Scribd! is a newish service much like Netflix for books. You can read as many ebooks as you like for $8.99 a month. I've already read a couple like Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell and The Selection by Kiera Cass.
I only discovered the service after Smashwords announced an agreement with Scribd! and moved its collection over.
Also on the Smashwords front, they now have an agreement with Overdrive, the mammoth service that allows library patrons to borrow ebooks and electronic audiobooks. I use it often. My book has not been sent yet to the service, but it's waiting to be shipped.
I think those two deals are great news for independent publishers and helps authors reach a whole new market, especially library patrons.
Of my two books, Cursed does OK everywhere but at Amazon, while New Parent Survival Guide is only available through Amazon because I wanted it enrolled in the KDP Select program. I had lots of people borrow the book through the Amazon Prime program rather than buy it, which netted me more money. But I am now considering making it available on other sites as it is no longer a Select choice.
My next announcement is I am doing final edits on Evolution, my epic dystopian novel that reads a bit like Stephen King's The Stand mixed with the now defunct television show Heroes. You can read a sample on my website.
And lastly, Game of Thrones.
I've read all the books by George RR Martin and am now caught up with the television series. I am conflicted. I think HBO did a fabulous job on season one, that's what got me to read the books. The episodes stuck very close to the book and so I assumed the rest of the seasons would too. That hasn't happened as much and maybe that's a good thing.
By deviating from the books, the television producers have accelerated some storylines (Sansa in the Erye) and slowed some down (Joffrey's assassination).
The fourth season is still comprised much of book three, a Storm of Swords, but has chunks from book four, A Feast for Crows.
I will be completely honest here. I can't remember everything that happened in the books. It's been three years since I read A Dance with Dragons and Martin's books are so full of intricate details, it's hard to remember what happened when.
I want to say that everything going on with Jon Snow and the Night's Watch happened in book four and that Snow didn't even make an appearance in book three, but again, I can't really remember. I do know that Snow never raided Craster's nest to kill the rogue Night's Watch members. I thought they were all dealt with by the Others/White Walkers.
With the producers changing stories and making up new scenes, it helps make the series a little less predictable for book fans and I think that's good. It makes some plot turns unexpected and that keeps me watching, waiting to see what's new. That can only be good for the show and its fans, book or television.
