There's Snow in the South!

Okay, okay, so it's snowing.  For some, this is the end of the world. For me, it's working from home for a few hours today and probably a few more tomorrow.

But, if your job can't travel to your home like mine can, I'm sure you're thankful for the extra time to relax if you got sent home as well.

Things I like in the snow:
- fuzzy socks
- hot tea
- heavy beef and rice meals
- big blankets
- BOOKS

Speaking of books, I've got some snowy day recommendations on getting your read on for free.

In this day and age, there is no reason for you to pay for books. For a particular book, maybe it's worth it to invest, but for general cold day reading, there are plenty of resources for FREE books.  Also note that even if you don't have an e-reader, you can still read e-books on your smartphone OR on any computer.

1.  The library.  YES, they still exist. Every county has one. And you can get a library card with any proof of current residency.   Two really important things to remember about libraries - Firstly, you can not only borrow physical books from your local library, but also movies and TV shows on DVD.   Secondly, most libraries now offer digital borrowing; log into the library website using your library card number and sign up for the books you want to borrow. Usually, the ones you want are already checked out so you have to put your name on a waiting list.

2. BookBub. BookBub is a fantastic website that sends out a daily email of e-book deals. Some are on a super sale, but many are FREE. Plus, you can customize the types of genres you want to receive (Mystery, How-To, Religious and Inspirational, Fantasy, etc), as well as pick from the suppliers offering deals (Amazon, iTunes, nook, etc). Another resource for free e-books is BookShout, but this site requires you to use their particular app for reading on e-readers, tablets, and smartphones which does not work on many devices. But, if it works on yours or if you're willing to read on a computer, all the better!

3. Your Friends. I borrow books from friends all of the time. Obviously, borrowing physical books from friends and family may involve you actually going to their place of residence, which I do not recommend in the snow. HOWEVER, you can lend e-books you purchased from Amazon to anyone else (or them to you) as long as you know their email address, so there's no reason for going into the cold.  Follow these steps from Amazon.com:

"Your Account"  >  "Manage Your Kindle" (under "Digital Content")  >  change the view to "books"  >  Select the drop down menu labeled "Actions" next to the title you want to lend and select "Loan this Title" at the bottom > Type in your friend's email address. They will have a couple of days to accept the loan and then two weeks to read it!

4. Classics.  Many classic novels written in or before the mid 19th century can be found in e-form for free, including works by Jane Austen, Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas, Emily and Charlotte Bronte, Oscar Wilde, and Charles Dickens.

Grab a nice cup of tea, read well and stay warm!