Okay, so, admittedly, I used to think that electronic books were lame. That they were the only way authors that couldn't get a "real" publisher got their books out. And they didn't look good. And they didn't cost what real books should cost. And they were... well... lame.
Enter: The Internet. It has changed the world of publishing (and music and films and medicine and...you name it.)
This summer I was doing some research on book publishing and couldn't believe how much, and how rapidly, things are changing and evolving. I was stunned to read that Barnes & Noble is pretty much up for sale. Small independent bookstores have been closing for years - due to, not only the big Mega-stores like Barnes & Noble but, discount stores like WalMart and Costco. We consumers love to go into Barnes & Noble to get coffee and hang out and browse all the pretty books - but how many of us actually buy enough books there to cover costs? We see what we want to go home and order for less money on Amazon. So, it may be even buh-bye to B&N. Sad. But, I guess, unavoidable.
Enter: Digital Publishing. Exit stage left: Traditional publishing.
Great article #1
Great article #2
Spotlight: Center stage on the Kindle. I just got one and I have to say I AM IN LOVE. Totally and completely. It is compact and can hold more books than my giant oak bookshelves. I can curl up on my bed, read a book, then order the next one (for less money than it's printed version) and start reading without once upsetting my perfectly tucked in, ridiculously cozy, blankets. If only it could rub my perfectly tucked in feet and feed me chocolate - it would be the ultimate night-in companion. Well, actually...
Never mind.
Times, they are a changing. I think that we will always have printed books but they will be limited editions of books that do really well electronically or that we buy directly from authors when they speak and teach somewhere out in the real world. Other than that it looks like publishing is all pretty much going digital.
Go getcherselves a Kindle, Internetland. You'll be oh-so glad you did.
E-books. Not lame after all. Who knew?
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