The following starts an article on the Huffington Post, dated Dec 2009:
eBooks, some of them free eBooks, outsold print books this Christmas. On December 26, 2009 Amazon annouced that, for the first time ever, they had sold more eBooks than physical books on Christmas day. In an interview Jeff Bezos was also quoted as saying that he believes that the print book will eventually disappear.
This starts an article dated July 20, 2010:
SAN FRANCISCO — The largest retailer on the Internet, Amazon.com Inc., said growth in sales of its Kindle digital reader accelerated every month in the second quarter and that it is selling more electronic books than hardcover versions.
I think that the current population isn't ready to see a mass shift to eReaders. However, the younger generation and the one up and coming is. I still encounter too many people who a) think ereaders are "reading on a computer" and b)it's too expensive to buy an ereader (forgetting the cost savings, especially for romance readers who buy a new book every 3 days).
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see it shifting. I think the biggest thing that authors can do to help the shift is to get out more and talk about it. Do you know that I have never met, in person, an author who sells ebooks? Even though there are plenty in my city and surrounding area.
Interesting stuff. It did seem to be all over the news today - like they're just figuring it out, lol. Another great article in the LA Times today was about how ebooks are transforming books: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/18/business/la-fiw-0718-reading-20100718 (don't know how to create a real link, sorry)
ReplyDeleteSo when your books get on Amazon, make sure you tag them with all relevant keywords so readers can find them. And download them on their Kindle. :)
I not only can't create a link half the time, I couldnt even cut and paste without 4 tries and doing wierd things to the background.
ReplyDeleteBut, how awesome to be a part of this techno-expanding time.
Yep, I have yet to meet in person another e-published author. I need to get out more!
Great reminder about the taging too, Cate.
Soon as I get a handle (ha ha), maybe I can set up or twist someone's arm to organize the tag party day of the week like the sci-fi blog does.
Fascinating!! I'm waiting to buy my machine when its all settled down and we know which is best!!!
ReplyDeleteWe're taking over the world! Yeah, zombies and vampires beware . . . ebook writers are coming for you!!
ReplyDelete