If you love Jaci Burton (and honestly, how could you not? Surviving Demon Island? Awesome book – go get it, seriously, so good), then you’ll be excited by this contest she’s having. You can win sweet swag:

I’m a member of the newly revitalised ESPAN (have you checked them out? If you are an electronic or small press author it is worth your while), in fact, I was recently voted Vice-President. I’m very excited to help propel epubbed and small press authors’ interests forward within the RWA. Kristen Painter is our fearless leader, er, President and I know she feels strongly about doing the same thing.

As ESPAN kicks off and heads in a new direction, what better time to start heading forward than in the midst of “Read an Ebook Week”.

Check out all the great companies involved, or just read the history of ebooks.

Dear Author regularly posts about e-reading technology and their most recent post, How to Decide Between the Sony and the Kindle eInk Readers, is merely the latest in an ongoing debate. They seem to always be testing and trying out new gadgets, so they are a resource to check before buying your next ebook reader.

I’m quoting directly from our blog post on ESPAN for the info below:

If the nifty gadgets don’t convince you, how about this article from EPublishers Weekly called 30 Benefits of EBooks. Top of the list? Ebooks promote reading at a time when people spend more time in front of screens, than in front of books. Also, they’re environmentally friendly.

John Siracuse of Ars Technica gives a clear-eyed view of the changing face of e-book technology over the years with The once and future e-book: on reading in the digital age.

For writers debating the merits of e-book vs traditional publishing, please keep in mind that, as Angela James notes in this article, A Different Way Isn’t the Wrong Way.

“However you choose to read, remember that the platform isn’t the most important thing. It’s All About the Story.”

As an epubbed author myself, I really appreciate all of this information. I appreciate that more people are being educated about their options. How your book is delivered or read isn’t the issue. It’s how well the words are written, in whatever book you buy, whatever format you buy it in.

Happy Reading!

I first read this on Angela James’ blog, then Shannon Stacey’s and thought it was fun. I tried asking my 2 (almost 3) year old, but he didn’t really give me much. Just kept answering Mickey Mouse or Hi-5. So then today I read Wylie Kinson and Amy Ruttan’s kids’ answers and thought I’d ask my older two children.

I first asked my 7 year old daughter and then my 9 year old son – separately. Her answers are on the left, his on the right.

1. WHAT IS SOMETHING MOM ALWAYS SAYS TO YOU?
To Listen/That you love me

2. WHAT MAKES MOM HAPPY?
Giving to others/Us listening to you

3. WHAT MAKES MOM SAD?
People who don’t listen to you/Not listening to you

4. HOW DOES YOUR MOM MAKE YOU LAUGH?
Silly faces/Funny jokes

5. WHAT WAS YOUR MOM LIKE AS A CHILD?
Nice/Barely ever got in trouble

6. HOW OLD IS YOUR MOM?
41/41

7. HOW TALL IS YOUR MOM?
Big/Five feet

8. WHAT IS YOUR MOM’S FAVORITE THING TO DO?
Read/Read

9. WHAT DOES YOUR MOM DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT AROUND?
Play with J (#3 child)/Work on the computer

10. IF YOUR MOM BECOMES FAMOUS, WHAT WILL IT BE FOR?
Movies/Doing something really good

11. WHAT is YOUR MOM REALLY GOOD AT?
Reading/Reading

12. WHAT IS YOUR MOM NOT VERY GOOD AT?
Playing outside/I don’t know what you’re not good at

13. WHAT DOES YOUR MOM DO FOR HER JOB?
Work/Fix books on the computer

14. WHAT IS YOUR MOM’S FAVORITE FOOD?
Everything/Tacos

15. WHAT MAKES YOUR MOM PROUD OF YOU?
Listen/Clean up our rooms

16. IF YOUR MOM WERE A CARTOON CHARACTER, WHO WOULD SHE BE?
Bugs Bunny/Bugs Bunny (really? Interesting)

17. WHAT DO YOU AND YOUR MOM DO TOGETHER?
Go places/Spend time together

18. HOW ARE YOU AND YOUR MOM THE SAME?
We have the same colour hair (we don’t)/We like to play games

19. HOW ARE YOU AND YOUR MOM DIFFERENT?
We have different clothes/You have glasses and I don’t

20. HOW DO YOU KNOW YOUR MOM LOVES YOU?
You say nice things/You do nice stuff for us

21. WHERE IS YOUR MOM’S FAVORITE PLACE TO GO?
Cruise/Not McDonald’s

22. HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE YOUR MOM?
Up to Pluto and back/To another galaxy and back (this started when I read Guess How Much I Love You to my kids – “to the moon and back” and ever since they’ve had to take it farther!)

Colleen Gleason is doing a workshop all week on how to effectively promo and market works of fiction, so come check it out. Here’s a link to her welcome post: http://forums.romancedivas.com/index.php?s…c=47060&hl=

Featuring:

COLLEEN GLEASON

Want to know what it really takes to promote your book? Romance Divas is hosting a weeklong workshop with author Colleen Gleason, who can answer that question and many more! It will take place at the Romance Diva Forum. All are welcome. To get access to the forum you will need to register.