I was going through my sites to make sure I am doing the automatic backup with WP Twin, and was shocked when I came here and Nothing was here!!

I went through the process easly. The one further glitch I had was that I couldn’t find what my WP log on info had been on the original site!. I had mistakenly overwritten it with the new install info. I suddenly remembered that I had the mirror backup of all my pc files on my external hard drive (by using Acronis Home True Image). Hurrah!

I found the original log on info & was able to get in here!

Now I need to just make a note to myself to save a doc with each back up clone containing the logon info used when the site was cloned (so this stress won’t happen again!)

I went into the Stamps.com interface to check to see what postage I had used ($ 2.07). I looked at first class/ 8 oz and saw it would be the amount I had attached.

I couldn’t see why the book was returned for $ 1.14 postage due.

I had been sending my paperback books out by First Class mail when they weighed less than 10 ounces. Larger than this, it was cheaper to send them ‘Media Mail’, so I sent them Media Mail.

I called the Stamps.com support center. I explained the situation & asked why US Post Office was suddenly not accepting the Stamps.com postage.

The helpful support tech. asked what kind of packaging it was.
I explained it was a impervious envelope/mailer around a paperback book.

He then asked me how thick the paperback book was.

I got out a ruler & measured it at 1 1/4 in. He stated that it qualified for “Thick Envelope” postage rate (for envelopes thicker than ¾ of an inch) which is higher than First Class.

He looked at the amount of postage due & was stumped as to why it was that high of an amount as it should have been less.

I made the comment that probably I should just mail all of my books that were thicker than 3/4 of an inch via Media Mail as it would be less hassle and possibly less expensive at times.

He replied that it would take longer to arrive than First Class. I came back with a statement of how the book swap was fine with slower shipping as long as it arrived with in 26 days. He then responded that
Media Mail would probably be a good idea.

I am surprised that after swapping hundreds of books, this was the first one that was returned for postage due. Granted, most of them weigh more than 10 oz so I shipped them media mail any ways…

I have been notified by PBS patrons that a book was delivered with postage due a few times. Each time, I sent them a book credit to make up for it. Since book credits cost $ 3.50, they were roughly $3 ahead. Most people were appreciative.

So I learned 2 things today:
1. Stamps.com support staff are courteous and helpful
2. The vast majority of paperback books will need to be shipped via Media Mail.

I had forgotten how many chuckles/ laughs I would burst out with when reading about Eve Dallas, Roarke & all the escapades they go through. I have been very sick with Bronchitis this last 2 weeks. I would reach a part where I started to laugh & it would set off a coughing fit.

I still have the cough, but am breathing easier. I was reading Under Fire by Jo Davis just now (another great read) and found an apt description: “emerged like a cat hawking up a hairball. All he managed to accomplish was possibly rupturing a lung in the ensuing fit of coughing.”

Yep – that’s about right.

I haven’t been this sick in many years. So while I’ve enjoyed reading several books while I’ve been down with this bug, I think authors might need to put a cautionary note on the cover
“Caution – causes laughter” …

Enjoy!

Abby is a great character, the book has a good plot & reads well. I didn’t want to put it down.

I thought it was great that Victoria Laurie is actually a psychic and has based her character on her own experiences.

I look forward to reading more of this series.

I had purchased a Kindle reading light last year when I got my Kindle. I had never used it, so I assumed that it would still work. Uh oh. I should know what happens when you assume- (It makes an ASS out of You & Me). Sure enough, the battery had worn down – it was dead.

So I was stuck in the dark with nothing to do but take a nap. How frustrating!

An acquaintance was talking about using a red light to read her Nook or digital reader. She said that pilots & astronomers use red lights to read without eye strain or losing their night vision. Wow. I had never heard of this. When I thought about it, I remembered seeing movies about dark rooms & flight decks having red lights, but I never carried it over to reading lights.

I searched on Amazon for a red light, then focused on reading lights. I came across a Beam N Read light that hangs around your neck. They have several different models, some with 3 LED lights, some with six. Some are just white light, some come with a red filter, & a few come with 4 different colored filters.

I determined that Beam N Read LED 3 Hands Free Travel Book Light for Kindle, Nook, & More looked best for me. I was happy to see that it’s batteries last 120 Hours. I could see using it at work in low light as well as using it to read at night in cars &/or planes.

I know another nurse who works pediatrics & strains to see in the dark patient rooms without waking his patients. I’m going to show him this light. I bet it will be quite helpful for him. Being ‘hands free’ certainly will be a plus for him.

I get bummed when I finish the last book by a favorite author.

I think: ‘Darn, now I have to find a new person to read.’

I’ve decided that book websites should have the capability to search by subject matter.

(ie) I like to read about shape shifters, vampires, psi-enhanced, FBI, racy romance, etc.

If you don’t know that Lora Leigh wrote about shapeshifters, would you be able to discover her as an author who brings gripping paranormal /action/ suspense/ romantic novels to life?
I think, no, I know it is difficult at times.

One feature I haven’t discussed about PBS is their showing newly posted books at the bottom of the welcome screen. So often, I do judge a book by it’s cover, especially when I’m looking for paranormal & shapeshifter tales (or tails? )

I always glance at the covers to see if I notice a likely illustration or an unrecognized title by a familiar author.

I have discovered several new interesting series & authors this way.

The other similar feature on PBS deals with related titles, or books people have ordered when they ordered the book you just ordered. Again, I’ve happily unearthed many new works & authors through checking these listings out.

I like that I can click on an author’s name & I’ll be taken to a listing of their titles with the ones available on PBS being in green while those which are not available are in red.
I will admit purchasing some of the unavailable ones to read on my Kindle when I didn’t want to wait for them to show up for my wish list.

Go go forth & discover new titles & authors to captivate your mind today!

I used to collect book series I liked to read, so I could re-read them when I didn’t have any new books to read. Now that I’m constantly getting books to read from members of PaperBackSwap.com, I am putting those books back into circulation.

I decided to re-read the Men of August trilogy one more time before I posted them on the PBS site. The three books are: Marley’s Choice, Sarah’s Seduction & Heather’s Gift. I was captivated again by the great storyline as well as the erotic love scenes. Lora Leigh is definitely a gifted story teller.

I am always amazed when I read a gripping story. I just can’t fathom how they come up with any of it. From the characters, to the plot, all the way through the creation process. I guess that just goes to show that I wasn’t gifted with that skill.

I have had people look at a quilt I made & say similar things about color & pattern choices of the fabrics as well as the basic pattern of the whole quilt. While I don’t take the time to work on quilts lately, I do enjoy the creation process. I love taking relatively simple, plain fabrics & combining them to create a stunning result.

It just goes to show that people are different + it is a good thing. Can you realize how boring and incomplete the world would be if we were all the same?

Here’s another message from PBS:
At PaperBackSwap, we firmly believe in the power of reading… and the power of giving. We are excited to be able to extend our charitable work to those serving in the United States Armed Forces. Regardless of why or where they are deployed, these men and women and their families contend with danger, separation from loved ones and rigorous physical conditions.

We believe that if we can ease their days at all, we should, and are ready to get started…with your help! Would you please consider donating either Book Credits or PBS money to help offset the costs of running these programs?
Your donations can really make a difference in the lives of our military families as they protect and serve our country. Click HERE to donate.

Member Comment: “My husband is currently deployed and while gone he has been able to send UTR videos to our young children. It is amazing to see their faces light up when they see their daddy on the TV reading one of their favorite books. Thank you all for donating to this wonderful cause.” -Rebecca J. (navywifereader)

I donated the small amount of credits & PBS money in my account just now & will do more with my next paycheck. I’m sure it is a blessing for the families to have such a great way to interact while their loved one is away protecting all of us.

I got this nice message back from the donation:
On behalf of all of the soldiers and military families who are going to receive books because of your donation to Story Time with Soldiers (part of our Military Donation Program), thank you Karen for making a difference in the lives of these families!

Your generous support will go a long way and allow the soldiers and military families involved to share the joys of reading with their children.

With sincere thanks,
Richard & The PaperBackSwap Team

What a nice message. I definitely feel that PBS is a great site to use.

If you are not a member of PBS & you want to donate, click HERE to join (it’s free) & then click HERE to purchase credits or PBS money. Donate by clicking HERE. Thanks so much for your generosity.

When a request for a book comes in, you need to to ‘accept’ it, saying that you can mail it within 2 days. The system actually gives you about 4 days before the swapping process will ‘expire’.

If you don’t mark the book as ‘mailed’ by the deadline, it will cancel the swap. The other day, I was trying to watch a webinar replay while I was processing 9 book swaps. I put all the books out to mail, but forgot to mark them ‘mailed’.

The next night, I checked my account & found a message from a member (Mary) saying ‘why did you cancel the swap?’… I pm’d her back, saying: “I didn’t, I mailed it… must have been a computer glitch”.

Later, I was going through my email & found a message from PBS stating it had cancelled the swap since I hadn’t marked it ‘mailed’ by the deadline. I pm’d Mary back to let her know. She said she’d mark the book “received” when it arrives.

I always have said that communication makes everything work out better. It proves true here as well.

Here are a few of the authors who I’ve enjoyed:

Maggie Shayne:
Demon’s Kiss (Wings in the Night, Bk 1)
Lover’s Bite (Wings in the Night, Bk 2)
Angel’s Pain (Wings in the Night, Bk 3)
Bloodline
+ many more

Susan Sizemore:
I Burn For You (Primes, Bk 1)
I Thirst for You (Primes Series, Bk 2)
I Hunger for You (Primes Series, Bk 3)
+ many more

Lora Leigh:
Megan’s Mark (The Breeds, Book 1)
Harmony’s Way (The Breeds, Book 2)
Tanner’s Scheme (The Breeds, Book 3)
Tempting the Beast (Feline Breeds, Book 1)
The Man Within (Feline Breeds, Book 2)
Kiss of Heat (Feline Breeds, Book 3)
Soul Deep (Coyote Breeds, Book 1)
Aiden’s Charity (Wolf Breeds, Book 3)
+ many more

+ great erotica stories
Submission/ Seduction, Wicked / Sacrifice, Embraced, Wicked Intent,
Only Pleasure, Forbidden Pleasure, Wicked Pleasure + more