Do you ever want to revisit old friends, of the book species, every now and again? I did the other evening, so I checked out my local library which only had it in audiobook form. (which is pretty cool when you think about it) So I went to my next go-to book resource, Amazon.
Lo and Behold, there it was, and free. This is a book by a gazillion selling author, and I though to my self, ‘Self, this is how you sell a series, (once you’ve got all or most of the books published) you make the first one free.’ So I immediately downloaded it onto my kindle for PC, and prepared to indulge … then I thought, ‘Self, what about the second book in the series?’
After more Lo-ing and Behold-ing, there it was, free as well.
Sadly the third book wasn’t, but you can’t have everything.
If you’d like to read a truly kick-ass, will-make-you-think, well written SF, woman-saves-the-universe military-ish series, and you like free ebooks, try ‘On Basilisk Station’, by David Weber. I know they’re free on the Zon.com and .ca., don’t know about elsewhere.
UPDATE: Looks like book 2, ‘The Honor of the Queen’ is off the freebie list – bugger.
***
Finally, I read a short story the other day and it enjoyed immensely except for one niggardly thing; one of the character’s complete misuse of Aussie slang. This is where Inigo Montoya would skewer them with the immortal words, “I don’t think that means what you think it means.”
For the love of all that you hold dear, if you don’t know what a slang word means, DON’T USE IT! You risk coming across as a pretentious idiot. Even if you think you know what it means, double check, that’s what the interwebz is for.
In the interests of sisterly … erm … sisterhood, I emailed the writer and politely offered up the correct slang term. She emailed me back with a chagrined, ‘workin’ on it’ and that she’d got quite a few such communiqués.
I cringed in sympathy for her, but as an author, I’d prefer to have a bunch of people letting me know such things, than no-one at all.
***
P.S. Finally saw Star Wars The Force Awakens – very much fun-ness. 🙂
What a shame. I feel a bit sorry for the author. I get embarrassed if I notice a mistake in a comment I’ve written, so I can imagine I’d be in mourning for three weeks if I discovered a big mistake in a story. These things happen, though. Incidentally, I’m glad to hear you’ve now joined the Star Wars VII fan club.
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Fan club – it was just a matter of time.
If I catch a goof in a comment I’ve made (almost always after I’ve posted it!) I just add a P.S. to it. 🙂
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I usually write a short follow-up comment too, but it’s often hard to type because I’m so busy kicking myself. Luckily, I type with my hands. It would be even harder if I typed with my feet.
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Thanks for the heads up! Just downloaded. 🙂
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The more people into the Honorverse, the better, I say. 🙂
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Ooh. My brother loves David Weber, but although I subscribe to his newsletter, I’ve never actually read any of Weber’s books. (Yes, I’m a little odd. We knew that.) Off to get the book, as I’ve heard much love for the Honorverse.
And that poor author. You going to clue us in what the slang term was, so we don’t misuse it? 😉
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And in a surfeit of embarrassment that demonstrates the depth of my TBR pile, the ‘Zon tells me I bought the book back in 2013.
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ROFL … Love it! 😀
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Hoping to catch Star Wars this weekend. I think I am only person on planet who has yet to see.
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Don’t worry, there are even some people who, horror of horrors, don’t WANT to see it. 😮
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Darth Vader’s grandson’s temper tantrums are hilarious.
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Heh, heh, heh … and that EMO moment with grandpappy’s skull/helmet – Alas, poor Vader! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy.
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Thanks for the Weber recommendation. I’m always looking for good sci-fi and fantasy books of all ilks – as long as there aren’t any elves and dwarves. I’m elved and dwarved out. 🙂
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You’re welcome … hard to find new takes on vampires and werewolves too. 🙂
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Dear Winddershins,
Better to know later than never at all. It’s possible to change it in a another printing. Glad you contacted the author and told her.
Sincerely,
Joan
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I figured I’d want to know if someone came across a blooper in my published stuff. 🙂
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Ooh, I’m glad to read you contacted her too, I contacted an author about a hideous mistake in her book and have been cringing at my own temerity ever since!
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Hiya Suzi … good for you … did you hear back?
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