E-books

[LuAnn Morgan]

There's a woman (Zelda) who has written blog post about e-books. She claims only authors who can't get a book published have resorted to using e-books as a way to sell their books. Some of the authors who have groups are posting links to her blog and over 70 people have left her nasty comments.
My response was to post an opinion on my own blog (www.lumorgan.blogspot.com) and I hope many of you will check it out and leave me a comment.

[Mary J. Dressel]

I didn't read the other blog written by Zelda, because I prefer not to give her a hit to count. I agree with what you said in your blog. I'm published in print, but am seriously considering one of the books I'm writing now, to be published as an ebook. Not because I don't think I'm a good writer, or can't get published somewhere else, but because I think of it as another avenue and opportunity to market my work. Thanks for bringing this to our attention. I can't respond to anything that Zelda said because of not reading her blog, but it's just not fair to the authors who work so hard to become published in one way or another.

[Donna Sundblad]

Hi Mary,

My publisher (epress-online) provides books in either print or ebook. It makes everybody happy.

Donna Sundbldad

[Hywela Lyn]

I agree with everything said here. I did leave a comment on her blog, but only because i felt I had to respond to a totally unjustified insult to an excellent fantasy writer who as it happens (and was not mentioned) has her books published in print as well as e-format. I was also disgusted by the fact that this Zelda actually invited someone from another blog who had written a quite innocent article on publishing, to visit her blog where she slagged all e published authors. I won't visit her blog any more as I feel she's just trying to get 'hits' by being controversial. Controversy is one thing - public and personal insults are quite another.

[Theresa Stillwagon]

Great blog, LuAnn.
On the loops there was a lot of stuff written about this Zelda person.
I have a question for her, if any book can get published with an epub, why did I get two rejections from two different epubs, for two different manuscript in the space of a week?
Believe me, getting published with a good electronic publisher isn't easy.
I've got another one at The Wild Rose Press now.
Theresa

[Evie Alexis]

There is a lot of prejudice out there against ebook publications. In my experience, my ebook publication has been the start or launching point of my career in this field, and it's opening doors in a way I couldn't imagine. Unfortunately, Zelda is one of the many writers and publishers who look down on the electronic publishing world. But slowly, those people will change their opinions.

[LuAnn Morgan]

I'm so pleased with the discussion we've had so far about e-book publishing. Lots of good comments and intelligent replies. Thanks, everyone!

[Nadene]

I’m really, really new here, but I’d like to provide some insight to the print vs. ebook debate. When ebook technology first became available, many things were published simply because they COULD be published. That was during the infancy of electronic publishing. Since then, many reputable publishers have joined the ranks, and the content of electronically published books, as well as the quality of editing have elevated the ebook to compete nicely with the print market.

I work with ePress-online, Inc. We provide both print and ebook versions of most of our books, and our authors appreciate a secondary source of income from this distribution channel. All submissions that come into ePress are read by our group of readers to find those rare nuggets that we can grow into a book. When enough “accept” votes come from our readers, then a lead editor must get excited enough about a particular manuscript to slug through the several months it takes to polish it into a book. Once we take on a manuscript, we work with the author until it is something the editing team can be proud of, as well as something ePress can be proud of. This tends to make our authors very happy, too.

It’s been my experience that, in today’s world, good small presses and good electronic publishers will often do more to help a fledgling author than will the large New York houses.

Myself, I read almost exclusively from by eBookwise reader. For one thing, it’s back lit. So when I can’t sleep, I click it on and read until I become sleepy and never disturb my husband.

[LuAnn Morgan]

Nadene has added some excellent comments. It's nice to hear from someone who knows the business to demonstrate the positive side of ebooks!