K is for Kindle

I’m not a Kindle lover. I own one because I won it in a contest. And yes, I rush to Amazon when friends tell me they have a new book available or I see a FREE book that sounds promising. The few books I’ve read and finished on my Kindle (okay, four or five at the most) have kept my interest and have been well written. And I have to admit, I seem to read faster using the Kindle than if I’m holding my beloved print books. But, I’m kicking and screaming. I hate change. I’d rather own a print book--no matter how long it takes me to read it and no matter how much it weighs. I like having real page-turning paper in my hot little hands. I like seeing bookmarks and flyers hanging raggedly out of my books. I like taking a pen or pencil or marker and making notes in the margin,  underlining beautiful passages or quotes. I’d rather spend the money for what’s often referred to as a real book, than a couple of bucks for a book I can’t prop up on my shelf and admire.  I like flipping back and forth and viewing the cover any time I want. I like knowing exactly what page I’m on and exactly how many pages I have left--with no effort.  Silly? Probably--because change is coming. Rather, it’s here.

It breaks my heart to spend ten or twenty bucks for books I can’t stack on my bedside table. I refuse to do it.  It has to be a mighty special friend/author/story for me to spend more than $5.00 in the ebook world. Does that sound mean? Maybe so, and here’s more meanness from me. There was a time I didn’t place much value on book reviews--after all, we have our own personal taste when it comes to reading material.  I’m sad to say now I do.  If reviewers complain about typos, ramblings, bad grammar, plot holes, I pass on purchasing.  If we’re going to put our books out there ourselves, we have a responsibility to do it right.  And you can take that to the bank!

Do you own a Kindle or another book reading device? How do you feel about finding typos and poorly constructed sentences in your books? Do you want the author to put forth some effort to learn his/her craft? Does it really matter? Am I just being mean? Let me hear from you.

Meet Michael Lamendola and his eBook Guide

Last week I purchased The eBook Formatting & Publishing Guide by Michael Lamendola.

I came across Michael on Twitter. He’d made some mouthy comment that capured my attention so I looked at a few more of his tweets. Someone was raving about his eBook guide. I checked it out. For 99 cents, why not?

Many of the books I purchase don’t deliver—or totally overwhelm me with info, so much that I can’t comprehend. Michael’s book was right on target. When he says step-by-step guide, he’s not lying. I read the entire thing immediately, highlighting all pertinent info. Yeah, I said pertinent. You see, Michael has a lot of commentary that doesn’t have to do with his step-by-step; he has jokes, derision, profanity--some of it's funny, I guess. I cracked a smile now and then, but alot of it was distracting. And some of it just got old. At least for me. It's nothing the kids don’t hear on the playground, but then, I’m not a kid so I don’t like that kind of stuff. I waded through it, highlighting all the way.

In spite of the ‘filler’ Michael really does share valuable info in an easy to read, easy to understand manner. In fact, there were times I wanted to reach out and hug him because he shares info that I haven't read in other how-to books. It’s as if he’s sitting right there at your desk with you, telling you to do this…do that, but in real-talk. Once I memorize his instructions (make my notes) I’ll see what I can do about getting my own book on Kindle. And if his instructions don't work, I'll let you know. Oddly, I have faith in Michael's book; something about his tone, his friendliness, his being there at the desk with me, built trust. If you read this how-to book, you'll know what I mean--you'll feel it too.

At the end of the how-to, Michael includes a few chapters of his two novels. Of course, I can’t read them. Profanity is an issue with me. But he’s an interesting guy. Did I tell you he’s a cruise ship singer?  This author/actor/singer has a lot going for him.

You can listen to a podcast HERE . He discusses his reading/writing history. Verrrrrry interesting.

Check out his novel Dirty Work HERE. This is the first in the Red Fox series.
and his second book in the series is:

Thrift Store Bounty Hunters HERE:

If you like hilarious, fast-paced thrillers, these books are getting great reviews.  Michael Lamendola might be your next favorite author.

Progress--It Ain't All Good

The Internet is one of life’s most amazing perks. I can sit all day and browse newspapers from every state and country. For some odd reason, I’ve always loved reading obits. Really good ones are detailed tributes to the life of the deceased.  Did you know there’s even a club for obit writers? I used to be a member until they started charging dues.  And that brings me to this:

I just read in The New York Times that some of the independent bookstores are starting to charge to meet the author. They’re taking this approach because they’re being squeezed by the competition—Internet  retailers like Amazon. You can read the article HERE:  Be sure to read the comments too, and think about it. As an author, you might feel slapped in the face if no one paid to attend your signing. As a fan, you might get a little ticked if you shell out ten bucks to hear a reading, have to stand the entire hour and don’t even have a visual of the author. I can understand why independent stores feel the need to give this a try, but I don’t like it. At the same time, I feel a little guilty that I visit book stores and key titles into my phone. I want to get them for free from PaperBackSwap or cheaper from Amazon. Please tell me you’re as guilty as I am. Of course, I purchase new books too, and support brick and mortar stores--just not as much as in earlier years. These days, I’m a little more careful in how I spend hubby’s hard earned money.

On the other side of the country, visiting The Los Angeles Times, the following headline screamed at me: Spam is Clogging Amazon’s Kindle. Spam? How’s that happening. According to the article, thousands of e-books are being published and they just aren’t book worthy. The article is worth reading. Go HERE.

Progress is great. Progress is also a curse—in its own way. Sometimes I yearn to go back to the flashlight under the covers with my Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys books.  I hope I don’t read an obit telling me that free author readings and signings are dead. That would actually bring tears to my eyes.

How about you? Got any news to share?

MARKETS, MARKETS, MARKETS

I'm a little busy taking my MS Word for Writers class and trying to edit some works for three contest deadlines so thought I'd post some market info instead of trying to create an original blog post. I know many of you are searching for homes for your work so I hope you find these markets interesting and helpful. One of my favorite sources for markets is Cindi Myers so you might want to subscribe to her blog. Check her out HERE. Also note that Cindi has a new release, a historical romance called A Long, Sweet Ride.

Writers with a strong connection to Prince Edward Island are eligible to submit to a new anthology, The Island Fiction Reader, to feature work by PEI writers. Stories may be up to 5000 words, any genre, for teens or adults. Those chosen for inclusion in the anthology will receive $75 and author copies. Deadline for submissions is June 30, 2011. Find the details here.

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eChook publishes short stories as apps for people to read on their phones. They’re open for submissions now of short stories, 750 -2000 words. Payment is $100 and 10 apps. Deadline to submit is March 31, 2011. They’re also looking for holiday stories — Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza — deadline October 31, 2011 and memoirs — deadline Decemer 1, 2011. You may submit as many stories as you like, but they must be previously unpublished. See all the details HERE.

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Albedo One, an Irish magazine that features science fiction, fantasy and horror, is hosting the Sixth Annual Aeon Awards for short fiction. Writers from anywhere in the world may enter. First prize is 1000 pounds and publication in Albedo One. Second and third place also receive cash prizes and publication. Entry is 7 pounds, payable via Paypal. Dealines to enter are March 31, June 30, September 30 and November 30. At the end of each entry period, judges choose the top stories to go on to the final round. Final round stories compete for the grand prize. Entries should be no longer than 10,000 words and previously unpublished. See the rules HERE.
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Heroes and Heartbreakers is a new website launched by Macmillan. The site is accepting submissions of romance short stories between 6000 and 15,000 words. They welcome all subgenres — contemporary, paranormal/urban fantasy, women’s fiction/chick lit, historical, and romantic suspense. Payment is a $1000 advance against 25 percent royalties for stories downloaded from the site. Find all the details HERE.

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Crescent Moon Press publishes ebook and print editions of all sub-genres of paranormal and fantasy romance. The editors are open to submissions of urban fantasy, futuristic, steam-punk, science fiction, space opera, time travel — any kind of speculative romance, in both novel and novella lenths. Novels should be complete at 60,000 to 120,000 words, and novellas should be 20,000 to 40,000 words. Acquistions Editor Heather Howland is also accepting submissions of young adult books in these same genres, with strong characters and compelling romances, for a new line to launch this year. Find the submissions guidelines HERE. And check out the interview with Ms. Howland HERE.

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Silver Moon Press publishes nonfiction study guides for elementary and middle school studetns. But they also publish historical fiction aimed at these same markets. They’re interested in Chapter Books targeted to grades 3 to 5, featuring mystery, adventure or suspense set in a significant historical period. No paranormal elements, please. Query with your resume, table of contents and first chapter of the work. Include information about your research sources. Check their catalog for sample titles. Query to: Submissions Editor, 381 Park Ave. South, Suite 1121, New York, 10016.

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Don D’Auria, former executive editor with Dorchester Books, has joined Samhain Publishing and is looking to acquire horror manuscripts. Samhain publishes ebook and trade paper editions. They’ve been successful with romance and are now looking to launch a new horror line with D’Auria at the helm. He’s looking for all kinds of horror stories, between 12,000 and 100,000 words (minimum 50,000 words for print in addition to ebook; shorter works will be ebooks only). Unagented and previously unpublished authors are welcome to submit. Send the complete manuscript and a full synopsis. Get all the details HERE.

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If you write mystery, or aspire to write mystery, check out Sisters In Crime’s new report “The Mystery Book Consumer in the Digital Age.” Among interesting tidbits in the report: the majority of mystery readers are women, and more than half are baby boomer age or older. Younger readers like darker, more suspenseful stories. E-book sales are growing. Book covers matter.

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Enchanted Conversations, a Fairy Tale Magazine, will be accepting submissions soon for 2011. Each issue has a theme around a particular fairy tale. You can submit a short story, a poem or an article that addresses some aspect of the fairy tale spotlighted in that issue. Payment is 10 cents a word for stories and articles, $50 for poems, via Paypal. Stories and article may be up to 2000 words, but preferably no more than 1500 words.
Issue themes and deadlines are as follows:
Issue #2: May 11-14, Snow White (poetry only)
Issue #3: June 27-30, Cinderella
Issue #4: Sept. 27-30, Little Red Riding Hood
Check out all the guidelines HERE.

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Writers often find themselves up against the closed door of publishers who only accept submissions from agented writers. Non-represented writers are left out in the cold. Angry Robot Books, which publishes fantasy, science fiction, horror and urban fantasy, will make an exception to their own agents-only rule in March of 2011. During that month only they’ll be accepting manuscript submissions from unagented writers. Find all the details HERE.