Posted by: Genene ValleauCurrent Project: Nine-book series
Status: Developing!
For those of you coming to our meeting next week on e-publishing, this will be a teaser and hopefully generate more questions to ask the panel. If you can't make the meeting, this will be a teaser of what you will miss. :)
Chris Young posted a link on another loop to an article about e-publishing that talked about the current race for control of the e- book market and the future of e-books.
I'm fairly new to e-books. I sold my first three books to an e-publisher less than three years ago. At that time, I hadn't read an e-book and didn't own a reader. I still don't own a reader--the e-books I buy I read on my computer. However, I've become a fan of e-books and read articles about them with great interest and sometimes amusement.
The large print publishing houses all seem to be jumping into the e-book market. Harlequin releases electronic editions of pretty much all its print releases. Other print book publishers worry about timing of e-book releases so they enhance rather than undercut profits of hardcover books.
Of course, booksellers want a big piece of the action. Amazon's Kindle reader generated a lot of publicity for e-books. Barnes & Noble are reported to be working on a reader also.
I've also recently seen cautionary articles about authors not signing away their digital rights in book deals or all their rights in gift agreements to libraries.
While the "big boys" are jockeying for e-book profits, there are some things about e-books that I hope don't change.
--I like the wide variety of e-books available. A story doesn't have to fit in a narrow category to be published.
--I like having a lot of control over my books. I got to design all of my covers, write the back cover blurbs, and submit excerpts for e-books sellers to use. Oh yeah--and the editors didn't request major rewrites.
--My books will be available for years unless I request that the e-publisher remove them from the market.
--My books are also available in print if someone wants to order them.
Yes, I still like to curl up with a paper book and get my fix of happily-ever-after. However, as one article pointed out, we read millions of words on computer screens in the form of e-mails, blogs, Web pages, etc. Why not fiction? E-books may also make readers out of younger generations who quite simply don't often read paper books.
I'm also intrigued by the future of e-books. Articles speculate about a "tablet" from Apple that will allow sound and video files along with the text of e-books, as well as many other functions, and will also work in conjunction with Macintosh computers. (Yeah, I'm also a Macintosh computer fan.) Video trailers are all the rage. Will they become incorporated with text to become video books?
How about you? Have you caught e-book fever yet? Have you read an e-book? Had an e-book published? Are you waiting for the film version (kidding!)?
With e-books, at least my to-be-read stack could be neatly contained in a reader small enough to fit in my purse rather than several boxes under my bed. :)
16 comments:
My first five books are e-books ;) But I just got an iPhone, which makes READING e-books SO much easier than reading on the computer. And I just found out my library has e-books, though you have to read them quickly. Also, not a great selection of romance.
I still have about 300 paperbacks I need to read, though, so I can't go as crazy as I'd like on e-books ;)
Hi Genene --
Some of my books have been E published as well as print.
Having found a market I enjoy that is doing well and is currently receptive to my stories, I won't actively try to find a solely E publisher at this point, but I try not to say never. Maybe I will in the future, who knows? You listed some very pertinent pluses concerning e-books. Breadth of market, ease of finding and storing books -- these have attracted me, too.
While combining video and print doesn't appeal to me off hand, again, who knows where it will go and what it will look like in a few years. And I agree with you that new readers are going to demand additional bells and whistles.
While I am e-book published, I don't have a reader and the only e-books I read are ones I edit. BUT if I could unclench my fist from my money and purchase an e-reader I would buy more e-books because I'm finding the books published by e-publishers are holding my attention and satisfying me more than the books I've read lately from large publishers.
One thing I've noticed though. My historical westerns seem to sell more in print form than e-book, while the contemporary stories sell more in e-book. See a correlation???
Interesting post, Genene.
I don't own an ebook reader either, but I have one published ebook and an ebook novella.
I think the ebook format is wonderful and I'm thrilled to see the bigger, more established publishers going that route. I've always been a huge advocate for ebooks as a product so it's good to see other publishers jumping on the band wagon.
Never say never, but I doubt I'll ever go with an ebook publisher again. I'm not especially thrilled with how my deals worked out and it cost me more money than I made. I suppose if I didn't want a career as a published author I might go that route again, but I'd prefer to be published with an established publishing company that's been around for a while. Nothing against epublishers, it's just not for me.
It isn't the manufacturing process (ebooks vs print book) that differentiates one publisher from the next. I think it's experience, professionalism, proven results, quality writing, quality editing, marketing savvy, and reputation that pushes a publisher to the top. I don't think most of the ebook publishers today have that, though a few are getting close.
I read a few ebooks when I helped judge the EPPIEs a couple of years ago and the batch I had was extremely poor. The writing wasn't up to par and the grammar and spelling errors were shameful. Plus the stories themselves were mediocre with one-dimensional characters. If readers get hold of books like these, it gives ebooks a bad name. I think that's why the ebook market as whole is easily dissed based on the release of poor products in the past. A few bad apples spoiled the bunch for a lot of readers. It's going to take some work for ebook publishers to step up their game and prove they're contenders.
The problem with the EPPIES (and I agree there are some really bad books entered) is any e-book can enter that means even ones from places where no one edits they just pop it into the right format and sell it. Like self-published books.
My books are available in e-form via Kindle from Amazon, and my publisher signed an agreement with LibreDigital last winter to make their '08 and on titles available in e-form. But I have no idea what percentage of my sales are ebook vs. print at this point.
I see the benefits to ebooks and ereaders - all the things you listed, Genene. I've read a few ebooks, but I don't have a reader, so the ones I've read have been on my laptop. For me, it's hard because I spend all day on the computer, the last thing I want to do is read on one. And I also love holding a book in my hand, collecting author autographs and reading in the bath (something you probably shouldn't do with e-readers LOL). I don't think e-readers will replace print books anytime in the near future (at least, part of me hopes not), but I see the pluses and minuses to both. Right now I'm glad we live in an era where both can coexist.
Thanks for stopping by, MJ!
I've been seeing quite a few articles about iPhones and such that are making reading e-books much easier. Sounds like the technology is developing rapidly now.
I haven't counted my to-be-read paperbacks. I just know there are several boxes stashed. I figure a couple weeks without interruptions would give time to go through them. Though my eyes would be crossed! So I'm not tossing out all my paper books, especially the ones signed by authors I know and love. E-books just gives me another avenue to indulge!
Hi, Alice!
I really relate to what you are saying about being attracted by e-books but not abandoning paper books either. As I mentioned, I came late to e-books. However, advances in reading devices and the number of e-books available seems to be totally exploding lately.
And now that I'm hooked, I'm eagerly waiting for those bells and whistles. Since I love doing graphic design, being able to combine that passion with a love for writing in the not-too-distant future is exciting!
Hey, Paty!
Interesting point about which of your books sell more in print and which sell more as e-books. It's great that e-books give us another avenue to share our stories!
I don't have a reader yet either. If I got one, I'd have it jam-packed with to-be-read stories to go along with the paperback ones stashed under the bed. LOL! You're right about the price, though. I'm also waiting for the price to come down. I'm also waiting to see what the next wave of technology in readers will bring. I'm sure they will get to one I just can't live without. :)
Hey, Karen!
I can see where your experiences with e-publishers would make you shy away from going that route again. I've been fortunate to have wonderful experiences with e-publishers.
There are so many changes currently going on in publishing--both print and e-books. I agree that great stories, professional presentation, and marketing savvy will be key to attracting readers, no matter what the medium. Guess that's as true for authors as for publishers, isn't it? We keep improving all the time!
LOL, Eli! I wonder if there are warning labels on e-readers not to use them in the bath? What a shocking experience that would be! (Sorry! Couldn't resist one bad pun. :)
I agree that we're fortunate to have a choice of printed books or e-books. Kinda like milk chocolate or dark chocolate or white chocolate. Count me among those who will NOT be tossing out my printed books any time soon. I've just added e-books to my list of good things in life. And who knows what the future will bring for books? Maybe holograms of hunky heroes?
Like Karen, I've read some e-books that weren't well edited. I've been REALLY fortunate with editors who make me work my butt off--4 and 5 rounds of edits to smooth everything out.
Another thing I love is that with an e-reader you can increase the font size. This makes a huge difference these days. Also, since the iPhone is backlit, I can read in bed without bothering the dh!
Now that I have my iPhone, I plan to buy fewer paperbacks. Less clutter!
(Seriously don't mean to sound like an Apple commercial!!)
LOL on the Apple commercial, MJ! I haven't invested in all their latest gadgets, but I've had Macintosh computers since they were first introduced and I love them!
Yup, we're a Mac family, too. We just got the iPhones this summer when they were on sale. We're hooked, though!
I agree with Karen about the first e-books being kinda like 'bad apples' and putting people off a bit; however, they are getting better.
As far as what feels good goes... I'm with Elisabeth on the wanting to hold a paperback in my hands when I read. After reading a screen all day long, I like to curl up on the couch with a tangible book.
Plus, what would I do about my "keeper shelf" if all I had were ebooks? I love to see my keeper shelf when I wake up in a.m. and when I go to sleep at night. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy; and I feel a kinship with the authors that I love so much. *I know that sounds silly*
*off original topic*...
Hey MJ-- Once you go Mac, you never go back, baby! LOL Because I have a lot of kids, we now have 7 Macs in our household and 3 iPhones. My middle son, age 14, asked specifically for cash this year so he could get his own iPhone. Thanks to his generous gramma and his savings, he's big happy.
*back to topic*...
If I had an iPhone, I would probably buy ebooks for when I knew I'd have to wait in a Dr.'s office or something equally horrible. That way I wouldn't have to pack my purse AND a book. Yep, I'm lazy. But for now, I'm happy to pack the paperbacks.
I can't imagine a paperless world, but it'll probably happen someday. *sigh*
Can't wait for the meeting, Genene!
Hey, Piper! Your family should get an award from Apple for a record number of their products!
Guess I'm in both the e- and print book worlds, because I like the curl-up-by-the-fire days (or in a bubble bath) with print books. However, there are many things about e-books and the developing technology that is exciting.
I think we're going to have a great discussion at the meeting next Thursday!
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