Ready to learn and contribute

[Falbe Publishing]

Hello, I'm Tracy and I am very interested in purchasing a dedicated ebook reader soon, so that's one of the reasons I've joined this forum because it looked like the perfect place to learn about this technology. Right now I'm leaning toward getting a Sony ebook reader. I suspect there are some other forum threads where I can research this and ask questions, so I'll continue with my introduction.

To be honest I'm also here to promote. I'm an author who publishes both trade paperbacks and ebooks. My ebook sales have been strengthening, and I very much enjoy that business. I have a free fantasy ebook novel that I'll upload soon.

As well as being a fantasy author I have written a nonfiction how to play craps book based on my years working as a Las Vegas craps dealer. The ebook version of that title has been selling better and better for me. My publishing business also produces an expanding list of websites.

What I'm hoping to learn in this forum is how to create better ebooks for various platforms and become a savvy ebook user as well. Right now, a few kind readers are generous enough to suggest formats and test them on various devices right now, but I want to step up and begin using my own handheld device as well, so as to produce optimal reading experiences.

Like many people, I initially thought that I would not be terribly keen on ebooks on a mobile device, but last year when I bought a portable word processor (Alphasmart Neo) I quickly fell in love with it. The NEO is awesome for my writing needs and I read what I write on it as well. So this led me to believe that I would really enjoy an ebook reader.

I look forward to learning at this forum and buying an ebook reader soon!

[Patricia]

Welcome to the forum, Tracy. I had a colleague who spent a year at Chico and thought it was a lovely place, especially the weather (as compared to Wales).

[Spartacus2112]

Greetings, Tracy! Enjoy the forum!

[RickyMaveety]

Welcome to the forum. I've been to Chico as well (tubing at Five Mile), and it is a lovely place.

It's nice to see authors getting involved in the forum. The more authors who publish to ebook formats, the better the world will be.

[Falbe Publishing]

Thanks for the replies. Chico does have a nice climate, except for being hot in the summer. Unfortunately right now, things are really bad. So much of the county is on fire, the air is severely smoky. I haven't seen the sky for 3 days. The Governor just declared my county a priority and is even here. (Chico loves Arnold.) We haven't had it this bad for a few years, but we're due. Fire is the piper that California has to pay. It's the price of hanging around the rest of the time enjoying life and wondering why people you see on TV are wearing winter coats.

[Ervserver]

Hello Tracy

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Falbe Publishing

As well as being a fantasy author I have written a nonfiction how to play craps book based on my years working as a Las Vegas craps dealer.

Cool. But, I know how to play craps. I need a book on how to win at craps. The only way I have seen so far that works is to be the house. (Pretty much true for every casino game.)

BOb

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Cool. But, I know how to play craps. I need a book on how to win at craps. The only way I have seen so far that works is to be the house. (Pretty much true for every casino game.)

BOb

You can't win at it. Work out the probabilities - in the long term, the "house" will always win. It's a mug's game, IMHO.

[RWood]

My Father always won at craps; but then, he always used his own dice.

Welcome to MobileRead Tracy.

We have a few publishers here including Steve Jordan who publishes his own SciFi and noir books.

There are a few tutorials written by HarryT about using BookDesigner to create Sony BBeB/LRF books and creating better Mobipocket PRC ebooks.

We are very divided about our readers -- everyone is right, their's are the best. You will find support for the Sony (the one I have), the CyBook Gen3 (the one HarryT sold his Sony for), the Iliad iRex (with a larger screen), the Kindle (some have sold their older readers to get the new kid on the block), and a host of other devices.

We support all readers through the forums. There is also an ever expanding tool section for creating ebooks with a lot of pointers and great support. There is a download section that offers most public domain ebooks created by our members in Sony BBeB/LRF format, Mobipocket PRC format, and eBookwise IMP format. There is also support for a second IMP format and an other section that has a scattering of books from Psion format to Rocket Book format to PDF.

Glad to have you here Tracy.

[cassidym]

Hi Tracy and welcome to the Forum. I have a Sony 505 and like it a lot.

Casino gambling is a tax on people who are bad at math!

[Falbe Publishing]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Cool. But, I know how to play craps. I need a book on how to win at craps. The only way I have seen so far that works is to be the house. (Pretty much true for every casino game.)

BOb

You are correct, Bob. There is no winning system for craps. The game is mathematically designed to collect a larger percentage of money for the casino than it will pay out. Many people selling systems claim they can teach you to win, but there is no system. If there was a system, then the craps game would not be in a casino.

That said, games of chance like craps do experience fluctuations in probability. Sometimes the dice roll good or even amazingly well for the players. When this happens knowing how to play and pressing your bets will result in increased winnings. A craps table can dump thousands of dollars to numerous players in a matter of minutes. Craps is fun. Winning at craps is exceptionally fun, but there is no system that can be applied. One must play and when things get hot, play aggressively.

About dice setting and dice control techniques: This stuff is pure nonsense. I've watched countless people employ these tactics and it makes no difference whatsover. How could one possibly expect to control the outcome of two bouncing cubes being thrown the length of a table?

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Falbe Publishing

About dice setting and dice control techniques: This stuff is pure nonsense. I've watched countless people employ these tactics and it makes no difference whatsover. How could one possibly expect to control the outcome of two bouncing cubes being thrown the length of a table?

Heh... I pretty much knew all that... all casino games odds favor the house. I think Poker is the only game you can win by being skilled and that is because you are playing against other people, not matamatical odds.

I do agree Craps is fun, and I love a hot table.

I try not to laugh when I see a shooter take 5 minutes to put the dice down is some particular arrangement before throughing them, wondering if he thinks that will make a difference. It just slows things down. Personally I just pick em up and toss em!

BOb

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Falbe Publishing

You are correct, Bob. There is no winning system for craps. The game is mathematically designed to collect a larger percentage of money for the casino than it will pay out. Many people selling systems claim they can teach you to win, but there is no system. If there was a system, then the craps game would not be in a casino.

This is true for all casino games, is it not (with the possible exception of Poker, where the "house" is not directly involved in the game)? Really the only sensible advise one can give is "don't play", IMHO. Gambling addition causes a great deal of misery to a huge number of families.

[Elsi]

Welcome Tracy. I see that you've uploaded your book to MobileRead -- thank you for making it available for sampling. Since I'm a SF fan, I'm going to download it and give it a try. If I like it, you've definitely sold the rest of the series to me.

Now -- I have a Kindle, so the .prc version you've uploaded works very well for me. But, there are LOTS of Sony owners here and you even list Sony as your device, so I'm curious why you haven't uploaded your book in the Sony format. Are you dependent upon your publisher or technical support staff to do the conversions? If so, just point them to MobileRead to learn all about the *free* software that can be used to create the Sony books.

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Falbe Publishing

That said, games of chance like craps do experience fluctuations in probability. Sometimes the dice roll good or even amazingly well for the players. When this happens knowing how to play and pressing your bets will result in increased winnings. A craps table can dump thousands of dollars to numerous players in a matter of minutes. Craps is fun. Winning at craps is exceptionally fun, but there is no system that can be applied. One must play and when things get hot, play aggressively.

The trick is to know when to stop playing. The same probability fluctuations that work for you and let you win can suddenly turn the other way, and convert winnings to losses. Too many folks don't stop playing aggressively soon enough.
______
Dennis