Catherine Ryan Hyde's Blog, page 28

Holiday Gifts for Readers

I don't know if you've noticed this, but I tend to give a lot of stuff away for free. I think it's because I have so many lovely, faithful readers who I feel deserve the gifts.

This hit me rather suddenly this morning:

If you've followed my blog for a long time, you'll know that a little over two years ago, I closed out a storage space and brought the many, many cartons of books home to my garage. At first, they barely fit. So I started giving some away. I wrote a blog post asking readers to send me a self-addressed, stamped mail bag. And I sent them books. 

Now it's about to be the holidays. The books fit in my garage (barely). But there are still plenty. Stacks upon stacks of boxes. I don't travel and speak the way I used to, and I don't intend to die of old age with books in my garage. So...

Do you have readers on your Christmas list? Want to give them some signed first-edition hardcovers? And, you know what? If you don't have these books yourself, it's fine with me if you want them as a present for you. And both is fine, too, provided you don't mind covering the postage.

Here's what I have to spare: Funerals for Horses, Earthquake Weather and Other Stories, Electric God, Walter's Purple Heart and Love in the Present Tense. Requests for multiple books are fine.

Here's how to take me up on it:

Send me a self-addressed, padded mailbag. It will need to have enough postage to cover the books plus the bag itself from my zip code to yours. Some of the books are just over a pound, some just under, so figure it at one pound per book, and if you're a few cents off I'll take up your slack. (If you prefer, you can email me a list of the books you want, and I'll give you an exact weight.) You might want to put your own address as both the “to” and “from” on the mailbag, because if we make a postage mistake, it’ll come back to you instead of me. Tell me what books you want, and if you want them inscribed to someone. Send it to me at P.O. Box 552, Cambria, CA 93428.

That's it. No catch, no fine print. Just the spirit of the holidays, which I think...if I'm remembering correctly...is no-strings-attached giving.

I firmly believe that the purpose of a book is not to sit in a carton in a garage, its cover never cracked open. Books are meant to be read. So let's get them out there to be read for the holidays. 

One More Free Day!

In my most recent blog, I said my newest novel When You Were Older would be free yesterday (Nov 26) and today (Nov 27). But it's still right in the middle of doing what it does during a free promotion. It just this morning broke into the top 100 in Kindle Free.

I don't want to rush it.

So we're giving it one extra day. If you don't have your copy yet, you have through tomorrow, Wednesday November 28, to CLICK THIS LINK.

Remember you don't need a Kindle. There are free Kindle apps right on the book page in the above link. And also remember I'm having a giveaway for a $75 Amazon gift card, and I'll draw names from everyone who reviewed the book. So if you're inclined to review it (honestly--all reviews will enter you in the drawing, positive or not) on your blog or write an Amazon reader review, do come back and put your name in the running on my Gift Card Giveaway blog post.

Now go snag your free copy, and happy reading!

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When You Were Older Ebook Free

Today and tomorrow, Monday November 26th and Tuesday November 27th, the Kindle edition of my brand new novel When You Were Older is free to US readers.

And it's timed so you can pick up a free copy, then get in on the $75 Amazon gift card drawing if you decide to do an honest review on Amazon.com or your blog. Here's a link to the info on the gift card giveaway, or you can just scroll down to my next most recent post.

Hope you enjoy the book, and good luck!

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Gift Card Giveaway

This is two celebrations at once. I'm celebrating the release of my newest US novel, When You Were Older. And, as always, I'm celebrating reviewers. Because, really...where would an author be without reviewers? I'm talking about reviewers with book review blogs, but I'm also taking about readers who go out to Amazon or other bookselling sites and leave their honest thoughts about a book.

Between now and the 22nd of December, I'm going to hold a drawing for anyone who reads and reviews When You Were Older. I'll draw a winner at random on 12/22, and that reviewer will receive a $75 Amazon gift card (just in time for Christmas).

Here are some links to more information about When You Were Older, and to the book page on Amazon. 

I cannot stress the following too strongly: everyone who reviews the book will be entered into the drawing, not only the ones who praise it. There are no extra points in the contest for a great review. Say what you really think, and your name will be entered. I do want to see people post their opinions, but they have to be honest opinions. I would never try to constrain what reviewers say or reward glowing reviews only.

I'm also not doing this just to get a bunch of people to buy the book, because there will be two free promo days during this giveaway, at which time the ebook can be downloaded for free. And free Amazon Kindle apps make it a free offer whether you have an ereader or not. Watch this blog for the announcement of that free promo.  

Another very important note: after reviewing the book, you need to come back to my blog and leave a comment letting me know. Otherwise I may never see your review, and I definitely won't have your email address, which I'll need if you win. So do leave a comment below letting me know you reviewed the book and want to be included in the running for the gift card, and do enter your email address when you fill out the form. It won't show publicly (please do not enter it into the body of your comment, or it will) and I won't use it for anything else. I don't keep an email list and I don't contact my readers to try to sell them anything. I just put my news on this blog and on the social networks, and trust you know where to find me.

Thanks, and good luck!  

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Here's What's on Audible

The rise of Audible.com has made a lot of my older audio editions available again. In fact, Simon & Schuster even re-released the unabridged audio of Pay It Forward.

I only just recently found out how many of my titles really are available, so I'm passing the info along for any of my readers who enjoy Audible audiobooks. 

Click any of the images below to go to its Audible.com or Audible.co.uk page.

UK readers have the following titles to choose from:

     

US readers can choose from these titles (or download them all!):

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And Pay It Forward is available in the US in both an abridged and unabridged edition.

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Happy listening!

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Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio

On Tuesday, November 6th, Charley Johnson and I joined Lisa Cypers Kamen for a one-hour segment on Harvesting Happiness Talk Radio. For those of you who don't know Charley, he is president of the Pay It Forward Foundation and the inventor of the Pay It Forward bracelet. He also drives the movement through his website PIFExperience.org.

Now our segment is available as a podcast.

You can find it on the Toginet Radio list of recent podcasts under Tuesday November 6th, or on iTunes.

Or...here's a direct link to download the show.

Hope you enjoy.

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Lots. More. Announcements.

Most of you know by now that "the backlist is back." My earlier out-of-print novels (and one story collection)--Funerals for Horses, Earthquake Weather and Other Stories, Electric God and Walter's Purple Heart--are now available as Kindle ebooks. And through Saturday, they are free. A sort of introductory promotion, a way to let people know they're out there. And a way to say thank you to my faithful readers. So that's a reminder of a previous announcement. Many more details and all the links you'll need in my last blog post, The Backlist is Back! And Briefly Free!

There's more.

I have another frontlist title coming out in the US this month, When You Were Older. It will be a Kindle ebook and a paperback as well. Look for it around Thanksgiving. And, of course, watch this blog for updates.

There's still more.

Next year (which is not far away) Amazon publishing is re-releasing When I Found You, and bringing out a brand new frontlist title for US readers. It's called Walk Me Home, and I'll be creating a book page for it today. It's scheduled for publication on April 30th. Check it out by following the link. UK readers, it will be out with Transworld/Black Swan in the summer and is also available for preorder.

More news as it breaks! As I'm sure you've noticed, things are moving fast now, so please stay tuned!

The Backlist is Back! And Briefly Free!

They are here! A little later than I estimated, but we hit the right month.

My four older backlist titles—Funerals for Horses, Earthquake Weather and Other Stories, Electric God and Walter’s Purple Heart—are not only back, they’ve burst into the 21st Century. All four of these titles are now available as ebooks for what I feel is the reasonable price of (when not free as they are just about to be) $2.99 each.

“But I don’t have an ereader,” you say. Well, some of you say. Fewer and fewer. But still. You don’t need an ereader. You can download a free Kindle app for your computer or handheld device. Just follow the links to one of the book’s Amazon pages. You can download it right from that page.

“But I have a Nook or other non-Kindle ereader,” you say. I have this link to instruct you in how to convert the files using free software.

“But I love the feel of a physical book in my hands,” you say. Many people still do say that. My new “frontlist” ebook releases are available in paperback as well. Because I thought you might feel that way. Here’s why these four backlist titles are not: because there are still lots of hardcovers in circulation, and most are reasonably priced. So why offer you the option of a $15 paperback if you can get a like-new hardcover for a few dollars? If you’re not sure where, go to my book pages (on this site) for Funerals for Horses, Earthquake Weather and Other Stories, Electric God and Walter’s Purple Heart. There are buying buttons (on the right-hand sidebar) that will lead you to used copies.

So. You should rush right out and get these new e-editions for your Kindle (or Kindle app), right?

Maybe not. Maybe you should wait until tomorrow, October 30th. Because tomorrow all four books go on free promotion. Tuesday October 30th through Saturday November 3rd. So wait a day. Give your book budget a break.

If you’re a brand new reader of my work, think of it as four free samples. If you’ve been with me all along, think of it as a thank you. Well, four thank yous.

All the book titles and covers are links. Click away.

Hope you enjoy! 

Don't Let Me Go Blog Tour Wrap-Up

So, the Don't Let Me Go blog tour is officially over. I had fun, and I hope readers did, too. But I know a lot of you may not have followed all the individual stops. And it's not too late. See, this is what I love about blog tours. If you miss a stop on a live tour, you're out of luck. The event is over, the author is on a plane for home. But the reviews, fun posts, excerpts, interviews...they're still there. You can follow the tour after the fact.

You can use my list below for links to all the stops, and a little of what you'll find at each. Or you can go straight to the CLP Blog Tour page for a full list of links.

I'm still particularly fond of the character interview I did with Billy and Grace. In case you missed it. It's never too late!

#1: A terrific 5-star review on Chick Lit Plus 

#2: I had so much fun with this! I interview Billy and Grace. At the same time. On Chick Lit Club Connect.

#3: On Samantha March's blog, an interview and an excerpt from Don't Let Me Go.

#4: A nice review from Tea and Scribbles.

#5: Another terrific review! This time it's at Susan's blog The Book Bag. 

#6: Also a lot of fun for me. I do a guest post for Susan about hearing voices. 

#7 A review and excerpt at Storm Goddess Book Reviews.

#8: Also fun for me. A Q&A and excerpt at Mrs. Mommy Booknerd's.

#9: A review to die for! Someone loves Billy as much as I do. It's at Jessa Russo Writes.

#10: And this review is just lovely as well. It's at The Bookish Momma.

#11: This is a good one, in my opinion. Jersey Girl Book Reviews hosts a book excerpt, a photo essay I did about my writing space(s) and a great 5-star review.

#12: You've got to love a reviewer that rates your book 6 out of 5 stars, and that's what The Winey Mommy did.

Aaaaand...lucky #13: The DON'T LET ME GO blog tour officially wraps up with this great review from The East Village.

Thanks to CPL and all the wonderful bloggers!

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Two More Free Days for Two Ebooks!

In honor of the Don't Let Me Go blog tour, which is officially winding down to a close, the Kindle ebook of Don't Let Me Go is free on Amazon today. And tomorrow. But that's it. Just two days (because we had another free two days when we first launched the US edition). So definitely go get it now.

If you don't have a Kindle, no worries. Just go out to the Don't Let Me Go Amazon page and download the free Kindle app for your computer, tablet or phone. And if you have a Nook, or other non-Kindle ereader, you can find conversion instructions here.

So if you've been reading about it during the tour, or just hearing about the book in general, this is your chance. It's my gift to you. 

And on these same two days, Friday and Saturday, you can also get a free ebook of the how-to book for writers I co-authored with Anne R Allen, How to be a Writer in the E-Age...and Keep Your E-Sanity! If you aspire to be published, click the link and grab a copy.

And if you see this blog too late, these ebooks sell for $2.99 and $3.99 when not on promotion. One way or the other, it's not going to break your bankbook.

Let me know what you think! 

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