing at Smashwords for free. I have a review copy here and have placed it high on my TBR stack after scanning the first few pages, so expect to feature the book here again soon.

Book Description
A fusion of heroic fantasy, sorcery and dark science, the book introduces the complex, and conflicted character of Deacon Shader - former knight of the Elect, failed monk and gifted swordsman.

Following his rejection by the woman he loves, Shader returns to the Abbey of Pardes where he witnesses a supernatural assault on the Grey Abbot. Something is stolen - a segment of the mythical Sun Stone - which Shader agrees to retrieve from the plague city of Sarum.

Beauty, Truth, Love – these three fled the hound of science, seeking refuge in the Dreaming. As Earth marched towards an unrelenting technocracy, the beleaguered Sun Stone fell from the skies of distant Aethir, but it did not find the sanctuary it had sought; for Aethir had become the home of all the Sun Stone feared: the architect of Earth’s fall from grace, the uncompromising “Pale Wizard”, Sektis Gandaw.

Rescued from the clutches of Sektis Gandaw by the gods of the Dreamers, the Sun Stone was entrusted to the shaman Huntsman until the day of the Reckoning when, bereft of choice, it unleashed the power of nightmare upon the Earth.

Three millennia later, with the parts of the Sun Stone scattered, a creature that has fed for centuries on the unsuspecting people of Sahul locates a segment of the mythical Sun Stone and with it the promise of eternal life. As he enhances his own necromantic arts with the power of the Sun Stone, Ernst Cadman starts to suspect that there are unwanted side-effects and, worse still, someone or something maybe watching.

Huntsman weaves a web of manipulation to ensure the safety of Sahul and to prevent the Sun Stone from falling back into the hands of a terrible being from beyond the stars. The Stone, however, has ideas of its own and calls together those who are to play a part in its destiny: an abbot, a bard, an assassin, a Pope, and the former knight of the Elect, Deacon Shader who unknowingly carries a power of his own, a potency that may either save or condemn the whole of Creation.

Click HERE to get the book on Smashwords and use coupon code SD33X.

Free Audiobook - Vampire's Tango

Vampire's Tango ($2.39 Kindle), by Michele Hauf, narrated by Montana Chase, is being given away by Audible.com today. This is a short volume, about novella/novellette length and the unabridged length is 1 hour, 24 minutes.

Book Description
Vampire Alexandre Renard never met a more intriguing woman than Veronica Marshall. He waited for weeks for the mysterious woman to make her move...and wasn't disappointed when they shared a seductive dance at a Paris tango club. Their passion made him want to savor their embrace forever--even though he knew that Veronica was a slayer waiting for her chance to destroy him....

Faced with an early death, Veronica became a vampire hunter to do some good in the world before being forced to leave it. But as her game of cat-and-mouse with Alexandre turned into nights of unforgettable pleasure, how could she destroy the man she came to love?

With time--and their enemies--against them, vampire and slayer will have to fight to win just one more day in each other's arms....

Click HERE for the free download.

Wicked Lovely - 99 cents now, free soon!

Wicked Lovely Free with Bonus Material, by Melissa Marr, is currently a 99 cent pre-order at Amazon and should be free soon (or at least by the April 6 release date), joining her other free titles (Stopping Time, Part 1 and Part 2). No sign of it yet in the other ebookstores, but I'll update as that changes.

Book Description
Read the New York Times bestseller that started Melissa Marr's enchanting tales of Faerie for free! Don't miss the sneak peak at the upcoming RADIANT SHADOWS!

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty - especially if they learn of her Sight - and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost - regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Faerie intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning 21st century faery tale.

Game of the Day - My Tribe

Amazon's Game Download of the Day is a $2.99 download of My Tribe.

Book Description

• Design Your Own Paradise.
• Billions Of Islands To Choose From.
• More Than 40 Powerful Potions To Research.
• So Much To Do.

Shipwrecked on a beautiful tropical island, your brave little tribespeople must build a new home! With your guidance, the tribe will uncover mysterious secrets, research new technologies, design their own clothes, plant trees and flowers, construct massive wonders and more! Come back often to feed your tribe, clothe them, and look after the babies and children! There's so much to do and all the time in the world to do it with My Tribe!

Video on Demand at Amazon (New Moon, Carrier & more)

You can get Carrier Season One for 99 cents today (be careful to get the entire season and double check the price on the order button - each episode is $1.99 if purchased separately). You can then watch the shows on your PC after downloading or as a streaming show (if you have the bandwith).

Synopsis
CARRIER, a 10-part series filmed aboard the USS Nimitz, is a character-driven immersion in the high-stakes world of a nuclear aircraft carrier.

Pre-order now and you can watch The Twilight Saga: New Moon tonight:

To watch The Twilight Saga: New Moon as soon as possible, stay up late tonight and visit Your Video Library at midnight (Saturday, March 20). Sign in to your account, if prompted. Then click on New Moon and enjoy.

If you buy the Twilight Saga:New Moon on DVD or BluRay, you get the Video on Demand version free and can watch tonight as well:

... get the Video On Demand version to watch on your PC, Mac, compatible TV or compatible device at no charge. Video On Demand version provided as a gift with purchase. Available to US Customers Only.

Synopsis
In the second chapter of Stephenie Meyer's best-selling Twilight series, the romance between mortal Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) and vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) grows more intense as ancient secrets threaten to destroy them. When Edward leaves in an effort to keep Bella safe, she tests fate in increasingly reckless ways in order to glimpse her love once more. But when she's saved from the brink by her friend, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), Bella will uncover mysteries of the supernatural world that will put her in more peril than ever before.

You may also be interested in a Roku Roku HD or HDXR player, which would hook up to your TV and the internet. If you pick up one of these by the end of the month, Amazon is tossing in $20 in credits to use in the Video on Demand store:

To take advantage of this special offer, add a Roku HD or HD-XR player to your cart and after shipment of your Roku HD or HD-XR player, you will receive an email that includes a digital code that can be used to redeem up to $20.00 worth of eligible digitally formatted shows and movies from Amazon Video On Demand, along with instructions on how to redeem.

I don't have one of these, but do watch some VOD shows using my computer and a connection to my TV. It would be nice to have a more dedicated box, though, so the wires only had to be set up once.

New Volume in the Peacekeepers Series

Ricky Sides has completed the sixth volume of The Peacekeepers series, The Citadel ($2.99), and you can pick it up for $1.99 at Smashwords, using (this blog's exclusive) coupon code MT87A, which expires on April 14, 2010. It isn't available on Kindle yet, but he has hit the publish button, so I'd expect it to be there with his other titles by Sunday or Monday. Update: The Kindle version is now available for $2.99, along with the earlier titles in the series at $1.99 each.

Ricky has sent me a copy of the book for review (which I have not gotten to, yet), but having read (and paid for) some of the earlier books in the series, I have no doubt that this will be one I'll enjoy.

Book Description
In the Guadalupe Mountains of Texas, the peacekeepers discover the base for Phoenix Rising, a secret government project that planned to utilize the work of the development team who’d designed the Peacekeeper. Inside that citadel, they discovered an aircraft unlike any other they had ever seen. Calling on all of their resources, the peacekeepers race to prevent a nuclear strike on American soil.

He also has two books you can pick up at no charge, over on Smashwords.

The Ultimate in Women's Self-Defense - Coupon Code: UZ46T ($1.00 Kindle)

Book Description
The information contained within this book could save your life. During an intensive private training course with his master, the author learned the secret techniques that the masters teach their own families. With the blessings and assistance of his master, the author developed a comprehensive training course for his students. He undertook the challenge to write a book detailing that training

Adventures in Reading - Coupon Code: ZM45D ($1.00 Kindle). A short story collection.

Book Description
The Test: (fiction.) A high ranking martial artist takes his master's test.

The Doll: (paranormal fiction.) After a young girl's twin is killed she is
devastated by that loss. Then one day her father gives her a new doll which
has a surprising impact on the girl.

The Blizzard: (fantasy.) Three companions must survive a blizzard in order
to save a city population.

The Tank: (science fiction.) A government funded research project goes bad.

The Hunt: (fiction.) A hunter becomes the hunted.

Round Island Massacre: (paranormal fiction.) A group of friends cross a
river to help a beleaguered family.

America, Land of Mysteries: (true.) A set of mysteries the author has
encountered and dealt with on a personal level.

The Visitor: (fiction.) A visitor to a church reveals some important
secrets.

The Forgotten: (real.) Who are the forgotten?

Night Stalker: (fiction.) Something is killing animals at night, and with
Halloween upon the community some parents wonder if it is safe for their
children to go out into the neighborhood.

The North Room: (paranormal fiction. novella length.) A paranormal
investigator seeks to help a family with a very special need.

Coping with Breast Cancer: (true.) The author relates the experience his
family had with the disease.

Free Book - Stopping Time, Part 2

Stopping Time, Part 2, by Melissa Marr, is now free to pre-order at Amazon. If you are interested, grab it quick. At least for now, Stopping Time, Part 1 is free once again, so you can get both at no charge.

Book Description
An exciting e-story original sequel to INK EXCHANGE!When Leslie left the Dark Court for her own good, she never imagined she could be the instrument by which someone threatened Irial or Niall. When her darkest past catches up with her, and she must figure out how to keep the fey she loves safe-and how to save herself.

For those that missed it earlier, these two are also back to being free pre-orders at Amazon:

• Rides a Dread Legion, by Raymond E. Feist (pre-order)
• The Dark Tide, by Andrew Gross (pre-order)

For those with a nook, you can get these here:

• Stopping Time, Part 1
• Stopping Time, Part 2
• Rides a Dread Legion
• The Dark Tide

Contest Winners - Marrying for King's Millions

Thanks to random.org, I have winners for the extra copies of Marrying for King's Millions ($3.40 Kindle), by Maureen Child, that Harlequin sent. I've sent emails to the winners and will mail out the books early next week. Congratulations to:

Marilee

Alisa K

Stacy

Eliss

Book Description
Wed and bed one of his biggest client's unsavory daughters? No thanks. But the only way millionaire Travis King could get the man off his back was to marry someone else. So he handpicked his temporary and on-his-terms bride--hometown girl Julie O'Hara. The woman was desperate and should easily fade into the background. And, as per their contract, she'd do exactly what he wanted during their year of platonic marriage. Unless what he wanted began to change...

Kindle for Mac - App now Available!

Amazon has released Kindle for Mac. Unlike the iPhone App, where Apple forced them to remove the ability to buy books, the Mac application will allow shopping in the Kindle store without leaving the Kindle interface.

Read Kindle Books on Your Mac

• Get the best reading experience available on your Mac. No Kindle required
• Access your Kindle books even if you don't have your Kindle with you
• Automatically synchronizes your last page read and annotations between devices with Whispersync
• Create bookmarks and view the annotations you created on your Kindle

Shop for Books in the Kindle Store

• Search and browse more than 450,000 books, including 101 of 112 New York Times® Best Sellers. If you are a non-U.S. customer, book availability may vary
• Find New York Times Best Sellers and new releases for $9.99, unless marked otherwise
• Get free book samples - read the first chapter for free before you decide to buy
• Books you purchase can also be read on a Kindle
• Kindle newspapers, magazines, and blogs are not currently available for Kindle for Mac

System Requirements

• A Mac with a 500MHz Intel processor or faster
• At least 512MB of RAM
• Screen resolution of 800x600 or greater
• Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and 10.6 (Snow Leopard)
• 100MB of available disk space

Free Book Update (Pre-Orders)

Previously free at Amazon and now 99 cents, Barnes & Noble has added these two books as free downloads :

• Rides a Dread Legion, by Raymond E. Feist (pre-order)
• The Dark Tide, by Andrew Gross (pre-order)

Free Game - Tradewinds 2

The free game this week at Sandlot Games is Tradewinds 2 ($6.95 Amazon Game Downloads). This looks to be a longer adventure than Tradewinds Legends, which was free direct from Sandlot a couple of months ago. I played that one for about 10 hours in story mode and finished all the tasks (which get more complicated as you play) for one character (but there are several more to play, including some that unlock as you accumulate points).

Game Description

• Trade Goods And Fight Pirates.
• Over 100 Swashbuckling Adventures
• Customize Your Ship And Characters
• Over 60 Hours Of Gameplay

Amass a fortune by buying and selling goods in this fantastic seafaring game of chance, skill and adventure! Earn enough gold to upgrade your ship and engage in land and sea battles. Trade magic weaponry and mysterious artifacts as you encounter a fascinating new world and discover uncharted ports. Two game modes and over sixty hours of gameplay await you in your quest to dominate the high seas!

Click HERE to sign up for the free download. For step by step purchase and installation instructions, see this post.

Percy Jackson under $5

All but the last book (The Last Olympian ($9.45) in Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series are now under $5 in the Kindle store.

The Lightning Thief ($4.40) comes in two editions - the second is the film edition, at the same price.

Book Description
Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

With cover art from the major motion picture, this first installment of Rick Riordan's best-selling series is a non-stop thrill-ride and a classic of mythic proportions.

The Sea of Monsters ($4.40)

Book Description
After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson finds his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson - a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any -normal- friends. But things don't stay quiet for long. Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders which protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner by the Cyclops Polyphemus on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia - only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new name - the Bermuda Triangle. Now Percy and his friends - Grover, Annabeth, and Tyson - must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes by the end of the summer or Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family - one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.

The Titan's Curse ($4.40)

Book Description
When the goddess Artemis goes missing, she is believed to have been kidnapped. And now it's up to Percy and his friends to find out what happened. Who is powerful enough to kidnap a goddess? They must find Artemis before the winter solstice, when her influence on the Olympian Council could swing an important vote on the war with the titans. Not only that, but first Percy will have to solve the mystery of a rare monster that Artemis was hunting when she disappeared - a monster rumored to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus forever.

The Battle of the Labyrinth ($4.40)

Book Description
As an incoming freshman, Percy isn't expecting his high school orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse. In this fourth installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos' army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop them, Percy and his demigod friends will set out on a quest through the Labyrinth - a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. Full of humor and heart-pounding action, this fourth book promises to be their most thrilling adventure yet.