Tuesday, July 13, 2010

eBooks!

It looks like a number of authors here have published something in eBook format. I’d like to ask a question of everyone – what response have YOU gotten to eBooks? Are people afraid that they need to buy an expensive tool to read it? What challenges have you encountered trying to sell your eBook? What has been your biggest obstacle with having a eBook?

I have a eBook only book coming out in October and I'm getting a lot of questions from people afraid that they won't be able to read it. I'm curious if others have experienced this.

14 comments:

Arlene said...

I dont own a kindle or an i-phone. I've purchased many e-books in support of my fellow authors and have found them easy to download and read on my laptop.
Ellora's Cave, Loose Id, Liquid Silver, Whiskey Creek, Cobblestone, Eternal Press, Shadowfire Press are all publishers I have purchased from off the top of my head, and I've been pleased.
I suspect Museitup will be not only professional, but a joy to work with. I just signed contracts for a, gulp, novel with them.

Krista D. Ball said...

Oo Arlene! We'll be in-house together!

I worry about every day readers and trying to explain to them about ebooks. I mean, I'm always happy to show people my ereader but I don't want folks to think that they have to buy one.

So you read yours on your laptop? I wonder how to get "the word out" that folks can do this?

Arlene said...

Ah, you'd think anyone would know that. E-books just mean they're in cyberspace, a wondrous library at a click of a power button. I plan to move all my goodies over to my netbook at some point. That's alittle more private than a full monitor for those goofing off at work.
Yep, in house together, how cool is that! Of course Lea may have recovered from a bottle of vodka and be reconsidering my contract right now.
Ashes has a projected release of May 2011

Cate Masters said...

Congrats on your contract Arlene!
My family won't read ebooks. I suspect many people will come on board within a few years, but it will take time to get the word out. Especially that sharing ebooks is not cool, it's piracy.
One author reads ebooks on her Netbook, which is cheaper than some ereaders, and she said she holds it sideways and hardly knows the difference. :)
I read PDFs on my computer too.

Arlene said...

I hope more and more authors help educate the general public so they understand that artists who write, edit, create cover art, and then publish should get the small amount they ask so a tremendous labor of love and sweat gets deserved recognition. Piracy is a hot topic in the ebook world, and I think, hope readers will eventually see in a new light, that it's not 'stickin to the man' but the entire process of creating something and it'll become an 'uncool' thing to do.

Melisse Aires said...

I was surprised to learn on of my older cousins got a kindle and loves it. She lives in a mountain cabin miles from the nearest bookstore so it is really great for her.

I think many people read pdf files on computers and may not know ebooks can be read the same way on their laptop or desktop.

I have a netbook and a pda(bought cheap on ebay) and can store tons of books via the sd cards. Many people can also read on their smart phones.

Obviously, if someone hates technology or computers, then they are not going to be persuaded. But if they are interested in green technology or like computer it shouldn't be a problem.But for me--ebooks are so much easier to deal with storage -wise. I don't miss packing up boxes of paperback to run to the used book store or Salvation Army at all.

robsad79 said...

I hope to own a kindle one day but until I do, I just use my netbook which is something I carry all the time anyways. It has saved me space because now my purse isn't as heavy since I don't have that extra book, lol.

If I can't get the ebook through the kindle, I save them on a flashdrive.

I also love the ebooks because you have more room in your house. You're still reading your favorite authors just in a different way.

Leigh M. Lane said...

The climate definitely is changing. People I know who swore by their paper books just a few years now swear by their Kindles. I still know many people who will not read e-books, but I think those people will be among the minority in just a few years.

Krista D. Ball said...

All very interesting!

Barbara Elsborg said...

Not a single person I count among my friends here in the UK would read a book on a screen. It disappoints me but what can you do?
They just aren't open to the idea at all.
I have to admit, I prefer a paperback but I've read plenty on my laptop and don't have any real issues apart from the fact that when I'm on the computer, I'd rather be writing than reading.

Annie Nicholas said...

I thing the younger generations will be more appt to read ebooks. Most of my friends and family haven't a clue about ebooks but do realize they are the future.

I hear a lot about the need to hold a paper book. But this is from people who never looked at an ereader and who think a Kindle screen will look like a computer screen.


I have a Nook and love it. I live in a rural town where the closest bookstore is an hour away. Even the iPhones and iTouches have iBook app for free. My 10 yr old son reads his books off it.

The ereaders have recently dropped in prices recently, which gives me hope that they will be one day much more affordable.

D L Jackson said...

Well, you can get a free kindle download to your Ipod touch and use it as an e-Reader and not just for music. The biggest drawback is the pirates and the dang antique laws that cover our copyrights. It will always be an endless battle. And how do you get your name out there. I've spent more time promoting than writing and finally gave up. I don't have the energy or time to do both. Do we need to start a "Read Green" campaign to fire our readers up to eBooks? I think that's the key. As e-Authors, we need to promote e-Readers and talk about them more and why they're a good thing. My mother and sister just got them and love them. They went on a spending spree. LOL. It's also fact that those that have them buy more books. So ladies and gents, the more electronic readers we have out there, the more books we'll sale.
I say we start promoting the tools too.
:)

D L Jackson said...

Well, you can get a free kindle download to your Ipod touch and use it as an e-Reader and not just for music. The biggest drawback is the pirates and the dang antique laws that cover our copyrights. It will always be an endless battle. And how do you get your name out there. I've spent more time promoting than writing and finally gave up. I don't have the energy or time to do both. Do we need to start a "Read Green" campaign to fire our readers up to eBooks? I think that's the key. As e-Authors, we need to promote e-Readers and talk about them more and why they're a good thing. My mother and sister just got them and love them. They went on a spending spree. LOL. It's also fact that those that have them buy more books. So ladies and gents, the more electronic readers we have out there, the more books we'll sale.
I say we start promoting the tools too.
:)

Rebecca Leigh said...

I have had the experience you pose, Krista -- you'll be fine with your new ebook. Congrats!!

I don't own an ereader and like Arlene read the ones I buy on my laptop or even my desktop. I also like to print them out and read when working out. There's lots of ways to get your teeth into an ebook!!