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As part of Slapdash Sunday, and its premise, today started off as an idea and became a reality. Vincent Zandri was going to do a Guest Posting regarding EReaders and Print from an author’s view and I was going to do it from a consumer, avid reader’s view. Then he made a generous offer that he would spend the day with us replying to comments and questions that other bloggers have. Being a semi newbie blogger, I wonder if this has ever been done before!? So post your thoughts and questions here and during the day he will respond. I am beyond honored and pleased to introduce:
ImageChef.com
Mr. Zandri’s thoughts on EReaders and Print:
E-Books vs Print?
It’s not a question of versus. It’s a question of living together. One of the reasons I still publish traditionally albeit with Indy publishers who embrace the new electronic model, is that they produce both E-Book and print versions of my work. Despite the exploding popularity of E-Books and their brilliant future, many of my fans prefer to read a real “paper” book. I like my fans. They put food on my table and often send me nice notes making me feel like a “real” writer. So even though I foresee a time when I will be publishing in E-Book format only (we all will be), for now anyway, I see myself mixing tradition publishing with major houses with that of the traditionally based indy presses along with self-publishing my OOP books and previously agented/edited manuscripts that never sold for one economically based reason or another.
How will I make the majority of my money down the road? Hands down, from E-Books. I make 50% off the price of an ebook. And they never go out of print. They are the gift that keeps on giving. We can control the price and never do I have to worry about a publisher giving up on it. Simply said, the E-Book revolution is going to bury the major New York publishers whose antiquated and broken publishing system is about to collapse not because of some bomb that’s about to explode in Times Square, but because of their model which allows for returns, and offers authors only a small percentage of sales. In fact, these houses, like the one’s I’ve published with have actually held me and my work hostage by retaining rights to books they pulled off the shelves years ago. In the words of one of my old Bantam/Dell editors, “They (the corporate head honchos) are PREVENTING you from selling books.”
My jumbled thoughts as a consumer and avid reader:
As a consumer and avid reader, I have mixed feelings with EReaders and Print.
Let’s start with Print first since that is what I have used since I started reading. I love the smell of a book, only real addicts know what I mean, turning actual pages and sometimes just having a book in my hands. In the summer I love to sit in the pool with a paperback, that’s the only time I will allow the books to get a little abused. Cons and they are starting to pile up. Hard Cover…only have them if they have been passed on. I would never pay that kind of money for a book that I will probably be done with in a few days. Even the price of paperbacks, I feel are getting to be expensive for a few days of reading. New releases, for library edition, will take many months to get after putting your name on the list, and by that time it is probably already in paperback. Clutter…won’t even go there. I have paperback books hidden by another level of paperbacks with even another level with newer paperbacks
EReader…a lot more portable. In this instant gratification society, there is a huge plus, to be able to purchase and dowload a book in seconds. So far, at least for me, ebooks are almost 1/2 price of a paperback. easier to read when in bed. easier to be mobile, no clutter..YES !!!! The clutter can be in my EReader. Dictionary, note taking all in one place. Cons..no backlight, would never use by pool or in pool. doesn’t have the smell of a book.
Just a few of my pros and cons…but I honestly say within a year or so when newer models have all the features I would like and more that I haven’t even thought of, I will probably upgrade from the EReader I have now and using only my EReader to buy digital books.
OK…..it’s your turn. What are your thoughts on today’s topic. Or maybe you just have a question. Either way…..POST HERE and lets start this LIVE discussion……….
