What are you reading….on?

What are you reading….on? It’s become the question of the new century. No longer are we reading only hard cover or paperback….now we can read also on our smartphones, computers, laptops, MP3 players, tablets and dedicated readers. Each has its benefits and drawbacks.

Some people still prefer the feel of a book in their hands. A friend was telling me the other day she loves the bindings, the smell of the paper and ink and it’s part of the comfortable feeling of reading for her. Others find holding a traditional book can become uncomfortable or even painful after a while. But they don’t want to give up the joy of reading.

The various electronic ways of reading have their benefits and drawbacks as well. A desktop keeps you sitting in your office chair. A laptop is more portable, but still heavy compared to an ereader. A tablet like an iPad is very light and easy to hold, but more the size of a hardcover book. An MP3 player, iPod or smartphone is super-portable, but some find the screen small for reading. All these devices have a lot of glare on their screens if you want to sit outside on a nice day to read.

The new eInk readers like the Kindle, Nook, Kobo and Sony Reader are light, portable, easy to tuck in a purse or commuter bag. They have dedicated bookstores and it’s quick and straightforward to download a new book. However, they’re not backlit, so low light presents a problem. However, there are lots of clip-on lights to get around that. Some people don’t want to have to buy another device to cart with them and there isn’t one yet under $100, so they’re not for everyone either.

Bottom line – find the device that works best for you and whether it’s traditional or the newest thing, keep on reading!!

Books We Love Sizzling Summer Sweepstakes

Win a Borders Kobo eReader - Entry instructions on the Books We Love website: To enter the contest simply visit five of the author pages displayed on the web page index and sign the guest book of the author you choose to visit. Then fill out the entry form on the website and click submit.



PRIZES: (1) Every week until July 31 we will draw one winner to receive their choice of an ebook from any one of our Books We love authors. (2) On May 31, June 30 and July 31st we will draw three winners who will each receive an autographed copy of one of the print books displayed on the page. (4) GRAND PRIZE: Borders KOBO EREADERS on July 31st one lucky winner will receive a Kobo and their choice of any five Books We Love ebooks.



Enter Now: http://www.bookswelove.net

Spring Cleaning for the Writer

It’s the time of year everyone gets the itch to get outside, clean up all the sticks and leaves in the yard, look at what’s popping up in the garden, sneak in that first sit on the deck or in the yard with the warm spring sunshine on your back. You might even be moved to clean some windows, wash the car or sort through what’s accumulated in the garage over the winter. It’s spring, at least on the calendar and it’s the time of year that burst of energy called spring fever hits!

For writers, this is a good time of year to spring clean as well. Take a look at the project ideas stockpiled in a file cabinet or on a hard drive or flash drive. Pull out those index cards with character outlines. Pore through the notebook with plot sketches, timelines, lists of red herrings or clues. There might even be a storyboard started a couple of years ago to check out.

This is a great time to sift through those – I could find a gem that gets my mind working on my next story, or find a great twist for my current manuscript. I might discover the perfect villain for the story I have simmering away at the back of my mind. Or I might even discover a series in what someone else might call clutter, but we all know is research and planning!

Take some time to let the sun shine on some of my ideas, plots, characters and outlines and discover what great material I’ve had hibernating over the winter.
I’ll let you know what I discover during my writer’s spring cleaning.

Libby
Libby McKinmer
Romance with an edge
www.libbymckinmer.com
libby@libbymckinmer.com
Also on Twitter, Facebook & GoodReads

AQP Daily Deals -- Almost Over

Love the Daily Deals at my publisher, but they're ending soon -- now's the time to shop at www.amberquill.com !!

FINAL DAYS - FINAL DAYS - FINAL DAYS - FINAL DAYS

What is an Amber Daily Deal? Simply put, every day through the end of March 2010, a different e-book from each of our three imprints (Amber Quill Press, Amber Heat, and Amber Allure) will be offered at a 75% discount! Yes, you read that correctly--a 75% discount! Now you can stock up on even more books--up to 21 different titles each and every week--at substantial savings!

How can you find the various Daily Deals on our website? Just look in the right-hand column of your screen for the book marked "Today's Daily Deal," click on the cover, and you'll be taken to a special page where you can purchase the discounted book(s). It's that simple!

So look for a new Daily Deal every day until the end of March 2010, and don't forget, there's a different Daily Deal for each of our three imprints.

* * * * *

Please note: E-books downloaded at the Daily Deal discount do not earn points in AQP's Rewards program.

Time to Write

In these days of ever increasing demands on time as the warmer spring weather arrives, where do I find time to write? By the time I check email, answer the ones that need answering and check the day’s headlines, follow my favorite blogs and get some calls returned….it’s time to do some promo. Need to post on Twitter and Facebook, GoodReads and Linked In, and don’t go looking at other’s pages, if I can resist.

In between are household responsibilities and friends, volunteer work and bill-paying. And don’t forget the day job – in my case, editing. You may have a longer commute than I do – from kitchen to office – but I often work outside of “regular” 9 to 5 hours, finding myself at the computer late at night.
Right now, with the warmer weather luring us out of our homes, we must include get-togethers with friends, shopping and travel and build them into our schedules.

Don’t even think about the down time of getting a cold!!

So, when does my writing Muse strike in the midst of the hectic life? Mine has been prodding at me a lot lately…and at times I can’t always indulge the urge. For me, the best time to write is at night. Everyone else is settled down and it’s “my” time. Add to the fact I’m a night owl and it makes sense. The wee, small hours are often very creative – but sure makes morning come early!

Libby
Libby McKinmer
Romance with an edge
www.libbymckinmer.com
libby@libbymckinmer.com
Also on Twitter, Facebook & GoodReads