Leave it to the Fates to slap me one in the face when I’m running around yelling the sky is falling.

I joined a group that’s a sort of review copy consortium today. Basically, a whole gaggle of publishers have gotten together and formed a website offering electronic copies of books to review. If you’re approved, of course. They can’t just go handing out freebies to everyone, now, can they.

I already get the tangible sort of books to review; now I also get them electronically. So, how will that new development affect my thoughts on electronic books? Edge of your seat yet?

Well, says I, free books is free books. But the thing is, once I’ve read and reviewed a physical book I can choose to keep it or toss it onto my groaning shelves. But once I’ve read and reviewed an electronic one? I’ve virtually downloaded it into my brain, where it gets lost amongst all the pieces of mis-matched and broken furniture, the dust and cobwebs, unlikely to be heard from again.

Humph.

I may have to stew about this one a while. Have your people contact my people in, say, a month. Or two.

The fact I can be seduced so easily by anyone walking by and whispering "freeeee boooooks…" tells you all you really need to know about me, doesn't it?

That's why the lady's a tramp.

And, what's my first electronic galley? Why, I'm glad you asked:

Tell your friends you heard it here first (even if you didn't). Major, major big hit potential is written all over this Canadian writer's book, buddy. Major, major big hit.

From Publishers Weekly