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No criticism from me, Jack. It does, of course, make perfect sense to target an e-book reading community when promoting an ebook. And I'd guess that many authors signing up to MobileRead who don't currently own a device will probably be tempted to do so later through interaction and enthusiasm shown here, or have at least seen their own ebook presented in digital form on a device or android or whatever which might turn them onto the concept of e-reading.
It's good to know, though, that the author of an ebook actually reads ebooks him/herself on a forum dedicated to ebook-reading where the facility for self-promotion is freely offered with no strings attached in hopes that s/he'll actually join in discussions and not confine activities to book promotion.
I for one would not buy a print book from someone who did not read books at all ... and many authors, as you know, openly (sometimes even proudly) admit to that. It's something I can't overlook and do frown upon, as I'm pretty sure you and others here would.
It's hard to believe that I might ever buy an expensive coffee machine on the advice and recommendation of someone who apparently prefers tea and has never tasted coffee. I'd never buy a fine wine on the advice and recommendation of a teetotal salesman or a tent from a dealer who has never experienced a weekend under canvas. Their recommendation is worse than merely useless.
OK, an ebook might be offered free or for peanuts, but it does come at a cost ... the investment of several hours' precious recreational reading time. So I appreciate hearing that a print author reads books (as I do) and that an ebook author reads ebooks (as I do). That grain of knowledge works wonders on my confidence in what's on offer. Also mention of e-reading in some form when a promoting author signs up for MR fosters a feeling that a new member who is also plugging a book may become part of the general community here and take an active interest in several other areas rather confining posts merely promotional sections.
My intention in opening this thread was not to create a squabble, by the way, but to encourage debate. I hope you realise that. My OP was posed as a question, criticism was implied by the very next poster (Harry T) and, I must admit, I -- rightly or wrongly -- jumped in to agree with Harry's more blunt approach.
As in pretty well everything, though, I hold flexible views and am wide open to the influence of alternative opinion. Dogmatism is in my vocabulary but not in my code.
Luck with the work, Jack, and very best wishes. Neil
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