Who will find our books?
This morning, I read Lee's post on Literary Magic "Self Publishing is About to Come of Age in the 'Cloud.'" The focus of the story is the pending announcement of Google Editions and how Google, Amazon and Apple are, some say, creating a new world order in publishing.
I also saw more posts about everything from POD to FastPencil as examples of technologies that will (depending on one's view) break the stranglehold of old media companies on what's being read or will allow more people to compete...
I also saw more posts about everything from POD to FastPencil as examples of technologies that will (depending on one's view) break the stranglehold of old media companies on what's being read or will allow more people to compete...
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I'm not sure whether it's evolution or revolution, but one way or another, the publishing world in changing with the speed of light--or so it seems.
For books-on-paper enthusiasts, you'll still be able to visit brick and mortar bookstores, but once there your book purchases will be printed and bound on site having selected the title from millions of manuscripts both old and new. Check out the Expresso Book Machine, about the size of an ATM which can be connected to virtual libraries and will output your purchases and present you with a printed and bound book having a full color cover in a matter of minutes. Youtube has videos of the Espresso's operation.
Meanwhile, the Google Book Search class action lumbers on. This is a civil lawsuit which, when all is said and done, will rewrite copyright laws by private consent decree between two private parties without the benefit of legislation.
Self publishers have more resources than ever before to produce, distribute and publicize their work. Digital printing allows short run production with a fraction of the up-front prepress expenses that once required self-publishing authors to order hundreds of copies of their book, filling basements and spare bedrooms with unsold copies. Or produce self published works that are exclusively available as ebooks and never put a drop of ink on so much as a single page;
Publicity campaigns through the blogosphere and through social media sites allow authors to be publicists and marketers of their own works. There are plenty of opportunities for self publishers to create buzz about their works, to get one's book reviewed and even to sell them directly on your own website.
The future is truly here. Right now.