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

[Edward C. Patterson]

Hey all:

Another troop joined. Also, after talking with Mark Coker at Smashwords last night, he will be announcing soon his and Smashwords full support for this program and how they will help (more than help, I should say).

Here's some feedback from various sources:

"My K2 and I are stationed in Japan (Yokota Air Base), and I know there are other kindlers here as well.
Arigatou gozaimasu (Thank you) for thinking of the troops! I'll spread the word around here among my AF, Army and Navy friends.
I tell ya, the Army and Navy guys are all about eReaders, and most seem to like the Kindle from what I hear, but that isn't a scientific poll result.
:}"

"My K1 got me through a six-month deployment to South Korea. I was with an F-16 squadron at Suwon AB while Kim Jong-Il was shooting off missiles and detonating nukes, but other than that we were bored as hell.If it wasn't for my Kindle, I would have gone crazy. Plus, it was a lot more convenient than dragging around 80 books in my backpack.
A few other guys in my section love my K1 as well, and are looking at the K2. Thanks so much for doing this, we all appreciate it!"

"This is AMAZING!! I signed up just last night and I already have about 50 books from 10 or so different authors. And it seems to be a great variety! Thank you SO much for doing this Ed! I can't wait to get started reading!! I'll be sure to spread to word to everyone I can. In fact, I already dropped a line on AFBlues.com (which I will now shamelessly plug). It's a really great webcomic written by an Air Force SSgt, who coincidentally is stationed overseas.
Thanks again to all who support us!
TSgt Aly Gerth "

Tech Sergeant Gerth is obviously participating.

Word is spreading, spreading, spreading.

Ed Patterson

[rjkeller]

Thanks for the comments from the troops, Ed!!!! What a boost! 

And great news about Smashwords coming on board!!!!!! Thanks Mark!

[Kristen Tsetsi]

Seconded - how very cool to hear from them. Yay!! So glad it's something they're really enjoying.

[Anju No. 469]

Thanks to all of you - thanks for the pictures and and and and and I am not an author so words fail me - but the mostest of all for Ed !

[Edward C. Patterson]

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/

Since this started out as a Kindleboards intiative, this thread shall remain the home site for feedback, questions, updates and Pictures (Yeah).

Thanks you dear friends (readers and authors). This was a serendipitous act on my part, which has mushroomed into whatever it is and whatever it will become. But God works in mysterious ways, and who are we to question it.

Edward C. Patterson

[vwkitten]

Dang -- I heard about this at Smashwords -- been kinda out of it the last few days...

Count me in... I'll go check out the Smashwords instructions...

Trish

[Edward C. Patterson]

Great Trish:

I just set you up and will add your name to the OP list. (The email reflects your email address ame - but I got it right in the main list).

Ed Patterson

[Brendan Carroll]

I'm really a technophobic... I want to do this... how? I went to the Smashwords link and I think I understand, do you need to send me something?  Use my email in my profile.  Brendan...

[Edward C. Patterson]

Brendan - just set your books up in Smashwords and create a 100% discount for each book and hen email me when you're ready. Smashwords has directions on how to do this. I'll then send you a welcome email with the troops addresses.

Thanks
Ed

[AlanBaxter]

This is a great idea. I just read about it on the Smashwords blog. I'll get involved for sure.

[Edward C. Patterson]

Welcome aboard Alan. I just sent you your Welcome letter with the troop list and added you to the group email list for troop updates.

Ed Patterson

[AlanBaxter]

Great - thanks.

[lkcampbell]

I just want to say that I have received some very nice emails from service members in response to receiving the ebooks. It's a good feeling to know that I've done a little thing to give back to those who have given so much.

[Edward C. Patterson]

Thanks Andrew Kent for posting the following:

http://bit.ly/13pGE9

And to Jay Hartman of Untreedreads.com for this:

http://www.untreedreads.com/?p=756

Ed Patterson

[archer]

Ed:

I know you're signed up for Operation Desert Swap, as am I--they need a LOT more authors (they're taking DTB donations for a company of soldiers recently deployed to Iraq). The deadline is looming, and they don't have nearly enough authors.  Do you think a wee mention of that program would be appropriate at this point, as many of us also have DTB versions?

--'Archer'

[Edward C. Patterson]

Go ahead, Archer. Plop it down here. There is a thread already on Kindleboards for it, but I think it's appropriate to mention Operation Dsert Swap here. It's a little different (as we are adopting a whole unit and it's a year long commitment), but please feel free.

Thanks
Ed Patterson

[misterwilson]

i like this idea.  i have a nephew and a first cousin over there in harm's way and i believe they would be delighted with this.  the only thing is i am not sure if they have kindles, one does i am pretty sure but the cousin i do not know for sure about.

a great idea though!

[Ann in Arlington]

Here's the original thread on the desert swap initiative.

http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php?topic=12165.0

[Edward C. Patterson]

Thanks Ann"

Ed P

[archer]

Yes, thanks Ann.

I might add that they need over eighty authors, and at present thay have fourteen.
 

[AlanBaxter]

I think the problem with the desert swap idea is that you're asking too much of the authors. Not only sending out their books for free, but also committing to writing letters and sending care packages, etc. If it was just a case of sending out books I think you'd get a lot more support.

[MariaESchneider]

I don't have print books, but I agree.  A couple of years ago I participated in a Book Drop idea.  All I had to do was collect a variety of paperbacks/magazines and mail them, two or three times.   Also, I read somewhere that while many of the soldiers didn't mind a letter in the box, they didn't want to feel obligated to write letters back!   Also if all you mail are books, you can mail them media mail, which is far cheaper than if you include things like soap and whatnot.  Might make it so that all parts are voluntary, with an emphasis on the book part?

[AlanBaxter]

I do have print editions of my books and would gladly donate a few copies of each to be passed around the troops. I don't have the time to engage in anything more complicated than that. It would be nice to have the time, but writers tend to have a lot of commitments and anything else that takes away from writing time is usually avoided.

[Edward C. Patterson]

 
Well folks, it has been 7 days since I posted the OP and we now stand at 29 authors participating in Operation EBook Drop. This was not a planned initiative, you know. This was just one gesture which we have decided to pay forward. I mean, who can put a price on the service that our men and women in the Armed Forces provide. I can't - certainly not in a book. But  think about it. When the troops are away from their homes and loved ones, guarding us all and our freedoms, it is some solace that some of their time can be sustained through the kindness of strangers, even if those strangers are the shared vigil of an author's craft. To paraphrase Eric Blair (that is George Orwell) - all readers are precious, but some readers are more precious than others.

Thank you authors - those signed up, those that are considering and those who will indubitably pay it forward. We live in a country where we can write freely and that freedom is a royalty that we can never bring to the bank. It's a royalty check that can only be cashed in the heart.

Edward C. Patterson

[AlanBaxter]

"We live in a country where we can write freely and that freedom is a royalty that we can never bring to the bank."

We live in countries...

I'm an Australian author, happily backing this initiative.