So after I got my Nook Tablet, it seemed like a good idea to download a couple of e-books onto it (so that the Beneficent Mr. Hall wouldn’t accuse me of just getting a Nook so I could play all those nifty game apps. ) Trouble is, I’m…oh, what’s the word?

Cheap. Yeah, that about sums up my spending habits when it comes to books. Which is not to say I don’t buy books. I most assuredly do. I buy my author friends’ books ALL THE TIME. And quite honestly, I need to quit making so many author friends. Anyway, the point is, I decided to look for e-books that were free.

And here’s what I found: a veritable treasure trove of sample books! What a brilliant idea! Publishers produce an e-book that includes 5 to 6 of their authors who’ve recently released books. Let’s see…there was Get Your Book On (Simon and Schuster Younger Readers), and Coolest Chapter Books for Kids and  Awesome Adventures for Kids ( Harper Collins Publishers), Hunger for Dystopian (also Harper Collins), and The Penguin Holiday Sampler (Penguin Publishing), and the list goes on and on.

These sample books are perfect for keeping up with what’s being written in your genre. And all that wonderful writing craft will sink in, and you’ll be a better writer! Or you could just read ’em for the pure joy of reading.

Of course, there’s always the risk that you’ll love what you’re reading and absolutely have to read the rest of the story (as Paul Harvey would say) right that minute. Digital books make that possible–and if you’re a publisher, that’s exactly the point. Giving away fiction samples may hook a reader who loves what he/she has tasted.

Which brings me to one of my favorite books that just happens to have one of my essays in it: Flashlight Memories (Silver Boomer Books). Starting at midnight January 16th till midnight of January 17th, the Kindle book will be free! So for 24 hours, you can get the whole book, FREE!

Now, don’t worry if you don’t have a Kindle. You can download the Kindle app (also free) for your computer. And then you can read “A Pickle for a Nickle”  in Flashlight Memories. Plus, you’ll find lots of other wonderful essays about the joy of reading in your free e-book.

And if you happen to spread the word to friends–and they decide to buy Flashlight Memories, well, that would be great. And so much better than wasting money on game apps. Ahem.