Hey there, -- March is "Reading Month" and March 3-9 was "Read an eBook week".

Organized by the Canadian author and designer Rita Toews, it brings together ebook lovers from all around the globe for the tenth time. Since the beginning in 2004 the event became an important literary activity and an extremely enjoyable way to give ebooks a try.

The great idea behind the event, and one of the biggest reasons of its success is simple: one week is a perfect timing to discover all the benefits of ebooks, and feel the pleasure they can give.

Obviously I am a big fan of eBooks.

Normally I am an "early adopter" when it comes to things related to technology. 

• I had an e-mail address in 1992, when most people didn't know what e-mail was.
• I had my own webpage in 1994, when most people didn't know what the internet was.
• I had a Palm Pilot in 1997, when most people didn't know what a PDA was.
• I was one of the first people to get a Monroi electronic score sheet.
  
• etc.
  

But with eBooks, I was rather late to the party.  My mom even was reading eBooks before I was.  Granted, she is a librarian, so maybe I have an excuse, but still...

But now that I have started reading eBooks, I really love them.

They are cheap, you can read them anywhere, you can read them on your phone, they will remember where you left off, you can search through them, etc.

I still get a lot of people asking me about reading my chess tactics ebook in paperback.  At the moment, I don't have any plans to do this. 

BUT - you don't need to own a Kindle to read the book.

There is free Kindle software for just about any device.  Android, iPod, iPad, iPhone, PC, Mac, Blackberry, etc.  You can even read a Kindle book in a web browser.

So if you have been putting off trying out eBooks, I think that "eBook month" is just as good a reason as any!

Anthea and I would be honored if our book, Tactics Time! 1001 Chess Tactics from the Games of Everyday Chess Players, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009TBYA7U/ was on your list of eBooks to read!

Don't forget to "Spring forward" and set your clocks ahead one hour today for Daylight Savings Time if you are in the US.

A couple of years ago National Master Josh Bloomer ended up with a forfeit loss in a tournament game, because he forgot about the time change difference.  D'oh!

Stephen Dann has been featuring problems from the Tactics Time eBook in his Sunday Chess Column in the Worcester Massachusetts Telegram and Gazette.  Stephen has been writing the chess column there for around 35 years!

Here are some recent columns:

March 3: http://www.telegram.com/article/20130303/NEWS/103039735/1011
February 24: http://www.telegram.com/article/20130224/NEWS/102249740/1011
February 3: http://www.telegram.com/article/20130203/NEWS/102039763/1011

In the book "The Tipping Point", Malcolm Gladwell talks about how important "social connectors" are in the spreading of ideas and information.  Stephen is a real "social connector", in the chess world, with hundreds of chess connections around the country and world.  He helped introduce me to other chess authors like John Herron (Total Chess 123), and Joel Johnson (Attack Formations), and has been a huge help in promoting my newsletter and book! 

Thanks Stephen!

Tournament participation has really been up this year in Colorado.

Randy Reynolds had a really good turnout at the Loveland Open last month with 78 players. 

This past weekend was the Colorado Springs Open, which had a good turnout of 60 players, increased from 43 a year ago.  There were 2 new players who played in their first tournament, Bradley Glover, Annie Cummins, and 3 road warriors who came from out of state, Jacob Ornelas (NM), Donald Mulcahy (NM), John Wooldridge (KS).  Paul Covington was the head TD, and I was the assistant, and house player.

Annie, one of the new players, told me that she was taking up chess to help improve her poker game!  I thought that was interesting, and it is nice to see people from the poker world coming to the chess world, as it is normally the other way around!

Congrats to Chris Peterson and Randy Canney who tied for first in the Colorado Springs Open tournament.   Also special shoutout to Kathy Schneider, who gained over 100 rating points, going from 1030 to 1133 by drawing Alex Freeman (rating 1809) and beating Jordan Myers (1491 Provisional).

Many of the tournament directors, like Randy and Fred Spell are getting modern, with online payment options, and accepting credit cards at tournaments.

There are a lot of fun tournaments coming up, including the Colorado Class tournament, March 23-24 in Greeley.  The winner of each section will represent Colorado in a match against New Mexico.  This tournament also offers some side events like the Colorado Blitz Championship, and a simul with IM Keaton Kiewra.  I am planning on playing, assuming there isn't a snow storm, in which case I won't be going anywhere.  My only car is a 2 door Mazda Miata convertable lol (not the most responsible thing, I know).