How do you read?
Sunday, November 21, 2010 at 3:32AM in Allison Brennan
E-books and e-readers are topics of conversation everywhere, and no place more so than among authors.
I could discuss any number of things related to e-books, but the topic could fill a novel—far more than I want to write on a Saturday night!
I think that there are two truths that most people can agree with, to differing degrees. One, e-books are here to stay and they’re a growing market. And two, print books will continue to sell.
I honestly don’t care how readers read my books. If they enjoy them electronically or in print or listening to them on tape or download. Truly, my job is to entertain by telling a good story.
At some point—when, I have no idea—there’ll be a balance between e-books and print books, just like there is a balance between hardcover and paperback releases. This unknown is one of the reasons that publishers are in a tizzy—it’s nearly impossible to plan print runs and create marketing plans when readers are all over the map. When an author like myself—a mass market commercial fiction author—has a book out there was a plan. But those plans are constantly in flux because of the unknowns.
We can say that ebook sales are increasing exponentially, but every author—with a particular eye to format and genre—is affected differently. My ebook sales are still in the single digits of total books sold. I know a lot of people who are selling upwards of 35%--most, if not all, of these authors are published in hardcover. Some of my mass market friends are seeing low two-digits—10-15% e-book sales, but most mass market authors aren’t getting the near half sales electronically.
So there are a lot of unknowns!
One of the problems everyone is having is with statistics. Numbers mean something, but methodology is crucial when looking at the stats. We’re hearing that Amazon is selling more digital books than hardcover books—but the problem with that statement is that they don’t tell us whether they’re selling more digital copies of books that are also available as hardcover, or are they selling more total digital copies than hardcover books.
I’m not discounting the quantity, because I know that hardcover authors are selling very well electronically, but we need to compare apples to apples if we can possibly plan for future books as well as know our audience.
For example, according to “Self Publishing Resources,” the average POD (which I am assuming includes self-published books, but I can’t be certain based on the wording) sells 75 copies, and Author Solutions reports that they sell on average of 150 copies of each of their self-published novels. According to a New York Times report in early 2009, when Bertram Capitol merged with Xlibris, they published six times more titles than Random House—the worlds largest publisher.
Quantity of titles doesn’t equate to success. Well, the vanity press companies are certainly successful, for one article on the Self Publishing Resources website states that 81 percent of the American people believe they have a book in them. And with the ease of getting that book published, there are now over 480,000 titles published today (2009.)
But the vast majority of those titles are selling less than 1,000 copies. One report I remember reading (but can’t find though I searched!) is that only 25,000 titles have a print run in excess of 5,000.
My point is that the big sellers are driving the digital train just like they drive the high print runs. I think when the New York Times starts their ebook bestseller list, that’s going to prove that it’s still the John Grishams and Lee Childs and Nora Roberts and Stephen Kings of the world that are dominating the sales. There will be new up and comers for certain, just like on the traditional print lists, but as more digital titles are available, readers will still gravitate to their comfort reads and proven authors.
I’m certain that there will be a lot of changes to come, some exciting and some scary. We don’t really know what’s going to happen, only that more people will move to reading some or all of their books digitally. And because this is technology based, it happens faster than other changes.
Decisions based on fear and not fact will only hurt authors—and, in the long run, readers. We need statistics that make proper comparisons, such as comparing e-book sales to print sales on those titles that are available in both markets. Unknown authors who think that they can break into digital publishing and make it big have a lot of work ahead of them—just because you can keep more money from each book sold doesn’t mean it’s the right decision. Or the wrong decision. Because of the potential for entrepreneurs who have both talent and marketing sense, there will be success stories. It’s inevitable. And I think that’s great.
But none of that means death to print publishing. 8% of the reading public owns an ereader—and that is expected to double within the next six months. And those who own ereaders are more likely to read more books. But there are still a lot of people who state they will not be buying an ereader in the next year. According to Harris Interactive (which I hesitate to quote because it’s an opt-in poll of people who are online and thus not a cross-section of all readers) the two demographic groups least likely to own or buy an ereader in the next 6 months are the 65+ group and the 18-33 group. That these are people who are active online and not moving over to ereaders is significant—I only have my unscientific poll of my teenagers who, when I offered them an ereader, said, “Hell, no.” (And I have an iPad, so I’m not opposed to ereaders!)
Their reason? They spend so much time on the computer, they don’t want to read books on it or any electronic device. Their textbooks are on the computer. They have assignments on the computer. They text and facebook and chat on the computer. Is there going to be a small technology backlash in the younger generation? Maybe. Maybe not.
But that’s the point—everything is changing so rapidly and data is incomplete. That’s why taking in the big picture and making smart, strategic decisions—both for authors and for publishers—is so important.
One experiment that my publisher is trying is releasing an exclusive electronic novella between the first two Lucy Kincaid books. Love Me To Death, the first Lucy Kincaid book, will be out on December 28, hopefully everywhere books are sold. Then on January 24, 2011, a novella Love Is Murder will be available everywhere electronic books are sold. Then Kiss Me, Kill Me, the second Lucy Kincaid book, will be out on February 22. I’m very interested in seeing the numbers—whether having an e-exclusive story increases e-sales of KMKM over LMTD, among other things.
Yesterday, my editor sent me two printed copies of Love Me To Death. When I opened the package, the same warm, happy feeling came over me that I had five years ago when I received the first two copies of my debut novel The Prey.
So to celebrate the pending publication of my fifteenth book—which happens to fall on the five year anniversary of the release of my debut novel—I’m giving away a set of my first trilogy: The Prey, The Hunt and The Kill. If the randomly chosen winner already has those books, I’ll send them any set of my trilogies that they want. In print—because I have the copies.
So tell me . . . have you converted to reading ebooks and if so, are you mostly reading books published exclusively as ebooks; ebooks that are also available in print; or a mixture of both?
Murderati Members
Just saw this article thanks to Teresa Medeiros and Twitter--The future of publishing about the pros and cons of ebook dominance and specifically about the pricing of ebooks. The whole article is interesting and informative, for example:
"I think there's a business model that will work that is not radically different than the one we have," Entrekin says. Unlike the music industry that had to completely reinvent itself as digital technology took over, publishers "will have a chance to evolve," he predicts.
Sargent says publishers are figuring out how to manage that evolution wisely. "The way I see it," he says, "our job is to do two things: make sure we make that transition well, and we also must protect the value of the intellectual property as we go through the transition." Once that's done, he adds, publishing must "make sure, in the end, that the consumer pays a price that is fair and isn't artificially made cheaper."
Murderati Members
WINNER!!
Lynette, please email me your snail mail address and I'll send out a set of my first trilogy THE PREY, THE HUNT and THE KILL. If you have that one, pick any of my other backlist trilogies.
Allison Brennan, Publishing, ebooks, ereaders 
Reader Comments (73)
BJ
I read a mix also, depending on price and where I'm going to read the book. I just can't take my nook to the beach. :)
Pricing plays an important role in whether I buy an e-book or a printed book, especially for new-to-me authors.
Normally, if I already have a series as e-book, the next book in that series will be purchased as an e-book, of course that depends if the next book is in hardcover format because then I'll wait for the paperback version before I buy the e-book version. Pricing matters.
On many levels I've recently begun to think about buying an e-reader. Here are my concerns: A) the limited formats available on each e-reader, B) the death of bookstores when actual books are less prevalent, C) the already endangered forests becoming even more so by book printing, D) more quickly-obsolete electronic junk in the landfill, and E) future generations being less likely to stumble across a reading experience when actual books are no longer found in nooks and crannies. A lot of pros and cons there.
However, the new Nook Color really appeals to me, and that is most likely what I will get, if indeed I end up getting an e-reader. In addition to a wonderfully responsive touch screen and brilliant color screen that does not require a reading light, I can also access my public library instantly for borrowed titles. The one drawback to this is the limited availability of "copies" of books available for download; for some reason there are only so many allowed to be circulated at once. This seems wrongheaded to me. If the copies are electronic I don't see why MORE copies are available than print copies, instead of fewer. That's kind of bizarre.
The Nook also allows for Internet access and email reading, which I guess would be handy. I thought I'd access my email through my LG Chocolate Touch phone, but it's way too clunky of a platform for email. Just using that teeny tiny keyboard with one fingernail practically sends me screaming into the abyss. How do people write actual email with those things? Too frustrating for me.
By the way, I really thought I would use my netbook to read books, but that has not happened. Oh, well.
So I took the plunge and bought a Kindle...but now I realize that the book format is different on each volume (so have books in two formats now), but have loaded up the Kindle and brought it on my Thanksgiving travels to NY and New Orleans. While I looked longingly at my hardcover books, which I will always love, the slim Kindle fits in my purse along with my notebook, and it's just great for carry on.
The problem for me is these exclusive ebook offerings. I know that they make good business sense, and I certainly don't begrudge an author taking advantage of an opportunity, but I hate reading books on the computer.
Dean Koontz released an ebook exclusive as a prequel to his forthcoming hardcover. I purchased the ebook in October but I still haven't read it. Usually I read a Koontz novel the day it comes out, but I spend too much time in front of the computer as it is. I can't print the ebook or even purchase it in paperback form, so I'm stuck hoping I eventually have the energy to sit in front of the computer and endure further eye strain in order to read it.
Whining aside, congratulations on your fifth anniversary, Alison, and on the publication of your 15th novel. Your books are a delight to read.
That said, I just spent a weekend with a Kindle and given the price difference and the non-backlit screen of the Kindle, that's what I will end up buying myself for Christmas. Will probably get an iPad later on.
I've been buying e-books for about six months now, but on my Kindle for Mac, on my big desktop. That method is perfect for books I'm using for research - not as satisfying for my fiction fix.
I just yesterday bought a trade paperback novel - if I had my own Kindle in hand, I'd have certainly purchased it as an e-book.
The thought of clearing my house of all but my favorite hardcovers and signed books is a huge incentive - and the portability of what I'm reading, easy purchasing, etc. I never thought I'd be in the e-book camp, but here I am. Interestingly, the person whose Kindle I used this weekend is 68. She absolutely adores it.
I think many of us who consider ourselves hardcore print book lovers don't realize how absolutely easy it is to make the switch once we have the e-reader in our hands. I know a lot of folks who went through instant conversions - more of those than folks who tried it and hated it.
I'm just glad there are new and exciting options for writers who don't want to go through traditional publishing and don't want to go through iUniverse. I love the possibilities for new voices.
Grace, you and many other seem to prefer ereading for travel. I've been watching other people and have noticed an increase in ereaders. Few Nooks and others, but lots of Kindles and iPads.
heyjude, thanks! I hope so too--I'm hoping to find new readers. It's a little different than the books in that it's a straight mystery, and of course shorter. (25K words compared to 110K). And aside from the beach, you also can't take an ereader into the bathtub. Replacing a $7.99 paperback or $25 hardcover is still cheaper than a $139 Kindle or $500+ iPad.
Dru, interesting about pricing. My mom buys her books at Costco or Walmart for the hardcover bestsellers, and then paperbacks at Walmart or Target because they're 25% off. She's retired and buys a lot of books at the used book store. She rarely buys a book at cover price, since she reads a book a day. She's already extinguished the mystery and romance sections of her library. But she hates the idea of reading on an ereader, and her books are part of her decor (like me!)
Karen, you bring up lots of excellent points! (BTW, I've given away hundreds of books to the library--it's hard to part with many of them, though!)
I will address the limited availability of titles at the library. They can only loan out copies that are purchased, just like a physical print book. If they only purchase one copy, they can't replicate it because it's illegal. And it needs to remain illegal otherwise piracy will continue to grow. It's already a huge problem for authors, and is going to get much worse as more people start reading digital books. Libraries can't copy a print book and loan it out, so they can't copy an electronic book, either. I know it's frustrating, but it's just like waiting for a coveted title if it was in print.
Lois, I think digital books is going to help authors sell their backlist. When a book becomes scarce, they can almost always get it digitally. So if you read the fifth book in the series, but the first is in no bookstore, you can buy it digitally in many cases.
Vicky, I completely understand your points! For me, I got the iPad because I can use it to write, get email, read (though that's rare) and a bunch of other things. I rarely travel now with my laptop. But I still carry a physical book.
Allison, a lot of people love ereaders for travel. I'm wondering if the airport bookstores of download capabilities now . . .
There are so many types of readers and they all offer different things. So which one to get? I'm selfish, I want it all, and with print, I can do that. I don't have to worry about what's available on which platform.
Then too, when I buy a book, it's mine. No one on the other side can come in and strip it out of my library. I understand that Kindle is going to allow folks to "loan" their e-books to other folks, but if I want to loan out a book, I don't have to worry if the person I'm loaning it to has the proper equipment. I just hand 'em the book. Simple.
There's something psychologically reassuring to me about having physical books around. A while back, Lillian and I house-sat for some friends, and I was antsy and anxious the entire time. It wasn't until I was back home that I realized they had only one bookshelf in the room that held the ironing and boxes of stuff, and that it had maybe -- maybe -- two shelves worth of books.
Books, physical books, soothe me. They give me insights as to the people I'm visiting. I love perusing other folks' bookshelves to see what we have in common and where we diverge. It's an introduction without words.
But I can, in fact, see the convenience of an e-reader.
I too, was apprehensive about giving up the feel of paper books, but it took me less than a day to become a total convert. I read faster on the Kindle and after a couple of hours, it just feels so natural. I have to have “security” books when I go out of town. Before the Kindle, I would take two or three books plus the one I was reading out of fear that after I finished the current book I would have no choice in what to read next.
There are few drawbacks to the Kindle. I read more books (not really a drawback except to the wallet). Impulse buying runs rampant. Read about a new book recommendation, cool, have it on your Kindle in two minutes. I currently have 84 books in my TBR folder on my Kindle. Though a number of those are classics and cost a couple of bucks or were free. Almost all the my books by Rati authors are on my Kindle. Another problem is you can’t loan books to a friend and say “Read this!” The Nook has a checkout/loan feature but you have to have a Nook to use it, so even if a friend uses an ereader if it’s not a Nook too bad. Finally, there’s the problem of book signing. I am not excited about having my Kindle signed. I have read that there a number of solutions in the works. Most involve a signed title page digitized for the Kindle. Not sure I like that either.
As for reading print books, only if they are not available for the Kindle and nonfiction where the books has illustrations, like maps. The other reason is signed books. If I went to a book signing, I’d buy a copy to get signed and a copy for my Kindle. I also think that ebooks have the potential to be a good marketing tool. I have found a number of new authors whose ebooks were on sale for a few bucks. Most of those prices only last a few weeks. I have also noticed that publishers are offering free or dirt cheap backlist book when an author releases a new book. There are also the free samples. I have downloaded a couple of those and ended up buying the book.
As for self publishing ebooks, that is still a big question. Currently, there aren’t many J.A. Konraths out there.
What's needed, I think, is a way to backup the content on the device. Does anyone know if that ability exists? It would greatly ease my mind.
Most of the books I'm buying are also available as paperbacks or mass market paperbacks. I'm still buying a few print books here and there, mostly those not available of my Kindle, but also a few that I like to share with my mother once I've read them. I don't foresee that changing. I've always purchased a lot of books, but I do believe my purchases have gone up 10-20% due to the Kindle.
I love to read in bed and find the Kindle easier to handle in this instance. I don't have to worry about balancing the book or pages flopping over. I can lay on my side and prop the Kindle up on a blanket, roll over and readjust, pay due attention to my puppy and never worry about losing my page. I also love the fact that, since it syncs with the Kindle app on my Mac, I can sneak a chapter in at work when its slow and no one is the wiser. =) However, that is rare and mostly I avoid reading on my computer or iPad. The screen kills my eyes after a bit, which is why I opted for the Kindle, the lack of a back light is what sold me.
I read almost solely on my desktop, Nook, netbook, or Android phone anyway. I rarely pick up a paperback. But I do treasure signed copies of books.
You mentioned your sales are in single digits. Have your print sales been affected by those sales? Do you have more readers because of e-books or the same number of readers but just using more formats?
As for the belief Amazon treats everyone badly, I have not read of many complaints from customers, I have been using them from practically day one and have never had any problems whatsoever. The only customer gripes I have seen are aimed at the change in eBook pricing of new releases. That was not Amazon’s fault. The blame for of the ebook pricing issues gets laid squarely at the feet of Apple and five of the Big Six. You should read the WSJ article here - http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704271804575405181858061108.html . The agency model flies in the face of the retailer being able to set any price they want for a product. The manufacture is not forced to sell the product at a price that allows the retailer to make a profit. That’s what a loss leader means. Have you ever wondered why products say “Suggested Retail Price”. Imagine if grocery stores had to sell their goods on an agency model – talk about price fixing.
Now I recently received an e-reader as a gift. I have to admit that it is a convenient tool when waiting for an appointment. Just whip out a small device and start reading - no lost bookmarks. But I hate the idea of spending $ for books that get stored on a device. I would rather spend the $ on a book and then either put it on my bookshelf or donate it.
I'm definitely in the pulp camp, with only one big toe in the e-reader camp.
Interesting subject. I spend a long time looking at a computer screen, so I find it very difficult to sit and read a book that isn't print on paper, but I can see the advantages of an e-reader for travelling.
I just worry about future compatibility. The manufacturers do like their 'built-in obsolescence' a little too much for my liking. A book is a book, now or in twenty years' time...
The price of e-books does bother me. Many of them are priced just a dollar or two less than a hardcover copy of the same book. But I find by waiting for the paperback to be released, the e-book price drops to be equal to or less than the paperback.
For a few years now I've been unable to hold a book open, so I started using a special book stand that holds them open for me-- mostly. Page curvature sucks, though. Can't get it to turn pages very easily, either.
Listening to books is the best option for me, so that's what I do, most often. The biggest problem with this is the expense. Libraries, including the LOC, don't have all books available on Talking Books. Some volunteer readers, while all are angels, are really bad readers that make brilliant books intolerable to listen to.
Reading ebooks on the computer is great. Very visible. Beautiful. Easy to use. Doesn't give me eyestrain. Adjust brightness, tone, and/or size if you have eyestrain problems. I got eyestrain just trying the Nook and a friend's Kindle. Too dark and lacking sharpness. But now my MacBook Pro system is too outdated and really old (in computer years) to be updated to a system that will support Kindle and Nook Apps for Mac. Most of the ebooks I've purchased are stored online, however, or on an external device.
Because I would rather read than own books, I am - very, very reluctantly - selling my bound books to buy an iPad. In the meantime, however, I have ordered Cornelia's INVISIBLE BOY, which is not available as a recording for some totally fucked reason, and I will risk the death of many motor neurons to read it 5-10 minutes at a time. DO YOU HEAR ME, CORNELIA'S PUBLISHER... AGENT... WHOEVER IS RESPONSIBLE, DAMN IT???
Or the iPad, which works just about the same way, and has a lot of cool accessories. :-)
http://www.podiobooks.com/