More Kindle for Web Samples

I've been looking around Amazon for the best Kindle for Web sample and may have hit the jackpot:

What do you think?

Here's one that has grabbed me, pulled me in and is pleading with me to keep reading the book, a young adult/apocalyptic fiction novel from Paolo Bacigalupi:

This one is a children's reader:

Free Book (EPUB) - Daniel and Daughter

Sony is giving away copies of the Harlequin comicbook Daniel and Daughter ($3.99 Kindle), by Mayu Takayama and Lucy Gordon. This is a large download, 17MB on the Sony (although only half that on the Kindle) and I expect it will look best on a PC or iPad screen, rather than an ereader device. It is in the Japanese Manga style, so isn't for everyone.

Book Description
When she was 16, photographer Lee went to Gretna Green, the "Elopement Capital of Scotland," where she could get married without her parents' consent. However, she soon divorces, taking her daughter with her. She has had enough of men, but 13 years later, she meets Daniel, who tries everything in his power to seduce her. Meanwhile, Lee's brother is in a passionate relationship with Daniel's daughter. The two lovers decide to elope to Gretna Green just as Lee did all those years ago. Lee chases after them with a bitter feeling in her heart...

Click HERE to get the free book.

Kindle for Web Impressions

I've been playing with the Kindle for Web feature at Amazon and so far, I do like it. There are a few annoyances that with either get worked out or we'll learn to live with. When you share the sample via email, all you get is a message that you are reading a book and a link to the Kindle edition. Twitter is the same, but I don't expect much more in 140 characters. With Facebook, you get a picture of the book cover and a bit of the sample pasted below the are where you can enter your own text. For those who are Amazon associates, you can edit the links in email and twitter to add your affiliate tag, but in Facebook you don't get a chance to edit the links (you can paste them manually into the text box, if you wish). Now, the annoying part - the links all go to the Kindle edition. But, if you are on the Kindle edition of the book (at least, so far), you can't use the Kindle for Web feature and look thru the sample yourself. Instead, you have to either download the sample to a Kindle or App or know that you can click for one of the paper editions and get to Kindle for Web there. What I do like is the ability to view the sample in a larger area (it takes up the full browser area, but not full screen), change the colors and adjust the font size, line spacing and words per line. It isn't quite full access (no text to speech, which would be so dependent on the hardware and software at the other end), but it should offer almost everyone else a size and color combination that they can read on their screens.

So far, you can't highlight or cut-and-paste (for rather obvious reasons; although I'd love to be able to highlight a section and then click on the Share button) any of the text. You don't get some of the search-inside features that you may be used to, which allowed you to check out a recipe in a cookbook (samples on cookbooks are nearly worthless, I've found, as they end long before you can tell if the recipe section is formatted well enough to be used when cooking). You also can't jump to a location, just click to navigate a page at a time.

One of the coolest features is the ability to embed a sample into a web page. I've included one here, just so you can take a look:

Any author with a book on Kindle should consider putting this up on his web page. Indie authors would be foolish not to, since the Kindle edition is both their best chance for sales (at least, currently) and no doubt their highest source of revenue. Traditional authors may hesitate, though, as the embedded sample takes you to the Kindle edition. Those wanting to buy paper will have to click to find that edition after they arrive on the Kindle page.

Kindle for Web is Here! Well, Sort of...

They pre-announced it once before, then quickly retracted all but the help files. This time, it appears that Kindle for Web is here to stay. Right now, the app is in beta phase and only available on selected book pages. So far, I haven't found any of them, so I invite you to add a comment if you run into one, so we can all give this a try.  In the meantime, though, you can try it on the product page reached by clicking on the picture or link above. If you just want to see what is included, I've copied in the main features, below. One of the cooler things you'll be able to do is share a book sample via email ... also, potentially one of the more annoying, I suspect, for recipients.

Update: I was looking in the wrong place for the Read First Chapter Free button - it is located on the paper book product page and looks like it takes the place of the old "Look Inside" feature. Check out the product page for Easily Amused, by Karen McQuestion (an indie author turned bestseller), and you'll find the button below the usual buy choices, along the right hand side of the screen. I predict that nearly every author will start embedding these on their web pages ... because it is just so easy to do and it lets them give a sample of their books to any reader that passes buy, with no coding effort on their part. Of course, their book does have to be available as a Kindle edition ... which is a win for Amazon and a win for readers of ebooks.

Read and share book samples

• Read a book sample from Amazon.com without leaving your browser. No download or installation required.
• Share book samples with your friends via email or social networks.
• Embed a book sample in your personal blog or website and earn referral fees on sales.
• For a list of frequently asked questions and other information, please visit our help page.

Get started

• Simply click the "Read first chapter FREE" button on selected Amazon book overview pages and a new browser window will open containing the book sample.
• To buy the full Kindle edition of the book from the sample screen, click the "Get Kindle Edition" button. You may then choose to download the book to your Kindle or other Kindle reading application.

Share a book sample

• Book samples can be made visible on any website that supports embedded content. If you can add script tags to your site or blog, you can post a sample.
• First, click the "Embed" button, visible on the right side of the screen when viewing any book sample. You will then see the code to embed. Click on "Customize" if you would like to change the width and height of the window or add your associate tag.
• After making any customization changes, simply copy the embed code and paste it into the source code of your website or blog.
• You may also share book samples via email, Facebook, or Twitter by clicking the "Share" button on the right side of the sample screen.

Free Book (EPUB) - First Things First

First Things First ($9.17 Kindle), by Brenda Warner, is free in the Sony bookstore.

Book Description
Kurt Warner is the two-time NFL MVP–winning quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals. Brenda Warner is an ex-Marine turned stay-at-home mom who collects coats for low-income kids and rocks babies to sleep at a hospital for chronically-ill infants. Together they’re the parents of seven, going into their 12th year of marriage, and founders of a foundation that helps disadvantaged children and families. Their formula for success? They put First Things First—family, faith, and giving to others—it’s their family motto, and it drives everything they do. First Things First is an honest, insightful, and entertaining look at life inside the Warner household. Kurt and Brenda speak candidly about their marriage, the values they are working to instill in their kids, things they’ve done right, mistakes they’ve made, the importance of giving back, and the legacy they hope to leave behind. Includes a 16-page full-color photo insert.

Click HERE to get the free book.