Rocket eBook

        It's been over four years since the ill-fated marriage between R.C. Wetherington and Alyssa McKenzie ended with an annulment. Alyssa never expected to see R.C. again. However, he is obsessed with finding her and renewing their relationship. There is no obstacle that will thwart him.

        That's the way iUniverse.com begins a five-paragraph Internet teaser on Lavender Blue ($13.95), a new book by Marla Morris, of Blue Ash. In the synopsis, not one article of clothing falls from a broad, perspiring shoulder to a silky smooth thigh.

        If you like what you read — if you are unthwarted, so to speak — just click your mouse appropriately, and transfer a long number from your credit card, and the book, a paperback romance novel that looks like other traditional books, is as good as yours.

RESOURCES

If the big-shot traditional publishers can't see how good your book is (or will be), use these resources to bone up on your options.     • Getting Your Book Published for Dummies, by publishing veterans Sarah and Adrian Zackheim (IDG Books Worldwide, $20) explains methods for choosing a publisher, finding an agent (or doing without one), negotiating a contract and self-publishing on the Web.     • How to Publish and Promote Online,by M.J. Rose and Angela Adair-Hoy (www.writersweekly.com, $9), a comprehensive guide to Internet publishing, publicity, promotion and advertising.

        But if you want to be completely cutting edge in your reading habits, you can read a whole book — or several of them — on a computer screen.

        Author Stephen King brought attention to the concept with the online release of parts of The Plant, a new book, this summer. Three installments (5,000-7,000 words each) have been released under an honor pay system that could be failing. Mr. King says he will discontinue the project unless at least 75 percent of readers pay a $1 fee.

        If you like your books a little more portable than the 20-pound PC in your library, consider the Rocket eBook, at 22 ounces and about the size of a paperback book. You can download as many as 10 average-length novels into it, underline what you like and make notes in margins.

        You can get one, for as little as $200, at rocket-ebook.com.

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