Welcome to our Author Interview series.
Today we're featuring an interview with Erik Petterson, author of Leap of Faith: A Trans-Atlantic Wartime Love Story. Our author interview series provides an opportunity for our readers to get to know our authors on a deeper level and also learn more about the types of books we're publishing.
Erik Pettersen is a first generation American, the second of six children born to Ingrid and Arne Pettersen, the principal characters in this story. A former nuclear submarine officer, chemical industry executive and management consultant, he is also the author of two other books in decidedly different genres: Semper Fi: The Psalms of Robert Alexander and Limericks for Polite Company. Erik and his wife Linda live in Annapolis, Maryland. They have two married children and four grandchildren.
Synopsis: Leap of Faith
On April 9, 1940, the very day that the Nazis invaded Norway, a young Swedish nurse received a life-changing letter. It contained an improbable wedding proposal from the man she loved – a Norwegian living more than three thousand miles away across the Atlantic in the United States. Leap of Faith is their enduring love story, describing Ingrid Sillén’s daring war-time crossing and the life she found in what became her adopted country.
Author Interview
Here’s your chance to market your book. Describe it. And why readers should pick it up?
This is an exciting, true life, true love adventure story, set in Scandinavia and America during the Second World War. As Nazis loomed, a young Swedish nurse dreamed of being with her Norwegian beau, now safely in America. And so the narrative leads into her exciting, dangerous and courageous journey to America, followed by their early life together in their new country. It is a story full of faith, love and spirituality, a strong undercurrent throughout the book.
How did your book come to life?
After my mother’s passing in 1995, I had made a personal resolution to tell her remarkable personal story, first and foremost as a legacy to the later generations in our family. I possessed a recording she had made, sharing memories from her childhood and adolescence in rural Sweden, her training as a nurse, and her harrowing voyage to New York through mine-filled waters to marry my father in the early days of World War II. I also had her personal diaries from 1941 and 1942. But the catalyst for my finally initiating the project was a comment from one of my cousins at a reunion of my father’s side of the family in Norway in 2009. His story was no less remarkable, so I was inspired to delve more deeply into the details of their courtship and marriage. Once I got started, my siblings, a number of cousins and other relatives volunteered to help. They filled in numerous details and anecdotes which added texture to the story.
Why do you think your readers are going to enjoy your book?
It's a true-to-life love story, set in very difficult times. Love triumphs! It's exciting, informative, uplifting and spiritual.
How long did it take you to write your book?
From the time I finished gathering my starting source material, it took approximately eight months before I submitted my CD to Infinity.
Who designed the cover?
I provided the photograph and a rough idea of how it might be presented, but the in-house team at Infinity did the real creative work, including the color selection and the background of sea and sky. The final touch was arching the title over the top of the oval picture, thereby emphasizing the “Leap.”
What are you doing to market the book? Are you using social media?
I am using a number of different sources to market this book. It's available directly through my website, www.ErikGPettersen.com, and on Amazon in hard cover, paperback or as an e-book. Shortly after the book was released I went on a four-day book tour in Norway and Sweden, with the itinerary greatly facilitated by relatives there. This included a presentation at the Swedish American Center in Karlstad, Sweden, where copies of the book were left on consignment with the director. The book and my visit were prominently featured in a two-page spread in Sweden & America magazine, published jointly by the Center (in Swedish) and by the Swedish Council of America (in English). I was also interviewed by a columnist for the Annapolis Capital, my hometown newspaper, resulting in a very complimentary article. The book’s release was announced on my Facebook page, and this was followed by postings of pictures from my Scandinavian book tour. I have also sent out broadcast e-mails (1) announcing the book’s release; (2) sharing the link to the Annapolis Capital article; and (3) announcing the subsequent availability of the e-book version. Additionally, I have contacted various Scandinavian-American publications, organizations and retailers, albeit without measurable results to date. I am also beginning a tutorial on the use of social media in marketing.
In two sentences or less can you tell readers something unique about your book?
It really happened, as incredible and inspiring a story as it is. It shows the strength of faith and love in overcoming the terrors of war.
What is your writing process? I begin by laying out what I think will be a logical sequence in the story, giving each element a descriptive name, which very often emerges as a chapter title. Next I assemble and organize materials already in my possession, sorting them into folders that fit each element. Once this is done, it is easy for me to see where I have major information gaps. Then the real fun begins – filling those in! My business consulting assignments invariably require getting answers to critical questions for my clients, and I apply that same discipline here, first pondering where to go to get the information. For Leap of Faith, a major starting source was my older relatives. I quickly learned who were the historians in the family and enlisted their ongoing help. The Internet also proved invaluable to get contextual information and to corroborate specific facts about historical figures and events. As I write each chapter, I make notes of new questions that occur to me and any clarifying information that I think might be needed. For Leap of Faith I sent e-mail requests to those relatives whom I thought most likely to have the answers and also did supporting web searches as appropriate.
Where did you grow up? How did your hometown (or other places you have lived) inspire your writing? I grew up in Crestwood, New York, a suburb of Yonkers, about ten miles north of the New York City line. As the son of immigrant parents, I experienced a large number of foreign visitors to our home while growing up, many from their native countries of Norway and Sweden. Other than my immediate family, virtually all of my relatives live in Scandinavia, and we have enjoyed a number of reciprocal visits over the years. While I had long intended to write the story that became Leap of Faith, it took a nudge from one of my Norwegian cousins to actually get started.
What are your thoughts on self-publishing verses traditional publishing? I have had no direct experience with traditional publishing. While writing my first book in 2002, I was mentored by a prominent local author who introduced me to the emerging self-publishing industry. He had authored a number of books which were released by a major publisher but was currently working on a fictional book which he planned to self-publish. He pointed out the advantages of personal control and speed to market through this new technology, avoiding the need to deal with multiple rejection letters. After reviewing my first draft, he thought I was capable of producing a good narrative without requiring an editor. All of these factors appealed to me.
Why did you decide to publish with Infinity Publishing?
I first learned about Infinity in 2008, when I was evaluating publishers for my second book, Limericks for Polite Company. During a business trip to the Philadelphia area in May of that year, I made an opportunistic visit to Infinity’s facilities in West Conshohocken and met with Laura Pici. She explained Infinity’s approach, introduced me to some of her colleagues and graciously gave me a tour of the facilities. I received a very positive impression from all of the people I met and made my decision on the spot. I was very pleased with the quality of the finished product, especially the cover design, which captured the light-hearted spirit of the book. As a result, I came back to Infinity for my third book. Once again, I have been very pleased with the appearance and quality of the finished product.
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You can learn more about Erik Petterson and Leap of Faith by visiting:
by Amy Collins
I get calls all the time from people who “know” the book publishing industry. They have written a book and have been avid readers for years… so they assume that they are the key demographic and what they know is fact.
More often than not, what they “know” is old news. Now I assume that no one reading this falls into this category, but perhaps we can pass this info onto the others…
So, once again:
- Hardcovers no longer are the standard for “serious” books and are rarely purchased
- POD has become more acceptable to bookstores, but you still need to print some and offer them through traditional distribution or fulfillment companies to be taken seriously by the bookstores.
- Digital Printing has improved in quality and you do NOT need to print thousands of books.
- There are even fewer print and online reviewers of consequence but…
- Reviews are still KEY. Most libraries and major book chains need professional reviews before they will consider a small press title in any real quantity.
- Libraries and bookstores are not necessarily the best way to get to readers anymore
- Most books are not sold in bookstores
- eBooks have taken a much bigger portion of book sales
- There are MORE readers now than there were a year ago THANKS to eBook readers
- Inexpensive eBooks are the best way to get your book out to the most people and create a buzz. It does not “cheapen the book, it gives the reader a chance to sample something they would not otherwise because of a special offer. (Depending on your book recommend pricing it $3.99-7.99 for fiction and $4.99-$9.99 for non-fiction.)
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Amy Collins MacGregor started her career in the book industry as the book buyer for Village Green Books in Upstate, New York. In 1996, she “hopped the desk” and thoroughly enjoyed working as a National Account Rep for Prima Publishing. In 2001, Amy was named Director of Sales at Adams Media in Boston and quickly rose to the Special Sales Director for parent company, F+W Media. Over the years, Amy has sold to Borders, Barnes and Noble, Target, Costco, Wal-mart, and all the major chains as well as help launch several private label publishing programs for chains such as PetSmart and CVS. In February 2006, Amy started The Cadence Group and now runs the fastest-growing book distribution company in North America, New Shelves Distribution, where she offers her sales experience to small publishers and self-published authors.
Image courtesy of guillermo ossa.
by Sherrie Wilkolaski
Are you on the verge of publishing and not sure what format you should publish in OR if you should consider publishing an eBook vs. print vs. audio? Let me help you out. You want to say, “YES!” to publishing an eBook version of your title. Of course you do want to offer your book in print and audio, but still so many authors are asking me about eBook publishing and if they should take the plunge.
Publishing Print, eBooks and audio simultaneously.
There is no reason to hold off on publishing your book as an eBook. You need your final print file before you can convert your book to an ePub, so just do it all at once. You can have your eBook published and ready to release soon after your print book hits the virtual book stands. While your eBook is being converted, you can have your audio book in production as well.
eBooks are very inexpensive to publish and distribute.
More and more people are buying eBooks so take the time to make the investment. Infinity Publishing can get your book out to the world from $199-$349. It’s cheap and increases your opportunity to reach more readers. Reaching more potential readers helps to sell more books. There are many readers who prefer eBooks and won’t even consider a print option and this number is growing every day.
Is your book in print and NOT in electronic format?
If you’re an author who is already published in print and you haven’t made the decision to expand your reach to eBooks, let today be your day to take charge of your publishing destiny.
eBooks are no longer the future of publishing, they are now. Contact an Infinity Publishing Author Advocate to take your step into the future of eBooks...
Click here to take an eBook Poll.
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Image courtesy of Claudia Gabriela Marques Vieria.
by Sherrie Wilkolaski
The other day I was talking with a colleague let’s call her “Sally” and she told me that she decided to finally take the plunge into the world of electronic books and bought a Nook. The funny part about this story is that she is in the business of eBooks. It’s not that she just touches eBooks she is a big-wig, in the eBook business. How could this be?
So I asked Sally, “What has been holding you back from buying an eReader?” Could it be that she works too many long hours and doesn’t have the time to read? Nope. She is an avid reader, loves her paperbacks and even checks books out of the library. Is it because there are eReaders lying around the office and so she doesn’t really need one at home? Not the case. Perhaps she already bought a Kindle or iPad for herself and one of her kids has taken hold of it. Again, nada.
The reason Sally held out so long on buying an eReader, was because she likes to read in the bathtub. That is her escape and she always takes a good old-fashioned paperback with her. I thought I must have missed some big announcement from Barnes and Noble about a new waterproof devise. Turns out the clerk at Barnes and Noble, told her to put her Nook in a Ziploc™ bag so it won’t get wet. Brilliant! As it turns out, this is a very common question.
This simple solution sold one more Nook for Barnes and Noble, so kudos to that sales rep. Sally is now enjoying her Nook while enjoying her bubble baths. So why did she run with a Nook vs. Kindle vs. iPad? For Sally it was the smaller size and she wanted a device that was just for reading ebooks. Now she is hooked and very clean.
What eReader do you own? If you don’t yet own one…what is holding you back? Tell us your story below…
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Image courtesy of ozaidesigns.com.
If you’re looking for book exposure and recognition, why not consider entering submitting your book for an award. The Independent Publisher Book Awards (the “IPPYs”) are intended to bring increased recognition to the thousands of exemplary independent, university, and self-published titles published each year. The awards are open to all members of the independent publishing industry, and to authors and publishers worldwide who produce books written in English and intended for the North American market. Since the inaugural contest in 1996, over 4,500 books have received IPPY Awards, and all the recognition, credibility, and increased sales that a book award can bring. Independent spirit and expertise comes from publishers of all sizes and budgets, and books are judged with that in mind.
Announcing the 16th annual Independent Publisher Book Awards, honoring the year’s best independently published titles. Entries will be accepted until March 15th, 2012 for books with 2011 and 2012 copyrights or that are released in 2011 or early 2012.
The “IPPY” Awards were conceived as a broad-based, unaffiliated awards program open to all members of the independent publishing industry, and are open to authors and publishers worldwide who produce books written in English and intended for the North American market.
Good luck to all participants!
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Open to independents worldwide who publish for the North American market
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Books with 2011-2012 copyright or that are released between November 1, 2010 and March 15, 2012 are eligible
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72 subject categories in National awards
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Regional awards for the United States, Canada, and Australia and New Zealand
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E-Book Awards with fiction, non-fiction, children’s and regional categories
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Winners receive medals, certificates, and earn credibility, publicity — and increased book sales!
Click here for more details on registering.
Final entry deadline March 15, 2012
$95 per category until March 15, 2012, Just $45 to also enter the Regional and E-Book Awards.
by Sherrie Wilkolaski
Knowing the ins and outs of Amazon is a must for any author, whether they are self-publishing or have a traditional publishing house behind them. Either which way, it boils down to the author still being responsible for their own book marketing and Amazon has one free marketing tool, that I really like…Listmania!
What is Listmania!?
Listmania! comes complete with an exclamation point, so you know it must be exciting. In a nutshell, Amazon allows all account holders to create a “list” of their favorite things…like books and it is called, Listmania! So if you’ve written a book, you can create a Listmania! list, and include your own book, along with your competition. Simple as that. 
Why would you want to include your book with your competition?
Listmania! provides the perfect opportunity to cross-promote your own work with best-selling titles that are in your own genre. You want to create a book list that will attract your potential audience. You can create more than one list, if you want to cross promote your work to different audiences. If you have a cookbook that is about 30 minute Vegan meals, you may want to create a list for Best Vegan Cookbooks and another for Quick and Delicious Vegan Cookbooks. Get creative. I encourage all authors to utilize this tool to better market and promote their books. Also, ask a friend to create a list and include your book in their Listmania! lists as well.
Many people use Listmania! lists as a way to get recommendations from other readers to find books they may want to read and buy!
How to Create a Listmania! list (information provided courtesy of Amazon.com.)
To create a Listmania list:
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Visit your Profile Page and log into your account if requested.
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Click the "Edit Your Profile" button on the top right-hand corner of the page.
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Click the "Lists" tab in the Contributions section of Your Profile.
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Click the "Create your first one now" link or "Manage your Listmania Lists" link if you already have existing lists.
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Provide the requested information for your list and click the Preview button to review your list and Publish list when you are finished.
Here's the information you'll be asked to enter:
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Name Your List: Enter a friendly title for your list.
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Your qualifications: Your qualifications should be a description of why you're an expert in the subject of your list.
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Introduction: You can add an optional introductory paragraph to describe the list.
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Add tags: This allows you to add keywords that help others discover your list.
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Add a product: This is the core of your list! You can add anything from the product listings on Amazon.com.
Click here for more information on Listmania! at Amazon.com.
Please post a link to your Listmania! list below.
Benefits of Self-publishing
By Sherrie Wilkolaski
Throughout my career, I’ve had the good fortune of working with so many talented authors. Some self-published and others traditionally published. There are some authors who are dead-set on getting a publisher to pick them up and refuse to consider self-publishing, while others just want to jump in with both feet and go the independent publishing route. There is no wrong or right answer. It really depends on the author and what they want to get out of publishing their work.
If you’re on the fence and not sure if self-publishing is right for you, let’s look at some of the benefits you’ll have as an independent publisher.
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Author has control. As an artist it is nice to have control over your own work. You’ll oversee everything from selecting your self-publishing partner, like Infinity Publishing for example, to approving your cover art and setting the course for where you want to go. No waiting on a publisher to get your book to market, you’ll work at your own pace.
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Get what you want out of publishing. Are you publishing to get your work out to the world, or are you using your book as a tool to better your career and take you to the next level? As an independent publisher, you dictate what you want to get out of publishing your title. Some authors are happy just having their book published and available for purchase on Amazon. Others want to go all the way…NY Times Bestsellers list. Whichever road you go down, it’s up to you. You don’t have the constraints of a traditional publisher, managing your work and what you do with it.
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Find the right publishing vehicle for your title. As an author looking to self-publish, there are a lot of choices out there. You need to find the right option for you. Ask yourself these questions when looking for a self-publishing company:
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Will you be able to work along with a publishing professional, being able to talk with them on the phone…not just email? Being able to talk with a publishing professional, one on one is very important for any author looking to self-publish. Email is a great tool, but having a personal touch makes all the difference during the publishing process. At Infinity Publishing, our Author Advocates are available by phone and at a time that is convenient for your schedule.
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Do they offer distribution options for all mediums (i.e. print, eBooks and audio)? An author cannot sell a book without distribution, no matter what format their book is in. Infinity Publishing offers the most extensive distribution options available to independent publishers for print, eBooks and audio and is always growing with the changes in the market. We’ll handle it all.
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Are marketing and PR services and support available? Very important question, as every author needs these resources to be successful. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, use book marketing professionals who specialize in publishing. At Infinity Publishing, not only do we do our own marketing and branding to help our authors sell more books, we work one on one with each author to find the right marketing options for their title.
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Do they publish just any title? It is nice to know you can get your book published, but as a self-publishing author you want to know that the company you decide to go with is somewhat selective with the types of books they are publishing. You want your book to be surrounded by authors of a certain caliber as it will make your work even more valuable. Infinity Publishing works with some of the best authors out there. You’re not just another number. Your work means something.
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You own it. The book success or failure is all yours. You’re in control and if you’ve got the right fit with your self-publishing company, you’ll be one step ahead of the competition.
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More royalties on sales. It is true, there are start-up costs to publish your title, but in the long-run you’ll reap the rewards. Larger royalties on your sales when you self-publish, than if you are traditionally published. Authors who traditionally publish make pennies on the sale of each book vs. when they self-publish. The numbers just don’t compare. Yes, you’re still investing financially on the front end, covering your own costs for editing, cover design, etc. however you’ll be reaping the rewards for life. Going the traditional route, you’ll make less overall per book even if you get an advance. There are always exceptions of course. Ask one of Infinity Publishing’s Author Advocates about the potential royalties for your book.
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Getting to market sooner rather than later. First let me say, that self-publishing authors still need to publish their book properly, having it professionally edited, professional cover design, marketing and all of that. This will take time from the point in which the manuscript is ready, 3-6 months to do it properly. If your book is picked up by a traditional publisher it could take 12-24 months before it goes to market. Timing is something to think about.
No matter what direction you decide to go, make sure the self-publishing company you partner with is right for you, and that they have the potential to grow with you. Most authors don’t stop at just one book. To schedule your free consutlation with an Infinity Publishing Author Advocate, click the button below.
Happy Publishing!
Image courtesy of Zsuzsanna Kilian.
by Ellie Maas Davis
A compelling premise behind Indie publishing is that authors have dominion over their published work. To a great extent, whether wanted or unwanted, Indie publishing is about ownership and control, and with this power and authority comes great responsibility (lest you make the rest of Indie authors look foolish—yes, yes, it takes but one bad apple); the onus is on individual authors to use their reign of influence wisely. To distinguish your Indie title from other Indie titles—as well as those from the big six (Random House, HarperCollins, MacMillan, Penguin, Hachette, Macmillan)—have your manuscript professionally edited and proofread prior to publication.
There’s no doubt that book editing is as important to bookmaking as book promotion. (Let’s face it: no matter how good a title is if readers don’t know about it, what’s the point?) It’s about getting a second (or, optimally, a third, fourth, or fifth) set of eyes on your manuscript, and it’s the number one quality that distinguishes Indie titles from big six titles (cover design and blurbing are close behind).
While professional editing can certainly make all the difference, don’t discount the offer your cousin made to “look things over” if, in fact, that cousin has a degree in English or literature or creative writing. Same goes if your neighbor taught ESL (they’ve an uncanny knack with recrafting prepositional phrases), or your boyfriend’s mother is a fiend for your genre (again, not optimal, but if she’s an avid reader of romance and that’s what you write, let her review what you’ve done). Really, really, truly, truly, never look a gift horse in the mouth. If someone is willing to read your book, let them. Just make sure they turn on track changes so you can see what typos, word foibles, and tense issues they find.
Infinity Publising offers professional editing services, to learn more contact an Author Advocate for more details.
by Sherrie Wilkolaski
Do you own an iPad? Kindle? Are you reading books on your Droid or iPhone? Perhaps you’re reading the classics on your laptop, taking advantage of www.gutenberg.org. If you’re an author who is also an eBook consumer, I ask you…are you publishing electronically? First, I’m a huge fan of having as much distribution for your work and part of that is offering your book in as many different formats as possible. That includes, print, eBooks and audio to name a few. If you haven’t yet taken the plunge to convert your print edition to an eBook, let today be the day you expand your reach and increase your audience base.
Here are some tips to make the most of your eBook:
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Start with a professionally edited and formatted file. When your book goes through the conversion process, it’s essentially taking your content and converting it to code, that will ultimately be manipulated, and viewed on an eReader like an iPad. The best eBooks are those that read well (yes, editing is critical no matter what format it’s in) and have been formatted by a professional. It will make your final eBook file the best it can be.
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Use a professional to convert your book to an ePub file. Have you seen the commercials that provide a disclaimer that says, “Don’t try this at home?” The same thing applies to converting your book to an ePub file (eBook). You must be tech savvy and it’s worth spending the money to have a professional do it for you. You also want a company that tests on all the latest devices. Do you really want to spend hours learning how to make your own ePub and then have to buy a dozen eReaders to test it? Leave it to the professionals.
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Keep your expectations in check. An ePub file will never be perfect. It is a bunch of code that can be manipulated on a variety of different devices, so it will look different from one device to the next. It is not supposed to look exactly like a printed book, so get over it. People read eBooks for the content. Make sure your content is solid.
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Distribution. You must have your book in all of the major distribution channels, so don’t convert your file and assume you’ll just sell it from your website. Again, let the professionals handle this for you.
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Pricing your eBook. Here is a critical piece to the eBook selling puzzle. Pricing your eBook to compete with your competition. Do your research. Most eBooks sell well between, $3.99-$9.99. Look at other eBooks in your genre and price accordingly. Yes, there are the 99 cent eBook success stories, but price it higher. You can always go lower or run a short-term promotion to offer a discount.
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Marketing. Nothing sells without marketing and promotion, so get out there and promote your eBook alongside your print book. Let your potential readers know you’re a modern day author and you’re hip to the eBook publishing scene. Use your social media to drive traffic to your eBook and go ahead and ask for the sale. You’ll be reaching another demographic and reader audience you’re not reaching with print.
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eBooks only. In some cases it makes sense for an author to start off by going electronic vs. print. Of course, I almost always recommend both options, it gives you more exposure and distribution options, but I digress. If you’re writing on a topic that is very popular and you don’t have the marketing budget to compete with more well-known titles, eBooks are a great option. If you’re launching a series of books and trying to define your niche market, using an eBook for market research may make better sense than jumping right into print. Just don’t forget that there are many readers out there who still love print and won’t even touch an eBook, so be careful in going eBook only.
So how do you make it BIG as an eBook author? The secret lies in having great content that is marketed and available to your ideal audience. I know, it’s not rocket science, but that really is the formula.
VP of Author Services, John F. Harnish, January 4, 2011:
One of the original limitations of eBooks was after the purchaser
finished reading the book on their eReader, the electronic version couldn’t be passed on and shared with a friend. I’ve always considered the ability to pass a book on to someone I know would enjoy reading it, to be an intrinsic value of the book I bought and paid for. On gift-giving holidays, my son would frequently give me a hardcover edition of the latest Clive Cussler or Tom Clancy novel knowing that when I finished reading it I’d share the book with him so he could enjoy the adventure story too. Throughout the years we’ve shared books with each other—and then my son bought an early iPhone several years ago!!!
Ugh, this ended our sharing of good novels, because once he downloaded an eBook to his iPhone it was trapped in there forever. Bummer. But I still received his gifts of just-released novels by my favorite authors.
In October 2010—thanks to some found money, I gave myself the gift of a new Apple iPad. I wanted to experience first-hand what this eBook revolution was all about. The first novel I downloaded was John Sandford’s Storm Prey. Wow, reading his novel on the iPad was very pleasant and sooo easy on the eyes—I bumped the text up to 12 point type with a tap of my finger on the screen. It did seem a bit strange to turn on the iPad to read the book, and of course remembering to plug the eReader in to recharge.
My next download in early December was Tom Clancy’s new release, Dead or Alive. Indeed, a very good read, but my thoughts while reading this highly entertaining novel was I hope my son doesn’t give me the hardcover edition as a Christmas gift; and wishing I could share the eBook edition with him.
Then on December 30, 2010—as if sometimes wishes do come true, I received an email from Amazon announcing their Kindle eBook Lending Program—and as part of my research to write this article I discovered Barnes & Noble had previously launched their LendMe program in June of 2010, along with the release of their new and improved NOOK Book eReader. Suddenly eBooks downloaded from B&N and Amazon were shareable!!!
They had successfully overcome one of the major shortcomings of eBooks—the inability to pass the book you’ve just finished reading on to a friend who you know would also enjoy the book. The lending programs are rather similar—they allow the purchaser of the eBook to email a free copy to a friend. The friend will have complete access to the eBook for 14-days—plenty of time to read a novel. However, during the 14-day period the purchaser will not have access to the book, but the friend receiving the shared book will have the entire book on their personal eBook reading device. At the conclusion of the 14-days, the lent eBook is back on the purchaser’s bookshelf and fully accessible again. This also solves the problem of shared books that are never returned by the borrower!!!
There’s a more expanded report on the ramifications of these eBook lending programs in the January issue of Infinity’s Author’s Advocate—if you aren’t a subscriber, you may sign up for a free subscription by visiting www.infinitypublishing.com.
Enjoy often…John