Comments on: Tuesday Night Links Round Up: Jessica says categories are the Iron Chef of romances

By: Scott

Scott — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:36:28 +0000

@Moriah Jovan: You're exactly right that the content is still protected. However, there is an important distinction between proprietary file format and proprietary DRM protection. In fact, the post goes on to state: "Fear of lock-in may cause many consumers to move to a more open system, but Sony's new platform is susceptible to many of the same negative consequences as Amazon's. Sony's power over content has not disappeared -- it has simply been transferred to Adobe."

By: samanthadelayed

samanthadelayed — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 23:15:25 +0000

9 Bonus Bucks for the Harlequin bag and I only have 8 bonus bucks… time to place another order I guess. :)
Thanks for the info MaryK

By: Moriah Jovan

Moriah Jovan — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:11:43 +0000

@GrowlyCub:

If it doesn’t have DRM, change the file extension to .ZIP, extract the files, click the OPS folder. There should be one or a bunch of HTML files there, by chapter.

I don’t know what to do for one with DRM, and Sony will be using Adobe’s DRM scheme on most of their books (if not all). I doubt they’ll list which ones are secure and which aren’t.

By: Kalen Hughes

Kalen Hughes — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:19:47 +0000

So, I guess the question is, is there software to convert and edit epub files?

I found some kind of python-thing-a-ma-jig (after discovering a book I wanted only came in Kindle and ePub, and my CyBook can’t use those), but I can’t say I was happy with the results. Oh sure, all the words were there, but the formatting was lost. It was a hot mess and a real pain to slog through . . .

By: TerryS

TerryS — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:01:31 +0000

I hate to be a pessimist here, but Sony has a long history of making great, GREAT products then abandoning said products when they don’t provide the expected market share in a timely enough manner. Changing to epub is good for ebook readers in that their ebooks purchased to read on a Sony reader won’t be just a memory of good things gone forever (I’ll be generous here and say “if” and not “when”) if Sony again lives up to their history and abandons the Sony reader.

By: GrowlyCub

GrowlyCub — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:24:22 +0000

While I like the idea of having fewer formats, I’m not sure I’m happy about the epub thing. I really like converting to .rtf because that allows me to blow up the font beyond what the 505 and the publisher allow and to edit out all the superfluous info (excerpts, publishing info, etc.). I hate nothing more than thinking there’s another 40 pages to go only to realize nope that was the last sentence of the book and the rest is other stuff. Really bugs me!

So, I guess the question is, is there software to convert and edit epub files?

By: RStewie

RStewie — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:04:36 +0000

That quote from Never Love a Lawman was full of win. I’m looking forward to reading that review, AND that book.

And I’m Very Happy about the Sony/ePub dealio. I’ve talked to a couple people at work (mostly IT people, actually) about it, and we all agreed that it was a great step in the right direction for Sony (and the ePublishing world, in general…hopefully more will follow in their footsteps). One thing that did come up, though, was that evidently the Apple Tablet is the way to go if you’re a magazine ereader? I’m not, but it sounds like that’s one of the most attractive things about the Apple tablet.

By: Jane

Jane — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:03:48 +0000

@katiebabs: Nope, no incest. I don't think every Goodman book has incest in it. She often writes about abuse. The two main characters have some tragedy in their past but no real abuse and definitely no incest. @KristieJ: I think you will love it. @Jessica: I can't remember if you've read Goodman, but I certainly think this Western is a decent place to start.

By: Jessica

Jessica — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:37:57 +0000

Oh, I am so glad someone appreciated my joke! Thank you!

And all these Western Week posts have really got me thinking “need more cowboy”. I am so appreciating being introduced to a “subgenre” I know nothing about.

By: KristieJ

KristieJ — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 04:50:24 +0000

Ooooohhh Jane – Thanks for the shout out!!!
I’ll be waiting eagerly to see what you think of Jo Goodman’s Western. I’ve been waiting with bated breath to read this one!!

By: MaryK

MaryK — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 04:24:18 +0000

The eHarlequin site has a "Bonus Bucks" program, and one of the things you can get is the 60th anniversary tote bag.

By: katiebabs

katiebabs — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:28:03 +0000

Every single Goodman book I have read has some sort of incest in it. Is there any in Never Love a Lawman?

By: Moriah Jovan

Moriah Jovan — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:23:39 +0000

By abandoning its proprietary file format and instead selling only ePub content,

Dang it, I wish they’d stop phrasing it so people think their ePub files aren’t locked down.

By: Keira Soleore

Keira Soleore — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:20:09 +0000

I’m putting in a bid for a copy of Jo Goodman’s in early. Me! Me! O pick me! Ahem.

By: SonomaLass

SonomaLass — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:18:34 +0000

LOL @ “Where’s my coffee mug?” That’s exactly what I said! But it is awesome that so soon after we started Jones-ing for vintage cover art merchandise, the awesome Harlequin folks made it happen. WTG!!

Thanks for the heads-up on the Jo Goodman giveaway! I ♥ her books.