How will you "browse for books" when there are no more bookstores and everything is digital?

Here is a question to ponder for the weekend.

I was talking to an author yesterday and we were talking about the continued rumors of "real" bookstores closing. The question came up of how a new author will be "discovered."

This other author and myself both said we have found some great new authors simply by finding a cover or title on a book shelf as we were "just looking."

Even though the books will be available in print format from "online" sources, how will you browse for those new books? How will you stumble on those rare gems? Are you simply going to rely on friends telling you or publishers pushing certain books?

If you are a new published author, do you want to rely on your publisher to push you? Will they simply push their "bigger" authors?

Thoughts on this? Let's get a huge dialogue going here!

Scott

On E-Book Readers and E-Books

I was reading an article a couple of days ago about E-Book readers and the following comment came up:

"Waterstone's has revealed it has sold more than 700,000 e-books and 60,000 e-book readers since it first started selling them in September 2008.

At Waterstone's supplier conference, held in north London yesterday (24th May), head of e-commerce David Kohn told publishing delegates Waterstone's believed e-books would account for 8% of the book market by 2013. "It's something that could be the greatest single opportunity, not just for Waterstone's, but for everybody here."

This was from an article on The Bookseller.com website by Graeme Neill. Needloess to say, it got me thinking about this whole business of E-books.

First of all, these are indeed big numbers. I am, in no way going to argue about that fact. 8% of the book market by 2013 is something that cannot be ignored. Along the same lines, the numbers we have seen recently with the introduction of the new lines of Kindle, Kobo, Sony and iPad are also significant. With that said though, one questions still lingers in my head.

What are they buying and will they continue to buy.

I made a comment several weeks ago that I am wondering how many of these people who got their new e-readers at Christmas were just cashing in their gift cards they received with it? Yes this accounts for sales, but the question remains, will they continue to buy them. I frequently think of the e-readers much in the same way we think of that treadmill we got at Christmas to lose those unwanted pounds. How long does it take before it gets moved to the garage? Will these readers continue to buy books? That question remains to be seen.

Along the same lines, I wonder what they are buying? Are these e-book readers really diving for that new bestseller at full price, or are they waiting for those discounted rates and even free books? I was noticing a while ago that several books that were "FREE" on the Sony site were moving very quickly up the Amazon Bestseller list. Seeing this told me that people are really looking for cheap not the books.

I guess for the writers out there, I wouldn't worry too much about this market. Sure we are seeing more e-book readers out there, and yes, the iPad is really cool, but I for one still believe the real books are still going to be here for a VERY LONG TIME

On the State of E-Publishing

It's time to talk e-publishing again. Yes this is a reality but I don't think we all have to panic yet. The shift is not going to occur in the US or worldwide like the shift to HD Television did. It is in our future but I, unlike many out there, do not believe it is going to happen overnight.

I have read several people talking about how the shift is now. They are hearing grandmothers talking about getting a Sony. They are hearing textbook publishers talking about potentially going to an e-pub format and schools buying devices. But here it the truth. It is all talk!

If we think back to all of the major technalogical moves the world has made, it took a LONG time for the shift to occur. Personal computers came out and there was the belief that in 10-20 years everyone would have one. Hey, I got my first computer in high school and that was a TRS-80 Double Disk Drive and since that time, there are still a ton of families out there with no computer. Take it from me who spent a large amount of time teaching. There are more students than you think that have to still rely on going to the library and using a public computer. The computer shift is simply not here yet.

The same will go for the e-readers. Sure, I have a Sony but it is one of the early versions. It does what I want it to do. Nothing more. Nothing less. But for me to rush out and get a new device every time a Kindle, iPad, Sony, or Nook changes what they are doing is not going to happen. There are still far too many bugs to be worked out. These devices are still in their infancy.

Have you ever noticed who the people are that scream the change is happening right now? It is the people who have an invested interest in you buying those e-readers. The companies say it is now. The companies are the ones releasing all of this great news of sales to really get the public to think that going to the library or book store is something your grandparents used to do. Sorry to say it, but let's study some of those numbers.

E-readers were the top purchase item this last holiday season? Why? People got them for other people. And now we are hearing everyone is buying e-books - the sales are through the roof? Why? Well, for most of those people, when we bought our brother or sister that e-reader, we likely bought them a gift card to get their own books. They are now realizing that they might as well get off the stick and buy a book. There will be a spike in sales with books, much the same way there is a spike in battery sales at Christmas to go with all of those "some assembly required" toys.

Look, I am not saying e-books are not a wave of the future. It is going to be something we do. But the days of books are from over. Don't panic. If you like holding a book in your hand then please, keep buying the books. Demand your book store supplies more for you. Force the libraries to stay open and get more. It is your say, not the companies guilting you into something.

Scott

A Case for the Writer - The E-book Issue

I know most of you are aware I try my best to stay out of politics. I am an agent who is in this for the writer and want to see high quality writing out there for people to read. That is the literacy specialist in me. I do want to bring up something that a few people have touched on but I think needs to be brought a little more to the forefront.

As most of us have heard all weekend, Amazon adn Macmillan have been battling over the price of electronic books. Time and time again, I have seen people on the net screaming about the money the publishers or Amazon would be making, but we again seem to forget the author out there.

Hey, I am all in favor of advancing technology and moving into a digital age, however, we have to bring the author back into the equation. Writers have fought long and hard to see an increase in advances and royalties. For a new author, spending those hours sweating, crying and laughing over a book, should be worth something. Decreasing the cost of a book has a trickle down effect to the author who finally ends up with little.

Now before any of you jump in on this, I am not talking about those mega-authors here - the ones who have been around for a while - I'm talking about the average, mid-lister.

Sure, the same process of editing and marketing goes into an e-book. A book is a book. But the cost cutting comes in the form of printing. In essence. the e-book becomes a Print-on-Demand book without the paper. For a publisher, storing a ton of books on their hard-drives costs little to nothing, compared to the warehouse space and all of the other stuff that comes with print books. But, just because the book is cheaper to print, does not and should not mean the advances to an author should be any less.

Look, I understand this is all competition out there as book sellers attempt to show who can sell books the best. And yes, I know as readers, we always look for a great deal when buying a book. But with that said, let's again remember that someone, at least a year ago, spent time and energy writing those words that you are holding in your hand, or just downloaded to your computer or e-reader.

Scott

Save an author

I was thinking a few days ago as I was driving somewhere in the car. I had the radio on, and like every radio station right now, there was an intense conversation about what to do to save the economy. The pundits continued to scream about how we need to get money back into the hands of the people.

Now in this case, they were referring to Buy American programs and those that support issues for small businesses but in this case, my mind took a slight side trip and I started thinking about publishing. As we all know, the publishing business is not immune from the huge financial crisis out there and certainly the authors are feeling it.

And then I had it! The solution came out of the blue! No, it isn't anything amazing or ground breaking but something that I think we have forgotten over the course of the years.

BUY BOOKS!

Now, let me explain. There are a few things that frankly I think will boost the economy a bit and certainly show those publishers out there that your favorite writers (or you published writers) want to see more! Buy those books. If you have a choice between that e-book and regular book, go for the regular book. I know one is cheaper, but buy the other one. Not only does this put money back into the publisher's pocket, it also filters back to the author. In my case, I often buy both versions of the book. One I keep on my Sony Reader and one I keep on the shelf for when I want that "real book feel."

Oh, but don't stop there. If you have a book that you just read and love it so much you want to share it with someone, then buy them a copy. I know it is tempting to just give them yours, but remember, the author made no money on that transaction and this will hurt the author. When the publisher goes back to evaluate sales, they count the number of books sold, not the number of books "shared." The same goes for those "used books."

And writers, you are far from immune to this as well. I would encourage you to buy your own books at regular cost. I know you can get them at a reduced rate but if you are using these as promotional tools, there are other ways you can get that money back, or at least the difference between the "at cost books" and the "full price books". And you too are showing the publisher your book is selling.

Oh, and one more thing writers. Your families might love the books but quit letting Gramma Emma pass it on to Auntie June because you are family. Make it known to them that every book they BUY keeps you on good terms with the publisher.

And I should also note that I buy all of my author's books when they come out. It is my way of putting my 2 cents in.

Scott