Google eBooks Good for Readers, Authors, Bookstores
It has now been almost three years since I published my novel "A Thousand Veils." I am delighted with the success that it has met. Not only did it win the Colorado Authors' League Award for Mainstream Fiction, but it was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award. Equally important, it has sold as least six times the average number of books by self-published authors. Not bad for a first novel!
However, there have been some bumps along the road. Being a self-published author has not been an easy experience for numerous reasons. Two of the most important are accessibility and cost. Most bookstores will not carry self-published books except on a limited, consignment basis. The cost of published-on-demand books is also very high. In order to make an extremely slim profit on my 400 page book, I had to price it at $21.95, much too expensive for most readers.
Digital books are helping to bring down these barriers. In the electronic bookstore, self-published books have as equal access as traditionally published books. Without the high costs of printing in small quantities, digital self-published books can be price-competitive. In fact, their prices are probably substantially less than books from the major publishing houses because they do not have huge marketing costs to cover.
The recent arrival of Google eBooks to this scene is a most welcome addition. Google eBooks can be read on a wide variety of internet-connected devices, including home computers, I-phones and most e-readers, with the exception of Kindle. Independent booksellers, which until now have been mainly shut out of the digital book market, will also benefit. Google is making it possible to order digital books through local bookstores. Finally, Google eBooks is increasing the competition in the digital book market, a benefit to readers, authors and bookstores alike. Prices of digital books should fall in response to this new competition. As an example, the cost of my novel"A Thousand Veils" is $7.96 on the Google eBook store, 20 percent less than on its nearest competitor. What a boon to readers to have easy access to a wide variety of books at much more affordable prices!
However, there have been some bumps along the road. Being a self-published author has not been an easy experience for numerous reasons. Two of the most important are accessibility and cost. Most bookstores will not carry self-published books except on a limited, consignment basis. The cost of published-on-demand books is also very high. In order to make an extremely slim profit on my 400 page book, I had to price it at $21.95, much too expensive for most readers.
Digital books are helping to bring down these barriers. In the electronic bookstore, self-published books have as equal access as traditionally published books. Without the high costs of printing in small quantities, digital self-published books can be price-competitive. In fact, their prices are probably substantially less than books from the major publishing houses because they do not have huge marketing costs to cover.
The recent arrival of Google eBooks to this scene is a most welcome addition. Google eBooks can be read on a wide variety of internet-connected devices, including home computers, I-phones and most e-readers, with the exception of Kindle. Independent booksellers, which until now have been mainly shut out of the digital book market, will also benefit. Google is making it possible to order digital books through local bookstores. Finally, Google eBooks is increasing the competition in the digital book market, a benefit to readers, authors and bookstores alike. Prices of digital books should fall in response to this new competition. As an example, the cost of my novel"A Thousand Veils" is $7.96 on the Google eBook store, 20 percent less than on its nearest competitor. What a boon to readers to have easy access to a wide variety of books at much more affordable prices!
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