474 Authors Give Kindle Book Gifts for the Troops - Operation eBook Drop

[Edward C. Patterson]

Original Post:
Today on Amazon I bumped into Joe Terry, a soldier currently serving in Iraq, who was explaining that he had a Kindle without Whispernet, but used a router to get purchased books onto a computer and then used the USB connection to his Kindle. I suddenly had a thought (being a citizen who benefits from Joe Terry's service and a veteran) that I should make contact with him and gift him my entire Kindle library of 13 books. He accepted gratefully and off they went this morning in a nice 3 MB zip file. I also asked Joe Terry of he knew any other service personnel in Iraq with Kindles, suggesting that other Indie authors might want to gift books to our brave men and women in the Armed forces. I am awaiting his response. Still, I would like to ask the authors here if they would be willing to gift some books for at least my one contact, and perhaps more. It's just the kernel of an idea, and as such I have created a poll, which anyone can take to validate whether it would be a worthwhile effort.

And then what happened:
The Indie authors here on Kindleboards and other Networks came together and made this happen. Now we have a few troops (and gorwing) on the list, but we have 474 authors and a library of over 400 books for the Kindle going out to any deployed Armed Forces member with a Kindle who requests this gift. At this point, I'd like to list the participating authors: (In no particular order)

Maria E Schneider
Kristen Tsetsi
L.K. Campbell
Elmore Hammes
E.J. Ruek
Leslie Nicholl
Jim Chambers
Kelly Abell
Chuck Austen (Illustrator)
William Woodall (Bluearkasascowboy)
Lloyd Lofthouse
L C. Evans
R. J. Keller
Laura Eno
Moriah Jovan
Andrew Kent
Marva Dasef
Al Past
E. Patrick Dorris
Trish Lamoree
Stanley Morriss
K. Raven Rozier
Sharon Cathcart
Alan Baxter (Australia)
Susan Helene Gottfried
Brendan Carroll
Lisa Pietsch
Joshua T. Calkins-Treworgy
Eugene Docema
S.A. Rule (UK)
Holly Christine
Joe Cottonwood
Sarah Barnard (UK)
Jacamo Petersen
Mike Monahan
Randy Lalonde (Canada)
Joan Szechtman
Wally Rabbani
Belinda D'Alessandro (Australia)
Olin Thompson
Jeff Hepple
Jim Chambers
Linda Welch
Arlene Radasky
Richard Gerard
Stephen Goldin
Dan Holloway
K. L. Brady
Douglas Moore
Sondi Miller
Margaret Lake
Jerry Travis
LK Gardner-Griffie
Bill Dyer
Paul Clayton
Alan Hutcheson
Rhonda Carpenter
Leah McDaniel
Ricky Sides
David Bowles
Richard Turner
Lillie Ammann
Lila Pinord
Sheryl Nantus
Yale Jaffe
Patricia Eytcheson Taylor
Rev. Dr. James C. Taylor
Jeffrey Lynn Stoddard
Rebecca J. Vickery
Rita Hestand
LK Hunsaker
Stephanie Kelsey (Mojocastle Press)
Cindy Jackson
Arne Bue
Robert Williams
Miss Mae
Charles Schwartz
Stacy Sorells
Mary E. Coe
A. Sparrow
Cleo Dunnit
Carolyn Kephart
Chris Sullivan
Glenn Thater
Tammy Suto
Gayla Drummond
Kiya Stronghold
Rye James
Rai Arran
Ben Douglass
Ken McConnell
J. M. Snyder
Rex Bromfield
Jim Donovan
Dory Lee Maske
Ron Simpson
Shelagh Watkins
Lorraine Mabbett
Leo Vine Knight
Sandra Tooley
Graham Storrs
Magnolia Belle
Serafima Bogomolova
Dai Alayne
Elizabeth Agiantritis
Chris Northern
Stephen Shore
Anne Frasier
Chelle Cordero
Dennis Leger
Steven H. Jackson
Dan Ford
Rick Zabel
Victoria Howard
Molly Wens
Aimee Tronstad
R. N. Matos
Malcolm Campbell
Sandy Nicks
Christina Acosta
Collin Kelley
Anne Patrick
Steve Jordan
RE Conary
Sally Sapp Olson
Nan Hawthorne
Jack Dixon
Hilary C.T. Dixon
Julie W. Buscher
Gary A. Ballard
Nicole Hadaway
J. Dean
Kris Jackson
Henry Baum
Stephen F. Anderson
David Sartof
Jeff Lyon
Kathy Bell
Debbi Mack
Dave Conifer
Alex Stone
Gabriel Landowski
Gregory Mose
Rebecca Foote
Marion Stein
Robin Sullivan
Nathan Henrion
Don Keeler
Tim Hobbs
Ken Kuhlken
Patricia Emmert
Gayle Wigglesworth
Liam James Leaven
Aggie Villanueva
Wendy Dagar
Wendy Dashwood-Quick
Nancy Kaiser
Ed Dean
Joe gribble
Raven West
Rob “Diesel” Kroese
Amber Dawn
Alon Shalev
Dawn Farnham
Larry Chace
Meredith Morgan
Pat Ritter
Andrew Kooman
Larry Ketchersid
Vicki Tyley
K. L. Romo
Penumbra Publishing
Matthew Murphy
Genie Discoll
Joseph Picard
Andy Parker
James Fink
Genieve Dawkins
Dennis Biby
Neil Ayres
J. Guevara
Nancy MacCreery
Alison Pensy
Svetlana Kovalkova-McKenna
Clayton Spann
Elissa Malcohn
Harry Hayoka
Richard Denning
Sandy Nathan
Abner Gopher
Laurence Maroney
Ron Keys
Jess C. Scott
Alice Luchhardt
Lisa Liebow
Mike Mefford
Julie Powell
Lisa Hinsley
David Atkinsen
Maria Hooley
Ginger Henderson
Scott Collins
Angela Wilson
Richard West
Adele Clagett
Kathleen Valentine
Lee Shilo
Tommie Lyn
Leigh Cunningham
Jeanne Haskins
Melanie Nowak
Alaric Adair
Jude Stephens
Henry Lara
S.K.S. Perry
Dana Donovan
Perry Perkins
Todd Doyle
Robin Reed
Wendy Potocki
Olivia Darnell
Greg Woodard
Charmaine Gordon
Tim Baker
Frances Hunter
Tim Baker
Frances Hunter
Jenna Anderson
Maggie Ball
Christopher Meeks
Nicky Testaforte
Richard R. Dillard
Sue Lange
Darcia Helle
Chris Dolley
John Low
Derek Ciccone
Rebecca Heath
Joe Rose
Gregory B. Banks
Untreeds Reads Publishing
Maureen Miller
Toni Stein
R.J. Archer
T.R. Braxton
T. R. Braxton
Debra Diaz
Launa McNeilly
Bill Flynn
Jason Halstead
Elisabetta Benedetti
Stephen Schochet
Carol Hanrahan
Jerry Bruce
John Rose
David Wilson
Delle Jacobs
David Griffiths
Larry Harrison
Winslow Eliot
William Campbell
David Mason
Ellen O’Connell
Val Edward Simone
Veronica Purcell
Ami Blackwelder
Helen Snith
Lizanne Aponte-Hudo
Greg Smith
Maxine Flam
HL Montgomery
K.L. Nappier
Dick Stanley
Tom Upton
J.L. Penn
Will Patterson
Cliff Bell
Billy Young
Ron Gompetz
Sally Drumm
Jon F. Merz
Latoya A. Baker
Jasmine Giacomo
Tabatha Haddrix
Eric Krause
Heather Wardell
Libby Hellmann
Cheryl Tardif
John O'Dowd
Kelly Lee
Catherine Dudley
Sylvia Engdahl
Tom Fahy
Susan Gratton
Zoe Winters
Eric Dontigney
Alan Tucker
Terri Gimes
Scott Collins
Jacob M. Drake
Michaelbrent Collings
Jack Sorenson
Jane Sutton
Mark Cotton
Florida Town
Paul J. Farrell
Jeff Andrus
Dawson Vosburg
Brian Lawrenceson
Dawn McCullough-White
Kristen Hoffman
Tracey Ali
Marilyn lewis
JM DeBord
Kevin Guest
Karen Cantwell
R E Conary
Rye Dano
David McAfee
Imogen Rose
Latrivia S. Nelson
Daniel Arenson
A.J. Davidson
Pat Ryan
Chris Patermoster
Birrell Walsh
Rylie Hamilton
Nina Pierce
Joel Arnold
Zapstone1
Rottloon
Sally Dunn
Scott Evans
Rick Stevens
Shayne Parkinson
Kurt Hargan
Susan Schoeffield
P.A. Woodburn
Michael Blakind
Tonya Plank
Julie Titus
Carol Hightshoe
William Welton
Thea Nillson
A. C. Houston
J. L. Rehman
John Blackwell
Jeffrey Freidberg
Lexi Revillian
Luna Lindsey
David LaGraff
Frank Zubek
Terry Jo Brock
L.C. Cooper
&
Edward C. Patterson

The Authors of Mojocastle Press (Stephanie Kelsey Editor-in-Chief)
=================================================
Anita Saran
Auburnimp
B.L. Foxxe
Brenda Williamson
Carys Weldon
Celine Chatillon/Cynthianna
Chrissie Bentley
Dana Erikson
Deborah Cholette
D.J. Manly
Devyn Quinn
Evelyn Starr/Kay LeGrand
Helen E.H. Madden
Hollie Davidson/Ruby Christine
Jade Morrison
Jackie Rose
K.A. M'Lady
Kirstin South
K.Z. Snow
Lizzy Snapp
Morgan Hawke
Michael Barnette
Penny Ash
P.S. Haven
Randy Dale King
Sandy Lynn
Shari Dare
Teresa Lamai
Terri J. Lynn
Terri Pray
Timothy D. Kelley


The Authors of Noble Romance Publishing (Jill Noble Editor-in-chief)
================================================
Adrienne Bishop
AJ Michaels
Aleksandr Voinov
Allure Van Sanz
Amber Skyze
Anna O'Neill
Anne Cain
AP Miller
B. B. Roberts
Barbara Sheridan
Anne Cain
Bryl R. Tyne
Cait Braxton
Cassidy McKay
CJ Black
Collette Thomas
Dee Carney
Dena Celeste
Ericka Scott
Erika Gilbert
Etienne D'Artagnan
G.R. Bretz
H. C. Brown
Jaye Valentine
Jenna Byrnes
Jill Noelle
Jude Mason
Keta Diablo
Kris Eton
L. Shannon
Lee Hudson
Lex Valentine
Lolita Lopez
Martin Delacroix
Mary Winter
Mina Carter
Moira Rogers
Phoebe Madison
Reese Johnson
Rhian Cahill
Rie McGaha
Stormy Glenn
Summer Alan
Tara S. Nichols
Terri Pray
Tracey H. Kitts
Vivian Arend
Wendy Stone

The Authors of All Romance eBooks & OmniLit.com (Cat Johnson, editor in Chief)
============================================================
Authors will be added shortly

The Authors of Vanilla Heart Publishing
============================
Victoria Howard
Chelle Cordero
Sandy Nicks
Smoky Trudeau
Collin Kelley
Kate Evans
Malcolm Campbell
Marilyn Celeste Morris
Kimberly McKay
K.D. Richardson
Misha Crews
Robert Hays
Jeffrey Martin
Eva Gordon
Vila SpiderHawk

The Authors of eXcessica
===================
Authors to be added

The Authors of Solstice Books
======================
Gary Dobbs
Chris Golliday
Melissa Golliday
Kerri Nelson
Kiss Carson
Kelly Abell
Melissa Miller
Lizzy Stevens
Frank Allen Rogers
Bryan Smith
Mary Collins
Steve Bederman
Chastity Bush
Jude Stephens
Karen Lewis
Susanna Hargreaves
Denyse Bridger
Martina Mercer




AND NOW:
Okay - It's official. Smashwords is coordinating this effort between me and the authors. So please pop over to the Smashword Blog which has all the information. Author's already signed up can continue on whatever basis they have been. The only thing I will be sending out are the email address of the troops, and maintaining authors who opt-into the program.

Here's the link

http://blog.smashwords.com/


I'll keep the list updated as it grows (and it will grow)

We also appreciate the support from non-authors who are resourcing the troops and places to get the word out. And the offers (which will be taken) for administration support when this thing gets too bing for me to handle.

And as of 8/2/09 2/18/10:

I estimate that over 25,000 180,000 440,000 eBooks Coupons have been Dropped since September 2009 by OEBD authors.
Thanks
Edward C. Patterson

[MariaESchneider]

Be happy to do it (although since I write cozy mystery and cozy fantasy...it might not be the type he wants to read.)  

Let me know any pertinent details or if there are other soldiers that you find out about.  

mariabmbooks   at sbcglobal  don't-forget-the-dot net

Let me know how you're sending the stuff--the easiest way for someone to get my stuff is for me to issue a coupon for them to download from Smashwords--but if they just want the HTML file or .mobi via email I can supply it that way.

[Edward C. Patterson]

Maria:

Let me contact Joe to get permission to issue his email address to interested authors. I wouldn't worry about the genre. After all, most of my works have gay characters and vary, and I believe it is a non-issue when providing reading material for our troops to fill in those blank hours. If he gives me permission, I will will forward his email address in a Kindleboard PM. I tink the best way of getting books to these readers is to download a mobi (prc) copy from Smashwords and email it. I'll be back to you you, Mria and Thank you.

Ed Patterson

[Edward C. Patterson]

Maria:

I sent you a PM.

Thanks
Ed P

[Kristen Tsetsi]

I'd love to be involved! I'm new to Kindle, though, and my books are priced at ninety-nine cents and I wouldn't know how to give them away for free (unless they want Word docs.). If you let me know how, I'm happy to do it.

[Edward C. Patterson]

Kristen, I PM's you regarding your interest.

To all, if you don;t have your Kindle books up on Smashwords.com where you can not only download files in various formats for your own use, but make your eBook available to Barnes & Noble and Fictionwise. run do not walk and do it.

Ed Patterson

[MrTsMom]

As the mom of an Airman, who is getting a Kindle ready for her son for Christmas, let me say thanks for thinking about this. It brings tears to my eyes to realize how much our kids are appreciated.

[Edward C. Patterson]

MrTsMom:

Well, send me your email address and you can load my 13 book on there for free. Just use the USB connection (and of course, you can peek at them also.   ). I'm at edwpat@att.net I'll send them in a zip file (and if you are unfamiliar with unzipping, tell me and I'll send them free-range, like so many chickens).

Ed Patterson

[Edward C. Patterson]

Well, I just heard from a First Sergeant at the 1st Armoured Division in Weisbaden Germany, which is about to be deployed to Iraq. This project - Operation Kindle Book Drop, is being posted on all the bulletin boards through the Batallion. So, I uess we whall be hearing.

Ed Patterson

[lkcampbell]

I would love to send mine. PM with the addy where I can send them, Ed.

[Edward C. Patterson]

lkcampbell:
Great. So far it's piecemeal and I'm going to probably gatekeep a list of troops and authors. I just heard from a Marine Family Readiness Officer who is also spreading the word.

Thanks
PM is coming
Ed Patterson

[Brendan Carroll]

I'd love to be involved! I'm new to Kindle, though, and my books are priced at ninety-nine cents and I wouldn't know how to give them away for free (unless they want Word docs.). If you let me know how, I'm happy to do it.

I'm with Miss Tsetsi.  I'd have to have step by step instructions on how to do it, but I'm certainly in favor.  My daughter was an airman in Dubai for a while and I fully support anything we can do for our troops.  Brendan.

[Edward C. Patterson]

Brendan:

Are your books on Smashwords. if so you're all set. Let me know if you're not on Smashwords.

Ed Patterson

[Anju No. 469]

I am not an author and probably shouldn't post here, but Ed - words cannot express what I feel for what you are doing!
HUGS and more HUGS and THANK YOU 

[Edward C. Patterson]

Well this is taking off on Amazon's Kindle Community thread and I am hearing from service officers who are in a position to get the word out. That first soldier, Joe Terry has stepped up to help organize this with me and already 3 authors books hav saidled out to two email addresses. The list will grow, I am sure.

Ed Patterson

[Elmore Hammes]

I'm getting set up on Smashwords this week, Ed. I am interested in participating.
Elmore

[MrTsMom]

Words cannot express how much this means to me, as a mom, to see so much support. Thank you all.

[Thumper]

All right now I HAVE to figure out Smashwords...

[Edward C. Patterson]

Thanks Elmore and Thumper. And when you're on Smashwords, your books will be offered to Barnes and Noble and Fictionwise also, as well as being able to get copies in many formats for other uses (like giving free books to the troops).

Ed Patterson

[Thumper]

I d/l'd the manual for Smashwords a little while ago...I'll read it tonight or tomorrow and once I figure out how to set up the manuscripts I'll upload.

[Elmore Hammes]

Thanks Elmore and Thumper. And when you're on Smashwords, your books will be offered to Barnes and Noble and Fictionwise also, as well as being able to get copies in many formats for other uses (like giving free books to the troops).

Ed Patterson

Okay, I am live on Smashwords now - http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ElmoreHammes - still waiting for approval before it hits the distribution channels.

Let me know what you need from me - I would like to offer The Cloud and The Twenty Dollar Bill for free to the troops. I can set up a limited time coupon for those, that would let them download them in any format they want - would that be the best method or do you want to send specific files via e-mail?

And of course thanks for thinking of this Ed, this is a nice way to send a little appreciation their way!

[Ann in Arlington]

Ed. . .you might want to contact the USO and/or MilitaryOneSource.com for ideas on spreading the word about this effort so the troops learn about the program!

[crebel]

Ed, you are a wonderful person for setting this program up.  Thank you to you and all the participating authors.  May you all be blessed.

Chris

[Edward C. Patterson]

Thanks Ann, that's a good idea. We're start out slowly - many Amazon replies, but few signups yet. I guess they're working at it. But it's there for those who want to participate. That's the main thing. I also sailed up the idea softly that Steve Bezos should give military personnel a break on Kindle prices. (perhaps they do already). I haven't formalized this request yet.

Ed Patterson

[Edward C. Patterson]

Thanks Elmore. Just sent you the first names.

Ed P