So this got me
thinking…
Thank goodness
for eBooks. At first, I was a little leery of eBooks. You couldn’t hold or
smell one. People—myself included—really didn’t understand the value in these
strange new book formats. It’s hard enough to promote, market, and sell eBooks
to schools or libraries, though that is slowly changing. When I signed my first
publishing contract it was with a brand new epublishing house. There was the
promise of paperbacks of course, but their main format was eBooks. I, like many
other people, wondered if books would go the way of DVDs or CDs, and in truth the
traditional publishing industry has taken an arse-kicking because of this new
publishing paradigm. I even think the trees are yelling ‘woo-hoo’ as I’m typing
this.
The point of
this post is this: the life expectancy of a paperback can vary, but an eBook
lives on forever. Try leaving an eBook in the bottom of a knapsack. Can’t be
done. Yeah, you can leave your ereader or computer or cell phone or tablet in a
knapsack, but you won’t leave any these electronic devices in there for long. They’re
what this generation craves, uses, and needs. Plus they’re far too valuable to
leave sitting in the bottom of a knapsack. And you know what? The book that
took me over ten years to create is valuable too. It’s all a matter of
perception.
So, thank
goodness for eBooks. No mildew. No mold. No dog-earred pages. No ripped covers.
No funny smell. No missing chapters. And guess what? They live on forever.
I feel your angst. I know members of the same family where one has read all my books with gusto and her granddaughter hasn't had time to read. No doubt due to facebook, tumblr, twitter, etc.
ReplyDeleteI spend much more time preparing my paperbacks, and in fact, I think they may have sold better than the e-books. They make better gifts. You can't wrap a digital copy. But the price of paperbacks (especially POD paperbacks) is daunting, and you can't give them away free (can't afford to give them away free.)
So I say hurrah to both. And I plant trees. Remember, we can grow trees, but we can't replace the petroleum and rare metals used to make the e-readers.
Thanks for your feedback, John! I definitely feel caught between two worlds! Cheers!
DeleteI know how you feel Sharon. :) Great blog post.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Sharon! :) Another reason ebooks are the next big thing!
ReplyDeleteHigh fives, Liz and Lisa! We're on the same 'electronic' page there! LOL!
DeleteI can definitely sympathize with you. My book came out as an e-book first and in print about 8 months later. To many, myself somewhat included, I always had some residual angst about referring to myself as an author until I could hold my printed book in my hands. I still enjoy reading paper more than e-books. Perhaps it's my need to constantly check the maps and reference sections/appendices in the fantasy and historical fiction that dominates my reading list. I just haven't figured out how to easily do that on an e-reader. That said, I do appreciate that an e-reader can hold hundreds of books - making it very easy to carry my library around.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts.
I know I sounded like I was ranting a little, Armen (and maybe I was) but it is tough to get old-school readers (myself included) on board the e-reader train. Thank you for commenting!
DeleteHi Sharon
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at your reaction when you found out that someone (who probably promised breathlessly to read it) hadn't read the book "yet." I've heard that so many times over the course of my career, and I have to admit that it still stings. We work so hard on making the book the best it can be, and you'd think that the LEAST people could do was take a few minutes out of their day to read the thing ;)
I think you're a great writer, and certainly a generous one, with all that you share. Onward!
Jan Flores
Cheers for your supportive comment, Jan! As long as we authors get to do what we love, than I think life is pretty good! Onward and upward! Wink.
DeleteGreat post!
ReplyDeletePaul R. Hewlett
Short and sweet, Paul! Thanks!
DeleteI've had your exact experience, Sharon. Yes it stings. :-) And yes, thank goodness for e-books.
ReplyDeleteThis too shall pass, Amaleen! Hugs for the surf by!
ReplyDeleteI've had this frustrating and hurtful experience as well. I get more support from fellow writers than from people I know in the flesh, for twenty plus years! Many avoid the subject of my series as if it's a shameful secret. You say, thank goodness for ebooks, I say thank goodness for other writers. Positive, the odd aversion has made me much more conscientious about cheering others on in their creative endeavors.
ReplyDeleteAmen to that, Elise! Thanks for your input and support! Cheers!
DeleteWonderful post, Sharon. I was always a little leery about the "new" way of publishing, but I love it now!
ReplyDeleteYes, me too, Sloane. I know eBooks are forever, but I still like holding a book too. It's great to have a choice! Cheers for your support!
DeleteSharon, I loved this post. Not because your book ended up in the bottom of the bag, but because I think almost any author can identify with your feelings. IT'S MY BABY! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! HOW CAN YOU LEAVE MY BABY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE KNAPSACK HALF READ?
ReplyDeleteWe're all in this together. *hugs, Margaret
True that, Mags! Cheers for your support and virtual hugs!
Delete