Ryan Field's Blog, page 539
August 11, 2011
Favorite Children's Books
Authors who write erotic romance and erotica often get a lot of flack from people in other genres. I've seen them snubbed and shunned, laughed at and ridiculed. That's okay. We keep moving forward and doing what we love. Besides, I'd bet more than half of those folks pointing fingers have a few erotic books under their mattresses.
Sometimes it's interesting to turn the tables around. Personally, I've never been a fan of children's books. I didn't read them when I was a kid. I started reading adult fiction in elementary school and never quite "got" what other kids saw in kid's books. And I certainly don't read children's books now. But I do have a few favorites I'd like to share. Just to show that there's something for everyone in all genres.
Sometimes it's interesting to turn the tables around. Personally, I've never been a fan of children's books. I didn't read them when I was a kid. I started reading adult fiction in elementary school and never quite "got" what other kids saw in kid's books. And I certainly don't read children's books now. But I do have a few favorites I'd like to share. Just to show that there's something for everyone in all genres.
August 10, 2011
Apple/Publisher Law Suit Over E-book Pricing
I've posted about how it really galls me that I'm expected to pay upward of 9.99 for an e-book from one of the big six. I get so annoyed, I usually just pass on the book altogether. I don't like being manipulated that way, not by Apple, not by anyone. It's also the reason I don't own any Apple products and why I'm always supporting smaller companies like Kobo who seem to care more about their customers.
I found this article about a new law suit involving Apple and several large publishers extremely interesting. It's still too soon to tell whether or not there are grounds for a law suit. But my fingers are crossed because I don't like that fact that e-book prices are being controlled. My initial hope was that publishers would get smart and realize we, as readers, aren't paying attention to their prices or their control. We are passing on e-books that are 9.99 or more and we're shopping for books that are being released by smaller publishers instead.
Here's the article. If you're a book buyer and a reader, it's worth checking out.
I found this article about a new law suit involving Apple and several large publishers extremely interesting. It's still too soon to tell whether or not there are grounds for a law suit. But my fingers are crossed because I don't like that fact that e-book prices are being controlled. My initial hope was that publishers would get smart and realize we, as readers, aren't paying attention to their prices or their control. We are passing on e-books that are 9.99 or more and we're shopping for books that are being released by smaller publishers instead.
Here's the article. If you're a book buyer and a reader, it's worth checking out.
So Where's the Erotica?
First, I'd like to thank all the authors who've responded to the post about self-publishing. I will start posting about your books and I'll let you each know when the posts are up. I'd rather spread them apart, so each author has their own time frame. But I'll be doing at least one or two every week.
On to the erotica title above. I will admit that I often cross a few lines when it comes to writing erotica. I do have my own lines that I won't cross, but I honestly believe that when people are buying my books they are buying them partly because of the erotica. And one of my biggest concerns is am I letting them down if there isn't enough erotica in the book. So I try to conceive what might happen in real life, from an openly gay man's point of view, and I take it from there. I write mostly about gay men. Gay men are highly sexual people, in spite of what some people would prefer to believe. And if an opportunity arises in the storyline where I think an erotic scene is going to work, I do it. I prefer the erotic scenes to have a romantic impact for the most part. But in books like AMERICAN STAR, it just doesn't work out that way until the end. Other books are different. The romance is there from the start, like STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM AT THE PLAZA, and the need for too much sex is not there. But there's no way to judge these things, especially if the story is taking different directions I didn't plan. I'm not one of those writers who control their characters. My characters control me, and I try to listen to them.
I also think sex is an emotional experience. Sometimes more emotional than others, but even in the most casual circumstances there is, in fact, emotion. I know there are others who would disagree with me, but this is my interpretation and I don't want to let my readers down. I also don't have any serious sexual demons in my past. I was never abused or bullied by anyone. And I think this allows me to view sex with a little humor and objectivity.
The reason why I'm posting about this today is because I've been reading books lately that are classified as erotic romance...or erotica...and I'm not seeing any actual erotic scenes in these books. If the storyline is good and the writing is solid, it may or may not make a difference to the reader. But for me, I'm usually left wondering what the author was thinking when he or she was writing the book. Do they think five lines of pg rated sex is actually erotica? I'm not joking about this either. I've seen it happen.
I know there are different opinions about this. And I know that the amount of erotica in an erotic romance varies from author to author. And there's nothing wrong with less erotica. I've been working on a historical f/m/m romance for the past year that has far less erotica than I've ever done before. The storyline just didn't call for a lot of sex. But I'm going to at least make it clear to the reader that it's light erotica. So they know what they are buying.
I know from experience that readers and book reviewers will always slam authors for writing too much sex. Some feel it is their moral and ethical duty. Others feel they've cornered the market on romance and emotion, and don't consider good sex part of romance and emotion. But I've never once heard of a reader or book reviewer slamming an author for not having enough sex in a book. Which means that if your book doesn't have enough sex, you're never going to know it.
On to the erotica title above. I will admit that I often cross a few lines when it comes to writing erotica. I do have my own lines that I won't cross, but I honestly believe that when people are buying my books they are buying them partly because of the erotica. And one of my biggest concerns is am I letting them down if there isn't enough erotica in the book. So I try to conceive what might happen in real life, from an openly gay man's point of view, and I take it from there. I write mostly about gay men. Gay men are highly sexual people, in spite of what some people would prefer to believe. And if an opportunity arises in the storyline where I think an erotic scene is going to work, I do it. I prefer the erotic scenes to have a romantic impact for the most part. But in books like AMERICAN STAR, it just doesn't work out that way until the end. Other books are different. The romance is there from the start, like STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM AT THE PLAZA, and the need for too much sex is not there. But there's no way to judge these things, especially if the story is taking different directions I didn't plan. I'm not one of those writers who control their characters. My characters control me, and I try to listen to them.
I also think sex is an emotional experience. Sometimes more emotional than others, but even in the most casual circumstances there is, in fact, emotion. I know there are others who would disagree with me, but this is my interpretation and I don't want to let my readers down. I also don't have any serious sexual demons in my past. I was never abused or bullied by anyone. And I think this allows me to view sex with a little humor and objectivity.
The reason why I'm posting about this today is because I've been reading books lately that are classified as erotic romance...or erotica...and I'm not seeing any actual erotic scenes in these books. If the storyline is good and the writing is solid, it may or may not make a difference to the reader. But for me, I'm usually left wondering what the author was thinking when he or she was writing the book. Do they think five lines of pg rated sex is actually erotica? I'm not joking about this either. I've seen it happen.
I know there are different opinions about this. And I know that the amount of erotica in an erotic romance varies from author to author. And there's nothing wrong with less erotica. I've been working on a historical f/m/m romance for the past year that has far less erotica than I've ever done before. The storyline just didn't call for a lot of sex. But I'm going to at least make it clear to the reader that it's light erotica. So they know what they are buying.
I know from experience that readers and book reviewers will always slam authors for writing too much sex. Some feel it is their moral and ethical duty. Others feel they've cornered the market on romance and emotion, and don't consider good sex part of romance and emotion. But I've never once heard of a reader or book reviewer slamming an author for not having enough sex in a book. Which means that if your book doesn't have enough sex, you're never going to know it.
August 9, 2011
Calling All Self-Published Authors
Although I've never self-published anything...yet...I've been following all the exciting things that have been happening with self-publishing, especially with e-books, and I'd like to do something different here on this blog. I've been writing blog posts about self-published authors and their books for a while. But I'd like to see something a little different for a change.
So I'm opening up this blog once a week to any self-published author who wants to talk about his or her new self-published book. Just e-mail me everything I need in the body of the e-mail (no attachments, please), including book cover photo, a description of the book, and anything else you'd like to mention that you think might help promote your book. This is about information: who, what, when, where, and why. And please include all product information like word count, author contact info, and links to where the book can be purchased.
This isn't going to be a review or a rating on the book. It's strictly about getting information out there. I have a lot of respect for self-published authors for taking the chance and empowering themselves. And when I see literary agents now jumping onto the band wagon with their clients self-published books, I'd like to try to build a network that's just for self-published authors who don't have that kind of inside support.
There are no rules; just that the work has to be self-published. It can be a .99 amazon e-book or iuniverse. I couldn't care less. It can be digital or print or on a stone tablet. It doesn't matter. But I'm standing firmly on one thing: I'd like to stick with self-published authors who don't have agents, and authors who don't work with agents who are now offering self-publishing/e-publishing services. Literary agents have web presence, they promote their authors all the time and they get a lot of attention. These agents know how to take advantage of all the opportunities on the web. So the authors who work with them can let their agents promote them. They don't need me. I've been in publishing for twenty years, but I've never been one of the good old boys and never will be.
I'm not focusing on one particular genre. This blog has always been pg rated and publishing oriented in a general sense, and it always will be. If you write YA, I'll post about it. If you write middle grade, I'll post about that, too. Your book can be erotica; it can be religious or spiritual. Fiction or non-fiction. This is open to everyone across the board. But I want authors who are going it alone.
I don't want anything for this. I don't want free books or gift certificates. This blog is non-profit and it will always be non-profit. I only get about 10,000 hits a day, which isn't much compared to other blogs. But if 10,000 people see your self-published book that's 10,000 more that wouldn't have seen it if you hadn't posted about it.
My e-mail address is located on the sidebar with my profile. Like I said, post everything in the body of the e-mail, no attachments. In the subject line of the e-mail, please write "Self-Publishing Blog Post," so I know it's for the blog. And if I don't reply, resend. It could have gone into spam. I haven't chosen a specific day yet, but I'm thinking I'll leave that open until I see how many requests I get to promote these books. If I don't get any, I'll just do it myself.
The only one thing I ask is that you pay this forward. In other words, be proud you've self-published your work and help other self-published authors promote their books. I've seen a lot of good self-published books out there but the authors are stuck in a difficult place when it comes to getting the information out there.
So I'm opening up this blog once a week to any self-published author who wants to talk about his or her new self-published book. Just e-mail me everything I need in the body of the e-mail (no attachments, please), including book cover photo, a description of the book, and anything else you'd like to mention that you think might help promote your book. This is about information: who, what, when, where, and why. And please include all product information like word count, author contact info, and links to where the book can be purchased.
This isn't going to be a review or a rating on the book. It's strictly about getting information out there. I have a lot of respect for self-published authors for taking the chance and empowering themselves. And when I see literary agents now jumping onto the band wagon with their clients self-published books, I'd like to try to build a network that's just for self-published authors who don't have that kind of inside support.
There are no rules; just that the work has to be self-published. It can be a .99 amazon e-book or iuniverse. I couldn't care less. It can be digital or print or on a stone tablet. It doesn't matter. But I'm standing firmly on one thing: I'd like to stick with self-published authors who don't have agents, and authors who don't work with agents who are now offering self-publishing/e-publishing services. Literary agents have web presence, they promote their authors all the time and they get a lot of attention. These agents know how to take advantage of all the opportunities on the web. So the authors who work with them can let their agents promote them. They don't need me. I've been in publishing for twenty years, but I've never been one of the good old boys and never will be.
I'm not focusing on one particular genre. This blog has always been pg rated and publishing oriented in a general sense, and it always will be. If you write YA, I'll post about it. If you write middle grade, I'll post about that, too. Your book can be erotica; it can be religious or spiritual. Fiction or non-fiction. This is open to everyone across the board. But I want authors who are going it alone.
I don't want anything for this. I don't want free books or gift certificates. This blog is non-profit and it will always be non-profit. I only get about 10,000 hits a day, which isn't much compared to other blogs. But if 10,000 people see your self-published book that's 10,000 more that wouldn't have seen it if you hadn't posted about it.
My e-mail address is located on the sidebar with my profile. Like I said, post everything in the body of the e-mail, no attachments. In the subject line of the e-mail, please write "Self-Publishing Blog Post," so I know it's for the blog. And if I don't reply, resend. It could have gone into spam. I haven't chosen a specific day yet, but I'm thinking I'll leave that open until I see how many requests I get to promote these books. If I don't get any, I'll just do it myself.
The only one thing I ask is that you pay this forward. In other words, be proud you've self-published your work and help other self-published authors promote their books. I've seen a lot of good self-published books out there but the authors are stuck in a difficult place when it comes to getting the information out there.
August 8, 2011
Gay Couples in Nevada...
Saw this today and thought it was interesting. I personally think there are more. It's impossible to get everyone included in these things. I've never been to Vegas, but always wanted to go. But if you read the article, you'll see we still have a long way to go...especially on a federal level.
Nevada Gay Households Up by 87 Percent in 2010
Posted: 10:06 am PDT August 8, 2011
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The number of same-sex couples sharing a home in Nevada nearly doubled from 2000 to 2010, revealing a budding constituency in a state where voters have banned gay marriage, but embraced domestic partnerships.
Nearly 4,600 homes in Nevada were headed by lesbian couples at the end of the last decade, according to Census data released this week, while 4,724 households were headed by two male partners. The data shows that the number of gay and lesbian households in Nevada jumped 87 percent during the last decade, and about a quarter of those couples are raising children. Lesbian couples were more likely than the male couples to have children at home.
In all, Nevada had more than 9,000 households led by same-sex couples in 2010, up from fewer than 5,000 such households counted in 2000.
To be sure, same-sex couples living together remained a minuscule population among Nevada's more than a million households. But their swelling ranks reflect Nevada's increasingly gay friendly stance less than a decade after 67 percent of the state's voters defined marriage as "between a male and female person."
"Folks who are LGBT may not have been excited (before) to move here from, say California, where they enjoy a lot of legal protections," said Michael Ginsburg, southern Nevada director for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. "Now that Nevada is catching up, that may not be a factor for people anymore."
It's also possible some of the new same-sex households reflect an increased willingness among gay couples to come out to the government, rather than actual growth. The Census doesn't capture the overall gay population in Nevada, because it doesn't allow single people to identify their sexual orientation.
Gay activists insist Nevada is home to many more gay couples who cohabitate, and that the 2010 Census numbers only reflect people who were comfortable identifying themselves as gay to Census takers.
"Are there even more? Absolutely," said Candice Nichols, executive director for The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada. "I don't think it's a clear cut view of how many same sex households there are actually are in Nevada. People don't identify for various reasons, it just depends on their own comfort levels."
Ginsburg said he couldn't recall if he or his live-in partner had confirmed that they were a couple to the Census. He wondered if gay couples were not coming out to the federal government because the survey does not allow unmarried participants to identify themselves by specific terms, such as transgender or domestic partners. The questionnaire asks homeowners to identify the people sharing their roof under specific familiar categories, such as child, parent or spouse. Couples who live together but are not married may only self-identify themselves as an unmarried partner.
"You could look at those Census numbers and say, 'wow, there are no gay people in this state,' which is laughable," Ginsburg said.
The Las Vegas Valley, where most of the state's 2.6 million people live, is home to the majority of Nevada's same-sex households.
As with many states, Nevada has become more gay friendly in recent years, passing local and state laws recognizing the rights of domestic partners. The state Legislature passed a law recognizing domestic partners in 2009, but only after then Republican Gov Jim Gibbons vetoed it. State leaders went further this year, passing a series of laws that extended discrimination protections to transgender people and prohibited housing or employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Casino executives, the state's business elite, have supported the pro-equality measures.
Still, overturning a gay marriage ban passed by Nevada voters in 2002 could take years because of the state's complicated constitutional amendment process.
Nichols said marriage equality proponents in Nevada agree their best option is to wait for the federal government to recognize gay marriage.
"It's going to be much easier for the states to say, 'wait a minute, the federal government finds this unconstitutional," she said.
Nevada Gay Households Up by 87 Percent in 2010
Posted: 10:06 am PDT August 8, 2011
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The number of same-sex couples sharing a home in Nevada nearly doubled from 2000 to 2010, revealing a budding constituency in a state where voters have banned gay marriage, but embraced domestic partnerships.
Nearly 4,600 homes in Nevada were headed by lesbian couples at the end of the last decade, according to Census data released this week, while 4,724 households were headed by two male partners. The data shows that the number of gay and lesbian households in Nevada jumped 87 percent during the last decade, and about a quarter of those couples are raising children. Lesbian couples were more likely than the male couples to have children at home.
In all, Nevada had more than 9,000 households led by same-sex couples in 2010, up from fewer than 5,000 such households counted in 2000.
To be sure, same-sex couples living together remained a minuscule population among Nevada's more than a million households. But their swelling ranks reflect Nevada's increasingly gay friendly stance less than a decade after 67 percent of the state's voters defined marriage as "between a male and female person."
"Folks who are LGBT may not have been excited (before) to move here from, say California, where they enjoy a lot of legal protections," said Michael Ginsburg, southern Nevada director for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. "Now that Nevada is catching up, that may not be a factor for people anymore."
It's also possible some of the new same-sex households reflect an increased willingness among gay couples to come out to the government, rather than actual growth. The Census doesn't capture the overall gay population in Nevada, because it doesn't allow single people to identify their sexual orientation.
Gay activists insist Nevada is home to many more gay couples who cohabitate, and that the 2010 Census numbers only reflect people who were comfortable identifying themselves as gay to Census takers.
"Are there even more? Absolutely," said Candice Nichols, executive director for The Gay & Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada. "I don't think it's a clear cut view of how many same sex households there are actually are in Nevada. People don't identify for various reasons, it just depends on their own comfort levels."
Ginsburg said he couldn't recall if he or his live-in partner had confirmed that they were a couple to the Census. He wondered if gay couples were not coming out to the federal government because the survey does not allow unmarried participants to identify themselves by specific terms, such as transgender or domestic partners. The questionnaire asks homeowners to identify the people sharing their roof under specific familiar categories, such as child, parent or spouse. Couples who live together but are not married may only self-identify themselves as an unmarried partner.
"You could look at those Census numbers and say, 'wow, there are no gay people in this state,' which is laughable," Ginsburg said.
The Las Vegas Valley, where most of the state's 2.6 million people live, is home to the majority of Nevada's same-sex households.
As with many states, Nevada has become more gay friendly in recent years, passing local and state laws recognizing the rights of domestic partners. The state Legislature passed a law recognizing domestic partners in 2009, but only after then Republican Gov Jim Gibbons vetoed it. State leaders went further this year, passing a series of laws that extended discrimination protections to transgender people and prohibited housing or employment discrimination based on sexual orientation. Casino executives, the state's business elite, have supported the pro-equality measures.
Still, overturning a gay marriage ban passed by Nevada voters in 2002 could take years because of the state's complicated constitutional amendment process.
Nichols said marriage equality proponents in Nevada agree their best option is to wait for the federal government to recognize gay marriage.
"It's going to be much easier for the states to say, 'wait a minute, the federal government finds this unconstitutional," she said.
Question and Answer: About E-readers
This question came from a blog reader and I thought it was important. As I've said, I'm still learning all about e-readers myself, and I can only go on my basic knowledge.
I started with Amazons Kindle for PC and enjoyed the use thus purchasing a Kindle 3G. The Kindle for PC allowed me to download books from many sources, but the Kindle 3G does not permit this. Amazon told me I could only down load e-books purchased thru Amazon. Do you know of another e-reader that will allow downloads from any source?
I answered below in bold. First, I know nothing about Kindle. I have two Kobo e-readers and the reason I bought them is because I was told I can download from various sources, including epub at public libraries, which is important to me because I love supporting libraries. So far, I've been happy. But if anyone has any knowledge about this, please feel free to comment. As I said, I'm still learning just like everyone else and if there's something I missed, I'd like to know.
This is why I bought two Kobo e-readers, the version with e-ink, and the Kobo Look Book, which is backlit.
The reason I bought Kobo is because I saw that I could download from more sources, including public libraries, than with Kindle. Below is the information link for Kobo, and on this page you will find a list of all the supported file formats (I'll list them below, too). And Kobo prices aren't that bad, compared to others. I actually found my Look Book on sale at my local CVS pharmacy for 49.99. About 100.00 cheaper than online. But that was a special sale, so I'm not sure how or when CVS does this. But I love them both.
From what I also hear, the best way to download anything you want is with an Apple iPad. But it's very costly, and the reason I didn't do it is because I only wanted a dedicated e-reader.
I will check around and if I come up with anything else, I'll let you know.
Kobo link: http://www.kobobooks.com/touch_tech
Here's what Kobo can download:
Books: EPUB, PDF and MOBI
Documents: PDF
Images: JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP and TIFF
Text: TXT, HTML and RTF
Comic Books: CBZ and CBR
I started with Amazons Kindle for PC and enjoyed the use thus purchasing a Kindle 3G. The Kindle for PC allowed me to download books from many sources, but the Kindle 3G does not permit this. Amazon told me I could only down load e-books purchased thru Amazon. Do you know of another e-reader that will allow downloads from any source?
I answered below in bold. First, I know nothing about Kindle. I have two Kobo e-readers and the reason I bought them is because I was told I can download from various sources, including epub at public libraries, which is important to me because I love supporting libraries. So far, I've been happy. But if anyone has any knowledge about this, please feel free to comment. As I said, I'm still learning just like everyone else and if there's something I missed, I'd like to know.
This is why I bought two Kobo e-readers, the version with e-ink, and the Kobo Look Book, which is backlit.
The reason I bought Kobo is because I saw that I could download from more sources, including public libraries, than with Kindle. Below is the information link for Kobo, and on this page you will find a list of all the supported file formats (I'll list them below, too). And Kobo prices aren't that bad, compared to others. I actually found my Look Book on sale at my local CVS pharmacy for 49.99. About 100.00 cheaper than online. But that was a special sale, so I'm not sure how or when CVS does this. But I love them both.
From what I also hear, the best way to download anything you want is with an Apple iPad. But it's very costly, and the reason I didn't do it is because I only wanted a dedicated e-reader.
I will check around and if I come up with anything else, I'll let you know.
Kobo link: http://www.kobobooks.com/touch_tech
Here's what Kobo can download:
Books: EPUB, PDF and MOBI
Documents: PDF
Images: JPEG, GIF, PNG, BMP and TIFF
Text: TXT, HTML and RTF
Comic Books: CBZ and CBR
August 7, 2011
Bookshops, E-books, and What People Are Reading Now
Here's a link to an interesting post about how bookshop owners are dealing with e-books and how people are buying and reading.
I'd like to state that I've loved books all my life. But for me it's not about the physical book. It's about the content of the book. And when I discovered the experience of reading e-books on an e-reader, I started to love books even more. And I never thought that was possible. Reading with an e-reader is physically more satisfying, for me, especially when it's late at night and I'm reading in bed. I can now read on a treadmill without the pages flying all over. I can read on the beach without having to worry about pages going everywhere. And I can carry my small e-reader everywhere I go and read in places like doctors offices and auto repair waiting rooms without having to lug a huge book around.
I've spent more money on e-books since I started using an e-reader than I've ever spent on print books. And I can't imagine returning to print books unless I was absolutely forced to do so. It would be like driving a car without fuel injection, or using an electric typewriter instead of a computer.
But I think the article below is interesting, and I think bookshop owners are watching very closely. For me, the perfect bookstore would help me buy and read e-books. I addressed some of the comments in the article from a reader's point of view.
Local bookstores not worried about e-book effects
BY ALLIE WRIGHT | MARCH 03, 2011 7:20 AM
Kelly Smith knows she likes books. But she's not yet sure how she feels about their electronic cousins.
"I feel very satisfied with the experience of reading a physical book," said Smith, a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop. "It's sort of a perfect experience for me already."
I've always felt the same satisfaction. But even more now with an e-reader because it's a more comfortable experience.
But despite some locals' hesitation, many have made the switch from hard-copy to digital. Due to the down economy and changing industry, the bookseller Borders recently filed for bankruptcy.
The economy had nothing to do with the reason why I switched to e-books. Borders had nothing to do with it. I tried an e-reader out, enjoyed it, and wound up buying two. It wasn't a difficult decision for me. And like I said, I'm loving the reading experience even more.
But several local bookstores owners, both that do and do not sell e-books, said they are not worried about the potential effect e-books could have on their sales, especially in such a literary city.
Nialle Sylvan, the owner of the Haunted Bookshop, 203 N. Linn St., said she thinks books will never be completely replaced.
Sylvan, who has owned the business for six years, said she thinks larger chain stores that sell mostly bestsellers will be more affected by e-books than her store.
I don't completely understand the thought process here, with regard to larger chain stores as opposed to small stores. If more and more people start reading e-books across the board, and a bookshop isn't selling e-books, does it matter whether the shop is large or small?
"It's my job to find what people like and make sure it's here when they want it," she said. Her shop doesn't offer e-books.
Unlike larger stores, Sylvan said she focuses on offering unique books that are harder to find.
I get this...to a certain extent. I've tried to find "The Front Runner" as an e-book, but haven't seen it anywhere for download. But that's not going to make me run out and buy the print book. I'll just find something else I like and wait for the book I want to be pubbed in digital format. Eventually, they all will. Almost every single print book I was ever in is now being made into an e-book. And I never thought I'd see that day. (I'm also not making any money on any of them...but that's another post.)
"I know I'm spoiled because I live in a City of Literature, where people just love their books," said Sylvan, surrounded by the approximately 40,000 books in her store.
Iowa City is one of just four UNESCO Cities of Literature in the world.
"I think the rest of the world recognizes how important books are in [Iowa City's] culture," said, Jeanette Pilak, the executive director for UNESCO City of Literature in Iowa City.
Again, I'm confused. I live in Bucks County, PA, a half hour from Princeton and between New York City and Philadelphia. We love our literature here. I was an English major in college. What does this have to do with e-books? The content of a print book that was published ten years ago is the same as the newly released digital version. The same goes for all e-books...the content is the same. That's what I'm interested in as a reader: content. That's where I get my satisfaction, from content.
In 2009, e-books overtook audiobooks with sales reaching $313 million, according to the Association of American Publishers.
I get this. I'm not a fan of audio books. For me, it's not a reading experience it's a listening experience.
Smith, a librarian at the Writers' Workshop, said though e-readers have caused some anxiety about the future of the publishing industry, they may improve publicity for authors.
"As a writer, I would not begrudge the use of technology," said Smith, the author of several poems and journals.
And Sylvan continues to trust physical books in an age when she said electronic versions aren't as reliable. She noted files can be lost and electronics require upgrades.
You could say the same thing about all technology, but we're still moving forward with it. Electricity goes out sometimes and we go back to candles for a few hours. But we don't like it, and can't wait until the electric is turned on again. And, print books can be stolen or lost, or destroyed by fire or water. Nothing is 100% reliable...unless maybe the book is written on a stone tablet. But more, if the electric goes out, which it has for me, I have my backlit e-reader to pass the time and I don't even need candles.
"It just isn't quite the same when you go to give somebody a Christmas present, and they have to download it," Sylvan said.
I did all my Christmas shopping online last year and the year before. It was easier, I save time, and I saved money. If anyone wants to send me a gift I have to download, feel free. I'll love you just as much, if not more.
Another Iowa City bookstore, Prairie Lights, 15 S. Dubuque St., recently teamed up with Google to make e-books available to customers.
Now we're getting somewhere. I like this. I need this help sometimes. And I like knowing there's a place I can go to get this kind of help.
Jan Weissmiller, the store's owner, said any title can be ordered and read with any e-reader besides the Amazon Kindle.
"Obviously, if e-books are one thing people want to read, we want to make them available," she said.
This one line makes sense to me. And I hope all business owners take Jan's advice. I'd certainly shop in her store any time!!
I'd like to state that I've loved books all my life. But for me it's not about the physical book. It's about the content of the book. And when I discovered the experience of reading e-books on an e-reader, I started to love books even more. And I never thought that was possible. Reading with an e-reader is physically more satisfying, for me, especially when it's late at night and I'm reading in bed. I can now read on a treadmill without the pages flying all over. I can read on the beach without having to worry about pages going everywhere. And I can carry my small e-reader everywhere I go and read in places like doctors offices and auto repair waiting rooms without having to lug a huge book around.
I've spent more money on e-books since I started using an e-reader than I've ever spent on print books. And I can't imagine returning to print books unless I was absolutely forced to do so. It would be like driving a car without fuel injection, or using an electric typewriter instead of a computer.
But I think the article below is interesting, and I think bookshop owners are watching very closely. For me, the perfect bookstore would help me buy and read e-books. I addressed some of the comments in the article from a reader's point of view.
Local bookstores not worried about e-book effects
BY ALLIE WRIGHT | MARCH 03, 2011 7:20 AM
Kelly Smith knows she likes books. But she's not yet sure how she feels about their electronic cousins.
"I feel very satisfied with the experience of reading a physical book," said Smith, a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop. "It's sort of a perfect experience for me already."
I've always felt the same satisfaction. But even more now with an e-reader because it's a more comfortable experience.
But despite some locals' hesitation, many have made the switch from hard-copy to digital. Due to the down economy and changing industry, the bookseller Borders recently filed for bankruptcy.
The economy had nothing to do with the reason why I switched to e-books. Borders had nothing to do with it. I tried an e-reader out, enjoyed it, and wound up buying two. It wasn't a difficult decision for me. And like I said, I'm loving the reading experience even more.
But several local bookstores owners, both that do and do not sell e-books, said they are not worried about the potential effect e-books could have on their sales, especially in such a literary city.
Nialle Sylvan, the owner of the Haunted Bookshop, 203 N. Linn St., said she thinks books will never be completely replaced.
Sylvan, who has owned the business for six years, said she thinks larger chain stores that sell mostly bestsellers will be more affected by e-books than her store.
I don't completely understand the thought process here, with regard to larger chain stores as opposed to small stores. If more and more people start reading e-books across the board, and a bookshop isn't selling e-books, does it matter whether the shop is large or small?
"It's my job to find what people like and make sure it's here when they want it," she said. Her shop doesn't offer e-books.
Unlike larger stores, Sylvan said she focuses on offering unique books that are harder to find.
I get this...to a certain extent. I've tried to find "The Front Runner" as an e-book, but haven't seen it anywhere for download. But that's not going to make me run out and buy the print book. I'll just find something else I like and wait for the book I want to be pubbed in digital format. Eventually, they all will. Almost every single print book I was ever in is now being made into an e-book. And I never thought I'd see that day. (I'm also not making any money on any of them...but that's another post.)
"I know I'm spoiled because I live in a City of Literature, where people just love their books," said Sylvan, surrounded by the approximately 40,000 books in her store.
Iowa City is one of just four UNESCO Cities of Literature in the world.
"I think the rest of the world recognizes how important books are in [Iowa City's] culture," said, Jeanette Pilak, the executive director for UNESCO City of Literature in Iowa City.
Again, I'm confused. I live in Bucks County, PA, a half hour from Princeton and between New York City and Philadelphia. We love our literature here. I was an English major in college. What does this have to do with e-books? The content of a print book that was published ten years ago is the same as the newly released digital version. The same goes for all e-books...the content is the same. That's what I'm interested in as a reader: content. That's where I get my satisfaction, from content.
In 2009, e-books overtook audiobooks with sales reaching $313 million, according to the Association of American Publishers.
I get this. I'm not a fan of audio books. For me, it's not a reading experience it's a listening experience.
Smith, a librarian at the Writers' Workshop, said though e-readers have caused some anxiety about the future of the publishing industry, they may improve publicity for authors.
"As a writer, I would not begrudge the use of technology," said Smith, the author of several poems and journals.
And Sylvan continues to trust physical books in an age when she said electronic versions aren't as reliable. She noted files can be lost and electronics require upgrades.
You could say the same thing about all technology, but we're still moving forward with it. Electricity goes out sometimes and we go back to candles for a few hours. But we don't like it, and can't wait until the electric is turned on again. And, print books can be stolen or lost, or destroyed by fire or water. Nothing is 100% reliable...unless maybe the book is written on a stone tablet. But more, if the electric goes out, which it has for me, I have my backlit e-reader to pass the time and I don't even need candles.
"It just isn't quite the same when you go to give somebody a Christmas present, and they have to download it," Sylvan said.
I did all my Christmas shopping online last year and the year before. It was easier, I save time, and I saved money. If anyone wants to send me a gift I have to download, feel free. I'll love you just as much, if not more.
Another Iowa City bookstore, Prairie Lights, 15 S. Dubuque St., recently teamed up with Google to make e-books available to customers.
Now we're getting somewhere. I like this. I need this help sometimes. And I like knowing there's a place I can go to get this kind of help.
Jan Weissmiller, the store's owner, said any title can be ordered and read with any e-reader besides the Amazon Kindle.
"Obviously, if e-books are one thing people want to read, we want to make them available," she said.
This one line makes sense to me. And I hope all business owners take Jan's advice. I'd certainly shop in her store any time!!
August 6, 2011
August 5, 2011
You Never Know How Things Will Work Out in Publishing
In this post, I talked about how I was having cover challenges with the new release of ANOTHER REGULAR BUD. Dawne Dominique, a talented cover artist with Loveyoudivine.com, created something wonderful, but I was afraid it would confuse readers.
So we opted to shelve the wonderful cover she created and we went with something more like the cover for A REGULAR BUD instead.
And last night the light bulb went off in my head while I was submitting a new short story to loveyoudivine titled, BURY IT, OFFICER. And I had that Ah-Ha moment I don't get very often. The cover Dawne had created for ANOTHER REGULAR BUD that we'd shelved was absolutely perfect for my new short story, BURY IT, OFFICER. So I shot off an e-mail to see if we could still use it and she said I was in luck.
This almost never happens. I couldn't have planned if I'd tried. And it's one of the exciting things about publishing because you never really know what to expect and things are always happening by accident.
Extra Cover Copy for The Virgin Billionaire's Dream House
If you check out the cover copy that was released with THE VIRGIN BILLIONAIRE'S DREAM HOUSE on retail web sites, you'll notice it's not as long as it usually is. It's good cover copy. It covers most of what has to be said. But publishers often condense and tweak the original cover copy authors send them and I always like to post the original unedited version of my own cover copy here on the blog.
I think it makes a difference. I think people who read e-books are reading more and spending more money. I know I am. And I budget and plan for my next book. And before I buy it, I want as much product information and as many details about it as I can get.
So here's the unedited version. It might not be shorter and tighter. It might not sound as happy-go-lucky as a new Jennifer Aniston movie. But it will give you more detail about what's inside the book. Below that is the publisher's cover copy.
Now that Luis and Jase have reached a point in their lives where they can start spending more time in Alaska with Jase's family, Jase decides to build his dream house on the property next to his father's. He hires an architect he's known for many years, has plans drawn up for an ultra modern house, and they plan to spend the entire summer in Alaska with the whole family.
Only Jase is so obsessed with his dream house he insists on having it completed in three months, which everyone else thinks is completely unrealistic. And though he promises Luis he has everything under control and that he's hired an excellent general contractor in Alaska, Luis still seems hesitant about the project. But Luis goes along with Jase in order to keep him happy, hoping that if they need any help with the construction they can depend on their best employee at Cider Mill Farm, Cory.
But Cory hates to fly, he's having troubles with his boyfriend, and he refuses to go to Alaska. So Jase, Luis, Hunter, and Camp fly out without him to begin one of the most intense, emotional adventures of their lives. On the day they arrive, they discover Jase's ninety year old grandmother, Isabelle, is dating a man twenty years younger. Then they find out the contractors Jase has hired aren't even from Alaska. Luis winds up getting roped into taking a three month cooking class with Isabelle at the local high school because her new boyfriend is the instructor. And poor Hunter still doesn't know where he's going to school in the fall.
When Rand and Rob, the surfer twins Luis and Jase met on their long weekend in California, show up unannounced, all four of them take off for a long weekend in Denali in a motor home. But the trip turns out to be a life altering experience for Luis and Jase instead of just a reunion with good friends. They come face to face with the hard, cold realities of life and death in more ways than one, and their wonderful summer adventure turns into something unexpected and far more emotional.
There's no telling whether or not the dream house will ever be completed, not even when they finally persuade Cory and Luis's brother, Gage, to drive out to Alaska. And when so many things change so fast, Jase isn't even sure he cares if the house is completed.
Will Jase be able to handle the fact that he might not be able to finish his dream house? And will the bonds of love he's been building be strong enough to get him through all the challenges he winds up facing in Alaska that summer?
Jase and Luis have been through a lot -a nude campground, an evil twin, fashion shoots- and now they are ready to put down roots and build a home. And what better place than Alaska, where they will be surrounded by Jase's family!
Jase throws himself into the planning, hiring an old friend to be the architect to help him design a hip, ultramodern house. Only Jase is so obsessed with his dream house he insists on having it completed in three months, and though he insists he has everything under control, Luis is still hesitant about the project.
But Luis goes along with Jase in order to keep him happy, so Jase, Luis, Hunter, and Camp fly out to Alaska to begin one of the most intense, emotional adventures of their lives.
With a host of dramatic new challenges threatening the life he's worked so hard to build - and the bonds of love he's created - Jase may find his dream house crumbling into sawdust.
In this hot seventh installment in Ryan Field's best-selling series, we'll find out whether Jase's dream house is really a house of cards.[image error]
