E-books

[Keta Diablo]

There sure has been a lot of chatter on the Yahoo loops about e-books lately.

Soon we'll be able to download them to our cell phones. Pretty cool, huh?

Many seem to think e-books will thrive and flourish in this dismal economy.

Is everyone going green or what?

Are paper books on their way out?

Techonology is taking over the world, this includes reading books from a variety of hand-held devices. Woot! About time.

What do you think?

Keta

[ann campbell]

I have to say that I am on the fence. I like the idea of e-books because it will cut down on the amount of space my print books take up in my home. I also like the fact that they are cheaper to produce and there by everyone in the process stands to make a little more money.
I don't like the fact that the hand held readers are so expensive, but hey that's all technology right?
I had hopes when I started writing of being able to hold a paper copy of my book in my hand, but now i don't think that will happen. I am ok with it though.
I like the fact that e-books are avaliable NOW when they are purched. Makes it very easy to buy the next one you want while still in your jammies in the comfort of your own home and you don't have to wait for it to be shipped to you.

BUT.........I also love print books. I love the way they smell, feel and the fact that I can save my place when reading one of them, something I can't do with a PDF on my computer at home. or if I can, I haven't figured out how yet. I knoe people like my mom who have trouble reading on a computer screen will miss print books if they go away. But like you I think it is coming.

[Keta Diablo]

I'm on the fence too. I love paperbacks and have tons and tons. Like you, I like to hold a book in my hand. But, hey, my kids told me to get with the program and PROGRESS! So I did. I now have over 100 books downloaded to my hard drive, and I must say I enjoy popping them up and reading them.

As for your dream of holding your own book in your hand, there are still many e-publishers who also do print or POD. I write for several. And AUDIO is now becoming big. Ravenous Romance offers all their books in audio. I love this. I can listen to my own book while riding in the car. If that isn't amazing! I think more publishers will jumping on the wagon with this concept.

Thanks for responding, My best, Keta Diablo
www.ketadiablo.com

[Lainey Bancroft]

Hey, Keta. I for one certainly hope e-books flourish. And I think it is equal parts going green and money savings that will be the catalyst for that, but I don't think paper books are on the way out...at least not in my lifetime.

I think the two formats--print and digital--can exists side by each. When you really think about it, how many 'keepers' are on your shelf? An avid reader can plow through a dozen (or more) books a month if finances allow, but few of those will be 'keepers'.Much better to have those fast, entertaining reads on a device (although for this to go wide spread, the 'devices' are going to have to come to the table cost-wise) they are less expensive to purchase, they are not taking up space in a house, and they are not going to plug a landfill with unread 'returns' a publisher lost money on.

On the flip side of that, pod technology can provide a consumer with a print copy to place on their keeper shelf if the e-book 'moves' them, and the publisher has that option in place.

@Ann, it was..,.surreal to hold a print book in my hands, but honestly, the bulk of my sales have been e, and while I have heard from 5 people who purchased my print book, I've heard from numerous people who enjoyed the digital version of the same story. I'm still pretty 'wet behind the ears' in the publishing world in general, so take my comment FWIW. I'm just happy to have both options to offer anyone who wants to read my books!

[Rebecca J Vickery]

Hi Keta,
Interesting questions. I love the trend toward e-books and going green...but then I love to shop from home and avoid the traffic so this fits right into my preferences. I believe that there will be a surge toward e-books in our downward economic trend. They are less expensive as a whole, immediately accessible, and the choices are endless. Plus one can make the font larger, smaller, or even different colors as suits each viewer's vision requirements.

Do you remember old sci-fi and futuristic movies where it amazed the humans to actually find or touch a real book? I think Logan's Run and several different episodes of Star Trek had those scenarios. I hope it never goes that far, but in order to preserve our trees and forests for more important uses I think the future is definitely e-books.

[Keta Diablo]

Yes, i think they are here to stay. As of a year ago, I had never downloaded an e-book, but one day I tired it and now I'm hooked. I would love an e-reader too but am goign to wait until the price drops a little. And I think the younger generations are way beyond us when it comes to technology. There's even talk that all college text books will soon by e-books!

Keta Diablo