Clik here to view.
Why You Shouldn’t be Writing in WordPress
A newly launched WordPress plugin has presented me with an opportunity to mount a soapbox and recommend better work habits. I was just reading about a plugin that removed distractions while writing in...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Eight Tips for Extending the Battery Life on Your Kindle
Back in the olden days (circa 2011) we used to be able to buy ereader cases that included their own battery. I actually still have one such case built for the non-touch basic Kindle from 2011, but...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Amazon Launches 2020-Themed, Er, Hunger Games-Themed Kindle Bundle
As you may have heard, a new Hunger Games prequel was released last week. It’s called The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and Amazon is capitalizing on the launch by releasing a Hunger Games-themed...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Romance Writers of America Launches New Book Award
Much to the surprise of everyone who watched the RWA’s very public attempt to destroy itself earlier this year, the Romance Writers of America has announced a new book award, one that is named after...
View ArticleClik here to view.
I’ve Relaunched My Site – Check it Out!
I have a problem: A lot of people reading this still think of me as a blogger. This is understandable given my history, but it is a problem for me because all my income comes from tech work, and if...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Morning Coffee – 25 May 2020
Here are a few stories to read this Monday morning. William Faulkner’s spouse and daughters were terrible pranksters. Audible is continuing their investment in podcasts. Did you know that...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Infographic: 34 Compelling First Lines of Famous Novels
It was a dark and stormy night … The first sentence of a novel is often the only chance an author has to make the first impression, and the very best books will keep the reader hooked from the first...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Join Me on Twitter on Sundays for #SundayTechClinic
If you have a free moment Sunday afternoon, and you need to get a question answered about your website, why not join me on Twitter? For about a month and a half now I have been holding informal tech...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Do You Want Page Turn Buttons on Your eReader?
It may be hard to remember this in 2020, when the Paperwhite has become the archetypal ebook reader, but there was a time when ereaders all used to have page turn buttons. The first Kobo ereader, the...
View ArticlePocketBook eReaders Now Sold by Newegg in the US
In what is a hopeful sign that we will have a US source for Pocketbook’s upcoming color ereader, the online US retailer NewEgg is now carrying Pocketbook’s ereaders. NewEgg currently carries three...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Audible is Retiring One of Its Older Audiobook File Formats
Earlier this week a less than reliable blog reported that Audible was “moving to an enhanced ebook format”. Unlike that blog’s “exclusive hardware leaks”, there was actually some truth to the Audible...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Amazon is Opening a Bookstore in Kansas City
Amazon lists 23 Amazon Books locations on its site, including a bookstore outside of Phoenix, AZ. Soon they will add a 24th address to the list. I’ve just learned that Amazon has taken out construction...
View ArticleClik here to view.
This Word Does Not Exist
Here’s something fun for your Friday. I just found (via Reddit) a site where an AI invents words and their definitions every time you refresh the page. For example: This is not exactly new – I follow...
View ArticleClik here to view.
You Tell Me: Who or What are you reading right now?
I am looking for new authors to fall in love with, so I thought I would throw open the comment section and ask: What are you reading? My current read is a collection of cyberpunk detective stores by...
View ArticleClik here to view.
991 Web-Safe Fonts You Can Use for Free on Your Author Website, in Social...
Like book covers, choosing the right font for your website or your social media graphic can send a message and elicit an emotional response (this makes it more likely to be noticed, and re-shared!)....
View ArticleHow to Comply With Germany’s New Cookie Consent Rules
The rules for getting a website visitor’s consent before you use tracking cookies are about to change again, and no one is ready. This week the German Federal Court of Justice ruled that websites now...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Morning Coffee – 1 June 2020
Here are a few stories to read this Monday morning. JK Rowling is publishing a serialized novel online. Bill Rosenblatt has a good overview of the Copyright Office’s Section 512 report. Victoria...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Four Publishers File Suit Over Internet Archive’s Pirate Site
I can’t beleive it – book publishers have given Internet Archive founder Brewster Kahle exactly what he wanted. Today the AAP announced that four US publishers – HarperCollins, Wiley, Hachette, and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Hands On With Waveshare’s NFC-Powered E-ink Screens
Remember 3 months back when I told you about Waveshare selling a line of E-ink screens powered by NFC? Well, after two months of saving up, and a month of waiting for the mail, my units arrived last...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Five Email (and Snail Mail) Web Scams to Avoid
Today’s post was inspired by a paper letter I received early last year from a company that was trying to convince me that I owed them $180 for the cost of hosting my website. I host my website and...
View Article