Kindle sales are skyrocketing, according to the latest word from Amazon.

In a letter to Kindle customers posted on its discussion boards, Amazon reports it has sold more of the newest version of the e-reader in the last 73 days than in all of 2009.

While not releasing exact numbers, Amazon also reports that the Kindle is far and away its bestselling gift item.

I’m one of those people who purchased a Kindle in the last couple of months. (OK, technically my husband bought it – for my birthday last month.)

I am a fan although I don’t think I will ever completely give up “real” books. Instead of replacing the paper books, I see the Kindle as a nice complement to them.

For one thing, I am a little put off by the price of ebooks. They cost about the same price as paper books. As I’ve noted before, it has got to be cheaper to produce ebooks, doesn’ it? I can’t bring myself to pay full price for an ebook. If I am going to pay $7 or $8 for a new release, I’ll still buy the paper version – at least for now.

The Kindle store is great for buying older books – especially ones you can’t find in the bookstores – which often cost about $4 or less. All of the classics are free, so that’s nice.

There are sometimes excellent deals on ebooks from debut authors. I just purchased Grace Burrowes new release The Heir  for $2.39. For those of who follow RWA chapter contests, Burrowes finaled in a ton of contests under the name Patricia Patton. It’s exciting to see that she is now being published. I look forward to reading her debut novel!

Writing With the Stars

Round Three of the Kensington Brava/RT Writing with the Stars contest is going on right now.

I am one of six remaining finalists in the national competition. The winner of the online voting contest will be published. But I can’t get there without lots of support because I am up against some very talented writers.

For this challenge, I had to write a back-of-the-book blurb. Agent Kristin Nelson does an indepth critique of each entry that you might find interesting.

Click here to check out all of the entries. I hope you will consider voting for my manuscript, Seducing Charlotte, a historical romance set against the backdrop of the dawning Industrial Revolution.

I promise voting is super quick and easy. You can click in, vote and be done in under a minute. No registration is required. Thank you!

It’s official. I’m a Kindle-ista. I received the latest generation of the e-reader for my birthday.

I’m still navigating my way through it. Initially, I was surprised to find the Kindle does not have a touch screen. However, my early impressions are definitely on the positive side.

It’s easy to use and does feel like you’re reading a regular book…only in a much cooler way! While it is strange not to have page numbers, there is a little bar at the bottom that tells me how far along I am in the book.  

I also got the saucy apple green leather cover with built-in book light, which works beautifully. I used it on the bus this morning and the entire “page” was nicely illuminated. (Yes, my commute starts so early even the sun hasn’t stirred yet.)  

I have to say the ebook prices are a surprise. I’ve just started shopping in the Kindle store but I can’t help wondering why the latest ebooks are about the same price as the paperbacks I usually pick up in the grocery store. It has got to be cheaper to sell books in e form –  without all the paper, printing and shipping costs.

But what do I know?

Prices on the older books aren’t bad, though. I just purchased Mary Jo Putney’s Carousel of Hearts in ebook form for just $4!

And a reminder…

Voting continues in the Kensington Brava/RT Writing With the Stars contest. I am one of eight remaining finalists in the national competition. The winner will be published…who knows…maybe in ebook form!

But I can’t get there without lots of support because I am up against some very talented writers. (Hopefully, one day we’ll all be published!)

Click here to check out all of the entries. I hope you will consider voting for my manuscript, Seducing Charlotte, a historical romance set against the backdrop of the dawning Industrial Revolution.

I promise voting is super quick and easy. You can click in, vote and be done in under a minute. No registration is required. Thank you!