Reading PDF files on E-readers

Hey there!
I've had the question recently (after finally buying a Kindle - it was a *very* discounted refurbished one) about how to read a PDF file on an e-reader. If you've had the same question, I'll spare you the trouble of searching the interwebz to find an answer. (And if you read e-galleys from publishers, you're likely to get a PDF or similar file for a review book.)

KINDLE
Email the PDF file to your Kindle email address. Didn't know your Kindle had an address? Well, it does! :) It is the same amazon.com address associated with your account but instead of @yahoo.com, etc., it is @kindle.com.
Example: If my normal email is:  melissa@yahoo.com, my Kindle email is: melissa@kindle.com
If you want the PDF converted to make it easier to read, you must put "convert" in the subject line when you send the email to yourself. Easy peasy!

You can also plug in your Kindle to your computer via USB and transfer files to it. Open "Computer", "Kindle", "Documents". You can typically click and drag files into this folder. Check the home screen to be sure the file is there before you leave the computer.


NOOK
You first need to download Adobe Digital Editions for free on your computer.
Plug in your Nook, authorize the ADE to view your Nook. This *should* then allow you to add the PDF to your Nook for reading.
However, it has been stated that reading PDF on the Nook is annoying. Sometimes the formatting is off. You can turn the PDF into an ePUB format. Wondershare is supposed to be a good conversion tool.
All that to say - the Nook isn't the best at PDF reading. (Sorry!)


COMPUTER
You can also just read the PDF on your computer. I know this is difficult for a lot of people with a desktop computer. I like to read PDF on my laptop because I can go sit on the couch with it, you know, actually on my lap. ;)  If you don't enjoy reading on the computer, be sure to get up and take breaks for your eyes and your body. Otherwise, you're going to put your angst of sitting for hours on the book you're reading. :)

Vlog - Camping Edition

End of Summer 2012

We drove out to Las Vegas last week for my grandpa's funeral. He was buried at the Veteran's Cemetery. While there, we visited Hoover Dam with ALL of my family who were able to attend the funeral. It was nice to be able to see everyone again.

Just like in Percy Jackson and the Olympians THE TITAN'S CURSE! My son was super excited. ;)

My kids started school today so we have a new schedule around here. I'll be able to get in some regular writing time. (I think...) Book 2 has officially been editing and is going to be heading to the press VERY soon! As soon as I have a set publishing date, I'll let you all know. :)

Read LOTS of books! Talk about them to your friends! That is all.

ARC Requests - THE HIDDEN BLESSING

THE HIDDEN BLESSING, book 2 in the Tales of Gymandrol series.

If you would like to request an Advance Review Copy, please fill out the form below. My publicist will get it and send out the review copies once the final typeset is complete. Thank you SO much! :) (And I hope you like my book.) <3

Reading Challenge Update 1

Updated "Reading Challenge 2012" post. (I've read a lot of books so far and I need to see where they fit in to the challenge..if they do!) :)  To see the whole list of books I've read, you can check out my Goodreads page.

So far I have:

2012 Fairy Tale Challenge

I'm doing the "happily ever after" level (Level 4).  :)
"Read/watch any combination of original tales, modern tales, or films, resulting in 12 total selections."  

-THE ROYAL TREATMENT by Lindsey Leavitt (Book 2 of the PRINCESS FOR HIRE series)
-FAREWELL TO CHARMS by Lindsey Leavitt (Book 3 of the PRINCESS FOR HIRE series)
-UNENCHANTED by Chanda Hahn (Book 1 in the Unfortunate Fairy Tale series)
-FAIREST by Chanda Hahn (Book 2 in the Unfortunate Fairy Tale series)
-ONCE UPON A TOAD by Heather Vogel Frederick
-FATHOMLESS by Jackson Pierce
-PALACE OF STONE by Shannon Hale
-AWAKE, A FAIRYTALE by Jessica Grey

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I'm attempting to do the Historical Fiction challenge from Historical Tapestry. (I love historical fiction but I've read so many books that it'll be hard to find something I haven't read yet that I want to read.)

I'm going with "Daring and Curious: 5 books" right now.

BOOKS I'VE READ (so far)

1.) "I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend" by Cora Harrison
2.) ECHOES OF TITANIC by Mindy Starns Clark (both historical and modern)
3.) SCARLET by A.C. Gaughen 
4.) LOVE FINDS YOU IN LAST CHANCE, CALIFORNIA by Miralee Ferrell

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I'm trying to find a "Classics" challenge. I found a challenge!

Classics Reading Challenge

I'm challenging myself to read those classics that (for some reason) we never read in school. I know that I want to read a few books that I've had on my bookshelf for a very long time. (Last year I finally read The Great Gatsby and The Count of Monte Cristo!)

I'll do Level Two: 4-6 books

MY LIST TO READ (so far)

-A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens (I've started this one...)

-Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

-Alice in Wonderland

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Contemporary Reading Challenge

I do read a lot of YA contemps so this will be pretty easy.
I'm going to do the second option - "mix it up" with different genres in YA contemp.
Books - 10 (at least!)

MY LIST OF BOOKS I'VE READ (so far)
1.) Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen
2.) What Happened To Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
3.) SUMMER OF NO REGRETS by Katherine Grace Bond
4.) THE NATURE OF JADE by Deb Caletti
5.) CONFECTIONATELY YOURS #1: SAVE THE CUPCAKE! by Lisa Papademetriou
6.) THE LIAR SOCIETY by Lisa and Laura Roecker
7.) TIME BETWEEN US by Tamara Ireland Stone
8.) MOONGLASS by Jessi Kirby
9.) IN HONOR by Jessi Kirby
10.) SECOND CHANCE SUMMER by Morgan Matson
11.) OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF TIME by Ally Carter


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Eclectic Reader Challenge

I love the idea of this challenge!

Choose a book in each genre. Pretty easy, right? But we don't normally like to move out of our "norm" in reading. (And in life, too.)

Genres

1. Literary Fiction
2. Crime/Mystery Fiction -- "Stork Raving Mad" by Donna Andrews
3. Romantic Fiction -- 
4. Historical Fiction
5. Young Adult -- "I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend" by Cora Harrison
6. Fantasy - THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas
7. Science Fiction - MATCHED and CROSSED by Ally Condie
8. Non Fiction
9. Horror
10. Thriller /Suspense
11. Classic
12. Your favourite genre
13. Poetry - THE DAY BEFORE by Lisa Schroeder

PRINCESS FOR HIRE book giveaway!

As you may have read on my previous blog post, I was able to meet Lindsey Leavitt, author of the PRINCESS FOR HIRE series. She signed a paperback copy of book 1, PRINCESS FOR HIRE, and I will give it away to one lucky winner! Along with a signed bookmark from Lindsey for her series and other various princessy fun things. Yay for princess books! :) I'll also pick a second and third place winner for signed bookmarks from Lindsey.

**See the Rafflecopter widget below for the winners!** The first listed is the winner of the paperback. The second and third winners are the winners of the bookmarks. Thanks to all who entered!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Beach Day!

We were able to go to the beach yesterday for a friend's going away party. This is probably our last trip to the beach for the summer since school is starting in about 2 weeks. So...of course I took pictures! :) We hunted for shells (as my friend Amanda pointed out, "Hunted? Like they are going to run away?" But I pointed out that, "Picking up shells just sounds lame." She agreed. Is there something in the middle??), talked with friends, got our feet wet (actually, my kids got soaked and didn't have a change of clothes. Good times!), roasted hot dogs over the bonfire, laughed, talked some more, and just enjoyed life!

Sneak Peek of Book 2 - THE HIDDEN BLESSING

Hi there! Today I have for you...a sneak peek of Book 2, THE HIDDEN BLESSING!

-An excerpt from Chapter One-

Chapter One

The morning sun streamed through the stained glass windows in the small room, casting intricate designs on the rows of empty chairs. Thick draperies framed the raised dais where a baby cradle was positioned in the center of the stage. A narrow writing table with a scroll on it stood against one wall. A small, dark haired figure set down an ink well and quill next to the scroll with a smile.

The heavy door at the back of the dais creaked open, causing the tiny figure next to the table to start in surprise. A tall blonde woman quietly entered the room, holding a blanket-swaddled infant in her arms.

            “I didn’t mean to frighten you, Talia,” Samantha, Princess of Mittra, whispered to the fairy as she crossed the dais.

            “I wasn’t expecting anyone to arrive so early,” Talia replied. “Bring Emmalyn Meredith in here. Oh, Sam, she has your eyes, doesn’t she?” the fairy asked while cradling the newborn.

            “Nolan says she does, but they still might change color. He also insists that she wrinkles her nose the same way I do, but I told him he’s ridiculous!” Samantha laughed as she tucked the pink blanket more tightly around the baby. “Shall we put her in the cradle while we wait for everyone to arrive?”

            Talia sighed as she walked over to the cradle. “I suppose you are right. I have not been able to hold her for the last few days with your mother and Nolan’s mother being in constant attendance,” she complained good-naturedly as she laid Emma down in the wooden cradle.

            “But you have the honor of being her first fairy godmother,” Samantha assured her friend as she looked down at her daughter. “I know that I have benefitted from having you as mine!”

            Talia wiped away a tear with a smile as she turned to the little table set on the dais. “It seems like only yesterday when you were in that cradle while your mother and I discussed your fairy blessings. And, before you ask, I do have the list of acceptable blessings for today’s ceremony,” Talia said teasingly as she set out a long sheet of parchment from her bag.

            “And your magic quill?” Samantha asked, lightly touching the pen.

            “Of course! I never go to a blessing ceremony without it now,” Talia laughed. “I have asked a few of the older fairies to be here at Emmalyn Meredith’s private ceremony. And I did not include Osric and Elan!”

            Samantha rolled her eyes. “Oh dear. What would they give my poor daughter that they did not give to me? Hopefully she’ll grow up to appreciate the thought we put into her gifts.”

            The door to the chamber opened and the guests began to file in. Samantha smiled and beckoned to Nolan, who joined her on the dais.

            “Everything set?” her husband asked after he dropped a kiss on her cheek. “No secret fairy blessings lurking behind the draperies?”

            Samantha playfully swatted him. “None that Talia has been able to detect. And I didn’t turn out so bad, did I?”

            Nolan smiled down at her. “Not after I educated you.”

            Samantha’s eyes shone back at him. “You’re lucky there are witnesses around right now,” she whispered in his ear. “I’ll have to get you for that later.”

            “Am I late?” an elderly fairy called out from the doorway in a high-pitched voice. “Oh, dear. I had such a good gift to give to the little princess!”

            “Hush your voice, Sophronia!” another fairy called out. “The baby’s sleeping! We all only arrived a minute ago. You have not missed anything.”

            “Hush yourself, Hazelora!” Sophronia grumbled as she found a chair.

            Talia shot a look at Samantha. “I don’t want to have a repeat of Osric and Elan,” the fairy murmured to the princess.

            “Let’s bring them to order and . . . you can charm them into silence if it gets out of hand,” Samantha said.

            King Bennett, Queen Adelaide, King Elden, and Queen Nadette made their way into the room, settling into the row of chairs set on the left side of the dais.

Samantha smiled at her parents and in-laws. King Bennett’s once red hair had now faded to gray but his mind was still as sharp as ever. King Elden walked a bit slower than he had before but his eyes sparkled merrily, especially when surrounded by his grandchildren. Adelaide and Nadette both had fine wrinkles around their eyes, a fact they lamented when they visited each other. We’re so blessed to have both of our parents, Samantha thought before standing next to Nolan at the side of the cradle.

            “Thank you for joining us today,” Nolan said in a clear voice that carried to the back of the chamber. “Our daughter, Princess Emmalyn Meredith Adelaide Chrysanthemum Talia of Mittra is to receive her fairy blessings today from this esteemed body of fairies. We thank you for being in attendance and blessing our child.”

            “You have all received a card with a number on it, and the blessing you will give to Princess Emmalyn Meredith. Will the fairy with the first blessing please step forward?” Talia asked with a smile.

            Alvara stood and a dazzling purple shimmer shone about her. “Princess Emmalyn Meredith, I bless you with the gift of confidence,” she said and then sat down.

            Talia glanced over to see the charmed quill writing out the blessing. Good, it still works. ”Number two?”

            Gelsey was a young fairy with a delicate lavender shimmer. “Little princess, I bless you with the gift of being a hard worker,” she said in a soft voice.

            The remainder of the gifts was given quickly. Laila gave the gift of languages, Hazelora gave the gift of being a graceful dancer, Alvin gave the gift of courage, Orin gave a strong sense of justice, Dain gave the ability to listen thoughtfully, Wyston gave the ability to be compassionate, Rhoslyn gave the gift of curly hair, and Lorelle gave the gift of long fingernails. Nolan raised his eyebrows towards his wife at the last gifts given and she rolled her eyes.

            “I let my mother and your mother each choose one,” Samantha explained in a whisper. “I thought it would help make up for my deficits.”

            Nolan had to hold his breath to keep from laughing while Talia called up the last fairy, Sophronia. The tiny fairy bobbed her way to the center of the room and smiled widely at the royal family on the dais.

            “I am number eleven! And I have written here a very worthy blessing, I must admit. I would have liked to have a blessing like this myself,” Sophronia bubbled, her shimmer a faint lilac surrounding her white hair. “I also must say how glad I am to be here and how honored I feel to be invited to a princess’ blessing ceremony! I know you could have invited someone else and yet you chose me! I was so excited that I decided to give the princess the gift of loving the color pink! Pink is a splendid color for any girl to wear, especially a princess.”

            The entire room was silent for a moment before the shouting began.

            “Did you really just bless the princess with a preference for a color?” Hazelora yelled, her shimmer sending out deep purple sparks. “You—you—I can’t even speak to you! What a disappointment!”

            “Do not yell at me! I am your older sister!” Sophronia squeaked back. “I think this is a better gift than long fingernails.”

            “The fingernails blessing was your mother’s choice,” Samantha murmured to Nolan as they watched the fairies yell back and forth.

            “What do we do now?” he asked Talia, who was staring out at the normally good tempered fairies with a look of amazement on her face.

            “I do not know,” she replied faintly.

~~~

THE HIDDEN BLESSING will be available very soon for you to buy! 
Add it to your Goodreads "to be read" pile. :)

Thanks for your support! <3

I met Lisa Schroeder and Lindsey Leavitt!!

I was able to go to a book signing in Santa Monica on Saturday and meet Lisa Schroeder and Lindsey Leavitt! They are both SO sweet and easy to talk to. We talked about writing, reading, Taylor Swift, kids...lots of things! I got many books signed by them and talked with them for about 45 minutes. If  you haven't read their books, do so! They both have MG (middle grade) and YA (young adult) titles available to read AND they both have new books coming out soon.

Lindsey Leavitt and Lisa Shroeder book signing!!

I'm planning to be at the book signing at Santa Monica Barnes and Noble on Saturday, August 4th to meet Lindsey Leavitt (Princess for Hire series) and Lisa Shroeder (It's Raining Cupcakes, several other titles)!

Yay for fabulous authors!!

Barnes and Noble - Santa Monica events