Free electronic editions of books a new marketing strategy

In an attempt to increase book sales, HarperCollins Publishers will begin offering free electronic editions of some of its books on its website, including a novel by Paulo Coelho and a cookbook by the Food Network star Robert Irvine. The idea is to give readers the opportunity to sample the books online in the same way that prospective buyers can flip through books in a bookstore. For more, visit The New York Times online.