New Day/New Deal Audiobook Sale

Audible is having another sale, with a different audiobook marked down each day to $7.95. The first one up is Life of Pi, by Yann Martel, narrated by Jeff Woodman (normally $18.11). I've added a banner at the top/right of the blog, so all you have to do is click it each day to find the new book (the selection changes at 10AM Eastern (US) time, but the sale ends at midnight on the 31st). Since they seldom sell a credit for $7.95, this is a pretty good deal, if you find one or two that you've been wanting to listen to.

Book Description
There's a reason why Life of Pi is such a huge seller around the globe - and why listeners love Jeff Woodman's performance of Yann Martel's magical tale. At once a castaway adventure and powerful fable, this Booker Prize winner makes the perfect end-of-summer thrill ride (with a Bengal tiger!) across the vast Pacific Ocean.

Pi Patel has been raised in a zoo in India. When his father decides to move the family to Canada and sell the animals to American zoos, everyone boards a Japanese cargo ship. The ship sinks, and 16-year-old Pi finds himself alone on a lifeboat with a hyena, an orangutan, a zebra with a broken leg, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger.

Soon it's just Pi, the tiger, and the vast Pacific Ocean - for 227 days. Pi's fear, knowledge, and cunning keep him alive until they reach the coast of Mexico, where the tiger disappears into the jungle. The Japanese authorities who interrogate Pi refuse to believe his story, so he tells a second one - more conventional, less fantastic. But is it more true?

A realistic, rousing adventure and meta-tale of survival, Life of Pi explores the redemptive power of storytelling and the transformative nature of fiction. It's a story, as one character claims, to "make you believe in God."

Save 50+% on Back-to-School Groceries/Snacks (KSO)

This offer is only for those with a Kindle with Special Offers (but the sweepstakes above is open to all):

Save an Extra 50% on Back-to-School Groceries at Amazon.com

Click on offer, then click on the link on the offer page to receive an email with the promotion code. Sign-up for this offer expires on August 24.

You'll get an email (right away), a link to the Special Offer page and a promotion code to enter at checkout. Once you have the promotional code, you have until September 24 to complete your purchase. Like previous offers, this one requires you to use the full checkout process in order to enter your promotional code. Also, like all Amazon sales that use promotional codes, if you have a gift card balance, you must use it for the payment (if there is not a sufficient balance, then you can pick which credit card or other payment to use).

This offer can be used more than once per account, so long as you have more than one KSO registered. Just click on the ad on each device to receive the individual promotion codes via email.

Even if you don't take advantage of this deal, be sure to enter the Back to School Sweepstakes at Amazon - the top prize is a $1,000 Amazon Gift Card, which you could use for pretty much anything at Amazon.

This is a great promotion! You get 50% off your entire order and can choose from anything on the Back to School grocery page that is sold by Amazon. You get one offer per device, which means entire orders (not just single items). Order some now, sample what you like, then place another order near the end of the time period, if you have more than one KSO. You could also get an order for home and one drop-shipped to your student living on campus (or sent to a shut-in relative). There is even an extensive gluten-free section (yay!) with dried fruit, snack bars, rice bowls, Mac & Cheese dinners and even hummus and rice cracker meals for on-the-go convenience (be careful in this section, as the "gluten-free" tag kept dropping off my search as I changed pages, resulting in many non-gf products being shown; on the other hand, there are many gluten free items that are not tagged as GF, so you will want to look at the entire list).

Some items have additional coupon codes, so pay close attention while shopping (I even ran into one that had a personal $1 off coupon for me), as you can enter most of those coupon codes first, then the 50% off promo code from this offer. You can't combine this particular deal with the 15% Subscribe and Save, but you should still be able to score a number of great deals on this one. I just saved over 60% on items we eat all the time (and usually get from Amazon anyway); this one coupon code can more than make up the entire cost of a KSO (plus a lot more, if you are a big shopper). Don't forget to add in all the per-item coupon codes and your $5 off $10 Amazon KSO offer code, if you have one.

Update: Just wanted to let you know that I have confirmed that you get 50% off with the promotion code PLUS any other promotional discounts that you enter (plus those $1 coupons that I happened to hit; those are randomly given out, but you might run into one). Also, you can place as large an order as you want (and order multiple quantities of items you use a lot and that keep well); since the promotion code can only be used once, be sure to make it count (and thanks to those to click-thru to Amazon from here, before filling their cart!). I even found doggie treats (from FunBites) that qualified; you can get breakfast cereal, coffee, splenda (plain or flavored) and a pretty wide variety of things that I would not have thought of as "back to school" (which brings to mind snacks and lunches to go) and which are not specific (or appropriate) for kids. There are also big bags of various hard candies, breath mints, gums ad more (about 1,500 items in all, that are sold by Amazon.com - here's a shortcut to the entire list).

Buy a Business or Investing Book for $1 (KSO)

This offer is only for those with a Kindle with Special Offers:

Buy one of 100 Kindle books on Business & Investing for $1

To take advantage of this offer:

1. First, turn on your Kindle with Special Offers, click Menu, then View Special Offers.
2. Find the offer: Buy one of 100 Kindle books on Business & Investing for $1. Click on it, then on the link to Email Me This Offer. Repeat for each KSO on your account, as you'll get a separate code for each one and can take advantage of this deal more than once.
3. You will get an email from Amazon with your promotional code, right away.
4. Once you have the promotion code (and have selected your book; see below), click this link, then on the button labeled Enter Your Code, at any time up to the expiration date of September 24.
5. Enter your code and follow the directions.
6. Choose any of these books and you'll pay only $1.

You'll have a promotion code on your account that will apply to the FIRST book you buy (from the list) after that. Note that even if the book is free, you'll pay a dollar, so be careful which one you pick after you enter the code -- make sure you don't grabbing a low cost title by accident, which can happen if you apply the code right away, before you are ready to buy the book. Current prices range from $2.99 (not your best choice) to $17.68 (a text by Thomas Sowell). You should save the code and not enter it until you are ready to buy a book.

To recap: you must claim the offer by August 24 and must do so from your Kindle with Special Offers. You'll get a promotion code via email and you have until September 24 to enter and redeem the code. Once you enter it, it will work on the next book on the list that you purchase.

Looking thru the title available, they run the gamut, from personal finance and investing to broad economics text, with business books on management (businesses and humans), marketing, social media and personal self-help. I found at least one I already had (but under a new ASIN, so be sure to check your Kindle library, even if you think a book is new to you). There's even a book on how to shop for free and another on shopping for baby bargains, as well as an inside look at major league baseball!

There is language on the offer page that says that Amazon can modify or cancel this offer at any time - I suspect because a few of the books on previous offers were pulled by the publishers before the offer period was up. In fact, I already see several books that are not available for sale in the US, despite this being a US only promotion (could they have been pulled already or did Amazon just screw up in their selections?). So, I would not count on waiting until the last day, if there is a title you see that you really want. Also, most of the latest offers have had language requiring the KSO to be registered to your account not only when you get the emailed code, but also when you take advantage of the deal (as well as prohibiting the sale or transfer of the code to someone else). If you want to give someone a book in the offer as a gift, that apparently works fine, but I would not risk an audit catching you using a code when you don't have a KSO on your account or having someone else use the code that Amazon knows it sent to your KSO (the promo code is tied to your KSO's serial number, as near as I can tell, as you get the same code over and over, if you try having it emailed again from the same KSO). Best case, Amazon may charge you the promotional discounts; worst case, you could lose the Amazon account and access to any Kindle books on it.

Bargain Book Roundup

First, for those who've been holding out on the Georgette Heyer sale, a few pricing drops. The following are all now $1.79:

• Beauvallet
• These Old Shades
• Talisman Ring
• Royal Escape: In which a dare-devil King with a price on his head fools his enemies and terrifies his friends

The sale only goes thru Sat, Aug 21, so don't wait too long. I also discovered that the Sourcebooks coupon code, WELCOME2011, can be used more than once, if you want to pick up a few more EPUB's there.

I've just finished reading The Demon Trapper's Daughter ($2.99), by Jana Oliver, and I definitely recommend it to any who are into young adult paranormal fantasy. The setting is our near future, with rampant unemployment and recycling thieves even stealing the signal lights in downtown Atlanta. Oh, and the demons are getting a bit out of hand. Definitely also pick up the (free) short prequel, Retro Demonology. I'm considering pre-ordering the next in the Demon Trappers series, Soul Thief, which comes out at the end of the month.

Book Description
Riley Blackthorne just needs a chance to prove herself – and that’s exactly what the demons are counting on…

Seventeen-year-old Riley, the only daughter of legendary Demon Trapper, Paul Blackthorne, has always dreamed of following in her father's footsteps. The good news is, with human society seriously disrupted by economic upheaval and Lucifer increasing the number of demons in all major cities, Atlanta’s local Trappers’ Guild needs all the help they can get – even from a girl. When she’s not keeping up with her homework or trying to manage her growing crush on fellow apprentice, Simon, Riley’s out saving distressed citizens from foul-mouthed little devils – Grade One Hellspawn only, of course, per the strict rules of the Guild. Life’s about as normal as can be for the average demon-trapping teen.

But then a Grade Five Geo-Fiend crashes Riley’s routine assignment at a library, jeopardizing her life and her chosen livelihood. And, as if that wasn’t bad enough, sudden tragedy strikes the Trappers’ Guild, spinning Riley down a more dangerous path than she ever could have imagined. As her whole world crashes down around her, who can Riley trust with her heart – and her life?

Promised Land ($6.15 Kindle), by Robert B. Parker, is 99 cents over at Copia.

Book Description
Spenser is back. The fourth novel featuring the wisecracking boxer-turned private-detective finds him investigating a marriage in turmoil, a shady business deal, a nefarious loan shark and, of course, a murder. The real charm of the book, however, is Spenser himself, his inimitable wit, his keen grasp of human nature, his love of food and good beer, and his reluctant but capable fists.

You can pre-order a bonus edition of StarCrossed, by Elizabeth C. Bunce, for $2.99 at Amazon. This is the author's second novel and the start of a new series, the second title, Liar's Moon, of which releases in November. Pick up a sample from the original edition of StarCrossed to see if you want the pre-order (just be careful and don't one-click it, by mistake).

Book Description

16-year-old Digger thrives as a spy & sneak-thief among the feuding religious factions of Gerse. But when a routine job goes horribly wrong and her partner & lover Tegen is killed, she disguises herself in a group of young nobles & sneaks out of the city. Accepted as a lady-in-waiting at the stronghold of the powerful Nemair, she finds new peace & friendship (*and* some new targets). But when an old client from the city comes to the castle, she realizes her hosts may be planning the ultimate uprising against the king - & rather than true peace, she may be at the heart of the rebellion.

Dog Training in 3 Easy Steps: How to Make Your Dog Confident, Secure, and Able to Understand and Follow Rules ($1.99 pre-order), by Julie A. Bjelland, contains material previously published in her popular Imagine Life with a Well-Behaved Dog: A 3-Step Positive Dog-Training Program.

Book Description
Do you consider your dog part of the family? Most dog guardians do. But just like children, dogs need structure. Structure to show him that he shouldn’t jump on every person who enters your house, or urinate indoors, or drag you down the road when you walk him. In DOG TRAINING IN 3 EASY STEPS, Julie Bjelland offers you clear and easy-to-follow steps to make your dog confident, secure and able to understand and follow rules. Drawing on years of experience, Julie teaches basic training, how to communicate with your dog, and how to prevent and solve behavior problems. She discusses puppies and adult dogs, even special needs dogs, and tells how to choose the right dog for your family and how to integrate him into a home with kids, other dogs, or cats.

I contacted the author to see how much overlap there would be in the two books and I've put in my pre-order, after reading her reply, as our puppy is past the stage of needing most of the material in the original title, it seems:

Dog Training in 3 Easy Steps will detail the steps in actually training your dog to walk politely, come, etc., the original book is a holistic approach to living with a dog (how to choose one for your family, what to consider with adopting, how to integrate the pet with your family/other pets, how to address and prevent specific behavior problems, crate training, house training, and working with puppies, etc.). While obedience training is vitally important to being the guardian of a dog, all of these other life factors make Imagine Life With A Well-Behaved Dog a more comprehensive approach. Additionally, readers of Imagine Life... even have access to ask me personal questions about their dogs through my website www.webdogtrainer.com to handle any unique situations that may arise.

One of my favorite authors, Jeaniene Frost, has two novellas available as stand-alone ebooks. Devil to Pay ($1.99 pre-order), previously appeared in Four Dukes and a Devil anthology, while Happily Never After ($1.99), previously appeared in Weddings From Hell anthology.

Devil to Pay
Blake Turner had it all—until a demon decided to take residence in his soul. Plagued with constant black outs and a trail of dead bodies in his wake, Blake thinks vampire Elise is his best chance at ending the nightmare. It’s just too bad he’s fallen in love with the gorgeous vamp right before he has to die… Featuring characters from New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress world.

Happily Never After
Isabella Spaga is about to reluctantly walk down the aisle with Mr. Dangerously Wrong…but not if dashing vampire Chance has anything to say about it. As a favor to Bones, Chance has come to derail this wedding of beauty to the beast. Now if only he can keep his hands off the bride. From New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress world, it’s the wedding of the season…that everyone wants to miss.

Winter and Night ($2.99), the eighth in the Bill Smith, Lydia Chin series by S. J. Roza, is currently bargain priced, no doubt to promote her upcoming release, Ghost Hero (#11 in the series). I do wish the publishers would be more consistent in dropping the price on the first of a series, though, as I sort of hate to start in what is nearly the middle of the series. On the other hand, if the discounted title were the latest released in the series, I'd then be ready for the upcoming release. With book #8, I'd probably skip the early books entirely, but still need to get two additional ones before moving to the new release. With this series, though, it doesn't look like they are all available as ebooks, yet.

Book Description
In the middle of the night, private investigator Bill Smith is awakened by a call from the NYPD. They're holding a 15-year-old kid named Gary -- a kid Bill knows. But before Bill can find out what is going on, Gary escapes Bill's custody into the dark night and unfamiliar streets. Bill, with the help of his partner Lydia Chin, tries to find the missing teen and uncover what it is that led him so far from home. Tracking Gary's family to a small town in New Jersey, Bill finds himself in a town where nothing matters but high school football, where the secrets of the past - both the town's and Bill's own - threaten to destroy the present. And if Bill is to have any chance of saving Gary and preventing a tragedy, he has to both unravel a long buried crime and confront the darkness of his own past.

KSO Notes and Reminders

Just a reminder, tonight is the deadline to use the Save $10 on Kindle Accessories KSO offer. You can also use the 50% off Kindle Lighted Cover, the Save $5 on Kindle reading lights offer and the $5 off a $10 purchase at Amazon offer at the same time, doubling up on the savings.

I've also noticed a number of other offers popping up that can be combined with a KSO offer. The Save $25 on Textbooks offer can be used on the same books that qualify for the Get $5 in MP3s with the Purchase of $50 or More in Textbooks deal.

Several other offers have various amounts of overlap. I even found several combos that would let you use the Save $40 on a Printer and Save 20% on Select Laptops offer along with a $100 off a combined purchase deal, plus some of the printers come with an MP3 credit. One even qualifies for the free XBOX with a Windows 7 PC offer for Amazon Student members (sadly limited to one per household), which means you can get a nice notebook, a printer, an XBOX and $25 in MP3 credits for $519.98, if you qualify for all the deals.

Note that these additional offers (including up to a $25 MP3 credit with some printers and other electronics), are available to all and a Kindle with Special Offers is not required (nor do you need a promotional code for any of them).