How to Find Free eBooks

It used to be that shopping for books meant visiting a "brick and mortar" store. The Internet changed not only the way we shop for books, but also the way they're printed. In addition to hard copy, books are now also offered in digital format as ebooks. And you don't necessarily have to buy them. Often you can find them for free.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer or handheld ebook reader
• Internet access

1. Check with ebook retailers. Some, such as eBookMall, Fictionwise and Mobipocket (see Resources below) offer free downloads.

2. Shop publisher websites. More and more, companies that publish the traditional hardback and paperback books that are sold in bookstores are offering epublished versions on their websites, such as PenguinGroup, Random House and Simon & Schuster (see Resources below). There are also dozens of publishers that specialize in ebook publishing. Places such as Book Crossroads or Microsoft Reader (see Resources below) keep listings of ebook publishers.

3. Find free ebooks at the same places you download free ebook readers; from suppliers such as Adobe and Microsoft Reader (see Resources below).

4. Visit your local library. Many public libraries have ebook loan programs.

5. Enter contests sponsored by authors or publishers. Often they give away free copies of their ebooks as prizes.

6. Go to Project Gutenberg (see Resources below), a collection of over 20,000 free ebooks.

Tips & Warnings

• Downloading free ebooks is a good way to test drive them to see if you like reading them.
• Microsoft Reader also maintains a list of eBookstores.
• Writer's groups, organizations and magazines often post author contest announcements. They can be groups authors join such as Writerspace (see Resources below), genre specific organizations such as The Mystic Castle (see Resources below) or magazines such as Romance at Heart (see Resources below).
• Beware of places offering free downloads of new releases by hot authors, especially if it's not the author himself or the publishing company. Most likely it's a pirated version and not meant for free distribution.

Resources

• Adobe.
• Book Crossroads.
• eBookMall.
• Fictionwise.
• Free-eBooks.net.
• Mobipocket.
• Microsoft Reader.
• Penguin Group.
• Project Gutenburg.
• Random House.
• Romance at Heart Magazine
• Simon & Schuster.
• The Mystic Castle.
• Writerspace.