Quote:
Originally Posted by BookCat
I'm sorry, but I've devoted my life to physical books (I helped found the Columbia College Center for Book and Paper Arts) and e-books = dematerialised books. E-books imperil book design, typography, and other art forms that I care about. E-books are also not helpful to bookstores, and I love bookstores. So even though I understand that many people prefer e-books, I am not planning to issue my books in that form if I can avoid it. If that means I sell fewer books, so be it.
________________________________________
|
I really love physical books and book stores as well, but this is (in my opinion) the direction the business is going-it'd be wise to jump on the band wagon. But, she is entitled to choose otherwise. However, I find it very interesting that, despite her love of physical books and the art of making them, she has allowed her books (at least The Time Traveler's Wife) to be available as an audiobook. Doesn't that just totally skip the book part? Another point I find interesting is that book stores are making ebooks available, thus ebooks will help the sales at bookstores, not hinder.
About physical books...okay, I totally get being attached to a physical book. I have several paper and hardback copies of Pride and Prejudice. A leather bound copy I covet.
That is a book I absolutely love. I have all Jane Austen books on my reader, but I would under no circumstances EVER part with my Jane Austen pbooks. I'm not nearly as attached to any other pbook. So, sure if your book becomes a classic, distributed worldwide, known by a huge percentage of people, then yes-I can see how a pbook of yours would be valued. But until then, ebooks are way more practical.
I can understand that numerous people still like to feel the paper in their hands. But technology is making that number smaller and smaller. Just look at bn-books on your phones, people! So if you're marketing to people that only like pbooks, your target audience is getting smaller and smaller.