3 Websites For Free Books

Readers, I'm going to list 3 websites where you can find free books listed. So get your mouse ready to click.

Writers, if you have a book that's free, I'll give you the details on how to get your book listed on these 3 websites.

Media Bistro App News & Reviews

The Editors of Media Bistro pick a few free eBooks every week.

Readers, the best way to keep up with these books is to subscribe.

Authors, to submit your book, email your pitch to appnewser at mediabistro dot com.

Books On The Knob

This website offers bargain books, free ebooks, and book reviews for Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Sony, and other ereaders and tablets. They also offer games, music, technology and computers occasionally.

Readers, there are a lot of books listed and they range from cookbooks to erotica. There's something for everyone.

Authors, visit the Subscribe/About/Contact page and scroll down to "Authors and Publishers" to find out how to get featured.

Digital Book Today

Readers, this website is all about Kindle. Thrifty Thursday is when they feature the Top 100 Kindle Books to Download for Free.

Authors, they offer free and paid promotion opportunities. Visit Join Our Team to learn more. Scroll down to #12 to get your free book on their free books list.

Takeaway Truth

It's easy to feed the reading habit -- and discover new authors to love -- when books are free.

Take A Break & Prevent RSI

I could be the poster child for bad work habits. Years spent typing at a computer have taken a toll on my body. Now I spend a lot of time trying to make better habits like taking frequent breaks to stretch. I also spend a lot of time at the chiropractor and the massage therapist.

Before you get twisted into a pretzel, take a tip from me. Make prevention part of your daily routine.

I just downloaded Workrave, a free program that helps in the recovery and prevention of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). The program alerts you to take "micro-pauses, rest breaks and restricts you to your daily limit."

This particular program works only on GNU/Linux and Microsoft Windows so if you operate a Mac, look for a similar app. There are several on the market.

With Workrave, you set your preferences, including timers. When the timer goes off, an image like the above pops onto your screen so you can take a break.

Takeaway Truth

Make technology work for you by reminding you to take care of your physical energy.

8 Ways NOT To Write A Book

I'm cranky today, and I'm sharing it with you.

8 Ways NOT To Write A Book

1. Twitter

2. Facebook

3. Email

4. Pinterest

5.Volunteering to Guest Blog, judge a contest, etc.

6. Telling your friends and family: "Sure, you can come visit a week or so" – and they all take you up on your invitation.

7. Scheduling contractors to work in your house rather than wait until the book's finished because you're tired of the non-working lights in the bathroom and other issues.

8. Doing stupid stuff like planting 32 shrubs because you bought them (foolishly thinking you'd have the book finished by now! -- and they'll die in the heat if you don't get them in the ground so you end up at the chiropractor and massage therapist every week thereafter while they work to make the agony in your back go away so you can sit at the computer again. Not that I'm confessing to this stupidity but....

Takeaway Truth

Writing a book takes focus. If you are missing your self-imposed deadlines, maybe you need to prioritize your time, back away from some things, and make better decisions – as I've been forced to do.

Collage It: Free Fun

I'm always working with photos and other graphics. I put together collages of holiday pictures, graphic signs for my websites, and trying different looks for book covers.

Collage It is a free software I've played with before. It's for Mac and Windows and enables you to automatically create a Collage.

You can browse your picture files, select the ones you want -- up to 200 -- and with a few clicks of the mouse, pop them into one of many templates. You can arrange them where they're lined up or at angles for more visual interest. There are several templates to choose from. You can also create a poster, for instance, of all your book covers.

Takeaway Truth

Have a little graphic fun with this free app.

Thoughts Determine Outcome

I've been semi-glued to ESPN since last Thursday because The Open, commonly called The British Open, has been underway.

I'm the world's worst golfer, but I love watching the tournaments with my husband. He's the real golfer in the family. No matter how hot the weather, he'll hit the golf course every chance he gets.

Watching the professionals, it's interesting how they can play so well until something happens -- maybe a bad shot puts them in a bunker or the rough, maybe someone they're playing with gets an eagle and leaps ahead in scoring -- then they fall apart. I often wonder what a golfer is saying inside his head when those moments occur.

The great Bobby Jones said: "Golf is a game that is played on a five-inch course - the distance between your ears."

I think that's true, and I think it's true for golfers and for just about everybody.

We all play a game of some kind. Mine is writing. What's yours? Regardless of what you do in life, you're playing your game on that same five-inch course -- the distance between your ears.

Your thoughts can determine how well you overcome challenges, how well you deal with adversity, and how well you persist. In fact, your thoughts program you to win or lose, much as a golfer's thoughts program him or her.

Takeaway Truth

What are your constant thoughts? Do they set you up for success or failure?

Review: My Man Pendleton by Elizabeth Bevarly

My Man Pendleton by Elizabeth Bevarly is utterly delightful -- especially Pendleton, the hero of this book.

Initially, you may just feel that Kit, the heroine of this book, is a spoiled brat who has nothing to complain about, but look deeper. Even rich girls have insecurities and vulnerabilities.

Kit has a huge vulnerability. She doesn't think anyone will ever love her because past experience has taught her that all a man sees are dollar signs when he looks at her. Therefore, she has armored herself with cynicism that may prevent her from recognizing love when she comes face to face with it.

Enter Pendleton, a hero worth the title. He has his own agenda and a hilarious method of dealing with corporate bureaucracy and with the spoiled heiress.In fact, you'll find yourself grinning when Pendleton is on the scene.

I know it's hard to feel sorry for a woman who has, it seems, everything, but Kit is as insecure and nervous as any girl who ever owned a lipstick.

(As is my custom when I review ebooks, I give the Kindle Buy Links because I read most books on my Kindle. However, I'm certain every book I review is available at most ebook sellers so look for them on the platforms that match your ebook reading device. Click here to shop for your very own Kindle.)

Takeaway Truth

A good book is the least expensive form of great entertainment. Try an ebook today!

5 Best Shows On Summer TV

Seldom has summer been such a treasure for TV viewers. In fact, television has surpassed theatrical releases for great storytelling.

I had some free time last night about midnight *g* so I caught up on some of my DVRd programs.

Everyone raves about Mad Men, Breaking Bad, and all the other HBO and Showtime series so I don't need to add my raves. Besides, those aren't some of my faves. Guess I'm just weird.

Here's my list of 5 of the best shows on television this summer. What do they all have in common? Great characters, stories, twists, and turns. In other words, great writing.

1. Falling Skies -- love, love, love it. I've always been a SF fan, and this series pushes all my buttons. Great acting, great characters and relationships, surprising twists -- all of which mean great writing from the show's creator, show-runner, and writing staff.

2. White Collar -- been around the block a few times, but still delivers. In fact, the first two episodes this season have been even better than before because of the characters and their growth arcs and the surprising turn of events.

3. Burn Notice -- still one of my favorite shows. After this many episodes, the show is still stellar. Writers would do well to study the character growth exhibited by burned spy Michael and his gunrunning girlfriend Fiona. Some of the best secondary characters of any show.

4. The Closer -- back to close out this great series with a bang! The series opened two weeks ago with its final 6 episodes, but, smart producers that they are, they're spinning the secondary characters off into a series of their own called Major Crimes. I'd noted last season that Lt. Rader was undergoing a personality enhancement, and the new series, which she will headline, is why. Can't wait to see her and the gang in Major Crimes.

5. Longmire -- fabulous new mystery/police procedural series set in Wyoming and based on the Longmire Books by Craig Johnson. Robert Taylor is excellent as Sheriff Longmire, and how great to find Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica aka Katee Sackhoff as a Deputy on the show. Also has the fabulous Lou Diamond Phillips as a main character -- inspired casting.

Takeaway Truth

If you want great viewing, don't go to the movies. Just turn on your television.