Lone Star Conference

This morning I want to remind you about the 2012 Lone Star Conference in Houston, Texas, on Oct. 13, 2012.

Noted author and speaker James Scott Bell will be giving his Plot And Structure Workshop. This is a great opportunity because, normally, when Mr. Bell speaks, the conference fee is enormous. He's a heavy hitter so don't miss him.

Only $130.00, this conference is a bargain. For more info, visit the page for theNorthwest Houston Romance Writers of America Conference.

Takeaway Truth

The Lone Star Conference is one of the best around. Take advantage of the chance to meet editors, agents, and authors published traditionally and as indies.

Wow! 3 More Websites for Free Books

If I keep finding websites that list free books, I'll keep delivering them to you.

Readers, get ready to click the mouse so you can visit and bookmark 3 more websites where you can find free ebooks listed.

Authors, you get ready to click and bookmark these sites too. Yes, you want bargains too, but you also want websites where you can list your book if you have a free book promotion running.

Reminder

Like so many of the websites that list free ebooks, the focus is Kindle more often than not. Do not be dismayed. If an ebook is free on Kindle, it's probably free on the other platforms too. If you find a book you want, visit your favorite ebook seller and check to see if it's free there too.

If it's not free at your fave book spot, which is highly unlikely, you can always download the Kindle app for a device of your choice and get it that way.

Remember, be sure the book you want is still showing as $0.00 (free) at the ebook seller because these website owners have no control over when a book cycles off the free promotion. It's free when they list it, but it's up to you to verify that it's still free when you buy it.

On your mouse. Get set. Go!

E Reader News Today

This site offers Tips, Tricks, and Bargains for your Kindle.

Readers, you'll find free and bargain Kindle books.

Authors, you want to visit ENT Free Book Submissions to list your book for free. Note: you must send in your submissions at least 3 days before your book will be going free, or it will not be posted.

The Kindle Daily Deal

Author Phil Torcivia brings you a list of Amazon's Kindle Daily Deals at this site.

Readers, you'll find deals, bargains, and free books listed. Use the menu tabs on the left sidebar to find what you want.

Authors, you'll want to contact Phil to find out how to list your book. Technically, the listing is free, but he asks that you buy one of his books in exchange.

Free Nook Books

Just like Amazon, Barnes & Noble has lists of free Nook books. So all you readers with Nooks, bookmark this page or just do a search for "free Nook books" when you shop the Barnes & Noble website.

Authors, you know the drill. You can make your book free here, but there's no spotlight or free advertising for it.

Takeaway Truth

Ebooks are bargain entertainment. Stock up on some today for the Labor Day weekend.

Condoleezza Rice For President!

Between the writing and some necessary housecleaning -- ugh! -- I'm late blogging today. What follows is personal, so feel free to move on if you're not interested.

A short while ago I watched Condoleezza Rice give a speech at the Republican convention. I'll be honest, I abhor politics. I don't watch the conventions -- either one -- usually. I always vote, but I can't stand all the mud slinging in the guise of political announcements.

I do think the country is in terrible economic shape, and I think something must be done. So I hope whoever ends up in the big chair has an effective plan.

All that aside, I want to tell you how much I admire Condoleezza Rice. The woman is simply phenomenal. She's smart and has common sense and charisma. I'd vote for her in a NY minute. Heck! I'd campaign for her, and the only other politician I ever said that about was the late Barbara Jordan from Texas. She was another amazing woman. I truly thought she might end up in the White House, but her time on this earth was cut short.

I think the only reason you don't see Ms. Rice on the ballot as Romney's running mate is that she's smart enough NOT to want the job, and I can't say I blame her. Who would want to voluntarily enter that shark pool.

I hear people talking about the lack of leadership in this country; the lack of brains; the lack of will. I don't see any of that when I look at someone like Ms. Rice. I see courage, intelligence, perseverance, the will to prevail, and I see those same qualities in so many of our service men and women, in the immigrants who have done everything they can -- including risking death -- to get to this country. I see it in my children and in many of their generation.


Anyway, that's all I wanted to say after listening to her inspired -- and inspiring -- speech.

Takeaway Truth

Are you registered to vote? If not, take care of that matter tomorrow. If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about who does what in the government.

Amazing Dance Video to Bee Gees Stayin' Alive

I didn't think I'd have time to post today, but my friend Elaine Chase just sent me this video.

Famous dance sequences from old movies are seamlessly incorporated with the Bee Gees Stayin' Alive song. It's awesome!

Takeaway Truth

Some things are just too delightful NOT to pass on immediately. Enjoy!

How To Read An Ebook

Since I've been reading ebooks for a few years, I'm always surprised to discover there are people who don't know how to take advantage of the low-priced ebooks they hear about.

This post is for those of you who know about ebooks, but who don't know how to read them without buying an expensive ebook reader.

Basically, there are 2 ways to read ebooks: with a dedicated ebook reader device or with an ebook reader software application loaded on some device of your choice.

The price of dedicated ebook readers keeps falling. New ones cost much less than they used to, and there are refurbished models offered at rock bottom prices.

Read With Dedicated Ebook Device

Although Kindle is considered the device that really put ebooks on the map, so to speak, there are many dedicated ebook reading devices in the market. They are available from their respective websites but also from retail stores like Office Depot, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, etc.

Some of these devices (each device has several different types) are Kindle by Amazon, Nook by Barnes & Noble, Kobo Reader by KoboBooks, Sony Reader by Sony, iPad by Apple, and so many more.

Most of the comparison charts offered on websites of the many different devices are out of date. I found Top Ten Reviews is current, but, as the title suggests, it's limited to the top ten ereaders.

Wikipedia Comparison is comprehensive, and it shows that it was updated August 16, 2012. This chart lists just about every device there is.

Kim Komando Compares Ereaders is good, but that chart is from last year.

Read With Ebook Reader Software Application On Device Of Your Choice

For every dedicated ebook reader device, there is a corresponding software application that can be downloaded to multiple devices like all major smart phones, computers, tablets, iPods, or The Cloud, etc. that enable you to read an ebook without buying a special device.

Here are some of the devices you can use to read ebooks: Mac or PC computers, Android phones or tablets, iPhones, iPod Touch, iPad, Blackberry, Windows Phone, or The Cloud.

You can download any or all of these software applications based on where you want to buy ebooks. For example, if you want to buy exclusively from Amazon, download the Kindle Reading Apps for the device of your choice.

If you want to buy from Nook, either exclusively or maybe sometimes, then download the Nook Reading Apps for the device of your choice.

The same is true if you want to buy from Kobo Books, download the Kobo Reading Apps.

I have a Kindle, but I also have the Kindle App on my laptop and iPhone, the Nook app on my Desktop PC, and the Kobo Books App too. I have my books on all the major ebook seller sites so I like to see how each book displays on the respective ebook apps plus I like to support the different ebook sellers with purchases.

Check out the websites of the various ebook retailers. Select the one or ones from which you want to buy. Download the reading app for the device you want to use -- your smart phone, computer, tablet, or whatever. Set up an account from where you want to buy, and you're set to take advantage of low-cost or free ebooks.

Takeaway Truth

Reading ebooks is easy. Start building your ebook library today.

Time or The Lack Thereof

All summer, my complaints -- silent and those I express aloud -- have all had a recurring theme: lack of time.

I just don't seem to have enough time to do all the things I want to do and need to do. Of course, that probably means either that I'm attempting to do too many things or I'm not managing my time well. Probably a little of both.

Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar said, "Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days."

Have you ever taken a day planner or a piece of paper and divided it up into 24 segments then notated everything you did in every hour of the day? That's eye opening.

When I find myself complaining about lack of time, I do this and realize that failure to use my time effectively -- or lack of focus -- is my real problem.

Takeaway Truth

If you're having a problem accomplishing tasks, try analyzing your 24-hour day. That might help you get back on track.

Review: Lost In Italy by Stacey Joy Netzel

It's late to be posting my weekly review, but I just finished reading Lost In Italy by Stacey Joy Netzel. The book took longer to finish than usual since the novel turned out to be rather long, but it was worth it.

If you've ever been in a foreign country and had the slightest moment of unease about your location or an awareness of a stranger who makes you uneasy, you'll understand the premise of this book.

If you have an imagination, you'll understand that kind of "OMG moment" even if you've never found yourself alone on a side street in Firenze, followed by a couple of men who look like what the locals call gypsies. Makes me shudder just remembering that little incident.

(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.)

Blurbing The Book

Control freak doesn't begin to describe Halli Sanders, a young woman with deep-seated trust issues. She and her brother Ben and her sister Rachel are in Italy intent on having a vacation of a lifetime. When Halli gets stranded and unwittingly films a crime, she finds herself rescued by American action film star Trent Tomlin who is out to prove that his brother's death was a murder, not a suicide.

Halli's carefully planned itinerary hadn't included car chases, abductions, unending danger, and falling in love, but nothing seems to work out as she'd planned. What's more, she has no control over the unfolding events, and neither does Trent who probably wishes some director would yell, "Cut."

My 2 Cents

Engaging characters, a wildly implausible plot that the author skillfully makes the reader believe is plausible, and tension that ratchets up with every chapter, Lost In Italy is a compelling read that makes you root for Halli and Trent. Sometimes, you'd like to slap Halli and tell her to stow the emotional baggage and have a modicum of trust, but that just means that the author did a good job in showing her with all of her conflicting emotions.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and found myself grinning at the ending and thinking that these two people had a shot at "happily ever after."

Takeaway Truth

Reading is the least expensive form of entertainment, and ebooks are the biggest bargain around.