I have just realized another reason I prefer reading a book on my iPad instead of in paperback or hardback form.

It is WORDS!

I guess I never read the way some people read, with a dictionary in one hand and the book in the other.

I never took the time to look a word up in the dictionary when I was reading a book. If I hit a word I didn’t know, I would ignore it and get the meaning of what was being written by the surrounding sentences that had words I understood.

Had I not been so lazy, maybe my vocabulary would be better now and maybe my spelling too. Thank goodness for spell checkers.

Back to “words” and the iPad. When I am reading a book on the iPad, it is simple and quick to tap on the word and a define option appears. I tap on “define” and a nice window pops up and I am no longer wondering what the word meant.

I suspect it it may be the same with the Kindle as well, but since my Kindle reader is an Apple app, I can’t be sure.

I am reading a book by Stephen King (On Writing) and have hit the define request several times. I got my copy from the iBook store, but the link I gave you was to Amazon. I buy my books from Apple if the prices are the same.

Sometimes I wonder if I am the last verbally challenged reader out there.

In a previous post I mentioned another reason I enjoyed reading using this medium, that being able to crank up the font size.

Well, I am going back to the book, but since I had this revelation, I thought I would share it with you.

So after years of my daughter saying she was going to do it, she is actually doing it! Kim Frank (my daughter) and Lindsay Kaye Corse (my granddaughter) are co-authoring a trilogy together! They anticipate the first book to be released sometime this summer. It will be available on Amazon and possibly Barnes and Noble online as well. Please “like” their page for The Healing Book. They will be revealing a little about the storyline in the coming weeks and will hopefully have the cover design finalized within the next month. http://www.facebook.com/TheHealingBook

You may remember that I mentioned that I had received a message from panama and it was going to occupy my time for a while.

Well I am back and ready to report. Continue reading →

I have several copies of Larry Matthews’ book Angels in Panama. It is available on Amazon for $15.95 in Kindle format, $34.95 in Hardcover format and $29.95 in the paperback format that I have.

You may be familiar with Larry’s blog. Larry is a retired Air Force officer that lives in David.

He has a current article about a medical situation he has been experiencing.

I was visiting with him this morning as he is still tethered close to his oxygen. He asked if I would let my local readers know that until he gets rid of the paperback copies, that he will let them go for $5.00 each. I will add that anything over $5.00 will be appreciated.

Many readers are turning to Kindle and he wants to move these as soon as possible. You can contact me and I will meet you with the book. I am doing this as a favor.

Here is an idea. Someone could buy the 10 copies I have on hand and then put them on Bid for Boquete. That would help Larry and Bid for Boquete too.

For the next couple of days you can get a copy of Malcolm Henderson’s new book for $0.00. Can’t beat that with a stick.

Don’t forget, I still have some signed copies if you prefer real books. See the For Sale Tab.

Here is the Amazon link.

http://www.amazon.com/Superstition-Pirates-Ghosts-Folklore-ebook/

Don’t forget to write a review!

Last week I met a good friend of my for a cappuccino and a chat and he brought me his latest book to read. I had met Malcolm several years ago on one of my neighborhood walks. It was at that time I read his first book, “Don’t Kill The Cow Too Quick”.

Since reading it, I have considered “Don’t Kill The Cow Too Quick” to be a must read for anyone considering living in Panama. This book is sort of an autobiographical experience of Malcolm’s time in Panama up to the date the book was published, if memory serves me well. I recall thinking often as I read it, “Been there and done that” and a few times “glad that didn’t happen to me”.

I had heard that Malcolm had a new book that had been released and when he gave me a copy, I felt very honored. Had I not had several interruptions, this book would have been no more than a two day read for me. I am not a fast reader. For most readers, it will probably be a day because I doubt that you will want to put it down. I didn’t, but some things are not under my control.

This book is a novel set in Panama with all of the elements to keep you turning pages. Plenty of Panama influence and culture, a dash of sex, toss in some international intrigue, a thought provoking social order in the making and a good reading list to prepare you for the book that will follow “The Innocents Abroad”.

Malcolm took an interesting approach in writing the book. It is done as a set of diary entries and email communications between the small number of characters. I was impressed that under such a simple approach, he was still able to dramatically tell his story and flesh out all his characters. And for the clincher, he ends the book with you considering the premiss of the story and letting you know that the characters will continue in another volume.

I enjoyed the book. I think you will too.

I received an email from Robert Hatting this morning related to his latest book, Murder in Panama. Bob helped me a tremendous amount with the sale of property following the death of a gringo that I became involved with through the U.S. Embassy.

He introduced me to Nutre Hogar, which has become a pet project of mine and gives much of his time and money supporting them.

Not too long ago, Bob had a heart attack and took on an almost spiritual attitude in changing his eating habits. He started canning his own foods, baking his own breads and even utilizing a new ozone treatment. I have to say, the change has been good for him. I have known Bob for at least six years and I have never seen him look better.

His latest book hits close to home for me. I have gotten acquainted with four actual murders and some attempted murders by being a Warden in David for the U.S. Embassy. I intend to download it and give it a read.

I have no problem promoting Bob or his writing endeavors because I know the man and I know where all of the money he takes in goes. If you want to try out the first in a new series, knowing that the money will be helping kids in Nutre Hogar, click on the photo above.

I already did and the book is sitting on my iPad.