Book People Archive

Re: What's an ebook? and what's a book? ...

Richard, 

You make some very interesting points, however, we cannot forget that many
authors do not wish to give their work away as a free gift for download. We
also cannot forget the endless hours books take to write, and however
difficult it may be to ensure lack of piracy and problems presented to
publishers, we also have to keep in mind that e books are a somewhat new
technology, sure to advance in future years. And we also must remember that
although e books for the present have been slow to catch on in a paying
market, the future may unfold a different story. All new technologies are
subject to skepticism and lack of trust in a future for them. 

Look to the film industry at the beginning of talking movies and the
industry skeptics were sure that movie-goers would never accept this new
technology, believing that consumers are creatures of habit, not about to
accept that which had not yet proven to be successful. The Wright brothers,
when attempting to invent the airplane were seen by some as rather strange
men, who were wasting their time. How could they have known the future would
unfold sonic jets? Back when I was in college, at the onset of the Internet,
before classes were offered in this new emerging technology, a few
professors of mine told classes of students, "it's a fad, sure to fizzle
out." Of course now we have streaming video, communities of millions, and
modems that scream. How could they have predicted? 

The point is I don't think we can really look at what is happening right
now, at this moment, regarding e books. I think we have to look to the
future, new, more advanced technologies and inventions that work out the
current problems with the Internet. Marketing experts and researchers claim
that what is at the moment a very small portion of book sales in the
electronic world may certainly advance to a force in coming years. Rather
they are right or wrong remains to be seen, but it seems unlikely major book
sellers and distributors would be adding e book sections if there were no
basis for this belief. 

I believe a certain amount of books given away free is a good thing, such as
the those in public domain and those used as educational resources. Yet, I
also believe that authors, including myself, work much too hard at being
creative, and endless hours researching and diligently sticking with this
business of promoting the advancement of literature to think about giving
work away free. What may make sense at the moment from a business
prospective doesn't make good sense to the person whose spent years writing
a book no financial rewards for the book. And while true authors do not do
so to make a buck, but rather to see the dream in the heart come to life,
isn't it reasonable to suggest their time is worth the same as any one
else's pursuing any other profession? And I could also suggest that while
everyone loves to recieve something free, I could also suggest that there is
a common belief that books being given away aren't worth the time of day
unless they are part of a major project existing to promote reading or
literature in general. Which, for a new author presents a problem. If I were
to give my work away free it would be very difficult to get decent reviews,
or reviews at all for that matter since many reviewers won't review free
books as they are considered not in the professional realm by some. We can't
look over the important and very valuable fact that many authors are using
the Internet as a means of exposure and a stepping stone to greater
opportunities. And however much e books at present are struggling to survive
in a new age medium at the very least books being for sale in an electronic
format gives authors the chance to promote themselves as published authors
and create an exposure that they may not get immediately as a new author
through printed books. 

We could also talk about the fact that even great ideas don't always see the
light of day, while we continue to see bookshelves lined with one formula
book after another. Not to say there are not wonderfully inventive books
being published, just that marketing departments are more and more less
willing to take chances on ideas not already proven to be success stories.
They have too much riding on these books if they fail. In the electronic
publishing world there is less money invested, so less to lose if it fails,
and therefore so much more to offer the author by means of letting the
public decide what is worthy and what is not, instead of some marketing
department. I think most publishers in the electronic world are acutely
aware that this a new enterprise that is going to take time to see success.
It is those that have a real commitment for the arts that will win. Those
that are only in it to make a buck will fold like yesterday's news because
they will not have the staying power and committment to see the advancement
of this kind of art through. 

Personally, I think that electronic books free or sold are a very valuable
thing. There must be free books of some sort, rather educational or
otherwise on the Internet at present in order to advance the electronic book
awareness and let the public know how to read them and what they are all
about. That's really the only way they will eventually catch on as needed
enterprise and worthy element in literature. It's also a matter of
publishers learning how to market these books effectively and hook up with
distributors in way that will bring success. We can't expect any one site,
with millions of sites to compete with to bring the sales needed to make
these books a success. I for one am excited about the future of e books as I
would be with any new technology. And the next five years will tell the
story whether e books are offer a viable market for sales or not. 

Tonyia Young