Free Ebook: Funny in Farsi

Random House has put Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America, up as a free PDF download on their For High School Teachers web site. In addition to the full text of the book, the free download also includes: a letter and two essays from the author, a Teacher's/Discussion Guide for Funny in Farsi and an excerpt from Firoozeh's latest book Laughing Without an Accent: Adventures of a Global Citizen (not yet available for Kinde).

Synopsis

In 1972, when she was seven, Firoozeh Dumas and her family moved from Iran to Southern California, arriving with no firsthand knowledge of this country beyond her father’s glowing memories of his graduate school years here. More family soon followed, and the clan has been here ever since.

Funny in Farsi chronicles the American journey of Dumas’s wonderfully engaging family: her engineer father, a sweetly quixotic dreamer who first sought riches on Bowling for Dollars and in Las Vegas, and later lost his job during the Iranian revolution; her elegant mother, who never fully mastered English (nor cared to); her uncle, who combated the effects of American fast food with an army of miraculous American weight-loss gadgets; and Firoozeh herself, who as a girl changed her name to Julie, and who encountered a second wave of culture shock when she met and married a Frenchman, becoming part of a one-couple melting pot.

In a series of deftly drawn scenes, we watch the family grapple with American English (hot dogs and hush puppies?—a complete mystery), American traditions (Thanksgiving turkey?—an even greater mystery, since it tastes like nothing), and American culture (Firoozeh’s parents laugh uproariously at Bob Hope on television, although they don’t get the jokes even when she translates them into Farsi).

Above all, this is an unforgettable story of identity, discovery, and the power of family love. It is a book that will leave us all laughing—without an accent.

Free Ebook: When Graveyards Yawn

When Graveyards Yawn (The Apocalypse Trilogy - Book 1) by G. Wells Taylor is now out of print, a problem many independent authors with small press runs often face. It isn't out yet in the Kindle store, but the author has released it as a free ebook in many formats, including the AZW native Kindle format. Book 2 of the trilogy and some others are listed on his website, but he is selling those thru LuLu.com, so only PDF and paperbacks are currently available.

MURDER IS STILL MURDER IN GREASETOWN - Even if life has become a little complicated. Fifty years ago, at the end of the last Millennium we expected something bad to happen, but we never expected the Change. People stopped aging, the dead rose from their graves, it started raining and it’s been raining ever since.Things looked so bad that everyone thought it was the end of the world, but a guy’s still got to make a living doesn’t he?

A dead lawyer enters the office of Wildclown Investigations and hires the detective to find his killer. Wildclown and his dead sidekick Elmo soon find themselves entangled in a battle for control of a secret that offers either hope or doom for humanity. WHEN GRAVEYARDS YAWN takes the reader to a unique setting that mixes gothic horror with the two-fisted pragmatism of a hard-boiled detective novel.

Free Ebook: Star Wars Fate of the Jedi: Dramatis Personae

Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Outcast, by Aaron Allston, is the start of a new nine-volume series, set 40 years after the end of Return of the Jedi, and Random House is giving away a PDF download of Star Wars Fate of the Jedi: Dramatis Personae, a guide to what has been going on and who everyone is, so you don't have to reread all the original Star Wars volumes before starting the new series. The guide also includes an excerpt from Outcast.

THE NEXT CHAPTER IN THE EXTRAORDINARY HISTORY OF THE STAR WARS GALAXY BEGINS HERE. . . .

After a violent civil war and the devastation wrought by the now-fallen Darth Caedus, the Galactic Alliance is in crisis–and in need. From all corners, politicians, power brokers, and military leaders converge on Coruscant for a crucial summit to restore order, negotiate differences, and determine the future of their unified worlds. But even more critical, and far more uncertain, is the future of the Jedi.

In a shocking move, Chief of State Natasi Daala orders the arrest of Luke Skywalker for failing to prevent Jacen Solo’s turn to the dark side and his subsequent reign of terror as a Sith Lord. But it’s only the first blow in an anti-Jedi backlash fueled by a hostile government and suspicious public. When Jedi Knight Valin Horn, scion of a politically influential family, suffers a mysterious psychotic break and becomes a dangerous fugitive, the Jedi become the target of a media-driven witch hunt. Facing conviction on the damning charges, Luke must strike a bargain with the calculating Daala: his freedom in exchange for his exile from Coruscant and from the Jedi Order.

Though forbidden to intervene in Jedi affairs, Luke is determined to keep history from being repeated. With his son, Ben, at his side, Luke sets out to unravel the shocking truth behind Jacen Solo’s corruption and downfall. But the secrets he uncovers among the enigmatic Force mystics of the distant world Dorin may bring his quest–and life as he knows it–to a sudden end. And all the while, another Jedi Knight, consumed by the same madness as Valin Horn, is headed for Coruscant on a fearsome mission that could doom the Jedi Order . . . and devastate the entire galaxy.

Kindle Bargain: The Koran/Quran

Since there have been several Bibles highlighted today, I thought I would also point out that there is a translation of the Koran/Quran at a bargain price as well. The Quran - A Pure and Literal Translation ($0.95) translated by The Monotheist Group, claims to be an unbiased, non-denominational, literal translation. Of course, literal translations often fail to convey the intended meaning, as even in the same culture there are cultural drifts and round-about ways of describing things can change (after all, how many of us have heard dozens of, often hilarious, guesses as to what ails those with "the vapors" in recent classical literature?). Nonetheless, the few reviews of this translation are mostly positive: one complained of the classification in Amazon's store, nothing to do with the book at all, which had not even been purchased or read by the "reviewer", while the only two-star review wanted to see the original arabic as well, while the remaining reviews are all five stars. If you just are curious as to the text of the Koran (after all, we see references in news stories daily) or want a translation for daily use, this one seems to fit the bill.

Synopsis
Over the course of centuries, Islam has undergone a process of sub-categorization into numerous denominations. As such, nearly all translators have belonged to one school of thought or another, allowing the influence of such denominations to come across in their interpretation of specific words or verses, and how they choose to translate them.
The Quran - A Pure and Literal Translation is the result of a group effort by people who do not belong to any denomination, and for the first time in many centuries, are simply proud to call themselves Muslims as God had named us centuries ago.
The Quran - A Pure and Literal Translation is also unique in the fact that it uses neither footnotes nor comments, letting the text speak for itself and delivering to the reader as close a rendition of the pure message of the Quran as physically possible.

About the Translators
The Monotheist Group is a pen name used by the Free-Minds Organization which is an Islamic reform movement that began in 1997, dedicated to the promotion of God alone. The movement seeks the abandonment of all sectarian innovations through a return to the principles of the Qur'an. The Free-Minds Organization has attracted the attention of a number of think tanks (namely the Rand Corporation in its Building Moderate Muslim Network report) as well as some noted authors in the field of Islamic Reform.

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid

Afraid by Jack Kilborn has been marked down from the $5.59 initial price to $1.99.

ARE YOU AFRAID OF THE DARK? YOU WILL BE . . .

Welcome to Safe Haven, Wisconsin. Miles from everything, with one road in and out, this peaceful town has never needed a full-time police force. Until now . . .

A helicopter has crashed near Safe Haven and unleashed something horrifying. Now this merciless force is about to do what it does best. Isolate. Terrorize. Annihilate. As residents begin dying in a storm of gory violence, Safe Haven's only chance for survival will rest with an aging county sheriff, a firefighter, and a single mom. And each will have this harrowing thought: Maybe death hasn't come to their town by accident . . .

April Orbit Dollar Book: Winterbirth

Winterbirth by Brian Ruckley

Synopsis
An uneasy truce exists between the thanes of the True Bloods.

Now, as another winter approaches, the armies of the Black Road march south, from their exile beyond the Vale of Stones. For some, war will bring a swift and violent death. Others will not hear the clash of swords or see the corpses strewn over the fields. They instead will see an opportunity to advance their own ambitions. But all, soon, will fall under the shadow that is descending.

For, while the storm of battle rages, one man is following a path that will awaken a terrible power in him -- and his legacy will be written in blood.

So far, the pricing has come down at Booksonboard (Adobe Digital Edition only) and Sony. It should drop soon also at Fictionwise (ereader) and Amazon. Amazon has been the latest with this promotion every month, so far. They've already announced the bargain pricing on their deals page, but the listing itself hasn't caught up, so just keep checking it.

Update: Amazon now has this listed at $1, so one-click away.

Free Ebook: Beekeeper's Apprentice

An Agatha Award Best Novel Nominee, and named One of the Century's Best 100 Mysteries by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association, The Beekeeper's Apprentice: Or On the Segregation of the Queen/A Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes by Laurie R. King is available as a free download (PDF only) today (April 1st) only and that's no Fool's Joke. Visit the author's site for the PDF download (the link was updated from earlier and should now work). You'll have to convert the PDF to read it on your Kindle -- it isn't available yet in the Kindle Store.

Update: I have my copy of the book. Since it's the printer's markup version of a PDF, it will be nearly impossible to convert for reading on the Kindle. There are four PDF's in total and you'd have to cut/paste every page into a document (word would work) and then convert that into a mobi formatted book (or email to your Kindle). Way too much effort, in my opinion. So, either read it on your computer (even on a Sony Reader, which supports PDF, it's going to look just as bad) or wait until they get proper ebooks released for this series. It's a shame that they didn't take the tiny bit of effort that would have been needed to at least produce a PDF ebook for their giveaway, as this would have brought them thousands of readers to get hooked on a new series, which would have increased their sales (as has happened with nearly every author that has done this in the last year at Amazon and even on their own web sites). Instead, everyone gets a hard to read (and bloated in size) series of PDF's and will probably give up before getting thru the book.

Free Ebook Coming Soon: Beekeeper's Apprentice

An Agatha Award Best Novel Nominee, and named One of the Century's Best 100 Mysteries by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association, The Beekeeper's Apprentice: Or On the Segregation of the Queen/A Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes by Laurie R. King will be available as a free download (PDF only) on April 1st and that's no joke. Visit the author's site on April 1st (don't worry, I'll remind you on Wednesday) for the full book or check now for a free sample. You'll have to convert the PDF to read it on your Kindle -- it isn't available yet in the Kindle Store.

Synopsis

Sherlock Holmes meets his match in a formidable new enemy -- and his surprising new partner.

In 1915, long since retired from his crime-fighting days, Sherlock Holmes is engaged in a reclusive study of honeybees on the Sussex Downs. Never did the Victorian detective think to meet an intellect matching his own -- until his acquaintance with Miss Mary Russell, a young twentieth-century lady whose mental acuity is equaled only by her penchant for deduction, disguises, and danger. Under Holmes's reluctant tutelage,

Russell embarks on a case involving a landowner's mysterious fever and the kidnapping of an American senator's daughter in the wilds of Wales. Then a near-fatal bomb on her doorstep -- and another on Holmes's -- sends the two sleuths on the trail of a murderer who scatters bizarre clues and seems utterly without motive. The villain's objective, however, is quite unequivocal: to end Russell and Holmes's partnership -- and then their lives.

Kindle Books Under A Dollar

When searching Kindlespace for a good read at under a dollar, you end up finding mostly independent authors. Sure, there are thousands of classics (many of them free) and the few big name authors whose publishing houses have temporarily set their prices to free or $1.00. But independent, self-published authors can't set their books are zero cost (unless they do so on their own web sites). Instead, they have a minimum price of 99 cents required by Amazon (one exception is if they are also published at Mobipocket.com, where they can list the book for a penny, then have Amazon pick up the title that way, as happened with Soul Identity, below). The biggest problem, though, is in finding those independent authors amidst the thousands of public domain titles (many of which have no indication of such in their listings). That price, $0.99, is so popular with those who care more about getting readers than making millions (at least for now), that all the books on today's list are currently available at that price, unless otherwise stated. Below are a few that I've run across, mostly from postings by the authors themselves. Unlike those big name writers at the major publishing houses, the independents have to do all their own publicity, so you'll find them haunting many forums where books are being discussed, especially those discussing Kindle books, since Amazon makes it so much easier for them to find an audience (vanity presses and print on demand are there for hard copies, but the cost per book often means that only a few read them outside of libraries).

The Complete User's Guide To the Amazing Amazon Kindle 2: A Kindle Owners Toolkit Of Over 500 Tips, Tricks, & Links (For Amazons Revolutionary e-Book Reader & Free Wireless Web Browser) by Stephen Windwalker has been marked down to 99 cents (from $2.39). For those who haven't done much with their Kindle 2 other than read books purchased from Amazon, this is a must have purchase. What if you still have the Kindle 1 (or have both)? This older version ($3.99) is still available, but has been updated for the Kindle 2 (and no longer seems to be the recommended edition). The only copy of the original Kindle 1 Guide I could find is this Complete User's Guide to the Amazing Amazon Kindle 1 & Complete Step-by-Step Guide To Publishing for the Kindle combo edition ($9.99). Frankly, many of the tips in this guide will work on the Kindle 1, in any case. Sure, the buttons are bit different, but most of the information on using the web and finding free books will apply to both. Some of the techniques will be different (deleting content from the Home page, for example, or the use of the Content Manager), but the information on using GMAIL or publishing your own content to your Kindle will be useful to all Kindle owners. What if you are using the iPhone, though, you ask? He's got that covered too, with No Kindle Required. Many of the added features in the Kindle are not needed in the iPhone/iPod Touch, what with Safari and more built in, so this title concentrates on using the reading app, shopping in the store and syncing your devices, if you have more than one. Also included are excerpts from the Kindle 2 title, so you may only need this latter volume if you have both.

Sandy Nathan's Numenon (Bloodsong Series) has received good reviews in paperback (18.95) and has now been marked down to $0.99. There are no reviews on the Kindle Edition, which seems to be a common problem amongst some independent, self-published authors, as they are very much dependent on Amazon linking their different editions together. I couldn't pass up what a reviewer called an adult Harry Potter of epic proportions similar to Clan of the Cave Bear (neither of which is available for the Kindle). Set in modern times, an RV caravan of modern Native Americans are driving towards a religious retreat when "all hell breaks loose."

A couple of other authors have figured out how to link in their hard copy reviews (or been lucky) and they have also ventured into the 99 cent territory this week. Bobby's Trace by Edward Patterson and The Feathery by Bill Flynn have solid 4 to 5 star reviews. I'll admit the first isn't a genre I normally read, but horror/ghost stories are very popular and how often does a computer programmer get a starring role? The lead character has lost his life partner to AIDS, but the story revolves more around his relationship (much like Brokeback Mountain) and grief, rather than being in the gay erotica genre. The Feathery is a more mainstream title, with good old-fashioned intrigue and murder over the possession of sports memorabilia (in this case, an original golf ball from when the game was invented). You get a little history, a little PGA golf tour and British Opens and what is looking to be a great read, all for under a buck!

Keith Knapp has updated Moonlight for the Kindle, something that isn't possible with traditional publishing. Readers found some formatting issues, he fixed them and all you have to do is redownload the book to get the new version. Moonlight is an apocalyptic horror tale and, as he says, "not for little children". If storms tend to take down the electricity in your area, I'd recommend that you read it during the day (or somewhere with a generator), since everything begins when the power fails and the lights go out...

Bryan Belrad's Rage of Night also looks to be an intriguing horror/fantasy tale, even if two of the reviews read like aid advertisements or as if they were written by the author or his mother. But an honest, but good, third review holds out promise that it's an 80 cents that won't be wasted (and let's face it - that isn't enough to get you something from the bargain menu at McDonald's, anymore).

One I just started reading is Boyd Morrison's The Adamas Blueprint. When I reached the end of the sample, I not only bought this book, but both of the others for the Kindle: The Ark and The Palmyra Impact ($1.59 each). This a a pure action/thriller, not fantasy, and I definitely recommend it.

A Death at the North Pole by Joel Andre is another self-published mystery and has received mostly positive reviews (although one said he could stand to do a little more proofreading). A prominent figure (guess who?) is killed at the North Pole and a cynical detective sets off to solve the murder. As you can probably guess, not one you will want to use as a bedtime story for the little ones.

Shadow of the Ghost: Book 1: Lord of Chaos Trilogy by Tanner Artesz is $0.99 thru the end of the month. The second book in the trilogy is planned for a May release and will also debut at that price when released. I'll admit I haven't gotten more than a couple of chapters into this one and I'm not sure when I'll get back to it, as it is a fairly complicated fantasy, but the reviews and reader comments on other forums are a solid four stars.

Another fantasy that I may start on, instead, is The Gateway (Harbinger of Doom) by Glenn Thater. Dennis Batchelder, author of Soul Identity had this to say: "set in a world of men, gnomes, elves, and wizards, [The Gateway] asks a tough question: what if we've got it all wrong? What if the God we follow turned bad, and the one we call the Devil is really a maligned angel on a quest to rid the world of evil? So goes Thater's tale, and he tells it in a voice as pretentious as Tolkein's." Tolkien may have been pretentious, but that isn't always a bad thing, at least in his case. In any event, it's in my TBR queue.

If you prefer a female heroine, be sure to pick up Catherine M. Wilson's When Women Were Warriors Book I. The first in a trilogy, with Warriors Book II and Book III both available for the Kindle (but $7.99 each), When Women Were Warriors is set in a world where women are nurturing and warriors, rather than attempting to set a female heroine in a man's world. Relationships and personal growth are as much, if not more, a part of this series as strength of arms and war. Warning: This series does include some scenes of F-F sex.

Another female heroine, albeit a dead one, is central to Charlie Martin's Shadowslayers (Blackwood) ($0.80). A sorceress who has fallen in battle, she works from the afterlife while her husband, another powerful wizard, stands the empires last chance against the evil dragon-god Derrezen. One reviewer was even motivated to buy her own paperback copy, after reading a friend's copy, a sure sign of a great re-readable book.

And of course, there are some I've mentioned earlier this month: Soul Identity ($.01), Mighty Hammer Down ($.99), Legends of WitchBane ($0.99), Empress ($1), Pleasure Unbound ($1). These (and some others above) are all time-limited reductions in price and at the last two are scheduled to go up in April.

So, there you have it - twelve good picks at 99 cents, two at 80 cents, one for a penny and the last two at a dollar each. Seventeen titles you can pick up for less than the cost of a single hardback at your local bookstore, a total of $15.49, and without even leaving your house (or the beach).

Kindle Bargain Bundles

One of the major advantages of ebooks is that you don't have to try to hold those huge volumes that are produced when authors release omnibus editions. With an ebook, the only difference between a three (or six) volume book is that the progress bar moves slower. And in ebook form, these multi-volume bundles are often a bargain, so long as you want all the volumes bundled together. With trilogies and series, the most often encountered bundles, this is usually not an issue, unlike movie bundles, where the genre (action, thriller) may be all that ties the bundle together.

The Alex Kava Bundle is one of the largest bundles I've seen offered at Amazon. This bundle contains A Perfect Evil, Split Second, The Soul Catcher, At the Stroke of Madness, A Necessary Evil, the first five novels in her popular Maggie O'Dell series and One False Move, a stand-alone novel, all for the price of $18.12. That's $3.02 per book and purchased separately they would cost $30.12 (at today's prices/discounts). Exposed, currently the last in the series, is available, but at $13.47, while Black Friday is scheduled to be released in October of this year.

The Study Series by Maria V. Snyder is one that I read in paperback and really enjoyed. This bundle includes Poison Study (not available otherwise on Kindle), Magic Study and Fire Study, and also includes as a special bonus, the online read written exclusively for eHarlequin.com, Assassin Study! The Heather Graham Bundle combines romance, suspense and a dash of paranormal and contains four titles (The Island, Ghost Walk, Killing Kelly and The Vision) for $14.37 (under $3.60 each).

In Her Name by Michael R. Hicks is somewhat unusual in the trilogy/bundle category. This volume, a bargain $5.59 (versus the $19.75 print price), was released as a single book. But the author has had numerous reviewers and book clubs tell him that it is more suited to be published as a trilogy. Some were reading it in print and it is large and heavy to hold open, while book clubs like to tackle books of smaller length. At 684 (9"x6") pages and 2.1 pounds, it's definitely a long book. So, it's being broken up into three volumes and will be published as single volumes. I've no idea if the price will rise once this occurs (and the cool blue swordswoman won't be on the cover of the first volume; no word yet on the last two covers), but the original bundled volume will still be available.

Almost Human - paranormal vampire series - volumes 1, 2 & 3, by Melanie Nowak, is $9.99 as a bundle, while the separate volumes (Fatal Infatuation, Lost Reflections and Evolving Ecstasy) are $4.79 each, saving you $4.38 when purchased together. This is the beginning of an ambitious series - there will be four trilogies, a total of 12 volumes when complete. This author hasn't hit the bestsellers lists (most self-published authors never will), but has great reviews at Amazon and on several forums, some of which she stops in, from time to time, and answers questions directly. The series is in the vampire/romance genre and has a somewhat controversial relationship, which an older vampire and a young girl/woman (it's unclear from the description exactly how old she is and I haven't read this one ... yet). Then again, just because the vampire in Twilight looks physically young, he's also much, much older than the teen heroine.

Jennifer Armintrout's Blood Ties Bundle ($13.47) is another vampire themed series and this bundle contains four volumes (The Turning, Possession, Ashes to Ashes and All Souls' Night). There is only one review of the bundle so far and it is only one star - but the individual books have a number of reviews and tend to be 4 and 5 stars. I've started this series and I like what I've read, so far. If you prefer a more steamy vampire romance, check out Kimberly Raye's Love at First Bite Bundle. Four volumes of vampire cowboys for $9.99.

For those that prefer their romance to be vampire free, Harlequin has dozens of bundles available, mostly in the $7.96 to $9.99 price range. One noticeable exception is the Men Made in America Mega-Bundle, which contains 11 volumes for $31.68 ($2.88 each) and "features stories from all fifty states starring all-American cowboys, sailors, policemen, businessmen, ranchers and more! The first Men Made in America Mega-Bundle includes The Redemption of Deke Summers by Gayle Wilson, Found: His Perfect Wife by Marie Ferrarella, Arizona Heat by Jennifer Greene, Deceptions by Annette Broadrick, Dr. Dad by Judith Arnold, Send Me a Hero by Rita Herron, Tangled Lies by Anne Stuart, Love by Proxy by Diana Palmer, The Temptation of Rory Monahan by Elizabeth Bevarly, Mysterious Stranger by Patricia Rosemoor, and Bayou Midnight by Emilie Richards." Once you've made your way thru this one, you may also want to pick up Men Made In America Mega-Bundle 2 and Men Made in America Mega-Bundle 3, each containing eleven more volumes at the same $31.68 price. For 95 dollars, you get 33 book in all, enough to satisfy even a voracious reader (at least for a few weeks!).

Another sure bet is the Jennifer Crusie Bundle at $9.99. Crusie blends humor and romance and the four in this series are no exception: Getting Rid of Bradley, Strange Bedpersons, What the Lady Wants and Charlie All Night.

Not all bundles are bargains though. Check out Blossom Street Bundle by Debbie Macomber. At $18.01, it contains three volumes (The Shop on Blossom Street, A Good Yarn and Back on Blossom Street) and costs more than those three titles purchased separately ($16.92). Had they tossed in Twenty Wishes, currently at $13.47, that would have been a bundle I could go for.

The Chronicles of Elantra Bundle by Michelle Sagara is described as high fantasy meets police procedural. Containing the first three volumes in the series, Cast in Shadow, Cast in Courtlight and Cast in Secret, the current price of $16.42 is also slightly above the sale prices of $5.04 for the individual volumes ($15.12 total). The list price of the bundle is also higher than the list prices for each volume separately, so it may always make more sense to buy these separately. Here again, had they included the fourth in the series, Cast in Fury, the bundle would have been incredibly tempting (and I've already sent samples of these individual titles to my Kindle).