Side-loading Files onto Your Kindle

Recently, we've been giving out ARC (Advanced Reader Copies) for Lovely: Elite Domes of Washington and my author was curious as to how she could give the ebook to readers willing to review the novel. Experienced book reviewers already know all this, but some of her friends are not so kindle or e-reader savvy.

Now, I have a kindle, so there is nothing easier for me to upload a PDF or .mobi files directly to my device. I can even convert PDF files to .mobi files during the process of sending it over. All I do is send it to my kindle email address. Below are instructions on how to do this. If you don't have a kindle, there is a video at the end of this post that might help you load into your Nook or Kobo e-reader.

After you set up permissions in the Amazon website you can email the file to your kindle. But first you have to know your kindle email and give your everyday @gmail.com, or whatever email you have, permissions to send to your kindle email. It's so simple there is no doubt in my mind why kindle is the best e-reader. Go to your Amazon account right now and then follow these instructions:

How to send a document to your Kindle:

• To find your Send-to-Kindle e-mail address, visit the Manage your Devices page at Manage Your Kindle.
• Documents can only be sent to your Kindle devices or apps from e-mail accounts that you added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List. To add an e-mail account, visit the Personal Document Settings page at Manage Your Kindle.
• To send a document to your Kindle device or app, simply attach it to an e-mail addressed to your Send-to-Kindle e-mail.
• It is not necessary to include a subject in the email.

Supported File Types:

• Microsoft Word (.DOC, .DOCX)
• HTML (.HTML, .HTM)
• RTF (.RTF)
• JPEG (.JPEG, .JPG)
• Kindle Format (.MOBI, .AZW)
• GIF (.GIF)
• PNG (.PNG)
• BMP (.BMP)
• PDF (.PDF)

PDFs can be converted to the Kindle format so you can take advantage of functionality such as variable font size, annotations, and Whispersync. To have a document converted to Kindle format (.azw), the subject line should be "convert" when e-mailing a personal document to your Send-to-Kindle address.

Now, for those that don't have a kindle, it's going to take a little bit more..elbow grease and technical knowledge. Those that don't know what a thumb drive is should turn to a tech-savvy person to do this. However, I've given a video below that might help.

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