I have some redemption codes for free iTunes downloads, and I'd like to give you a couple. You have to do a little work to get them, but not much.

1) Have you joined my Other Side project for Volunteer Book Publicists? Well, why not? You can win all sorts of free schwag--including a role in my next novel--for participating. So, just head on over to the Other Side and pick a User Name now. When you've done that, click on the "email tl hines" link on the Other Side, and say, "Hey, I just signed up. Gimme a free download at iTunes." I'll send you the code via email, and you'll have until January 31, 2006 to redeem it. Easy-peasy.

2) If you've already signed up, you can get a free code by inviting a friend to join the Other Side project. (Yes, this is one of those evil marketing schemes. Watch me rub my hands together and laugh maniacally.) There's a form for inviting friends on the Other Side; all you have to do is put my email in the list of email addresses you're sending to (use signupsFUNNY-LOOKINGATSYMBOLtlhines.com), and I'll send you a free download code at iTunes. Same gig: you have until January 31, 2006 to redeem it.

3) If your friend joins the Other Side, he/she will get a free iTunes download, and you'll get another free download. That's a couple of free downloads for you, and one for your friend.

There really isn't a catch. I don't pimp your personal information (or your friends' personal information) out to other lists, and I don't bombard you with emails; you get an email newsletter once a month with inside information (for instance, my subscribers have had a few days head start on this iTunes download thing), and that's it.

Maybe you're suspicious, thinking there's some vast conspiracy or scam at work. Nope; I'm just building my subscriber list, and frankly, I like being able to give away free stuff. If you're a horribly suspicious and skeptical person, do nothing; other folks will be more than happy to take all the free downloads, I'm sure.

Now, the small type: I'm limiting this offer to two free downloads per user for now. If the end of the month gets close and I have a few downloads left over, I'll send them out to folks who did the most inviting and such. Also, these codes are only valid until the end of January, so this offer automatically expires then. (I suppose I could give you a code on February 1, but it wouldn't work.)

Enjoy, and please let me know what songs you've downloaded with your free codes. Unless you're downloading Barry Manilow.