There has been a lot of, well, buzz, in the blogosphere about e-books and self-publishing. The biggest stories last month were Barry Eisler turning down a $500,000 traditional publishing deal and self-e-published Amanda Hocking getting a $2,000,000 traditional publishing deal. They gave an interview together here. Clearly things are in a state of flux. What this all means for books, I don't know.
 | But, what can I say? I love physical books. I'm never going to embrace e-books like p-books. :) Perhaps that's because you can't teach an old dog new tricks (And, yes, I'm the old dog in this metaphor). Perhaps it's because I worked at the public library during my teenaged years. Maybe it's because I write speculative fiction and my imagination is too active. (What's going to happen to all those e-books when civilization collapses?) Whatever, the reason, I hope physical books are here to stay. |
What do you think?
I'm with you. I got a kindle and ended up giving it to my daughter. I need to hold a book in my hand. It's a sensory pleasure. Like eating food as opposed to getting tube fed.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to the Challenge! Nice to meet you!
KarenG
There's just something about a good old regular book the way it feels, smells. This is going to sound real weird, but I'm a book sniffer, you can't smell an e-book. But then with e-books there is a world out there for people who can't get traditional book deals.
ReplyDeleteOMGosh, yes, I bet they didn't think about what would happen when the Internet falls apart - I write speculative fiction too and I should of thought of it! ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm never going to be converted to ebooks either. I need to hold them in my hands, flip the pages, and see them in my bookshelves.
Awesome post.
If I have my way they will be here to stay. I really don't think I'll ever love ebooks. I mean, I see their usefulness for when you're studying and need to access a book quickly. But for reading pleasure? Nah, needs to be a physical book in my hands!
ReplyDeleteI think there are far too many people who prefer paper books to e-books for them to completely go the way of the dodo, but I admit to having moments of book panic. But, really, the publishing world couldn't risk ostracizing those who don't have access and prefer not to use them.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the A to Z Challenge!
Oh, I like books, but more than books I like stories told and I think we'll always figure out ways to make that happen. Books for the hoi polloi haven't been around that long but stories? They've been around for ever.
ReplyDeleteJan Morrison
I sure do hope p-books ;) are here to stay!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jan -- the story is what matters, not the form it is published in.
ReplyDeleteI do wonder, like you and Kimberly, what will happen if the Internet falls apart or technology makes e-readers obsolete? When did you last list to your 8-track tapes?
What greatness will we lose?
MM the Queen of English
queenofenglish.wordpress.com