Garrett Calcaterra on DREAMWIELDER and the Magic of Books

Author Garrett Calcaterra dropped by this week to chat about his debut fantasy novel, Dreamwielder, now available in both eBook and print edition!

As an emerging fantasy and science-fiction author, I have been very fortunate to know several legends in the field, including steampunk progenitors James P. Blaylock and Tim Powers, and, more recently, short story master Bruce McAllister. These three men, along with established genre authors like Misty Massey and David B. Coe, whom I’ve interviewed for Black Gate magazine and my blog, The Machine Stops, have provided me with a strong sense of history, not only for the genre I write in, but also for the publishing industry itself. Each of them has experienced a massive restructuring of how books are published, and they’ve survived. Just like the wondrous and magical characters in their books, they’ve been able to adapt and continue to be successful authors in the age of self-publishing, e-books, and print-on-demand when so many dinosaurs of the past publishing era have become extinct.

If I’d been around and writing twenty years ago, my debut fantasy novel, Dreamwielder, would have either been signed and published by one of the big publishing houses, or it would have never been published at all. Of course, I like to think it would have been published to huge acclaim, but I’ll never know which, because I’m writing in the 21^st Century and the publishing world doesn’t function in that manner anymore. In our modern world, I signed with the cutting edge Diversion Books, Dreamwielder was released in e-book format first, then audiobook format, and now, after almost a year of positive reviews, it has come out in print. In the same manner that I took the classic tropes of fantasy and steampunk and put my own modern bent on them to tell the story of Makarria the dreamwielder, Diversion Books has modernized how readers can discover and enjoy books.

It’s been amazing, humbling, and gratifying all at once to see how readers have embraced Dreamwielder through the technological wonder of e-books. Makarria, Caile, Taera, and the evil sorcerer Wulfram have all come to life on Kindles, Nooks, iPads, and Kobos across the world. There’s still some magic left in print books, though, and I’m positively thrilled readers can now find Dreamwielder in a trade paperback edition. Fantasy has always been about discovering the magic that is lost in our modern world, so as much as I love technology, it’s an honor to now join all the fantasy greats in that classic form of print.

Get your copy of Dreamwielder by Garrett Calcaterra on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, the iBookstore, Kobo, and Audible. This exciting fantasy follows young Makarria, who has literally been forbidden to dream…

Legend has foretold the demise of Emperor Thedric Guderian at the hands of a sorceress with royal blood, and the Emperor has made it his legacy to stamp out all magic from the Sargothian Empire in favor of primitive coal fired smelters and steam powered machines. When Guderian’s minions discover a Dreamwielder on a seaside farmstead, a chain of events forces Guderian’s new threat—the young Makarria—to flee from her home and embark upon an epic journey where her path intertwines with that of Princess Taera, her headstrong brother, Prince Caile, and the northman Siegbjorn, who captains a night-flying airship.

Dogging their every step is the part-wolf, part-raven sorcerer, Wulfram, and Emperor Guderian, himself, a man who has the ability to stint magic and a vision to create a world where the laws of nature are beholden to men and machines. Only by learning to control the power she wields can Makarria save her newfound companions and stop the Emperor from irreversibly exterminating both the magic in humans and their bond with nature.

New Release: Backlist women's fiction by Liza Gyllenhaal, now available as eBooks

Liza Gyllenhaal is back with two charming backlist titles, both romantic and contemporary. Changes of Heart and Heart and Soul are now available as eBooks!

Changes of Heart

With a sophisticated new life comes daring new love…

Janie is the misfit in her New England family, never as pretty, nor as thin, nor as popular as her older sisters. Hidden away in her own solitude, she seeks comfort in her art and in her isolation.

Then everything changes.
When her abilities as an artist land her a dream position at a prominent advertising company, she finally discovers her true worth. The shy, introverted girl Janie was is no more, replaced by a confident and sophisticated woman. But thrust into a new role and a new world, she’ll soon discover how quickly friends can become enemies, fairy tales don’t always have happy endings, and that even the most determined woman can have … Changes of Heart.  

Available on Amazon, the iBookstore, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo TODAY!

Heart and Soul

One woman envies her sister's glamorous world—until she 

becomes a part of it.

After a lifetime in the shadow of the incomparable Miranda, Cassie believes that she can never measure up to her sister. Rather than compete, she withdraws, and the two remain estranged—until a phone call from Miranda changes everything.

At Miranda’s insistence, Cassie flies to New York City for a visit, where she is instead offered a new home and a new job. But when Miranda dies suddenly in a freak accident, Cassie is thrust into a whole new life altogether—Miranda’s.

Living in her sister’s house, working at her job, and even wearing her clothes, the hidden truths behind Miranda’s seemingly perfect existence begin to claw their way forward. Suddenly Cassie finds herself on the verge of losing herself to the world she thought she envied, and her heart to the man she isn’t supposed to love. 

Available on Amazon, the iBookstore, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo TODAY!

Also available for pre-order, Martin J. Smith's The Disappeared Girl. Order your copy now on Amazon, Kobo, and the iBookstore. Due to release on March 4, 2014.

Jim Christensen’s daughter, Melissa, has been troubled of late. She has dreams that feel like memories, unsettling images percolate to the surface. She remembers a terrifying past, possibly her own, from a time before she was adopted by her father. Christensen’s work as an expert in memory makes him the ideal person to help unlock his daughter’s fragile grasp on her own history. But will he want to learn the truth of where Melissa came from? Who she was before? Who might still be looking for her?

This dizzying novel of suspense takes the reader back into a dirty war and its human costs, into the fevered mind of one of its survivors, and through the crosshairs of a man desperate to keep his own history vanished.

FREEBIE-FRIDAY: Ammey McKeaf: The Chronicles of Azulland

For all your fantasy lovers, this week's Freebie-Friday is the first in Jane Shoup's thrilling series, Ammey McKeaf: The Chronicles of Azzuland. Download it for FREE on Amazon, Kobo, and the iBookstore. But before you do, check out this excerpt:

In the middle of the Cantabric Sea, surrounded by the Kingdom of England, the Kingdom of France and the five kingdoms that make up the Iberian Peninsula, was the island country of Azulland. It is no more—or so they say, yet every ship that attempts sailing past that phantom land area, the very space the country once occupied, is lost, never to be seen again. ‘Cursed’ is the whispered reply. Perhaps. I once thought so.

The mystery of Azulland has been an object of great speculation and pure fabrication.Eventually, in the passage of time, it may be forgotten altogether, just as we’ve forgotten Ydlil, Khlohar, Atlantis and so many others. Perhaps it matters not—yet there are legendary tales from this country that are worth knowing. I know because it was my home—and will be again if I ever manage to secure passage back.

The regret I feel for fleeing her shores is more profound than words could ever express. Like the others who fled, I was fearful for my life. If granted time, I will explain that, but I dare not divulge the most compelling factors for my leaving at this point in my narrative. It takes time to explain how things came to be the way they are—or rather, were when I fled.

Over the course of the last several years, I have developed a fascination with the science, craft, and art of cartography. Often I look upon a favorite old map, fixated on the island of Azulland, and I can clearly picture the Blue Mountains we were known for. In my mind’s eye, I can see the great cities of Nawllah and Bellux-Abry, the grand castles and estates of the southern valley, the cold, clean rivers, and fields of wild loira – a deep blue flower so sweet in scent, nothing can compare. It does not grow anywhere else and so it will fade with the memory of the few of us who still remember it and who will, too soon, vanish from the earth.


I state this vow with utter conviction; if I am ever able to cross back to my homeland, I shall never leave those shores again, no matter what forces rip and tear at her.

 Download your FREE copy of Ammey McKeaf: The Chronicles of Azulland today!

At nineteen, Ammey McKeaf is a golden-haired beauty that is beloved and protected, not only by her father, the most revered General in Azulland, but also by five elder brothers, all champions of the games that are held in the medieval island country. Her brothers have trained and challenged her all of her life, especially at swordsmanship, which will serve her well.

Trouble stirs when Marko Corin, the ambitious leader of Bellux-Abry, seeks to gain control of the country. His small bands of highly trained soldiers, known as ‘wolf packs,’ roam the country, reaping destruction and death. When a pack strikes close to the Forge, home to the McKeafs, Ammey is escorted to sanctuary -- but sanctuary is a thing of the past.

As violence reigns, Ammey is rescued and taken into the mystical Vihlae Forest, where she discovers strength she did not know she possessed, and learns the art of survival from one of her rescuers, sparking an undeniable passion. As Ammey travels from one end of Azulland to the other, battling to survive and protect those around her, she will be tried and tested beyond anything she could have imagined, but will her efforts be enough to save herself and those she loves?

New release 2/18: Business non-fiction from a top business thought leader, now available in eBooks

From one of the Top 100 Business Thought Leaders in America comes two non-fiction eBooks, perfect for both emerging and established entrepreneurs alike.

Strategies for Success and Letters to a CEO by John Spence are now available.

In Strategies for Success, John Spence brings his acclaimed business ideas, advice, and practices to the page, sharing how the first person he taught to succeed was himself. 

He attended a top prep school, played sports, got good grades, and enrolled in the University of Miami—where he promptly failed out. That was the spark Spence needed to set right his course, and he soon turned his life around, graduated from the University of Florida, and is now a highly sought-after speaker. He’s taken his experience to illustrate how everyone can turn their businesses, and their lives around with the right mindset and the right tools. 
From intensive research, countless books, and hours of seminars, comes Strategies for Success, Spence’s own personal workbook filled with powerful ideas, helpful methods, and insights from some of the world’s most gifted thinkers. This intensive program is designed to help create a clear and focused plan to enjoy more happiness, balance, and success in one’s life and career. 

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the iBookstore, & Kobo.

And for even more business advice, check out Letters to a CEO. For nearly two decades Spence has served as a trusted advisor and coach to senior executives at top companies around the globe. They turn to him because of his wealth of experience working with clients such as Microsoft, IBM, GE, Qualcomm and Apple—to hundreds of small to medium-sized businesses and entrepreneurial start-ups. Because his clients know that he has read a minimum of 120 business books a year since 1989, they will often ask him to summarize the key points of what he has learned on a specific topic into a “letter” that will help them learn a new skill or make a major business decision. 

Letters to a CEO is a compilation of the actual letters that John has sent to his clients in the last few years. It covers such critical business topics such as: 
- How to make good decisions 
- The fundamentals of win/win negotiations 
- How to hire the right people 
- Ideas on what it takes to be successful in sales 
- How to win in your market 
- Dealing with poor performers 
- Increasing accountability throughout the organization 
- How to build a winning culture 
- Thoughts on strategic planning 
- The importance of having a mentor 
- And much more… 

Each letter is only a few pages long but every one is packed with John’s best ideas, insights and lessons learned as the CEO of ten companies. Add the knowledge he gained in reading nearly 3,000 business books in his quest to learn as much as he possibly could on what it takes to build, grow and sustain a highly successful organization and you have Letters to a CEO. Reading this book is like having a top Fortune 500 executive coach standing by to give you great advice whenever you need it.

Available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the iBookstore, & Kobo.

Freebie-Friday: Valentine's Day Edition

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

First off, we'd like to congratulate the winner of the Valentine's Day Romance giveaway. Congrats, Melissa, and we hope you enjoy your new reads!

It's Freebie-Friday: Valentine's Day addition, so you know what that means... ROMANCE. Fall in love with these romance titles when you download them for FREE!

Seducing the Princess by Mary Hart Perry

Painfully shy and lonely, convinced she is unattractive and unloved, the dutiful Princess Beatrice finally accepts that she will never marry and vows to devote herself to the queen in Victoria's waning years. In fact, her mother has secretly discouraged suitors for Beatrice’s hand. Just when she has all but given up on love and happiness, she meets Henry Battenberg, a dashing nobleman from the Continent who matches wits with the aging Victoria and risks his life and liberty to woo Bea.

But Henry isn't the only man interested in being welcomed into Beatrice's bed. The timid princess has become the target of a cruel plot hatched by her nephew, the madman destined to become the last Emperor of Germany. Wilhelm II sends a ruthless agent, a charming Scot, to seduce the naive princess and spy on the queen. How can the sheltered princess hope to fend off a man capable of murder, and perhaps worse, to get what he wants? But Beatrice is not without her own allies--her older sister Louise and Louise's American soldier-of-fortune and lover, Stephen Byrne. Will Beatrice discover which of the two men pursuing her she can trust, before it's too late? Drama, romance and peril chase the royal family from Buckingham Palace to a storm besieged castle on the Isle of Wight.

Available for FREE on Amazon, the iBookstore, & Kobo.




Forbidden Fantasy by Tiffany White

Audrey Hepburn once said that Paris is always a good idea. So when Zoe wants to shake up her life she takes that advice and heads to France.

In Paris she soon meets Grey who wants to fulfill her every forbidden fantasy. She succumbs to his sexual pull and falls under his control.

Thrilled with the intense passion, but wanting more than an affair, she must make a choice. Is this stranger really the man she wants?

Available for FREE on Amazon, the iBookstore, Barnes and Noble, & Kobo.





Calico by Raine Cantrell


Maggie O’Roark knows how to walk, talk, and fight like a man, and when she inherits her uncle’s profitable silver and gold mines, she’s determined to prove she can operate them on her own, even as her wedding date approaches. When Maggie’s groom is kidnapped just before the wedding, Maggie is convinced saloon owner C.V. McCready is responsible, in a desperate bid to keep her from re-opening the mines.


McCready is a silver-tongued con man, but when he sees Maggie in her wedding finery, he becomes obsessed with protecting her from less savory men who would do anything to get their hands on her mines. McCready kidnaps Maggie and claims her in a marriage by proxy, setting the stage for the fiercest and funniest battle of the sexes in the West.


Available for FREE on Amazon, the iBookstore, Barnes and Noble, & Kobo.

Lovin' A Good Ol' Boy by Mary Kay McComas

Big city girl Anne Hunnicut is in Webster, Kentucky for one reason: to shut down the textile mill. When her rental car breaks down in the backwoods, the last person she expected to come to her rescue was rugged country boy Buck LaSalle – the ringleader of the union workers determined to keep the mill open and the town alive and prosperous.

Sparks fly between Anne and Buck – but is the issue of the mill closing going to stand between them? Anne’s desire for a home spurs an understanding and empathy for Buck and the people of Webster, but questions whether it’s enough to give up her big city career ambitions. Can a big city girl find love, security, and new aspirations for her life with a small town guy?

Available for FREE on Amazon, the iBookstore, Barnes and Noble, & Kobo.

New release 2/11: A thrilling historical romance, now available in eBook

The third installment in her series about Queen Victoria's five daughters, Mary Hart Perry delivers a dazzling historical romance, both thrilling and luminous.

The Shadow Princess follows one of history’s most notorious killers, and the princess who risks losing her family, her life—and her heart…

London, 1888: A year after Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee terror mounts in the city's slums.  A killer has butchered two prostitutes, the crimes brutal even by London’s hardened standards.  Rumors of the murders reach Princess Vicky, daughter of Queen Victoria and grieving widow of the German Emperor Frederick III.  When her niece Princess Maud visits, she brings with her even worse news—the Metropolitan Police have a suspect. It’s Vicky’s nephew, Crown Prince Eddy. Desperate to clear her family's name, Vicky rushes back to England.

Detective Inspector Thomas Edmondson believes there is a royal cover-up behind the killings. He will stop at nothing to expose the truth and bring a murderer to justice before he can kill again.  But when Vicky joins him in searching for the man who will become known as Jack the Ripper, neither of them foresee the overpowering attraction that will draw together the royal and the commoner—or the danger their love puts them in. 

Order your copy today on Amazon, the iBookstore, Kobo, and Barnes and Noble. And for a limited time, download the second book in the series, Seducing the Princess, FREE!


Also, available for pre-order:  The Disappeared Girl by Martin J. Smith.

Two men stand out in a crowd overlooking the Ohio River. A plane is being taken from the water where it crashed decades before. Both men helped put it there. 

Jim Christensen’s daughter, Melissa, has been troubled of late. She has dreams that feel like memories, unsettling images percolate to the surface. She remembers a terrifying past, possibly her own, from a time before she was adopted by her father. Christensen’s work as an expert in memory makes him the ideal person to help unlock his daughter’s fragile grasp on her own history. But will he want to learn the truth of where Melissa came from? Who she was before? Who might still be looking for her?

This dizzying novel of suspense takes the reader back into a dirty war and its human costs, into the fevered mind of one of its survivors, and through the crosshairs of a man desperate to keep his own history vanished.

Due to release March 4, you can pre-order your copy of The Disappeared Girl now from Amazon, Kobo, and the iBookstore today!

Valentine's Day Romance Giveaway: Enter for your chance to win EIGHT romance titles!

It's just the start of February and we're already feeling the love here at Diversion. For all you romantics, here's a holiday giveaway to keep you in the spirit. Enter now for your chance to win all eight of these dazzling romance titles in digital eBook.

Beguiled by Laura Parker

In the darkest hours of her life, disgraced heiress Philadelphia Hunt is approached by a handsome stranger, a Brazilian jewel-miner named Eduardo Tavares. He makes an outrageous proposition—disguise herself and join him in a devious con to swindle America’s upper crust out of their riches. Philadelphia is desperate, and intrigued, by both this enchanting stranger and his promises of her return to high society. 
But a deeper masquerade is afoot. Little does Philadelphia know that the man responsible for her father’s disgrace and suicide is Eduardo himself, the very man in whose arms she is discovering the scorching heat of desire. And little does Eduardo know that Philadelphia’s thirst for vengeance cannot be quenched. Nor can their passion, as secrets and betrayals set this pair of lovers on a path that will lead to a new life—or to their destruction…  

Anywhere But Here by Jenny Gardiner

Mary Kate Dupree has been spinning her wheels for too long. Trapped in an abusive marriage to an overbearing good ol’ boy, she finally decides break the cycle when she heads out to pick up her husband's dry cleaning and instead picks up a handsome hitchhiker. They impulsively set off on a road trip of self-discovery, peeling away layers of their dark pasts en route to Niagara Falls, but once there will they take the leap? 

 Once Upon A Dream by Katherine Kingsley

Lucy Kincaid endures a life of drudgery and loneliness in her stepmother’s home, sustained only by her dreams of a better life and a man to share it with. She’s sure her wish is coming true when a golden stranger appears on the windswept cliffs of the Irish coast. But Lucy’s hopes are shattered when she realizes the man she’s lost her heart to is the despised Englishman whose family stole her birthright. 

Raphael Montagu is obsessed with finding the mysterious Irish beauty who captured his heart at first sight. When he discovers fate has delivered her to him at a London ball, he’s crushed when she claims to have never seen him before. Even after sharing a kiss and hearing his declaration of undying love, the woman vanishes, leaving no clue as to her identity. Raphael’s only hope to find his true love is to return to the remote cliffs of Ireland and unravel the mystery that is keeping him from his heart’s desire. 

Secret Admirer by Michele Jaffe

Lady Tuesday Arlington has always used her painting as a refuge from the nightmares that plague her sleep. When her husband is murdered in a setting that uncannily resembles one of Tuesday’s paintings, the young widow becomes the prime suspect. Lawrence Pickering, the Earl of Arden and an investigator in service of Queen Elizabeth I, begins to follow Tuesday’s every move, certain of her guilt—until Tuesday becomes a target herself. Intrigued by her knowledge of the crime scenes as well as her stunning beauty, Lawrence vows to protect her. But how can he stop a killer who appears capable of the impossible—invading Tuesday’s mind?

Western Winds by Raine Cantrell

When she inherits her father’s sprawling Texas ranch, the Reina, Lacey Garrett is determined to run it on her own. With a long line of men waiting to wrestle control of the land away from the willful young woman, many with dreams of winning her hand as well, Lacey has her work cut out for her. But of all the difficulties Lacey foresaw, never could she imagine a last minute change in her father’s will that leaves part of the Reina to another heir. 
Rafe Parrish is a loner with a dark past, and no happier to be sharing control of the homestead with Lacey than she is. Angered by her arrogance, Rafe is determined to have it all: the Reina and Lacey herself. Lacey will have to fight for what is hers, or risk surrendering to Rafe’s dominance, losing control of her heart in order to stay on the land she loves. 

 Portrait of A Married Woman by Sally Mandel

After seventeen years of marriage, Maggie Hollander should have it all. Her husband, Matthew, still loves her deeply, and two irrepressible children complete the picture-perfect family in their elegant New York apartment. But at thirty-eight, Maggie has questions about herself that grow deeper and more disturbing. Once a promising artist, she decides to return to art class in search of answers. It is there that she meets a sculptor who rekindles her talent, and her passion. David Golden will expose Maggie to a tenderness that is as liberating as it is dangerous, and will carry her toward an unforeseen choice.

 Restless Nights by Tiffany White

To her surprise, Victoria Stone found herself with her fiancé’s best friend, Zack DeLuca, accompanying her on holiday to a ghost town. Zack had the smoldering dark eyes of a desperado and he seemed to read her darkest desires, fuel them even. 
It was one thing to fantasize about a sexy gunslinger. It was quite another to have one come to life, especially when no one else could see him. 


Soon Victoria’s fantasy and reality were intertwined in Restless Nights.

Secret Nights by Anita Mills

After her wealthy merchant father is accused of murder, Elise Rand goes to the only person she knows who can help: Patrick Hamilton, Regency London's most brilliant trial lawyer. But no amount of cash will convince Patrick to take on what appears to be a doomed case. So Elise is forced to put her reputation, her sanity, and her heart on the line when she offers a very different method of payment for his legal services: herself. But what neither of them could have ever expected are the true feelings that bubble up after a few stolen kisses. 

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New Releases 2/04: Updated backlist non-fiction, re-released as eBooks

This week at Diversion is all about sports, health, and fitness. From authors Kathrine Switzer and Skip Bayless, we have two backlist non-fiction titles, re-released as eBooks with all new updates.

Kathrine Switzer's Running & Walking For Women Over 40 is an indispensable and encouraging guide for every woman looking for a fun, easy and economical route to fitness & health.

Women’s fitness pioneer Kathrine Switzer has been on her feet for 53 years. She knows how running or walking is the fastest, easiest, and least expensive road to fitness for women of any age. For women over forty in particular, it’s vital to fit an exercise regimen into their busy lives, and ensure they can stay active and healthy for many years to come.

No matter how inexperienced or old you are, Switzer will guide and ease you into a new exercise schedule, showing how this time you give yourself will be the best part of your day...and your future life. Recommendations for shoes, clothing, injury prevention, nutrition, motivation and finding the time in your life will keep you exercising safely and comfortably. For women over forty, Kathrine Switzer's expert running and walking programs are specifically designed for you, enabling you to keep healthy and enjoying life to the fullest for decades to come. 

Purchase your copy of Running & Walking For Women Over 40 today on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the iBookstore, & Kobo, or download it for FREE at Diversion.

Just last week, Diversion also released Skip Bayless's unforgettable expose that tears the metallic blue shine off the legendary star, revealing the truth about 'America's Team' and its beloved head coach, Tom Landry.

From the hangover that led Jerry Jones to buy the team, to the wild ride of the Staubach era, in God's Coach: The Hymns, Hype, and Hypocrisy of Tom Landry's Cowboys, Bayless strips away the image of the team created by the most powerful PR machine in sports, revealed by insiders willing to break their silence. 

Packed with unparalleled insight into one of the most storied franchises in the history of sports, God's Coach is a compelling revelation about a corrupt football franchise that dared call itself America’s Team.

Skip Bayless appears daily as the host of ESPN’s First Take; his commentary appears regularly on ESPN.com. A former columnist for the Dallas Morning News, Dallas Times Herald, Chicago Tribune, and San Jose Mercury News, and sportswriter for the Los Angeles Times and Miami Herald. In addition to God’s Coach, he is the author of The Boys and Hell-Bent.

Don't miss Skip's feature article on ESPN.com this Friday! And get your copy of God's Coach on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, the iBookstore, and Kobo today.

Also, for all you thriller buffs, keep an eye out for Martin J. Smith's up-and-coming title The Disappeared Girl, due to release March 4. 

Memory expert Jim Christensen returns in the fourth installment of Martin J. Smith's gripping series.

 When Christiensen's adopted daughter, Melissa, starts having dreams that feel more like memories, his work as an expert on memory makes him the ideal candidate to help her sort through the mysteries of her past. But will he really want to learn the truth about her history?

This dizzying novel of suspense takes the reader back into a dirty war and its human costs, into the fevered mind of one of its survivors, and through the crosshairs of a man desperate to keep his own history vanished.   

Pre-order your copy of The Disappeared Girl today from Amazon, Kobo, & the iBookstore!