Let's vote on hardcover or soft...

[Karey]

So, I want to know something. When Secret Speakers comes out in April, which would you prefer to buy, hardcover or soft and why? Will price effect whether or not you would buy a hardcover? Would it even matter? Your input and answers will be helpful to me here. Thanks all!

[Holli]

It doesn't matter to me at all...I'll buy it any way it comes!! :)

[Weldon]

I always go for hardcovers just because they're more durable. Of course if it's downloadable on Kindle I'll go that way as well.

[[deleted user]]

Hardcovers are more durable, but, they are more expensive, I tend to wait to buy a book until it comes out in paperback.
But, if I give a book as a present I look for it in hardcover if it's available.

[I ♥ Luke Castellan *Alexa*]

Hardcover. I've gotten paper back, and it always ends up ruined. (My copy of The Order of the Phoenix is terrible.) And my hardcover collection of Twilight is nearly perfect.

[Sheila]

I prefer softcover for the price factor. In todays economy, cost can determine if I buy something or not, and softcovers are almost always less expensive.

[John]

Hi Karey,

Yours is the kind of book that people will want to hang onto and permanently add to their library. Your story is enduring, therefore its binding should be enduring. For this reason I would vote for hardcover. But I can also see readers wanting a less expensive edition. So, if possible, why not have it available in both hard and soft cover...?

--John

[Kevan]

I like your idea John as I feel the same way. Love having the soft cover to take along to read on the go, but then I like a hardcover to put on the shelf or give as a gift

Kevan

[Jackie]

Karey,I vote for hardcover, or at the very least an option which includes buying either hardcover or paperback. I confess I only read the first chapter because I can't read off the computer and it was too long to download. I am waiting until it hits the bookstores. However, in only reading the first chapter, I knew it was a book I couldn't wait to get my hands on and I know I will want it in hardcover since it is very likely it will remain on my bookshelves. thanks!

[Jewel]

You might have a few more sales with a softcover, but with a book like yours, some people might prefer hardcover. I would buy either:o)

[Kathy]

Definitely a hardcover! It's a keeper, and softcovers just don't last long.

[Melia]

Paperback if well done can be good but I prefer the durable hardcover when I can afford it which is hardly ever!

[Dawn]

Okay... my favorite is hardcover for the fact of durability and I do believe that this is a book that people will want to read again and again. But, if I was you... I would make it in a softcover. The reason that I say this is because the economy is in a spiral downward pattern right now and people may not have the money for the cost of a hardcover. I would at least start with the softcover and once it catches on and gains popularity, then I would move on to a hardcover. Who will you be selling to? Barnes and Noble, Borders, etc? I would also check to see if Costco or Sam's would carry it as well that way you can get the book out to as many people as possible. Once word spreads through the general public, this book will be a hit!!!

[Karey]

Hey, guess what! I"m here at Best Buy shopping for a computer...Thought I'd get online and see what you all had to say about hard cover or soft. Thanks so much for your input, dear friends.

I really like the idea of making both available. Why not? Well, the sales guy is coming back to help me out again, Gotta run.

[I ♥ Luke Castellan *Alexa*]

Great! Hopefully both!

[Karey]

I'm waiting for bids from a few printing companies to do both hard cover and soft for Secret Speakers and the Search for Selador's Gate. So, thanks to you all, you'll have both options to choose from!

[Robin]

Trade paperback - best of both worlds ;-)

[Karey]

I've received bids for hard-cover and soft from four different sources. Since I'm self-publishing, and hardcover is much more expensive to print, most LIKELY I'll start with Trade Paperback. Then come Fall, when gift-giving season begins, I'll have the capital to start printing hardcover.

But then again, if I get a good bid on hardcover, I'll do both!

[Ronda]

It's good to have you back Karey!!

[[deleted user]]

Karey--I'm glad to hear that you are able to do both hard/paperback covers.

[Karey]

Thanks, Kitty. And it's nice to be back, Ronda! (If my husband will just keep flying those falcons, that is, and let me use his computer in the meantime.)

"Sure honey, go fly. All you want to. I'll be fine . . ."

[Hilda]

Karey,
I vote for hardcover because this book is what I call a "keeper". When I come across a book that I really enjoyed I usually buy the hardcover version and put it on my "keeper" shelf at home for another read or two :)

[Karey]

I'm hoping I can find a way to print hardcover affordably. So far the bids are so high that no one would buy them . . . wish me luck!

[Lynlee4]

I'd vote for softcover but not a mass-market type.

The hardcovers are a bit heavy so I feel restricted to my one chair to read one.

[Karey]

Well guess what folks, after doing tons of research, my husband and I have decided the best route to go is with soft cover to start with, with good quality paper. (In other words, trade paperback, not mass market.)

Then, once we can afford it, we'll do hardcover. Thanks for all your input! It all boils down to what's affordable since we're independently publishing the book.