Kindle Skills - Zip Files

June 30, 2010 Cindy O'Neal

Lots of great books come in zipped files, files with a .zip extension. The .zip file format is a way to compress one (or many) files so they are quicker to download or send via email as one attached file instead of many. That's fine, but you can't just drag a .zip file over to the Documents folder of your Kindle and expect it to know what it is. 

Think of a .zip file as a glorified folder that has other files compressed inside it. You have to open that folder (decompress the files inside) in order to get to the good stuff. Once you do, you can then drag the final (unzipped) book files to the Documents folder of your Kindle.

Windows Computer:

Double click a .zip file and it will open in a new window with the files inside listed. Drag the file (or files) outside of the "zip folder" window and drop them on your Desktop (any blank area on your main screen). This action will cause the files to "unzip" or be "decompressed" during the process. What you will have on the desktop will be the "ready to use" file. If it is a book file for your Kindle (.txt, .mobi, .prc or .azw), this is what you can drag to the Documents folder on your Kindle.

Mac Computer:

I'm not sure how all Macs will handle a .zip file, but on my MacBook Pro with SnowLeopard, double clicking on a .zip file causes whatever files are in it to be "unzipped" or "decompressed" and placed in a nice neat folder with the same name. At that point, you can trash the actual .zip file. You don't need it any more. Open the folder and any or all files inside are ready to use or (if they are book files for your Kindle) dragged to the Documents folder on your Kindle.

Ask Mrs. Wizard:
Please send me a personal email (mrswizard@mrswizard.com) if you have any questions. I answer all my emails and am more than happy to help any time I can. Your questions mean a lot to me, and may even inspire an article that will help others and make this a more valuable resource to anyone who reads it.

Free on Amazon Today

Oh my!  These all sound like great reads... a little something for everyone. Enjoy!
Note: If you are reading this on your Kindle and want to get a book from the Kindle store now, type the title with your Kindle, then toggle your 5-way switch to the right until the word store is highlighted. Press in on it to search. When the title comes up, use the 5-way toggle switch to move around the book info area to read more about the book. Make sure it is still free (or an acceptable price) before finally pressing in on the 5-way switch to "buy" it. You can always press the back button (before you press buy) if you change your mind.

And remember... what is FREE today may not be FREE tomorrow, so get it while you can! 

	Eternal Hunter ~ Cynthia Eden
	No Mercy ~ John Gilstrap
	Tuscan Holiday ~ Holly Chamberlin
	Lakota Flower ~ Janelle Taylor

Kindle Skills - Back Up Your Kindle

June 29, 2010 Cindy O'Neal

Yes, Amazon does keep a copy of every book you purchased from them on the Amazon servers. If you delete any of those books from your Kindle, you can always redownload them from the Archives available on your Kindle. You can also go to your Account and Manage Your Kindle area on Amazon and resend any of the books in your archives to your Kindle.

Amazon does not keep a copy of any of your personal files, or books you have downloaded from other sources and just transferred to your Kindle via your USB cable. One of the nice things about the Kindle is that you can get books for free from many other sources and read them on your Kindle. Make sure you keep copies of your personal files and books you have obtained from sources other than Amazon in a special folder somewhere other than your Kindle. Make a folder on your Desktop, or in your My Documents folder. Name it anything you want, but use it as your main storage area for your non-Amazon ebooks.

You can also create a folder on your computer and the next time you have your Kindle connected to your computer via the USB connector, left click and drag the entire contents of your Kindle to it. This will copy all the folders to your backup folder, leaving the originals on the Kindle. I do this at least once a month so the files on my computer reflect the Kindle files relatively currently. You just never know.

Free on Amazon Today

Note: If you are reading this on your Kindle and want to get a book from the Kindle store now, type the title with your Kindle, then toggle your 5-way switch to the right until the word store is highlighted. Press in on it to search. When the title comes up, make sure it is still free (or an acceptable price) before finally pressing in on the 5-way switch to "buy" it. You can always press the back button (before you press buy) if you change your mind.

And remember... what is FREE today may not be FREE tomorrow, so get it while you can!



The Heir ~ Paul Robertson

A Reader Review:
Whew! I'm exhausted as I close The Heir. The Boyer family's trials and tribulations went from exhilaration and joy to despair and sadness--and finally hope that the right thing would be done.

Murder and money, power and politics, and family and the obligations that bring, all tie up this story in a neat bundle.

Not only is first-time author Paul Robertson a darn good storyteller, filing pages with intrigue and twists, he also does a good job of telling it. A dozen of his sentences were so powerful, so visual, so telling, I had to write them in my own journal to read again later.

The Boyer boys' mother died when they were 5 and 3, so Eric has no memory of her, and Jason's are sketchy. When their father soon remarried, the boys were off to boarding school and hardly knew their father.

Jason, 28, and brother Eric, 25, have been living off their fathers' monthly gifts. Jason has been married three years and wife Katie loves to spend money. Eric spends all he gets, and more, and is floating through life with no goals but a new car or bike.

Jason Boyer becomes a billionaire at the suspicious death of his father, power broker in both business and politics. However, Jason knows one thing: He does NOT want anything to do with his father's businesses--and is in shock to realize his responsibilities. After some deep thought, he decides to "do the right thing" and make some of his father's underhanded dealings public, regardless of who gets hurt. He has many advisors, but he doesn't know whom to trust--and neither do we as the clues send us astray. We are as ignorant as Jason is.

Murders are plentiful and all clues point to Jason as the murderer. Although this is considered a mystery, this is really a "study of people," and how they are changed, both bad and good, by money, greed, power and position.

Throughout the book, Jason keeps asking "Why am I here?" and at the end, he knows why--that God has enlisted him to do something his father couldn't.

Armchair Interviews says: The Heir is a powerful first novel of hope and redemption that follows murder and mayhem.

Kindle Skills - File Types

June 28, 2010 Cindy O'Neal

File Types for the Kindle:
These are the file types you can drag straight to your Kindle Documents folder with no conversion necessary. Any other file types either won't work, or must be converted.

• .txt
• .azw
• .prc
• .mobi
• .pdf - since the latest update your Kindle will show these Acrobat pdf files... not bad, but still not quite ready for prime time in most instances.

You must be able to see the file extensions on your computer in order to know what kinds of files you are dealing with. The file extension is the text to the right of the . (dot) at the end of a file name, and is probably the most important part of a file name.

If you are not able to see your file extensions (Windows), here is how to fix your computer.

Windows XP:

• Open the Documents folder on your computer.
• Click the word Tools, then Folder Options at the top of that window.
• Click the View tab in the Folder Options dialog box and scroll down until you see the words Hide Extensions for known file types.
• Make sure there is not a check next to those words. If you see a check, click in the box so it goes away.
• Click OK to lock in your changes
• You now have the Adult view of file extensions for your computer.

Windows Vista or 7:

• Open the Documents folder on your computer (click the start button, then click Documents to open)
• At the top of the Documents window, click the word Organize, then Folder and Search Options
• Click the View tab at the top of the Folder Options dialog box and scroll down until you see the words Hide extensions for known file types.
• Make sure there is not a check next to those words. If you see a check, click in the box so it goes away.
• Click OK to lock in your changes
• You now have the Adult View for the files on your computer.

Mac Tiger or Leopard:

• From your main screen click the word Finder (to the right of the Apple icon)
• When the Finder Preferences dialog box opens, make sure there is a check next to Show all filename extensions and Show warning before changing an extension
• Congratulations! You now have the adult view for your files.

Kindle Skills - Samples

June 27, 2010 Cindy O'Neal

Not Sure? What if it sucks?

Take advantage of Amazon's FREE SAMPLES of any Kindle book for sale. Just below the Buy with 1 Click area is the Try it free area. Choose which Kindle you want it delivered to (if you have multiple devices registered with your account), then click the Send sample now button. Before you know it, your Kindle will have a nice little sample waiting for you to peruse. You ought to be able to tell pretty quickly if the book is a keeper or not worth your time to read, much less take up space on your Kindle. If you decide you want it, there is a handy little link via the Menu button (while you have the book open) to instantly purchase the book.

If you no longer want it contaminating your little machine, toggle to the title with your 5-way switch from the Home screen, then when the title is underlined, toggle your switch to the left and press in to Delete it. It will disappear from your Kindle and no one will ever need to know. If it is a terrific beginning and you want the rest of it, toggle the switch to the right to Purchase it right away.

YOU are the boss, and it is just that easy!

Kindle Skills - Password Protect Your Kindle

June 26, 2010 Cindy O'Neal

Yes, you can password protect your Kindle if you have the latest update. Here's how you can tell if you have the capability:

• With the Kindle on the Home screen, press the Menu button
• Scroll down (with the 5-way switch) to Settings and press in to select
• In the Settings screen, you should see Device Password at the bottom of the list. Scroll down until the words turn on is underlined (selected) and press in on the 5-way switch to select
• A Set Password dialog will appear. Enter the password you want to use, Type it again to confirm it.
• Enter a password hint to help you remember it
• Select Submit when finished

password notes: Once you have your password created, your Kindle will be protected. No one will be able to use your Kindle without entering the correct password. This includes you, so don't use the password feature if you have memory issues. If you forget your password, the only remedy is to reset your Kindle, which will also remove all content to prevent other people from accessing it. Not pretty.

If you forget your password, move the 5-way controller down to view your password hint. Your Kindle will also give you the Kindle Support phone number so we can help reset your Kindle password.

If you lose your Kindle and you don't have it password protected, you can always go to your Amazon account on the web and Deregister your Kindle. This will divorce it from your account so whoever has it won't be able to purchase any new books. Unfortunately, they would have access to any books you already have on your Kindle. Then you can contact Amazon Customer Support and (I think) they can really render it useless. Click the word Help at the top right of the account area on Amazon. Navigate to the Kindle help area and look for a Contact Us button. It should be in the Self Service area on the right side of the web page. Amazon will phone you immediately. They are an amazing help resource.

Free on Amazon Today

June 25, 2010 Cindy O'Neal

You will not believe the sheer number of promotional titles available (all for adult readers except one) today. If you like hot and steamy ... this one's for you!

Note: If you are reading this on your Kindle and want to get a book from the Kindle store now, type the title with your Kindle, then toggle your 5-way switch to the right until the word store is highlighted. Press in on it to search. When the title comes up, make sure it is still free (or an acceptable price) before finally pressing in on the 5-way switch to "buy" it. You can always press the back button (before you press buy) if you change your mind.

And remember... what is FREE today may not be FREE tomorrow, so get them while you can! 

	In Between: A Katie Parker Production (Act I) ~ Jenny B. Jones This is the only one in the batch that is suitable for younger readers. The rest? Well I didn't want any of my readers to think I was holding out... read em at your own risk (hehehe). The price is certainly right and they are certainly worth checking out to see if there are any you might like to have.
	Seychelles Sunset ~ Lynne Connolly
	Scoring ~ Mari Carr
	Sin Eater ~ Evangeline Anderson
	Door Prize ~ Lynn LaFleur
	Erotique ~ Nicole Austin
	Master's Thief ~ Nicole Austin
	Eland ~ Allyson James
	First Taste ~ Paisley Smith
	Changing Perspective ~ Marilu Mann
	Just Like Old Times ~ Hetty St. James
	Shapeshifter's Craving ~ Lee Pearce
	Wild Woman ~ Cara Lyle
	Goodbye Blues, Hello Love ~ Christie Walker Bos
	Her Very Special Robot ~ Ann Jacobs
	Take Me ~ Grace Samuels
	Kayla's Birthday Present ~ Ashlyn Chase
	The Bad Widow ~ Barbara Elsborg
	Interlude in Pearl ~ Emily Ryan-Davis
	Unexpected Comfort ~ Kelly Ferjutz
	Stakeout for Love ~ Christie Walker Bos
	Playing Hardball ~ Madison Hayes
	Maui Heat ~ Ari Thatcher
	Tween Hopeful and Hopeless ~ Sam Cheever
	Hot Moon Rising ~ Desiree Holt
	Peak Energy ~ Afton Locke
	Better Late Than Never ~ Savannah Stuart
	Red Satin ~ Barbara Miller
	Nocked for a Loop ~ Sam Cheever
	Spirit's Release ~ Tea Trelawny
	Song of the Swan ~ Kelly Ferjutz
	Desire in the Dark ~ Naima Simone
	Saturday Night Fever ~ Ciana Stone
	Larkspur ~ Anny Cook
	Hot for the Reunion ~ Ann Jacobs
	Not Just an Orgy ~ Sally Painter
	Message for Minerva ~ Jean Hart Stewart
	Danu, The Return ~ Sally Painter
	Tessa's Ambassador ~ Cyna Kade
	Waiting at Eros ~ Rosemary Laurey
	His Voice, His Command ~ Vonna Harper
	Haunted by the Past ~ Riley Ashford
	The Next Big Thing ~ Madelle Morgan
	Hunting Evander ~ Kim Knox
	Christmas Scandal-Not! ~ Jeanne Savery