BFF LOL BTW LTHTT JMO
ER OB-GYN OOPS, WRONG POST
The world is changing people! Are you open to the changes taking place?
At a recent conference, there was a lot of discussion about ebooks. I’ve noticed that people I never dreamed would have Kindles are reading like crazy since they can now take their books wherever they go, with hundreds of choices at their disposal.
What do all of you think?
Would you be willing to publish ebooks? How about ebook/print combos? For years there was a stigma attached to ebooks, but then again, there weren’t many being sold. Have you seen the number of choices now available? The sales numbers? There are authors who are now breaking in enough to make a living at writing. (Gasp)
I recently heard that White Rose Publishing is now expanding their line to include, not only romance, but their sister company, Harbourlights will publish women’s fiction, westerns, suspense/mystery and the list goes on.
When I talk to someone in my age group, you know, the we’re-a-little –older-than-God bunch, they are mostly immoveable. “We want the book in hand. We want our books in print. We want (the world to stop changing so doggone fast).”
But that’s not the reality of pubbing today.
Younger adults, on the other hand, LOVE the whole Kindle thing. And they are now reading books again. A connection?
Would you, as an author, be more inclined to go with a publisher who offered ebooks and print?
Just curious how everyone out there feels. My thought (even though I’m in the oldie group) is that ebooks are ground floor/cutting edge and will be catching up quickly with print. There will be more opportunities for more writers. There will still be a few Grishams and Evanovich’s, but there will also be so many additional choices for the reader.
Lemme know whatcha think. You’ll be my new BFF(s) and I’ll LYA for responding.
Good grief, I feel like such an ID10T!
The world is changing people! Are you open to the changes taking place?
At a recent conference, there was a lot of discussion about ebooks. I’ve noticed that people I never dreamed would have Kindles are reading like crazy since they can now take their books wherever they go, with hundreds of choices at their disposal.
What do all of you think?
Would you be willing to publish ebooks? How about ebook/print combos? For years there was a stigma attached to ebooks, but then again, there weren’t many being sold. Have you seen the number of choices now available? The sales numbers? There are authors who are now breaking in enough to make a living at writing. (Gasp)
I recently heard that White Rose Publishing is now expanding their line to include, not only romance, but their sister company, Harbourlights will publish women’s fiction, westerns, suspense/mystery and the list goes on.
When I talk to someone in my age group, you know, the we’re-a-little –older-than-God bunch, they are mostly immoveable. “We want the book in hand. We want our books in print. We want (the world to stop changing so doggone fast).”
But that’s not the reality of pubbing today.
Younger adults, on the other hand, LOVE the whole Kindle thing. And they are now reading books again. A connection?
Would you, as an author, be more inclined to go with a publisher who offered ebooks and print?
Just curious how everyone out there feels. My thought (even though I’m in the oldie group) is that ebooks are ground floor/cutting edge and will be catching up quickly with print. There will be more opportunities for more writers. There will still be a few Grishams and Evanovich’s, but there will also be so many additional choices for the reader.
Lemme know whatcha think. You’ll be my new BFF(s) and I’ll LYA for responding.
Good grief, I feel like such an ID10T!
I fall in the category of wanting to have the book in my hand, but I have to concede that we can't ignore e-books. While we may eventually shift to e-books only, I think it will take quite a few years yet.
ReplyDeleteJust look at how long film was still made after almost everyone had switched to digital cameras. My husband told me today that Kodak has finally announced that they will no longer produce KodaChrome film.
And we're not talking about everyone simply purchasing a new gadget and learning to use it like with a camera. We're talking about millions of books that need to be shifted to e-versions as well.
JMHO, but I think it will be a long time coming before print books go the way of film.
Tomorrow I sign a publishing contract with a company that includes royalties for e-books. E-book royalty percentages are higher. However, ebooks don't cost as much, either.
ReplyDeleteI think we can't ignore it. They are here to stay.
I have mixed feelings about e-books, Linda. While I know they're the wave of the future, I'm already kicking and screaming enough as it is with all the changes going on in the world today, without adding one more "advance" to through me over the edge.
ReplyDeleteAs much as this will age me, I can still remember those square little flash cubes (which were oh-so-modern at the time)for cameras, rather than the old-fashioned bulb! So that gives you an idea of how stuck in my ways I am... but still, if I want to be published (and I do), I'll have to open myself up to new and innovative ideas that will get my book (hopefully) out to anyone who wants to read it, whether in traditional book form or on a Kindle.
Come to think of it, my daughtr-in-law has a Kindle, so I have one ready-made reader already!
Thanks for a great post. Blessings, Deb
Well, dumb me. That was supposed to be "throw" me over the edge. Sigh...
ReplyDeleteThis is THE big topic in publishing today and it is becoming very clear that any viable publishing strategy these days HAS to include an ebook option if not a main focus.
ReplyDeleteLinda, I love the title of this post (especially the subtitle). I'm in the older group, but I have a Kindle and LOVE it. All the books I want at my fingertips, and a lot of them (mostly the classics that are in the public domain) are FREE.
ReplyDeleteAs I writer, I would definitely consider going with an e-book publisher, although ideally I want one who does everything.
Actual book or e book? Actual book or ebook?… Well that’s a no brainer for me. I’m all for technology in many cases…but books turning to ebooks is not one of them. Actually, that’s not entirely true. I believe it does have its purpose, and I’m all for saving the environment and all. I’m huge on recycling, and it bothers be greatly when I find myself in a situation where I can’t recycle.
ReplyDeleteI’m having a hard time visualizing books going away entirely. I think there will always be a need for them. After all, not everyone will be able to afford a device needed for ebooks. I also have to wonder what will happen to sales. For me, going into a store and spotting a book on the shelf is one of the ways I discover a new book I then purchase. If we are limited to only ebook, how will one run across a particular book other then internet advertising.? Will publisher then need to turn to TV for advertisement..and we all know how costly THAT is.
I shudder to think what will become of our libraries.
I’m a visual person, and that may have a huge impact on my fondness for book form to stay around. I love the feel of a book in my hand. Love t he visual of a book cover. One of my dreams is to have an entire wall lined with bookcases…of course filled with books. I keep all my favorite books, as well as the ones I have autographed. A hobby of mine.
When I spot a really old book at flea market or used book sale, I can’t help but pick it up and run my hand across the cover. I then open it to find the date it was printed. A surge of thoughts run through my mind of who might have held the very same book, and the history behind their lives. It’s always an added bonus when I find handwriting within.
What I’d like to see for the future is the continue option of both. Book form for those of us who prefer an actual book in our hand and ebooks for those that don’t, yet always having the option. The best of both worlds in my eyes.
I'm with all of you. I have my heels still dug in, (just not as deep) anymore. I understand there will ALWAYS be change. And we either adapt to get left WAY behind. I mentioned White Rose to Terry because I read for them and when I learned about the changes coming, I was pretty excited. Yes, ebooks have a larger royalty attached, but the author earns it by doing more promo work. Check out Michelle Levigne's site. She is quite the ebook book author as well as Deb Kinnard. Both are producing quite a few books. And LOVE the ebook experience. But on another note, I invested in a penny stock a few years ago that was ground floor in CD piracy and lost my shirt. (Embarrassing to be walking around without it)Only time I ever invested and never did again. BUT, that said, if we don't take chances, we will ALL be left behind with lots of good stories in our desk drawers and on flash drives. Who's ready???
ReplyDeleteLove your humor in this post, Linda! I still love the look and feel of a real book, but figure we have to go with how the world is going. If e-books are creating more readers, then YAY!!!
ReplyDeleteWho knows? Maybe some of them will want to actually OWN a book with a cover and pages they can touch and smell as well as read!
I just signed with Desert Breeze Publishing, an e-book publisher, and I'm getting more and more excited about it. To me it's like anything else people have ever had to get used to, from television to cell phone technology. Frankly, I have about a 1000 books in my house collecting dust. I really only want to keep about 100 of them forever. I feel guilty when I don't really like a book, don't think someone else will, and decide to throw it away. Not so with e-books. Gone with the push of a button.
ReplyDeleteE-books WILL continue to catch on. How many of you still drink coffee over the morning paper? Not as many as five years ago, not with BLOGS and instant online news resources. E-books give that same convenience. You can use them to read your newspapers and magazines and pdf's too.
*Love the feel of a "real" book? They make covers for e-readers to give you that.
*Like the way the page sounds when it turns? They have sound that can do that too.
*Print? Looks the same, only you can change the size to whatever works for your vision.
*You can highlight passages, jot notes in the margins, and even dog-ear the pages on some readers.
What's not to like?
I'll always love a regular book too, but I think that when I get my Kindle in November, it's going to be my new BFF.
Naomi Musch
Yeah. Gasp. I never tho't I'd say it: but ebooks are here. To stay? Probably. I've always loved the print books; love the feel and possession of one, but no longer can we ignore the technology in the publishing world! As you said, the younger generation loves all the new toys & will no doubt read more because of Kindle. We either get on board or get run over. LOL
ReplyDeleteMore on this subject, Linda?
I'll try and do another post as soon as I have more information. I'm doing my best to keep you guys abreast of the newest STUFF!
ReplyDeleteI feel like I'm an in-betweener. I'm young enough to be fairly tech-savvy, but old enough that I have a hard time texting without all the abbreviations.
ReplyDeleteI love a good paper book, like a first love, you know? Maybe it's one of those neural pathways things. We started w/ paper and our love grows from the desire of what we know-- something like that. BUT, I have to say, I also love audiobooks- they are this SAHM's virtual best friend. Who needs Calgon, right? But e-books? I have 2 on my computer- no mechanism for reading them elsewhere (see that first part) and by the time I'm done working on the computer, I hardly want to sit and enjoy a book there- but I can understand the appeal of the e-readers, kindle's, etc.
All that said, in the hypothetical, I'm being published scenario- I'd want someone who could do various formats.
My two cents or so, minus depreciation.
It's not just as simple as a Kindle anymore... or even an I-Pad or I-Phone. I just bought a new Samsung phone that came pre-downloaded with a Kindle app on it. This means that the little phone I carry with me everywhere can download just about any book. Granted, it does take some of the satisfaction away from actually owning the physical copy of the book and having the ability to put it on a book shelf or loan it to a friend. However, the convenience of it far outweighs any of that. Strange story here.... but just today I was in an electronics store and had to use their bathroom. Sittig their in that little stall, I grabbed my phone and opened up my "book" to read a few minutes. (and we all know that some days our only alone time is behind a bathroom door somewhere) I thought it was great to have that "book" in hand and "enjoy" 2 minutes to myself, even if it WAS in a Best Buy bathroom!
ReplyDelete