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    I write books for kids. My titles? That Girl Lucy Moon (Hyperion), and The Dirty Cowboy (FSG).
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    Entries in Kindle (5)

    Tuesday
    02Feb2010

    Looking for The Dirty Cowboy on Amazon?

    DateFebruary 2, 2010

    It's not there. Or rather, you can buy it used. You can buy it from other sellers. But you can't buy it from Amazon. Hopefully this will end soon. 

    This is the reason why. (FSG is part of Macmillan.)  Here's Author Guild's statement. Frankly, I don't like Amazon's stranglehold on e-book pricing and the way it bullies to get its way (reminds me of Walmart). Still, I'd like my book to be available. Someone wrote on some blog that it's going to be a bumpy year with all this ebook stuff going down . . . yup.  

    AuthorAmy Timberlake | Comment3 Comments | | |
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    Sunday
    22Mar2009

    Sunday: ebooks & the bible?

    DateMarch 22, 2009

    Photo: Chicago church hingeNot my usual thing to talk about technology on my Sunday space, but for those of you who are daily bible readers, the Kindle (and probably the Sony ereader) is a real treat.  As you know, I got a Kindle as an anniversary present from my mom -- a great gift.  But here's why the Kindle has been wonderful as a bible reader: 

     

    • Crossway Books offers the English Standard Version Bible FREE in Amazon Kindle store.  Free!
    • You don't have to carry the big old bible in your suitcase when you travel. 
    • Public domain books are much cheaper (as they should be).  So I have a copy of Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening, and a John Calvin all on the Kindle.  (Once again, one thin device and all these books.) 
    • And ALL of these books can be searched.  Yes, searched!  So it's like the most amazing concordance of whatever you have on your ebook reader!  I searched Charles Spurgeon's Morning and Evening to see if he had a meditation on "abiding" and I found it.  Amazing.  Looking for a verse? Type in the phrase.  

     

    Just wanted to mention it.  This device though still feels way too expensive, but the technology is coming!  I'm sure, just like anything, the delivery device will come down in price, and I'm looking forward to it!  

    AuthorAmy Timberlake | CommentPost a Comment | | |
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    Monday
    16Mar2009

    Tech: Kindle a bookstore replacement? 

    DateMarch 16, 2009

    Okay, so I've had the Kindle for awhile now.  I'm going to do these posts in little chunks.  First, I LOVE the e-ink.  It's great. The screen does sort of blink and re-group, but it's plenty fast for reading.  It does not bother me in the least. Frankly, I love it.  

    But here's the big surprise: I love downloading sample chapters from the Amazon store. I NEVER liked browsing online at Amazon.  The "Look Inside" feature on Amazon usually didn't work right. Sometimes pages would skip.  I don't know -- it was probably because I was on DSL.  But this Kindle whispernet thing using Sprint is amazing. And you can download a sample chapter of whatever is in the Kindle store.  So I downloaded a few. Then I read a few over lunch.  The screen is fine to read on -- really easy on the eyes.  I had a good time. And wierdly, what it replicated was the experience of being in a bookstore and picking up a book and reading a few pages.  Now I know I WASN'T in a bookstore, but it was kind of nice just browsing books from my own kitchen table with my favorite Earl Grey tea.

    Frankly, it kind of freaked me out, because it sort of quenched my urge to go to a bookstore that sold new books.  I love going to bookstores.  I don't know what that means -- I'm just saying it. Because I thought the big losers here were going to be authors -- now I'm wondering about bookstores.

    So far the biggest thing I don't like about it is that everything seems to cost money on this thing. You have to set up the "1 Click" Amazon purchasing to use the Kindle, and that's an issue for me -- I hate '1 Click.' But I did it to try this thing out.  And impulsive -- or, accidental -- buying seems way too easy.  You connect to the Kindle store.  Select a book.  And... page regroups...you find yourself right on top of the "BUY" button.  The BUY button? What? And the button that you use to navigate -- tentatively since all you were doing was looking -- is a tiny joy stick.  If you press it too hard, you will purchase that book.  Let's say you press it.  Next? A thank you screen with a message at the bottom that says "Purchased by accident? Cancel this order." Come on!  Can't Amazon let you land on say the "Try a Sample Chapter" button? 

    Still, I am having fun trying this out.  It's a fun toy for us.  

    AuthorAmy Timberlake | Comment1 Comment | | |
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    Monday
    09Mar2009

    Tech: Kindle, ebooks, self-publishing 

    DateMarch 9, 2009

    So everyone is talking about the Kindle.  Me too.  Tomorrow you'll know why... 

    Will it change the face of publishing? That's what everyone is wondering. There's a great blog post at Publishing Talk about the Kindle and about how it's easy to self-publish to the Kindle. And for the first time, even I can imagine self-publishing -- but only certain kinds of things -- but still.  I'm surprised at myself.  Because yes, you'd HIRE an editor and then, take more money home yourself.  There are certain instances when this would make a lot of sense -- particularly if people began to read more books on ereaders and on their ipods and iphones.  (Amazon announced this week that the Kindle software can now be downloaded on those devices, making Amazon THE place for ebooks. Everybody says it's a smart move and I agree.)  

    What would I self-publish? Articles maybe.  Non-fiction. Things that target a smaller group of people, but who need this thing nonetheless. If I publish it myself I can keep the price down, and still help pay for my cost.  For instance, Noah Lukeman (someone who admittedly has a huge platform) has an article available on Amazon's Kindle books called "How to Write a Great Query Letter."  It's sold for 80 cents (which must be only covering his costs, because he says he's giving it away for free).  But he could sell it for say $2 and because of his platform, make a little money too.  Anyway, that's the sort of thing that I can imagine.  

    Here's a few links:

     

     

     

     

     

     

    AuthorAmy Timberlake | CommentPost a Comment | | |
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    Tuesday
    17Feb2009

    Authors Guild Weighs in on Kindle 2

    DateFebruary 17, 2009

    Thought you'd like to see this.  It's interesting -- I hadn't thought of this: the "Read to Me" technology is something that conflicts with rights.  Also, that they are suggesting that now is NOT the time to give ebook rights for your backlist.  The world is changing -- and quickly.  

    You know I'm going to say it:  Has everybody paid their membership dues to the Authors Guild?  Because they are the only people that worry about this stuff for us.  Join!   

    Photo note:  We've had lovely weather the last few days and THIS is a common scene.  But believe me, for the warmth, I'll put up with it.  

    AuthorAmy Timberlake | CommentPost a Comment | | |
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