Monday, April 06, 2009

Kindling some Ugley Business

So, okay. Out here in The Rest Of The World, the Kindle isn't even available to buy; and even if you could smuggle one in, Amazon is adamant their wireless connection thingy won't work outside the US, plus you're breaking billions of customs laws and will be condemned to eternal damnation in the fires of hell, etc.

However, my books are available on Kindle, at least some of them are. Which ones? Well, that's where it gets a bit tricky. The Twelve Lies of Christmas (Sophie Green Mysteries, prequel), I, Spy? (Sophie Green Mysteries, No. 1), A is for Apple (Sophie Green Mysteries, No. 3) and Still Waters (Sophie Green Mysteries, No. 4).

Something missing? Count them. That's a prequel, book one, book three, and book four. Why not book two? The answer rhymes with cluck snows. I've actually had some reader feedback (yes! I have readers!) asking me why this is, and unfortunately I'm no wiser than they are. All I can do is email my publishers and ask if they can do anything about it, but I have an eerie inkling that the great decision rests with Amazon, who are notoriously dilatory about getting things online (for instance, click on the link for I, Spy?, and you'll see there's not even a cover image there. The book's been out for two years now).

However! Help is at hand! The Samhellions have ridden to my rescue and informed me that even if Amazon can't get its sluggish, silty bottom in gear and format ebooks for the Kindle, you can still read them on the device. How? The Mobipocket format is compatible. Note: as I said earlier, I don't/can't have a Kindle, so I can't verify this myself, but I'm assured it's the truth. Buy an ebook in the Mobipocket format, and you can read it on the Kindle.

And lo! Ugley Business, the missing link in the Sophie Green series for Kindle, is fully available in the Mobipocket format! Do make sure it's not encoded with DRM (data rights management, which prevents copies and transfers). You can buy non-DRM files from from My Bookstore And More, Samhain's direct retailer. Phew!

Meanwhile, bring me my bow of burning gold and my arrows of desire, and my sword shall not sleep in my hand 'til we have built compatible e-reader links for all my books! Hussah!

6 comments:

  1. K8, lovey, have you considered a nice mug of tea and a sit down?

    Because... well, I just really think you should.

    And maybe stroke a fur or three.

    [word veri: explato. Why are yours always so apt?]

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  2. It's okay, I've stopped listening to Jerusalem. I've got the nice, calming Kings of Leon playing now...

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  3. Hello Kate. I just found your books and I really enjoy them. Thought I'd clarify some stuff for you though. I live in the US and have a Kindle and you can NOT, repeat, NOT read your books (or anyone's for that matter) in mobi format on the Kindle. Turns out that any mobi book with the DRM (protected) junk on it isn't accessible, which is to say, any book one pays for. It's only the free DRM-free books that can be read there. So, while it's unfortunate that I will have to read book #2 on my computer, at least I get to read it. Keep up the good work!

    Elena

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  4. Hi Elena, I'm so glad you like the books!

    I asked at my publishers about this issue, and the editor-in chief told me My Bookstore and More--Samhain's direct retail site--sells non-DRM books. https://www.mybookstoreandmore.com/shop/product.da/ugley-business It's a claim I unfortunately can't test for myself, since the Kindle isn't available here (e-readers in general are few and far between in the UK, not to mention horrifically pricey, so I read ebooks on my computer).

    Samhain is once again on Amazon's case to make Ugley Business available on the Kindle. Believe me, it's extremely frustrating from this end, too!

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  5. The link to Ugley Business e-book makes me incredibly happy

    I never read books out of order, but I enjoyed your "I Spy?" novel so much I made an exception. See what an most premium author you are?

    Now, of course, I'm off immediately to buy the missing book.

    Thank you!

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  6. Hello again. Ok, I tried the version purchasable/downloadable from your publisher's site and it DOES work on my Kindle. Hurray! Plus, I've been enjoying using "manky" around here. It's my new word of choice for all things...manky. :-)

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