Would you rather have the good news or the bad news first? The good news. Right, here it is. Smashwords is holding its seventh annual Read an Ebook Week from today until 12th March 2016, and my books are all enrolled in it. That means you can get Discord's Child FREE (http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/410566) and Discord's Apprentice (http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/542490) and Artists and Liars (http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/322872) for half price. All you have to do is go to the page and use the coupon code when you place your order.
    Read an Ebook Week isn't only good news for readers, it's a good way for writers to get their work noticed as Smashwords places included books on a special promotion page, and readers who are knew to your work are tempted to take a chance on it–although there are always big samples on the site to give them an idea whether they'll like it or not. I'm not generally a fan of giving work away, but having tried a Smashwords promotion in the past and achieved reasonable results, I don't mind taking part again. It's also a way of giving the people who read this blog and generally put up with my opinions and writer's angst a reward.
    On the not-so-positive side, is the news that Barnes and Noble is ceasing its digital service in the UK. This means that UK account-holders with ebooks, newspapers and periodicals etc. will have to change their account over to Sainsbury's. Barnes & Noble says most books will be transferable, but as yet there's no news on which ones won't be or how to make the switch. This is a nuisance for anyone in the UK with a Nook and is liable to put off anyone who is dubious about buying ebooks. For self-published writers it might also mean the loss of an outlet in the UK.
    Ah, well, you win some, you lose some. I'll post an update when I know more.