Pre-Order Collection and a TV Christmas Show

The Collected Novels of José Saramago is available as a pre-order on Kindle (with delivery tomorrow). You might not recognize the author's name right away, as this Portuguese author's books have not always been readily available in the US. His The Gospel According to Jesus Christ ($8.69), for example, provoked enough controversy that it was withdrawn from consideration for the 1992 European Literature Prize. But you likely have heard of the movie based on what is considered his masterpiece, the Nobel prize-winning Blindness ($7.65). It, the sequel Seeing ($9.99) and all the others are collected here, at a price well below what you'd pay picking up the titles individually; at $28.80, you are paying under under $2.50 per novel (with the novella thrown in free).

Book Description
This collection, available exclusively in e-book form, brings together the twelve novels (and one novella) of the great Portuguese writer José Saramago, with an introductory essay by Ursula Le Guin. From Saramago's early work, like the enchanting Baltasar & Blimunda and the controversial Gospel According to Jesus Christ, through his masterpiece Blindness and its sequel Seeing, to his later fables of politics, chance, history, and love, like All the Names and Death with Interruptions, this volume showcases the range and depth of Saramago’s career, his inimitable narrative voice, and his vast reserves of invention, humor, and understanding.

Call Me Mrs. Miracle ($7.29), by Debbie Macomber, may not be quite bargain priced, but you can watch the TV adaptation of it tonight, on the Hallmark Channel (8PM EST). If you prefer your entertainment in eInk, just click on the author's name -- there are 9 volumes under $4, several of them with Christmas themes.

Book Description
This Christmas, Emily Merkle (call her Mrs. Miracle!) is working in the toy department at Finley's, the last family-owned department store in New York City. And her boss is none other than…Jake Finley, the owner's son.

For Jake, holiday memories of brightly wrapped gifts, decorated trees and family were destroyed in a Christmas Eve tragedy years before. Now Christmas means just one thing to him—and to his father. Profit. Because they need a Christmas miracle to keep the business afloat.

Holly Larson needs a miracle, too. She wants to give her eight-year-old nephew, Gabe, the holiday he deserves. Holly's widowed brother is in the army and won't be home for Christmas, but at least she can get Gabe that toy robot from Finley's, the one gift he desperately wants. If she can figure out how to afford it…

Fortunately, it's Mrs. Miracle to the rescue. Next to making children happy, she likes nothing better than helping others—and that includes doing a bit of matchmaking!

This Christmas will be different. For all of them.

Today's Two Buck Music and more

Black Friday is over, but Amazon has already started their Cyber Monday deals. Five new $1.99 albums, a few freebies and some bargain albums I've found are all in this post.

First, a few freebies I found today: Best Song Ever by Katie Armiger, Blue Collar King by Family Reunion and Asphalt EP by Matt Thibideau

In Between Dreams, by Jack Johnson, is the $1.99 album that tempts me the most, today. You'll be singing along to cuts such as Banana Pancakes and Good People, after just a few listens.

The other four albums in today's Black Friday Week sale:

Lisbon (Amazon MP3 Exclusive), by The Walkmen
Transference, by Spoon
As I Call You Down, by Fistful Of Mercy
How I Got Over [Explicit] [+Digital Booklet], by The Roots

These are all currently discounted at great prices for some great music:

Blues On The Bayou, by B.B. King ($3.99)
Legend, by Bob Marley ($3.99)
The Very Best Of Booker T. & The MG's, by Booker T & The MG's ($3.99)
Rare Genius: The Undiscovered Masters, by Ray Charles ($4.99)

Bargain Book Roundup

More agency priced bargains to introduce you to new authors! The links are for the Kindle store; those with other ereaders can do a title search at Kobobooks.com or in the B&N store. B&N also has a Black Friday Sale: 50% off Deluxe Cookbooks (expires 11.29.2010).

Burn Out ($2.99), by Marcia Muller

Book Description
Traumatized by a recent life-or-death investigation, Sharon McCone flees to her ranch in California's high desert country to contemplate her future. Deep depression shadows her days and nights, and a chance encounter with a troubled, highly secretive Native American woman begins to haunt her dreams. Even though she is determined not to investigate anything during her stay--and perhaps not ever again--McCone is drawn into the plight of the young woman and her dysfunctional family. A murder and traces of violence at a deserted resort lead her across the desert and into Nevada, and finally to a remote and isolated ranch, where danger lies closer that she expects and where her future and life itself may hang in the balance.

Sins of the Flesh ($1.99), by Caridad Piñeiro

Book Description
aterina Shaw's days are numbered. Her only chance for survival is a highly experimental gene treatment-a risk she willingly takes. But now Caterina barely recognizes herself. She has new, terrifying powers, an exotic, arresting body-and she's been accused of a savage murder, sending her on the run.

Mick Carrera is a mercenary and an expert at capturing elusive, clever prey. Yet the woman he's hunting down is far from the vicious killer he's been told to expect: Caterina is wounded, vulnerable, and a startling mystery of medical science. Even more, she's a beautiful woman whose innocent sensuality tempts Mick to show her exactly how thrilling pleasure can be. The heat that builds between them is irresistible, but surrendering to it could kill them both . . . for a dangerous group is plotting its next move using Caterina as its deadly pawn.

A Morning Like This ($1.99), by Deborah Bedford

Book Description
David and Abby Treasure seem to have everything together: a perfect marriage, a perfect son, and a perfect life. But one simple phone call turns their world upside down. Years ago, David had an affair outside of his marriage, and though he never knew it, the affair produced a daughter. Now his former lover calls with heartbreaking news: his daughter is dying of leukemia. Her only hope for survival is a bone marrow transplant-from David or his son.

Can David and Abby set aside their betrayal and anger to save a little girl's life? If they can make it through, they may find that their love for one another and their faith in God can be redeemed . . . and grow stronger than ever before.

Issue Is ($1.99), by Barb Johnson

Book Description
The lives of four unlikely friends intersect on the backstreets of New Orleans. Living amid poverty and violence, these fragile heroes of the American underclass redefine our notions of family, redemption, and love.

David and the Giant ($2.99) is from Christian publisher Zondervan.

Book Description
A giant wants to fight an Israelite soldier. When young and small David offers to fight Goliath, the giant laughs! Can David beat the giant? Find out in this Zonderkidz I Can Read! book for early readers.

The Brooklyn Follies ($2.99), by Paul Auster

Book Description
From the bestselling author of Oracle Night and The Book of Illusions, an exhilarating, whirlwind tale of one man's accidental redemption

Nathan Glass has come to Brooklyn to die. Divorced, estranged from his only daughter, the retired life insurance salesman seeks only solitude and anonymity. Then Nathan finds his long-lost nephew, Tom Wood, working in a local bookstore--a far cry from the brilliant academic career he'd begun when Nathan saw him last. Tom's boss is the charismatic Harry Brightman, whom fate has also brought to the "ancient kingdom of Brooklyn, New York." Through Tom and Harry, Nathan's world gradually broadens to include a new set of acquaintances--not to mention a stray relative or two--and leads him to a reckoning with his past.

Among the many twists in the delicious plot are a scam involving a forgery of the first page of The Scarlet Letter, a disturbing revelation that takes place in a sperm bank, and an impossible, utopian dream of a rural refuge. Meanwhile, the wry and acerbic Nathan has undertaken something he calls The Book of Human Folly, in which he proposes "to set down in the simplest, clearest language possible an account of every blunder, every pratfall, every embarrassment, every idiocy, every foible, and every inane act I had committed during my long and checkered career as a man." But life takes over instead, and Nathan's despair is swept away as he finds himself more and more implicated in the joys and sorrows of others.

The Brooklyn Follies is Paul Auster's warmest, most exuberant novel, a moving and unforgettable hymn to the glories and mysteries of ordinary human life.

Dying for Mercy with Bonus Material ($1.99), by Mary Jane Clark, is a pre-order, but you can get a sample from this higher priced edition, to see if you want to order it (just don't order the wrong edition).

Book Description
For a limited time, discover Mary Jane Clark's New York Times bestselling novel Dying for Mercy, including an exclusive letter from Mary Jane and an early excerpt from her new novel, To Have and to Kill

The recently renovated Pentimento, located in New York's exclusive moneyed enclave of Tuxedo Park, is no ordinary estate. Strange secrets have been ingeniously built into its fountains, frescoes, statues, and architecture—clues to a bizarre mystery that is first brought to light when the owner commits suicide during a lavish gala.

Eliza Blake, co-anchor of the popular morning television show KEY to America, is present when the party is cut short by the host's sudden, macabre death—and she's the first to discover that Pentimento is a giant "puzzle house." But each piece is leading Eliza and her KEY News colleagues—producer Annabelle Murphy, cameraman B. J. D'Elia, and psychiatrist Margo Gonzalez—deeper into darkness, toward a killer who believes that some puzzles must never be solved. And it soon becomes shockingly clear that no amount of wealth or privilege can keep the residents of Tuxedo Park safe . . . and alive.

Kissing Christmas Goodbye ($2.99), by M. C. Beaton

Book Description
Unlike quite a number of people, Agatha had not given up on Christmas. To have the perfect Christmas had been a childhood dream whilst surviving a rough upbringing in a Birmingham slum. Holly berries glistened, snow fell gently outside, and inside, all was Dickensian jollity. And in her dreams, James Lacey kissed her under the mistletoe, and, like a middle-aged sleeping beauty, she would awake to passion once more....

Agatha Raisin is bored. Her detective agency in the Cotswolds is thriving, but she’ll scream if she has to deal with another missing cat or dog. Only two things seem to offer potential excitement: the upcoming Christmas festivities and her ex, James Lacey. This year she is sure that if she invites James to a really splendid, old-fashioned Christmas dinner, their love will rekindle like a warm Yule log.

When a wealthy widow hires Agatha because she’s convinced a member of her family is trying to kill her, Agatha is intrigued---especially when the widow drops dead after high tea at the manor house. Who in this rather sterile house, complete with fake family portraits, could have hated the old lady enough to poison her?

Agatha sets out to find the murderer, all the while managing a pretty, teenage trainee who makes her feel old and planning for a picture-perfect Christmas, with James, all the trimmings, and perhaps even snow.

Gettin' Merry ($2.99), by Beverly Jenkins, Francis Ray, Monica Jackson, and Geri Guillaume

Book Description
Four of today's hottest romance writers invite you to come home for the holidays, where the spicy smells from the kitchen, the warm embrace of family, and the gifts of Kwanzaa are just the beginning of a magical season filled with true love and sensual delights...

Be careful what you wish for. That's the lesson a fine brother with a wounded heart learns when an eccentric old woman grants him a wish for true love--if he's not too blind to see it--in Francis Ray's The Wish.

Beverly Jenkins spins a soul-touching tale of a soldier reunited with the woman who deserted him as they discover that love isn't just sweeter the second time around, it's downright decadent in Homecoming.

In Monica Jackson's The Way Back Home, a biracial young woman sets out to spend Kwanzaa with the African-American family she never knew and finds and extra gift in the strong, loving professor who wants to teacher her about her heritage...and so much more.

When a mild-mannered high school principal battles small-town prejudice over a Kwanzaa celebration, he fins an unlikely ally in a fiery woman from his past in Geri Guillaume's moving story, The Seventh Principal.

The love of a good man. The hope of a new family. The promise of a fantasy fulfilled. This soulful collection of holiday stories proves there's more than one reason for gettin' merry...and they all lead straight to the heart.

Two new bargains in Lisi Harrison's teen Clique series: Bratfest at Tiffany's and P.S. I Loathe You , both $1.99).

#9
Massie Block: The Briarwood boys have invaded OCD and are taking over everything. Worse, the soccer boys have become so popular that the Pretty Committee's alpha status is in serious jeopardy. So Massie lays out a New Year-New Pretty Committee rule: Anyone caught crushing on a boy will be thrown out of the NPC-forever. But will she be able to follow her own decree when she sees that Derrington has ditched his shorts-obsession in favor of ah-dorable jeans?

Alicia Rivera: Is the opposite of onboard with the boyfast. Her crush, the Ralph Lauren-luh-ving Josh Hotz, is more irresistible than crème brûlée fro-yo. But is he worth losing her spot in the NPC? And taking on the wrath of Massie?

Dylan Marvil: Is so ready for the boyfast. She's straightened her unruly red hair and permanently pressed boys out of her life. If only she could do the same with curly fries and caramel popcorn.

Kristen Gregory: Has traded her sporty-chic Pumas for Billabong board shorts and a shark tooth necklace. She claims she's sworn off boy-crushes, so what's with her Blue Crush makeover?

Claire Lyons: Spent all summer thinking about Cam's one blue eye and one green eye. But now he's moved on to a new girl faster than you can say cuh-yutest couple. At least Claire finally has a secure spot in the NPC-unless jealousy-flirting breaks the boyfast. . . .

#10
Massie Block: When the Pretty Committee deems its boy-fast null and void, boy fever sweeps through BOCD. What better way to backhandspring into new crush Dempsey's heart-and make old crush Derrington jealous-than cheer for him on the soccer field? And just like that, Massie forms BOCD's first-ever cheerleading squad. But will Massie still have something to cheer about when Dempsey starts spending ah lot of time with LBR Layne Abeley? Give me an "E" for Ehmagawd!

Kristen Gregory: With Massie and her SBFF (secret best friend forever) Layne vying for the same boy, Kristen has to make a choice: A) the Pretty Committee, or B) the Witty Committee. And if she doesn't choose fast, she'll end up C) Committeeless.

Dylan Marvil: Is hiding something, and it's not just those peanut butter Luna bars stashed under her mattress. She's got a secret crush on Derrington-and it's no secret that he likes burpilicious redheads. . . .

Alicia Rivera: Prefers pliés to pom-poms, especially when Massie orders her to the bottom of the cheer-pyramid. Can Alicia accept her beta status, or is it time to become alpha of her own squad?

Claire Lyons: Now that she's back with Cam, Claire finally has her love life in order. But her friends are trading crushes like styling tips. Will the Pretty Committee survive the boy-swap intact, or is the Clique about to come apart at the seams?

The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos ($1.99), by Margaret Mascarenhas

Book Description
Irene dos Santos disappeared at age 15. Believed to have drowned while on holiday with her best friend, Lily Martinez, her body was never found. Now, years later, she appears ghostlike in Lily's dreams, prompting a quest for the truth behind her disappearance. Mysteriously, Lily, eight-months pregnant with her first child, slips and falls on the same day that the statue of Maria Lionza, Patron Saint of their Venezuelan town, cracks in two. Confined to her bed, Lily is surrounded by her family and closest friends, who agree that a Novena to Maria Lionza will guide the baby's spirit safely into the world. Together, through their nine nights of prayer, each offers a story to entertain Lily and her baby. What emerges is a vivid picture of Venezuela during a time of revolution and uncertainty-and the unraveling of the mystery behind Irene dos Santos.

The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World ($3.99), by Eric Weiner

Book Description
Part foreign affairs discourse, part humor, and part twisted self-help guide, The Geography of Bliss takes the reader from America to Iceland to India in search of happiness, or, in the crabby author's case, moments of "un-unhappiness." The book uses a beguiling mixture of travel, psychology, science and humor to investigate not what happiness is, but where it is. Are people in Switzerland happier because it is the most democratic country in the world? Do citizens of Qatar, awash in petrodollars, find joy in all that cash? Is the King of Bhutan a visionary for his initiative to calculate Gross National Happiness? Why is Asheville, North Carolina so damn happy? With engaging wit and surprising insights, Eric Weiner answers those questions and many others, offering travelers of all moods some interesting new ideas for sunnier destinations and dispositions.

The World Inside ($1.99), by Lydia Peelle

Book Description
With this first book of fiction, a gifted young writer brings together eight superbly crafted stories that peer deeply into the human heart, exploring lives derailed by the loss of a vital connection to the land and to the natural world of which they are a part.

"Mule Killers" evokes the end of an era and of a grandfather's dreams when he decides to replace animal power on his farm with tractors. Two restless young girls in "Sweethearts of the Rodeo" live out their last summer of innocence, riding ponies recklessly and spying on their boss and the wealthy women who visit him. In "Phantom Pain," the Tennessee woods are a sliver of what they once were, men now hunt with GPS and cell phones, and the rumor of a dangerous panther on the loose stirs up a small town.

An unexpected vision of the beauty and mystery of life redeems the darkest moments in this stellar debut collection, a book that readers will want to read and reread.

The Grandmother's Bible ($3.99), is a well-reviewed compilation volume from Christian publisher Zondervan.

Book Description
For many women, being a grandmother is God's finest gift---they have achieved great depth of experience and breadth of love, and they have grandchildren with whom to share these qualities. The Grandmother's Bible is the first Bible published for this active, engaged, Bible-reading audience. Over 60 well-known Christian women---including Ruth Graham, Elisa Morgan, Elizabeth George, Thelma Wells, Karen Kingsbury, and Carol Cymbala---share their thoughts, stories, and encouragement in this Bible's articles and daily devotionals. With a focus on daily prayer, this uniquely personal Bible offers guidance, inspiration, and practical tools as grandmothers share their love and God's Word with their grandchildren. Features:

• 365 devotions -- readings draw grandmothers closer to their Lord and to their grandchildren
• Grandchild in Focus -- a simple plan to help grandmothers pray regularly for their grandchildren
• Praying the Scriptures for Your Grandchild -- Bible verses in a prayer format
• Stories to Share -- over 150 key Bible stories ideal for sharing specific life lessons
• Talking Points -- a practical guide for using Scripture to discuss over 40 relevant topics, such as salvation, knowing God's will, friendship, etc.
• Perspectives -- original, thought-provoking articles addressing personal aspirations and the joys and challenges of being a grandmother
• Special sleeve to hold grandchild's photo
• Custom presentation pages
• Two-color design in an easy-to-read type
• Book introductions, topical index, and more
• Complete New International Version 

American Detective: An Amos Walker Novel ($2.99), by Loren D. Estleman

Book Description
Hardboiled detective Amos Walker returns for his nineteenth outing in his most challenging case yet. Ex-Detroit Tigers pitcher Darius Fuller wants Walker to break off his daughter's engagement to Hilary Bairn, a man he believes is after her two million dollar trust. Walker goes to Bairn's apartment, only to be ambushed by cops. A murder has taken place, and the victim is Fuller's daughter. Walker and the cops assume that Bairn is the murderer, but Walker has no idea what he is getting into.

Walker is led to a meeting with a casino owner, who tells him Bairn owed money to a loan shark. The loan shark tells Walker that he is not the only one after Bairn. Soon Walker finds himself on the run from crooked cops and vile gangsters. Every time Walker thinks he's solved the case, he finds out he is farther from the truth than when he started. This case will take all of Walker's cunning, and will prove to be his greatest trial ever!

Debatable Space ($2.99), by Philip Palmer

Book Description
Flanagan (who is, for want of a better word, a pirate) has a plan. It seems relatively simple: kidnap Lena, the Cheo's daughter, demand a vast ransom for her safe return, sit back and wait.

Only the Cheo, despotic ruler of the known universe, isn't playing ball. Flanagan and his crew have seen this before, of course, but since they've learned a few tricks from the bad old days and since they know something about Lena that should make the plan foolproof, the Cheo's defiance is a major setback. It is a situation that calls for extreme measures.

Luckily, Flanagan has considerable experience in this area . . .

Desire Untamed ($1.99), by Pamela Palmer

Book Description
They are called Feral Warriors—an elite band of immortals who can change shape at will. Sworn to rid the world of evil, consumed by sorcery and seduction, their wild natures are primed for release . . .

Kara MacAllister's quiet small-town life is transformed forever the night a powerful stranger rips her from her home, claiming she is the chosen one—the key to his survival.

Spiriting her away into the rain-soaked night, Lyon reveals a truth Kara can barely credit. She's immortal, and the only one who can save his race. And deep within her, he arouses a fierce, primal hunger beyond anything she's ever imagined.

But only when their lives are threatened by an ancient evil will Kara and Lyon realize they have found a love they would risk their immortal souls to claim . . . and a powerful desire that could never, ever be tamed.

Going for the Gold: Apolo Anton Ohno ($3.99), by Thomas Lang

Book Description
Man of Speed

Part athlete, part rock star, Apolo Anton Ohno has won fans across the globe with his charisma, his movie-idol looks, and his edge-of-the-seat victories at the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Going for the Gold: Apolo Anton Ohno tells the story of this skating hero, start to finish.

Here's what you'll find out about America's newestidol:

• What made Apolo fall in love with speed skating
• Why his troublemaking almost ended his Olympic dreams
• How Apolo turned his career around
• What Apolo has planned for the future

Going for the Gold: Sarah Hughes ($3.99), by R. S. Ashby

Book Description
Ice Princess

Sarah Hughes was born to skate, and she proved to the world with her dramatic gold medal victory at the 2002 Winter Olympics. But the road to Olympic glory was not always easy for this Long Island teen.

Going for the Gold: Sarah Hughes is the amazing true story of a brilliant skater's Olympic quest.

Here's what you'll find out about America's newest sweetheart:

• Sarah's first time on the ice
• How her family's support helped her through difficult times
• How Sarah braved the rocky road to the Olympics
• Sarah's hopes for the future

PS3 Bundle Deals

My PS3 finally insisted that it had to be updated or it would not play a Blu-Ray that I'd rented from Netflix. After setting it up on the wireless network, which it refused to do a couple of years ago, but went on with very little effort, this time (yes, I've used it mainly as a Blu-Ray player and for stand alone games and never needed to be online before), I also set it up to watch Netflix on-demand streaming. I was actually quite surprised at how good the movie looked. Nowhere near HD quality, of course, but not much worse than watching a regular DVD and with very little stuttering in the video (the audio never did mess up). All in all, something of a miracle given our slow internet connection. It took 3 hours to download our rental video from Amazon, in comparison; of course, once I figured out that we had to watch it in Microsoft's Media Center and not using the Amazon software, which was cutting off the lower half of the picture, the quality of it was the same as having rented the physical disc. In any case, I foresee us using the PS3 more and more, as Netflix pushes downloaded rentals instead of physical discs. It is already a pretty good game box and still perhaps the best blu-ray player on the market, but now it has taken the role of a Roku box, as well (although I haven't figured out if I can also use it for Amazon VOD, yet).

For Black Friday, Amazon has put together a couple of good bundles, for those looking to upgrade, add a system to a second room. Priced the same as the controller alone, both bundles also throw in two games. The first is the best of the two bargains and the one that appears as if the price will change the earliest (or just go away forever, once they sell out), throwing in a Blu-Ray movie and a $25 credit to use in the store later on. Both come with a single controller and you can play the games and watch movies using it.

If you want to play any of the multi-player games, you'll want a second DualShock 3 Wireless Controller (which now comes in wide range of colors) and I'd greatly recommend the Sony PlayStation 3 Blu-ray Disc Remote, which I've had for a couple of years and use every time we watch a movie. I'm now looking at adding a PlayStation 3 Wireless keypad, which I never really needed, but after having to type in login information on netflix, I think some type of keyboard may become a necessity (you can use the controller, but it's a bit slow and tedious and anyone watching can see you hunt out the letters for the password). Any USB or bluetooth keyboard will probably work, but this one would be attached to the controller (and rechargeable), so I wouldn't have to keep track of it or find more space to store it.

PlayStation 3 160 GB Black Friday Bundle w/ Uncharted 2, Pixel Junk Shooter, Karate Kid Blu-Ray, and $25 Video Game Credit ($299.99)

Bundle Description

• DualShock 3 wireless controller with detachable USB charge cable and AC power cord for console and a free PlayStation Network membership
• Slim, light PS3 system with a 160 GB HDD, Internet-ready built-in Wi-Fi, 2 USB ports and HDMI + Bravia Synch output for 1080p resolution and connectivity between other Sony HDMI products
• A copy of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - Game of The Year, with included game of the year extra items
• A PlayStation Network download voucher for a game copy of Pixeljunk Shooter
• A Blu-ray copy of the 2010 version of The Karate Kid staring Jackie Chan and Jaden Smith

PlayStation 3 160GB Amazon Family Bundle w/ Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time and SingStar Dance Party Pack ($299.99)

Bundle Description

• A copy of the PlayStation exclusive Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
• Slim, light PS3 system with a 160 GB HDD, Internet-ready built-in Wi-Fi, 2 USB ports and HDMI + Bravia Synch output for 1080p resolution and connectivity between other Sony HDMI products
• DualShock 3 wireless controller with detachable USB charge cable and AC power cord for console
• Free PlayStation Network membership and access to Netflix with Unlimited membership (sold separately)
• A copy of the PlayStation 3 exclusive SingStar Dance with 2 included wired SingStar microphones

Today's Two Buck Music + One Free Song

Amazon is continuing their Black Friday Week in the MP3 store, with five new $1.99 titles today and a free Christmas song, Dream Child by Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Today's list makes it tough to pick a favorite, but I settled on John Mayer's Battle Studies, only because I already have more than one version of Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon.

The other four albums in today's Black Friday Week sale:

Dark Side Of The Moon, by Pink Floyd
You Are Not Alone, by Mavis Staples
xx, by The XX
High Violet, by The National

Ebook Sales and Dollar Books for Black Friday

Several of the online bookstores are having sales for the Black Friday weekend, plus a number of authors at Amazon and Smashwords have marked down their books for the day to 99 cents.

First, at Fictionwise, where the DRM'd books are no pretty much only nook or app compatible, as they only have the EReader format, but the DRM-Free books and magazines will work with any device, you can get 50% off this weekend using the coupon code blackfriday2010. This sale is good thru tomorrow, so you have plenty of time to look thru their catalog. The main thing I buy there now are magazines, which are often a better deal than at Amazon. However, as their selection has continued to go down after being purchased by Barnes and Noble, I'd advise you to make your own backup copies of any purchases, as there is no guarantee they'll be there when you want to re-download.

Next, at Kobobooks.com, use coupon code Nov26ww30 to get 30% off any non-Agency book (including any of the bestsellers at $9.99, where Kobo has set the price). All the books at Kobo are in EPUB format, with standard ADE DRM. This means they work on any of the major ereaders out there, except the Kindle.

At Books on Board, you get a 10% bonus on any gift certificate over $30 (presumably as Reward Dollars, which can't be used on Agency priced books).

Small publishers are also having sales this weekend. OmniLit has what looks like a site-wide 25% discount going on Harlequin  and any Harlequin  imprint (code 25BlackFridayMira is entered for you automatically). Mundania Press and their romance label Awe Struck Publishing both have 25% off with coupon code BLACK. They sell paper and ebooks, but it looks like the books are pretty much only in PDF format with ADE-DRM (so, not Kindle compatible). There is a lot of overlap with Fictionwise's multi-format listings, so I'd check there first (and FW's prices are better with the coupon code, as well), but some titles you can't get at FW are to be found. Untreed Reads has discounted all short stories 25%, novelettes and novellas 30% and full-length works and anthologies 40% for today only and claims to have "super-secret specials hidden throughout the store where folks can save even more in addition to the listed discounts". Erotic romance publisher Changeling Press has a 5% off sale using code BlackFriday2010; all their selections are DRM-free and generally are priced under $5 before the coupon code. Erotica publisher AllRomance has added a few new freebies for the weekend in the Just One Bite series, joining the over 200 free titles they have available. Rainbow eBooks (LGBT books) has all of their books at 15% off this weekend, no coupon code needed.

Manning Publications has a 35% to 50% off sale (depending on sales total), using promotions codes gt35, gt42 and gt50 for totals under $50, from $50 to $100 and over $100. Not a bad discount on some pretty technical computer programming books. O'Reilly books is another source of (drm-free) technical books and they not only have Erlang Programming on sale today, but also have an MS Press book at 50% off, 25% off off online courses and a free copy of Maker's Notebook for orders over $200.

Over at Audible, they are having their annual holiday sale, with 100 audio-books at $4.95. The deal is limited to members with a paid or trial monthly or annual AudibleListener plan, but you can sign up easily, with offers such as these:

• Limited Time Offer - Get Your First 3 Months at Audible.com for $7.49/month!
• Try Audible Now and Get A Free Audiobook Download with a 14 Day Trial

An Awesome Book Of Thanks! ($0.99), Clayton Page, is a book I just saw mentioned on Amazon's Kindle blog. I'm not sure how long it'll stay at this price, but suspect it won't be much past the weekend, if that long.

Book Description
Inspired by the idea of being thankful for all that you have, An Awesome Book of Thanks! is a beautifully written, fantastically illustrated walk through a world of magical unicorns, robotic dinosaurs, and all of life's simple moments, great and small. Crafted for children ages 0-1000, this timeless story is sure to be an instant classic, at home in the hands of anyone looking for the perfect reminder of just how beautiful life can be.

Fleeing Famous, by Laura Freed & Moxie Baker, is the first in the SpellBound Cafe series and is back to 99 cents today. I know they were hoping the second would get published today, but it looks like it hit a snag. Good deal for you, as this one is going up to $2.99 when the second one arrives. Nearly every reader comment I've seen on this book has been positive, so it's definitely worth taking a look at the sample. It is indie published, so it could stand a little more polish (and I would not be surprised if it were picked up by AmazonEncore at some point).

Book Description
Fleeing Famous, loosely based on true events, is the story of how one woman finds her destiny (and assorted muffins, cakes, and pies) on the road she takes to avoid it. Moxie Baker (not her real name) is the daughter of VFFP (Very Famous F***ing Parents). Moxie longs to escape the celebrity shenanigans of her Oscar winning mother, Rockstar father, and spoiled wanna- be reality star sister, Harper. When Moxie accidentally finds herself in Sugar Hollow Harbor, a sleepy town that promises on the Welcome Sign: “You’ll find sweetness in our shadows,” she decides to reinvent herself. Ah – but the truth, and Moxie’s sister, threatens to expose Moxie and unravel her new, delicious life.

Fleeing Famous launches the Spellbound Café fiction series: Stories about the magic of food, the power of friendship, and the mysticism of fortunate events. )

So Brave, Young, and Handsome ($1.84), by Leif Enger

Book Description
One of Time magazine’s top-five novels of the year and a New York Times best seller, Leif Enger’s first novel, Peace Like a River, captured readers’ hearts around the nation. His new novel is a stunning successor—a touching, nimble, and rugged story of an aging train robber on a quest to reconcile the claims of love and judgment on his life, and the failed writer who goes with him.

In 1915 Minnesota, Monte Becket—“a man fading, a disappointer of persons”—has lost his sense of purpose. His only success long behind him, Monte lives a simple life with his loving wife and whipsmart son. But when he befriends outlaw Glendon Hale, a new world of opportunity and experience presents itself.

Glendon has spent years in obscurity, but the guilt he harbors for abandoning his wife, Blue, over two decades ago, has finally lured him from hiding. As the modern age marches swiftly forward, Glendon aims to travel back into his past—heading to California to seek Blue’s forgiveness. Beguiled and inspired, Monte soon finds himself leaving behind his own family to embark for the unruly West with his fugitive guide—a journey that will test the depth of his loyalties, the inviolability of his morals, and the strength of his resolve. As they flee from the relentless Charles Siringo, an ex-Pinkerton who’s been hunting Glendon for years, Monte falls ever further from his family and the law, to be tempered by a fiery adventure from which he may never get home.

With its smooth mix of romanticism and gritty reality, So Brave, Young, and Handsome often recalls the Old West’s greatest cowboy stories. But it is also about an ordinary man’s determination as he risks everything in order to understand what it’s all worth, and follows an unlikely dream in the hope it will lead him back home.

Here are some of the (mostly) indie books marked down to 99 cents (unless noted otherwise), in no particular order and not grouped by genre (sorry, there are just too many this time).  I tried to only pick those that were at least novellas in length (or short story collections); most are novels. Genres are all over the place, from SciFi to Fantasy to Thrillers to Romance and I suspect a couple that are Erotica. Some of the "indie" authors are the same ones who are traditionally published in paper, but who either retained their ebook rights or managed to get them back (examples are Stephen Leather and Delle Jacobs), while others are published only in ebook form and may or may not have used editors and proofreaders for their works. I'd sample, first, of course, but don't tarry too long, as the prices could change quickly.

once bitten, by Stephen Leather (non-indie UK author)
dreamer's cat, by Stephen Leather
NO GOOD DEED, by Mary McDonald
Tropic of Capricorn ($1), by Henry Miller
Fairy Tale Fail, by Mina V. Esguerra
The Cinderella Curse, by J.L. Penn
Bullsnake Jones (Special Operations Forces: A.N.G.E.L. Group), by T. J. Cook
The Sword And The Light (The Chronicles Of Zayin and Uri: Book One), by T. J. Cook
The Gift of Joy, by Valerie Maarten
Firefly Island, an Epic Fantasy, by Daniel Arenson
North Star Bay, by Richard Thompson
Seven Days From Sunday, by M.H. Sargent
Kill&Cure, by Stephen Davison
Toe Popper, by Jonny Tangerine
Suspect/Victim, by John Luciew
Wet Desert, by Gary Hansen (recommended)
Four Years from Home, by Larry Enright
The Holy Bible (Illustrated King James Version, KJV) for Kindle, by MobileReference
When Justice Steps Out, by Cooper Sterling
Lethal People, by John Locke, and 4 others in the Donovan Creed series
Not What She Seems, by Victorine E. Lieske
PORTAL (Portal Chronicles), by Imogen Rose
His Majesty, the Prince of Toads and three other titles by Delle Jacobs
Entangled, by Barbara Ellen Brink
101 Tips for Traveling with a Vampire and Shades of Gray (Amaranthine), by Joleene Naylor
Beyond the Darkening, by Kerry Allen
Along Came a Demon (Whisperings), by Linda Welch
Forsaken By Shadow (A Paranormal Romance of the Mirus), by Kait Nolan
Forever Mine (The Moreno Brothers), by Elizabeth Reyes
Always, by Jodi Langston
Healing Touch, by Jenna Anderson
Devil's Heart, by Jax Cassidy
Tempest, by Jamie DeBree
Wrapped, by Meryl McQueen
Christmas on the Rocks, by Tim Bugansky
Pale Boundaries, by Scott Cleveland (sci-fi)
Radioactive Communist Zombies, by S. Evan Townsend
Loisaida -- A New York Story, by Marion Stein
THE DAUGHTERS OF NORA CRAWFORD, by Anne Lebrecht
THE BLACKGLOOM BOUNTY, by Jon F. Baxley

Kristie Leigh Maguire's books are all $2.99, but you can download some free stuff on her web site.

At Smashwords:
Key to the Stars, by Kevin Domenic; $1 w/ Coupon Code - UV63M
Alliance of Serpents, by Kevin Domenic; $1 w/ Coupon Code - TK75S
Retail Ramblings, by Kevin Domenic; $1 w/ Coupon Code - SB62X

Update:
Here are a couple more marked down for today:
Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble, a Paranormal Romance (Jolie Wilkins Series, Book #1), by H.P. Mallory
A Chance for Charity (The Immortal Ones), by S.L. Baum
Hush Money (Talent Chronicles), by Susan Bischoff
Immortal, by Lauren Burd
Promise, by Kristie Cook (free on Smashwords)

Refurbished Kindle K2 for $119.99

The price on these just dropped and it's another that I don't expect to stay in stock for long (it looks like the thousands of K2's at $89 earlier today sold out in under ten seconds). Get a Refurbished Kindle Wireless Reading Device, Free 3G, 6" Display, White - 2nd Generation from Amazon Warehouse Deals for $119.99. These differ from the new units in the following way:

Factory refurbished and sealed. This item does not ship with the AC adaptor plug. This accessory must be purchased separately. All purchases eligible for Amazon customer service and a 30-day return policy.

Otherwise, it's the same as the Kindle K2's that were the latest and greatest last Christmas and that sold like hotcakes this morning. Also, at least on reader grabbed one of the earlier K2's for shipping overseas, so it's worth making the attempt if you were wanting a new Kindle for XMAS, but missed getting one of the international K3's before they sold out.

Update: A Refurbished 2nd Generation Kindle DX is also available and the price on it has dropped to $229.99. New ones are selling for $329 and the newer graphite model is $379, so this is a nice discount. Interestingly enough, there is no restriction on how many of the DX models you can buy (the K3 models all say you are limited to three).

Video on Demand Sale at Amazon - 75% off Rental

Here are a couple of great deals on Video on Demand at Amazon. First, enter the code RENTDEAL on this page and you'll get 75% off the next movie that you rent from Amazon (between today and the end of the month).

As if that isn't a good enough deal, you can also rent the biggest new releases for 99 cents this weekend, on this Video on Demand Black Friday Deals page, including five of the Harry Potter films. Combine the two and you get a movie night for a quarter!Venture out a little farther and you can rent any of these 99 movies for $2.99 (actually, less, as many are also knocked down to 99 cents this weekend and you'll have that 75% coupon).

Free B&N Classics Series (nook) - Grimm's Fairy Tales

The Free Classics promotion at Barnes and Noble has returned and they will have one of their B&N Classics Series books as a free download each week, thru Christmas. These are nicely formatted and usually well commentated editions of classics that usually sell for $2-$3 each. This week's selection is Grimm's Fairy Tales, by Brothers Grimm, Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm, Elizabeth Dalton (Editor), Ludwig Emil Grimm (Illustrator), which I already had in my nook Library from their previous promotion.

Book Description
Grimm's Fairy Tales, by Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classics series, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics:

• New introductions commissioned from today's top writers and scholars
• Biographies of the authors
• Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events
• Footnotes and endnotes
• Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work
• Comments by other famous authors
• Study questions to challenge the reader's viewpoints and expectations
• Bibliographies for further reading
• Indices & Glossaries, when appropriate

All editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications; some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influences—biographical, historical, and literary—to enrich each reader's understanding of these enduring works.

With the words “Once upon a time,” the Brothers Grimm transport readers to a timeless realm where witches, giants, princesses, kings, fairies, goblins, and wizards fall in love, try to get rich, quarrel with their neighbors, and have magical adventures of all kinds—and in the process reveal essential truths about human nature.

When Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm set out to collect stories in the early 1800s, their goal was not to entertain children but to preserve Germanic folklore—and the hard life of European peasants was reflected in the tales they discovered. However, once the brothers saw how the stories entranced young readers, they began softening some of the harsher aspects to make them more suitable for children.

A cornerstone of Western culture since the early 1800s, Grimm’s Fairy Tales is now beloved the world over. This collection of more than 120 of the Grimms’ best tales includes such classics as “Cinderella,” “Snow White,” “Hansel and Grethel,” “Rapunzel,” “Rumpelstiltskin,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” and “The Frog Prince,” as well as others that are no less delightful.

Elizabeth Dalton is Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Barnard College. She has published fiction and criticism in The New Yorker, Partisan Review, Commentary, and The New York Times Book Review.

Click HERE for the free download.

Free Book (nook) - The Battle Sylph

The Battle Sylph ($5.59 Kindle), by L. J. McDonald, is free in the Barnes & Noble ebookstore. This is the first in her Sylph series, which continues with The Shattered Sylph ($5.59 Kindle).

Book Description
Solie finds herself kidnapped as bait for a dangerous Battle Sylph named Heyou, but she fights back and takes control of him, an immensely powerful shapeshifter. Solie & Heyou flee death to seek sanctuary, and Heyou begins to fill Solie with desires that threaten to change the world.

Click HERE for the free download.

Wii Console $169

Amazon just added the brand new RED Wii Hardware Limited Edition Bundle to the Video Game Deal of the Day page for $169.99. Actually, they have the Black and White models there as well, all discounted $30. These will go fast, so if you don't have a Wii (or need a new color or a second console), grab them quick.

Game Description
* Red Wii Console
* Red Wii Remote Plus & Red Nunchuk
* New Super Mario Bros. Video Game
* Wii Sports Video Game