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Dec
29 2011 | ||
The Long Wait Between Books – The eBook Alternative
As writers, we get many emails saying they can’t wait until our next book is out. It’s a thrill for me to get those letters and know people are so excited for my next release. As a reader, I understand exactly how you feel. As a writer, I thought it would be good to let you know that I’m as frustrated as you are between books. Luckily, the Serendipity series has been scheduled fairly close together –
Serendipity – September 2011
Kismet – November 2011 (e-short story)
Destiny – January 2012
Karma – May 2012
But even this can feel interminably long when we’re waiting for another book. I know! I feel your pain. That’s why I wrote a short story available in eBook about one of the Serendipity characters and Kismet has been out since mid-November at the low low price of .99!
As happy as readers have been about this short story, there has also been added angst for those who either don’t have an eReader or don’t want to read a book (no matter how short) on their computers. Again, I get it! I do! The problem is that it is cost prohibitive to offer readers a print book that’s 100 pages long – you wouldn’t want to pay what it would cost us to make it happen. Maybe when I have more than one or two short stories I can bundle them in one book for print. I want to make readers as happy as possible, believe me.
Me? I’ve become an all e-reader. My Kindle has upped my reading, I keep it with me all the time, and I’ve become a reading machine like I was when I was younger. When I come across a book that screams keeper, I purchase it in book form too and put it on the valuable space on my bookshelves. I don’t mind spending twice on a book I love that much!
So my question up for discussion today – are you happy with the eBook only availability of some books (as opposed to not having the story at all?) Or do you share some readers’ frustrations that they still want a print book to read?
Of course I have to remind you DESTINY is available for preorder and on shelves January 3! Links to all formats HERE:
http://www.carlyphillips.com/bookshelf/serendipity-series/destiny/
And as a thank you for visiting me today and to Lauren for having me, I’m giving away 5 … yes 5 copies of KARMA in whatever eBook format you’d like.
Carly Phillips is the New York Times Bestselling author of over 30 romance novels with contemporary characters and plotlines that today’s readers identify with and enjoy. Carly is a stay at home mom of 2 daughters, 15 and 19, one soft coated wheaten terrier named Bailey and a Havanese puppy named Brady. She’s a Twitter and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers.
More information on Carly can be found at www.carlyphillips.com.
Around the web you can also find Carly at:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/carlyphillips
Facebook: www.facebook.com/carlyphillipsfanpage
Blog: www.plotmonkeys.com
December 29th, 2011 at 6:21 am · Link
I guess I’m in transition… love books & love the ebooks.. I’ve moved several times in the past 30 some years… packing books can get to be an issue along with enough shelf space… But I will always have some ‘favorites’ that I cannot bear to part with…
December 29th, 2011 at 7:54 am · Link
I honestly don’t mind books that are only on ebook, anymore with my Kindle that’s all I buy. Before that I would just check books out at the library. I Can’t wait to read Destiny!!! I loved Serendipity!!!
December 29th, 2011 at 7:57 am · Link
I think that people have the choice. I would rather have a book no matter the format than none at all. If you want a print book by the ebook and print it off to read. It might not be as environmentally friendly but you get what you want and you don’t have to read on the computer. I love physical books, there is just something about holding them in your hand and reading them until they become dog eared because you love them that much but as someone who moves quite a bit being able to carry your 600 books on one small device does become appealing.
December 29th, 2011 at 8:00 am · Link
Well, as long as I get to read it, ebook is better than none at all. I just got a Kindle Fire for Christmas but also love to read actual books… 😉
December 29th, 2011 at 8:13 am · Link
I’m in love with all of the books and would love to have a Kindle copy of Kismet. As an aside – I live on Kismet St. LOL!!!!!
Happy New Year!
December 29th, 2011 at 8:13 am · Link
I don’t mind it being an e-book version. But I mind that because of certain publishing restrictions, e-books aren’t easily available outside of US so us non-US residents do have a hard time getting e-books especially these short novellas which are usually restricted to non-US residents. If these publishing restrictions are resolved, I really prefer e-book versions to peperbacks as I can read at anywhere, at anytime.
December 29th, 2011 at 8:14 am · Link
I love the option of both … having an ereader has opened me to some great new authors however it has provided me with some badly edited crap. Also an ereader is very helpful when you are travelling. 😛
Nothing can take the place of a good book, though.
December 29th, 2011 at 8:15 am · Link
I go back and forth on this one. It isn’t an issue for me since I have an eReader, but it isn’t fair for the people that don’t and that love a certain author. But with that being said it is so hard to even find a book store anymore in some areas that it is getting to the point that you can only read eBooks anyway. Kind of a Catch-22.
December 29th, 2011 at 8:27 am · Link
It took me a while to get used to ebooks but since I have an ereader I don’t really care if I read a paper book or an ebook. I admit though that I buy the books (if available) from my favourite authors as paper books.
December 29th, 2011 at 8:32 am · Link
I can honestly say, I love having both options. I love to hold a book, but love I can take all my books on my kindle anywhere.
December 29th, 2011 at 8:36 am · Link
Since I love to read it really doesn’t matter. At first I thought I would still by hardback books of my favorite authors, but I find the ease of purchasing and storing e-books to be a big plus.
December 29th, 2011 at 8:37 am · Link
I love both… I love books too much.
December 29th, 2011 at 8:47 am · Link
Well, I just got an e-reader for Christmas and as much as I love it I am still an avid physical book reader. I definitely preferto havean ebook in lieu of no book and the transportation of books is much easier with my ereader. So I’m still in trasition but as long as the book I buy is good I really don’t mind what format it is in 🙂
December 29th, 2011 at 8:49 am · Link
I’ll always love the feel of a paper book, but the longer I have my ereader, the more I like it. I’m also much more likely to read new authors in a digital format.
December 29th, 2011 at 8:51 am · Link
I like e-books and I have an e-reader; but sometimes my favorite authors only put out a novella on e-book and I still have the love of a physical book in my hands for those special keepers. So I miss having the choice.
December 29th, 2011 at 8:56 am · Link
😛 I would rather have an ebook then not have an option of having the book at all. My niece reads her books on her laptop all the time. I love getting the bundles whenever they have them available so I can store away my older books and have an ebook form available with me on the go. My nook app and kindle app is on my phone so I can read just about everywhere I go.
December 29th, 2011 at 9:03 am · Link
I am madly addicted to my kindle, so it doesn’t bother me that certain books are only available in e-format. However, some of my friends don’t have ereaders and find it frustrating that they can only get certain books electronically, which I can understand, because reading on your computer screen is really painful.
December 29th, 2011 at 9:13 am · Link
Having been an avid reader for years I never thought I would like ereaders or ebooks. That changed the second I got my first Kindle and I have not read an actual print book since. I love the Kindle option of being able to sync the book on all of my devices, read on whichever one is handy and be able to pick up exactly where I left off on whatever device I use next. I would like to make two comments to previous comments made…
1. Prefer the feel of a real book in your hands: I felt the same way until I got a nice leather “opens like a book” cover for both my Kindle and my Kindle Fire. The cover is of huge importance to me and I would not love my ereader nearly as much without it. Get yourself a nice cover and it will not only feel like a real book in your hands, you will get all the added perks of the ereader as well.
2. Badly edited crap on ebooks: To my understanding it is not the fault of the author’s editor or the editing process. The very few misprints, misspellings or whatever (which I have yet to encounter as being an interference with the flow of the story) occur through the conversion of the already edited print format to the “hence it should be edited” electronic format. With ebooks being on the rise of popularity, I suspect some after conversion editing may eventually occur if it becomes a real problem, but that will probably also cause the lower price of ebooks to take an upward hike since it will cost more to produce them if they have to be reedited.
Personally, I’m perfectly content with a couple of conversion mishaps and the lower price, but am prepared to pay more without complaint if that change ever occurs.
Lauren and Carly.. I love your work and your minds dearly and I love knowing that at all times I am carrying all of your books along with thousands of others in the palm of my hand via my ereader.
December 29th, 2011 at 9:28 am · Link
Hey, all! Thanks 🙂 And Cathy B that is SO sweet! 🙂 I feel the same way about having books I love with me all the time in the eReader. And I’m so happy to be able to offer a book in eBook format if I can’t do it in print – and if I have enough shorts, I CAN then do print with a few shorts in one – and it would cost a little more (like a Trade) but you’d get your money’s worth. It’s so hard for us to be able to offer print without a publisher! Esp for a short story.
December 29th, 2011 at 9:44 am · Link
Personally, I adore my Kindle and would much rather read on it than read a print book. I’m absolutely thrilled that my favorite authors are offering short stories in e-format to keep us happy while we wait for new books. That’s a trend that has just taken off this year and I couldn’t be happier. I was thrilled to see Kismet offered and bought it right away. A couple of other authors writing my favorite series have done the same this holiday season (Ilona Andrews, Thea Harrison, Tessa Dare) and I’ve bought all of them.
December 29th, 2011 at 9:44 am · Link
I have a Kindle and LOVE it but I also love all my paperbacks as well, so it is hard to choose. I am a cover slut though and that is my only real drawback to ebooks for me. I love to be able to look at the covers of my books. Cost is the other factor for me, ebooks are sometimes cheaper but other time I can get the paperback cheaper when i can find it used than paying for the ebook. But I usually only do that with trade size books.
Thanks for adding some good sounding books to my tbr list 🙂
December 29th, 2011 at 9:56 am · Link
I read both ebooks and paperbacks. I like the option of having both versions. Since I have an ereader, I don’t mind if books only come out in ebook format.
December 29th, 2011 at 10:05 am · Link
I read ebooks on my kindle fire, kindle 2 and itouch but I love to wander bookstores and find a new to me author.
December 29th, 2011 at 10:22 am · Link
I’m an ereader only girl now! It’s saved oodles of space. I like to keep all my books. They’re more valuable than money to me. This way I get to keep them and not drive my husband nuts!
Looking forward to reading Destiny and Karma!
Hope you have a wonderful New Year!
December 29th, 2011 at 10:26 am · Link
When I was using Kindle for PC I wasn’t a huge fan of ebooks.Then I hoarded Amazon $ and bought a Kindle and enjoyed the convenience of being so portable but felt disconnected from the story and characters. Then I won an iPad and forget about it! I thoroughly enjoy reading ebooks on my iPad because I can easily access author sites and get their backlist, series order, cruise eBay or Amazon and countless other things.
I still enjoy going to the library and grabbing an armful of books to read, I’ve discovered many new (and old, forgotten) authors by doing this and I greatly miss Borders. I loved nothing more than browsing the shelves and seeing all the gorgeous cover art, titles, and authors. With the loss of Borders I will probably become more “E” but there is something special about holding a book. If there is a print only book I “have to have” I can order it without hesitation but I hate waiting…
Sorry…what was the question? 😕
December 29th, 2011 at 10:31 am · Link
Since I just became the owner of an e-reader (which I had fought tooth and nail about not getting one!), this may be harder to answer. But I don’t buy all the books I read. I may buy more now that I have an e-reader. But the books I do own are series books, so would always want to be able to purchase a book for those series, not have some of the series on my e-reader. I still love the feel of having a book in my hand! But is is great to be able to read the novellas of a series because of my e-reader, where before I would have missed out. So would like to have the options to be able to buy books either way.
December 29th, 2011 at 11:02 am · Link
Love my kindle and kindle fire. I feel I read more now with ereaders. Plus I dont have all the books laying around.
December 29th, 2011 at 11:05 am · Link
I have a Kindle & am learning to love to read on it. Like you, I’ll still buy the “Keepers” for my bookshelf.
We bought our son a Kindle for Christmas & he’s loving it. My husband thinks they’re great because we won’t have to move so many books the next time the Army tells us it’s time to pack up! 🙂
December 29th, 2011 at 11:41 am · Link
This is a hard on for me because I live my kindle and nook
But I don’t think I would be happy to never read a paperback
Book. If having a book released faster in ebook
I cm all for that. I live to read and gage to wait. Lol
😆
December 29th, 2011 at 11:56 am · Link
Hello Carly! I have 6 huge bookcases in my little house. All of them are full of books. Thank goodness for my ereaders (Kindle & Nook). If I didn’t have them I would be in big trouble. I’ve been able to buy books without worrying about my overflowing bookcases. I still buy paper books if they have gorgeous covers or if I really want something for my keeper shelves.
December 29th, 2011 at 12:25 pm · Link
I’m sort of new to the digital reading world but I am quickly picking up. I like to have the best of both worlds and although I would never completely give up print books, for books that are only available in ebook format or priced much lower I have a way of reading them. One thing that is good is that everyone can enjoy ebooks whether they have an ereader or not, although I imagine an ereader would support ebooks best 🙂
December 29th, 2011 at 12:26 pm · Link
I like books any way i can get them. Kindle ebooks are easier in a lot of ways including portability. If they are keepers i like them in paperback though too. For me i get them later gently used though. I like both ways still and whatever way i get get them is what i go for. lol
Lisa B
December 29th, 2011 at 12:37 pm · Link
I’m a confirmed book junkie. Were it not for my Kindle my home would look like a candidate for extreme horders–library edition. There are far worse things to be addicted.
December 29th, 2011 at 12:37 pm · Link
I am extremely happy with my ereader. I have 3 bookshelves full at home and cannot get myself to part with any of the books. If it wasn’t for my ereader and my local library I would probably have dozens of bookshelves at home.
December 29th, 2011 at 12:47 pm · Link
I enjoy holding a book and also listening to them. Waiting “patiently” for my Kindle to arrive- Christmas present. So, I am not sure how an ereader will fit into the scenario but I am looking forward to it! Plus it means I get to read new releases sooner 🙂 Win win in my book.
December 29th, 2011 at 1:11 pm · Link
I’m okay with shook availability with some books because they’re easier to manage in an dreaded and sometimes cheaper than a paperback. I think it’s also a good way to start a new author or book if unsure of purchasing paperback copy.
December 29th, 2011 at 1:17 pm · Link
I don’t mind now that I have a Kindle, but I still like print books as well. I would still like to read if the electricity goes out. I will buy books. if they are an author that I like and I know I will read again. I just read Serendipity for the second time. Love it!
December 29th, 2011 at 1:30 pm · Link
I’m kind of tech challenged. If ebooks are available for my Kindle I’m very happy :). If I have to figure out how to get them onto my Kindle – I’m a mess.
December 29th, 2011 at 1:33 pm · Link
I love hearing everyone’s POV – and Michelle Harlan … I have a cousin by marriage – Michelle Harlan! Wow!
December 29th, 2011 at 2:05 pm · Link
I like both forms of reading. If I have started a series in paperback, then I will continue to buy the book, the same with the ebooks. The Kindle has allowed me to find many new authors I wouldn’t have normally read. Who can resist a book that’s free or even $2.99 or less. I have a small fortune invested in reading that anytime I can get a deal it’s all the better 🙂
December 29th, 2011 at 2:34 pm · Link
I don’t have an ereader, but I don’t mind a book being only in digital format because I can read it on my computer. I’d rather have the book available in only ebook format than not have it at all.
December 29th, 2011 at 4:31 pm · Link
I prefer print, but if a book is available as an e-book only, I have lots of ways to read it, so I’m good. I have the Kindle app on my phone, my computer and I have a Kindle, so I don’t let anything stop me from reading I book I want to read. 😀
Barbed1951 at aol dot com
December 29th, 2011 at 4:54 pm · Link
I read both. I do buy some of the shorter titles for Kindle, but tend to compare prices when it comes to full-length titles. I try not to buy the same title in 2 different formats unless the prices are really low.
December 29th, 2011 at 5:11 pm · Link
I like that books that wouldn’t otherwise be available are available as e books.
I just wish that more of the e-reader programs for the computer had text-to-speech.
December 29th, 2011 at 6:38 pm · Link
I love both. There are some books/authors that I prefer one or the other, but for the most part I am not picky.
December 29th, 2011 at 8:04 pm · Link
I really hated that some books were only released as e-books. But then I got a Kindle Fire for Christmas from my wonderful husband and now I dont think it will bother me any more, lol!
Have a Happy New Year Ladies! 😀
December 29th, 2011 at 9:04 pm · Link
I do not mind ebooks if it is readily available and well marketed. I tend not to read amazon ebooks and sometimes that is the only version available. As long as I can find it at plenty of retailers more stories from the same world is good.
December 29th, 2011 at 9:06 pm · Link
I Love to read and I would Love to Win !!! 🙂
December 29th, 2011 at 9:30 pm · Link
I still like my books for the most part in print. Something about a physical book that seems more “finished” and professional to me. Plus, the texture, smell of ink and holding it in my hands in a manner that isn’t as likely to cause carpal tunnel or other similar clicking problems. I use a computer for 8-10 hours a day at work so when I get home, I often do’t even want to open my laptop. And, constantly staring at it computer is bad for eyes.
So much “junk” is out there on the net and available for download, that a printed book which has been edited and published that seems more professional and “finished.”
So many “free” things or unpolished works out there that the edited, professional good stuff often gets lost or overlooked. And with the east of self-publishing to ereader devices (a great means for new authors to get their stuff out there and for established authors to have control of their work) there’s a lot to filter through.
I don’t mind paying extra for printed… although I do prefer paperback to hardback most of the time; they fit my hands better and aren’t as heavy in my bag or purse (an upside of ereaders).
I’ll download “free” reads from my fave authors or those highly recommended by those I respect, but seldom will purchase an ebook (and have even loved and kept a few). … It’d have to be one I’m obsessed with and there’s absolutely no print date for the series before I’d buy it on ebook.
I do love Carly’s books, but haven’t yet started this electronic series. Would be willing to give ’em a try (and maybe even change my tune) if I were selected as one of the five to get a free copy though.
December 29th, 2011 at 10:12 pm · Link
It depends on the series… If I started the series in paperback then I’d like to continue with paperback. If I start in ebook form then that works. I hate that it’s the same price or more expensive on an ebook for sometimes. All the coupons I get from B&N don’t allow nookbook discounts. I love my Nook for the fact that its tiny in my purse and holds a ton of books.