How to read my books for nothing

And the winner is...

Oct 14, 2025

Dear shipmate

If you voted in last week’s poll about what gorgeous books I should create, thanks very much!

It was a close-run race, but the most popular option turned out to be an exclusive, decorative set of the first three Interstellar Fleet books.

I might run a Kickstarter for the project. I have to think about that.

In the meantime, as the days grow shorter and cooler, I’m sure that, along with me, your mind is turning to preparations for the festive season—and how you’re going to budget for it.

So I thought it was time for a reminder about the options for enjoying my and other authors’ books for little or no outlay.

I made this post a couple of years ago, but the advice still applies: How to read my books for nothing.

The post mentions free books, libraries, subscription services and my YouTube channel.

SHIP’S LOG

Continuing the theme of the closing of the year, here’s the last of my tomato harvest.

Despite the drought here in the UK we had a bumper crop, mostly due to the irrigation system I set up to water the plants while we were away in France.

I left the system in place after we returned home and I don’t think the plants would have survived without it. Regular watering combined with high temperatures was the perfect growing conditions.

I recorded the weight of each load I picked. I haven’t added it up yet, but I think it will beat the good crop of 2023.

I love fresh, ripe tomatoes, so I will leave the fruits to ripen over the next few weeks rather than turn them into chutney or other uses for green tomatoes.