NEW BOOK OUT

My sequel to TAXED TO THE MAX is now available from Amazon. Ebook only right now but in a few days, the print copy will be out too. And if you buy the print copy, you can get the ebook version free.

Not sure why anyone would want both but anyway, that's the deal.

Here's the cover for OVERTAXED AND UNDERAPPRECIATED. Collin Beishir designed it, using one of the pix my guy took in Old Town. Pretty, isn't it?

And here's the link on Amazon if anyone's interested. http://www.amazon.com/Overtaxed-Underappreciated-Cheryl-B-Dale-ebook/dp/B00I25JU9C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391961620&sr=8-1&keywords=overtaxed+and+underappreciated

Whee! I see I have a review! That's exciting since I don't get many! And it's a good one!

I LOVE MY KINDLE BUT...

I love my Kindle. I really do. It's so easy to buy a book at night when there's nothing around to read. It's so easy to make the text large enough that I don't strain my eyes. It's so easy to carry scads of books on trips in one tiny container.

But today Amazon sent me a Best Books of the Month ad that showed the book covers over the hardback price and the Kindle price. And I was amazed that publishers still don't get it.

The Still Point of the Turning World - Hardback $14.41, Kindle 12.99
Benediction - Hardback 14.36, Kindle 12.99
Between Man and Beast - Hardback 15.66, Kindle 13.99
The Drunken Botanist - Hardback 11.97, Kindle 9.99

Went into the Mysteries category and the same thing:
Six Years (a Harlan Coben pre-order) - Hardback 15.98, Kindle 14.99
The Golden Egg (Donna Leon pre-order) - Hardback 14.43, Kindle 13.20
Murder Below Montparnassee (Cara Black pre-order) - Hardback 15.71, Kindle 12.99
The Accursed (Joyce Carol Oates pre-order) -Hardback 16.62, Kindle 12.74

And so on.

Why should I pay 9.99-14.99 for an eBook when for 1-4 dollars more I can get a printed copy? And then I can loan it to as many friends as I like, I can donate it to the used book sale for the library, or I can trade it in at the used bookstore for credit to buy more books.

The eBook, on the other hand...Well, I think Amazon allows us to loan it once. And that may depend on publisher permission; I'm not real clear on that. But anyway, if you loan it to your sister, then your mother and cousin want to read it...Too bad!

Not to mention Amazon can evidently take back any of your eBooks stored in the Cloud at any time. Not that they would, I'm sure, but still...

And I don't blame Amazon for the unreasonable prices. It's the publishers. I understand that they're trying to cover their overhead and make a profit. But lots of smaller ePublishers are putting out books for half these prices and less.

So bottom line: I really have to want to read an author before I'll buy their eBooks. And I'm sorry to say, there are lots of authors I enjoy reading, but there aren't that many I like well enough to shell out ten bucks plus for. So I'll wait till the used paperbacks come down to prices I can afford and buy them then. And I'll stick to trying new authors on my Kindle, or wait for old authors I like to go on sale.

So long as I have something to read, I'm okay with that. Publishers might want to get on board with  our reading habits and adjust their thinking. I suspect they could sell a lot more books if they do.

Okay. Rant over. It's safe to come out now.

SET UP - Free for Kindle - Last Time!

I promise. Today and tomorrow November 17-18) are the last free days for my romantic mystery SET UP because it goes off Kindle exclusive at the end of the month.

So if anyone likes this kind of book, this is the last chance to get it free. Here's the cover:

And here's the blurb:

Three divorces should teach a man something, but hotel heir Cal McIntyre can't figure out what. Then a flashy redhead--the kind he adores--shows up. Since he's off women, he reluctantly takes a bet to seduce her. One more hook-up won't matter. Especially with this temptress.

But Amanda’s hair is dyed and she’s not about to be seduced. Her younger sister gambled with an heirloom engagement ring, and Cal won. If Amanda has to drug him to retrieve the ring and save her sister's marriage, so be it.

She doesn't count on Cal's kisses awakening a long-banished sexuality. Lucky for her, he passes out before she gets carried away. She escapes with the ring and virtue intact. Now to forget him.

But Cal tracks her down. And tells her he bought the ring. From her sister. Worse, someone stole diamonds worth millions after sheknocked him out. Cal wasn’t the only one set up.

There must be an explanation, but her sister can't give it; she's vanished. Now Amanda must help Cal find her sister or go to jail. She's determined to protect her sister, and he's determined to recover his diamonds.

Sparks are about to fly.

FREE EBOOK FROM AMAZON

Ugh, I really hate this marketing stuff but here goes...

Again, my steamy romantic mystery SET UP will be free from Amazon tomorrow, October 6th. If anyone hasn't read it, this is your chance.

The earring giveaway kind of ties in with it, so this is a good time for it to be free again!

And here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Set-Up-ebook/dp/B008QWTYIS/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349450325&sr=1-1&keywords=set+up+by+cheryl+b+dale

FREE BOOK FOR KINDLE

My publisher MuseItUp has put SET UP in Amazon's KDP program. I'm not sure what this means except that there will be several days when readers can download it free.

I often take advantage of Kindle's free offers because if I paid full price for all I read, I'd soon be broke. So I'm happy others who do the same thing will be able to download SET UP.

Two days for the free download are coming up this week. September 14th and 15th. That's next Friday and Saturday.

So anyone who likes romantic suspense with some sex -- and yes, I've had some complaints the mystery is too heavy and other complaints that the romance is too heavy -- then I hope you'll remember. I'll try to blog about it again the day before to remind anyone interested that it will be available.

HARD BOOK vs KINDLE

Someone recommended a book on writing I hadn't read. (Unusual because I think I've read kazillions!) So I look on Amazon to find it. Sure enough, it's there.

The trade paperback edition is $6.61 while the Kindle copy is $13.99. I'm a Prime member (my guy uses it for the streaming movies) so I don't pay shipping. So I think: 6.61 vx 13.99; 6.61 vs 13.99. I love my Kindle but...

I order the trade paperback. Now I'm reading and trying to press buttons to turn pages. But I'll survive.

Oh, and after getting about a third of the way through, I realize it still isn't as good as my old favorite, SELF-EDITING FOR THE FICTION WRITER. But that's okay. It never hurts to read about craft. There may be something in here I didn't know or had forgotten.

I do think they need to set Kindle prices as low as the paperbacks though.

KINDLE vs PRINT BOOKS

I love my Kindle. I got it last Christmas and have downloaded hundreds of books to read already. It's easy to read, better than taking six books on vacation, and very handy when in the middle of the night you find you have nothing to read.

That doesn't mean I'm giving up print books. Especially when I can get a discounted one lower priced than the Kindle version. It happened recently. In Kroger, I saw a best-selling author I like. The book was a couple of years old but I seldom buy books when they first come out. Too expensive. So I checked my Kindle, found the Kindle edition was several dollars more than the remaindered price. Guess which one I bought? Yep, the print book.

My Kindle was out of juice today (my fault; I'd left it on and failed to charge it) so I picked up my 'new' book and started reading. One page read and click! At least I tried to click as if it were a Kindle. I laughed at myself, read a few more pages and once again, click!

Took me a few minutes to get back in the swing of having a 'real' book in my hands. Guess that shows how fast you can get used to an eReader.

KINDLE

Well, I got a Kindle.

We were going up to North Georgia and I was about to buy some books to take with me and my guy said, "Let's get your Christmas present now and put that money toward an eReader."

So I ended up with a Kindle. So far, I really like it except the BUY button is too easy to hit by mistake! I accidentally bought a book I wouldn't have (I was trying to download sample chapters) but it was only $2.99 so I wasn't out much money. And supposedly we learn from experience.

On the plus side, I was able to use it immediately and for a tech wishIwere like me, that's saying a lot.

I read some book samples, downloaded a few books and hey, presto! I had something to read!

KINDLE vs NOOK vs iPAD

I've decided. I will buy an ereader after the first of the year. Prices are expected to come down when new models appear, and I can take my time making up my mind. So I'm okay with waiting.

After an exhibition by our computer club, I'm leaning toward a Kindle. But I'm still open to other arguments. Right now I've heard from people who have the three in the title. Each one loves his/her device. I'm thinking since I don't really want to do much more than read with one, the Kindle will serve the purpose.

Of course, once I get one, I'll have to wait for our library to get into the ebook business. But they will, I'm sure. Just a matter of time.