Kindle Instant Preview

Another post about Amazon - you'd think they're paying me or something... This time the news that a new widget has been launched in the US that allows a website to link to a Kindle book and offer a "Preview" option. It will allow a blogger to show an image of the book they're reviewing, for example, and then the reader of that post can press Preview to read the sample of that book, right there in the browser. And best of all for the website owner, via Amazon Associates they'll earn revenue on sales generated via that widget, with an option to buy the book at the end of the sample or to see the detail page on Amazon.

For more details check out the full story on BookMachine, which also demonstrates the widget in action. I'm also curious to see it on a mobile device and not just a computer. One thing a lot of bloggers and website owners miss is mobile-optimising their site (myself included) so I wonder how good it looks on a small screen. But overall it sounds like a great way to promote a book you like and maybe earn a little cash yourself.

The Trylle Trilogy by Amanda Hocking

This isn't a traditional review, more like my personal impressions and thoughts about the Trylle trilogy from Amanda Hocking. It includes the three books, "Switched", "Torn", and "Ascend". I decided to try Hocking's books as I had heard about her achievements and thought it would be interesting to see what kind of quality a self-published book (or series of books) could achieve, from someone who must be doing something right judging by her level of success. What I discovered was an interesting take on Young Adult fantasy romance, which though it's formulaic in some ways is also different enough to stand out from the crowd.

Bookstores - Done and Dusted?

Poor Borders. They're really not having a good 2011. Though they didn't have a very good 2010 either, or 2009, 2008, 2007... they've been struggling for a while and it's arguably only due to the overall unstable economy throughout the world that made everyone see just how bad things were for them. And they're not alone - other book chains are also suffering and we face the very real possibility that within a few years there will be no book stores on the high street.

Recent news about Borders has been that another 16 stores are closing in Australia, following the closure of many stores in the U.S., and it seems that even publishers have lost faith in the company and are no longer willing to give them books to sell unless they can pay for them immediately. Personally I think this is all terrible news for readers and authors both. What's happening at Borders now is likely going to happen to other bookstores soon, and this is not good for anyone.