How to Manually Side-Load an Ebook Onto Your E-reader

[Anna]

One of the perks at Goodreads is a lot of times authors will offer you a free ebook in exchange for a fair review. However, usually they can only offer those books for free if they either email it to you, or send you to a website you might be unfamiliar with to cash in a Coupon Code. It may take you a few minutes to learn how to do this the first time, but once you learn, there are quite literally thousands of awesome free ebooks.


OBTAINING YOUR FREE & LEGAL EBOOK:

Method 1: author emails you a free ebook. Save it.

Method 2: author sends you a Coupon Code to Smashwords, a reader-friendly ebook platform. Here is how to access that coupon code:

1. Go to book page link of free/discounted ebook. Smashwords is at www.smashwords.com

2. Click 'Buy'

3. Enter the COUPON CODE into the coupon box.

4. Click 'apply coupon.' Book will zero out $0.00.

5. Click 'checkout.'

6. It will bring you to a page called 'checkout completed.' It's easiest to access your download by clicking the name of the book Earth. This will bring you back to the book page (or simply re-click the link above).

7. Beneath the book blurb a little yellow line of options will appear (.epub, .mobi/kindle, .pdf, other). Select the option which is best for you. You want to SAVE the file. It should go into your downloads folder on your device.


SIDELOADING YOUR NEW E-BOOK:

What intimidates most people is manually 'sideloading' an ebook onto their e-reading device. Most device manufacturers want to 'lock' you into their platform so you only buy from them and not their competitors (i.e., they discourage you from shopping elsewhere for a better price). However, there are ways around it. The first time you ever sideload an ebook will take a few moments; however, once you learn it becomes automatic. Don't allow yourself to be herded into a single shopping universe! Ever! Always know how to take your business elsewhere.

My own personal ebook management software of choice is to use Calibre on my desktop. It's open-source and FREE: http://calibre-ebook.com/

Here is a link to some step-by-step blogs:

Dropbox method: http://blog.smashwords.com/2013/11/sm...
Kindle (email method): http://dearauthor.com/ebooks/dear-jan...
Kindle Fire (video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-Y3G...
Nook Simple Touch/Other Open Source e-readers: http://anna-erishkigal.blogspot.com/2...
iPad: http://dearauthor.com/ebooks/how-do-i...
Android: http://help.creatavist.com/sideloading
Kobo: http://www.cherilasota.com/how-to-sid...


URF! I BOUGHT AN EBOOK FROM SOMEPLACE AND IT HAS DRM!!!

There is a Calibre plug-in to strip DRM from a legally purchased e-book. However, since it's not legal to use it in some countries (even though you BOUGHT the ebook), rather than risk putting myself into hot water, I'll send you to a website to learn more about it: http://www.epubor.com/calibre-drm-rem...

And remember ... scoring great free ebooks is one of the huge benefits of belonging to Space Opera Fans. Learn how to free yourself from clunky attempts by different device sellers to 'lock' you into their platform. After all ... it's YOUR ebook ... you just bought it or agreed to do an R2R to earn it!

Happy reading!
MOD-Anna

[Walt]

I use the Box/Dropbox method to load books on Ipad. I've stopped bothering to sync them via ITunes-- that's a monotonous procedure at best.

[Anna]

Hopefully the link I posted is helpful? I don't own an iPad, I only know I've had to help friends sideload books onto them and this tutorial is helpful.

I've never used a distribution platform to direct-load books onto my Nook because I don't like being told I have to buy from only one place and I don't want their nosy software poking into my reading habits. Everything I own is sideloaded via Calibre. If it's locked down with DRM, then I simply go to my library and borrow the paper edition for free.