how necessary is it to have a physical copy of a book

[Michael]

This is more of a question as a reader and not as an author.

The debate between e-books and physical copies may never end, buy I'm curious as to how important is it that an author has PC available. Does it turn away future readers?
Personally I need a physical copy. Since I have a laptop it does hurt my eyes and just little reasons here and there. It doesn't turn me away from the author, I merely wait until it's available in paperback/hardcover format.
But I've talked with others who refuse to buy from authors simply because some of the books don't offer a physical copy.
What's your opinion?

P.s hope that makes sense. On phone at work half asleep lol but needed to get my question out before I lost it.

[Melissa]

I'm almost entirely ebook only. I got a physical copy to review in the mail and I keep looking at it sadly. Like why can't it fit in my back pocket? Why does it weigh so much. Why can't I tweet my progress without putting it down? Why can't I highlight a favorite part with a quick tap? Yeah. I have issues. But I also have three kids, so auto-bookmarking is kinda crucial. If someone screams bloody murder, I don't have to dogear, bookmark, or make sure to lay it down just so.

I *personally* have no idea why people are hard-up for physical copy only. Don't shoot me!! I still love a used book store and the smell of the pages.

[Michael]

Lol I can understand that, e-books are easier. Hell when I had my iPad I enjoyed it. But on a laptop and my eyes getting worse all the time, I can't really enjoy myself too much on e-books. Doesn't mean I'll forsake them completely. Just until I can get my own Kindle/iPad etc. Lol

[Christina]

Ebooks were a godsend for me. Aside from what Melissa mentioned, I got sick of moving my huge collection of books and got tired of finding my older books crumbling into dust every time I opened them. I have very weird reasons as well, such as not liking the feel of paper and an irrational fear of paper cuts.
But aside from that, ebooks are easier to browse and I love that I can buy and read them instantaneously.
Larger picture books or reference are fine in physical format, but for fiction, the stuff I would have typically bought used and in paperback, ebooks are much better.

[Bridget]

I just got an ebook last summer and I found that they were easy to use. I prefer hard copies though. When using an ebook you can't just flip to a certain part that you liked unless you highlighted it or have an excellent memory and remember the page number. I do not know how exactly to work the highlighting thing (I just learned how to look up a word). I have a Nook though not a kindle. It may be easier on a kindle to highlight and such. I also like the smell of books and walking into libraries and book stores. I haven't moved so I guess i don't know wether it would be a bother to carry that many books to your new place. I don't hate ebooks or ereaders but I prefer to have a hard copy.
I would not shy away from trying an author just because they do not have a hard copy out. If I really like the book though I would like to buy a hard copy of it.

[Tabitha]

I am more likely to pay the ten bucks for a paperback of an indie author's novel than I am to pay a few dollars for an ebook. I loathe reading e-copies online, and limit it to only when I am doing it as a review request, b/c if someone is nice enough to send me a free copy, who am I to argue?

While I understand the practicality of ebooks, I need to hold the book, smell the pages, and refrain from looking at a lit, electronic screen in order to enjoy reading. I need the tangibility of paper in my hands.

For me, there is an inauthenticity attached to ebooks, the same as owning an MP3 instead of a vinyl or cd album, having printed out photographs, or even having an online conversation as opposed to speaking with someone face to face. For me, the "real" will always win out over the cyber-real.

But hey, to each his own, right?

[Jim]

Hi Michael,
For ebooks, you really need an ebook reader if you're concerned for your eyes. The iPad is no easier on the eyes than a computer. You can get a new Kindle for dirt cheap and with all the free classics you can get it's well worth the money.

[Melissa]

Bridget wrote: "I just got an ebook last summer and I found that they were easy to use. I prefer hard copies though. When using an ebook you can't just flip to a certain part that you liked unless you highlighted ..."

I've learned to use the search feature. I can normally remember either what was happening around my fave parts or certain words or phrases that stuck in my mind.

Not arguing your point which is wholly valid. But it's how I handle it in the virtual. :)

[Michael]

I'm loving the input, but I may not have worded it correctly.

I don't mean as a which you prefer, but how important it is to you that both an e-book and physical copy be available for the reader. Sorry for the confusion lol

[Melissa]

I think you did word it right. I think we got away from you. ;)

[Christina]

Sorry, I tend to want to shout the virtues of ebooks from the rafters. That being said, no, I don't care if an author has a physical book. Quite the opposite, if they are only offering physical copies, I will likely overlook them.

[Wren]

I do not care at all whether both are available. If I want a book for my Kindle I just download it, I rarely even look to see if the hard copy is available. Only check when a book was so awesome I want it in both forms.

[Mike]

I have an Kindle and it is very convenient, however I am still partial to paper. I have books from when I was a teenager but I'll bet I won't have my ebooks 15 years from now. Also not to be paranoid or anything but the last thing I want is important books like history and reference books to become electronic with no hard copies.

[Lily]

As a reader and bookphile:

I love collecting books and I've been doing that for most of my life. If a book can go on my bookshelf, then great! More for my collection, and that means physical only. However, I love reading new stories so much, it's nice to have the option of ebooks to take it for a test drive. If I like an ebook enough that I want it for my collection and there isn't a physical copy, I'll be honest, that ebook will slip out of my memory.

Because of DMR and all kinds of digital issues, I can't collect ebooks the way I can collect physical books. Maybe someday that aspect of digial books will sort itself out, but for the meantime if you want me to remember an ebbok beyond the amount of time it took to read it, there would have to be the option of a physical book or at least mind-blowing quality of writing where I can't forget.

I realize I may sound harsh with unreasonably high expectations, but I'm just being honest. To be further honest, I often see ebooks as disposable. If the writing can convince me otherwise, and I do try to keep an open mind, then more power to the author.

As an author:

A physical copy helps. Abslutely manatory? No, but it helps to have at least one copy one hand, just in case, you never know. It certainly doesn't hurt. It also depends on your audience. Some audiences favor ebooks, othere favor physical books. Always know your audience.

[Michael]

Lily you make some pretty good points. While Ebooks do make it easier and faster to read something, it just becomes another page on the tablet after one is finished reading it. But that may be another topic haha

pretty much, people have been telling me (the few that I know that do read) they prefer ebooks and don't really care if they are offered as physical copy. But there are some people who will avoid ebooks so much that they won't buy anything from an author who favors the e-book audience. so I just wanted to see everyone else's take on it. really liked the points brought up though

[Shari-amor]

I read both ebooks and physical books equally. And yes ebooks are easier and more convenient but I would really love if there were physical copies available from an author. All my favourite authors, I have to have the physical. I'm not buying the ebook version because it's a lovely feeling seeing them on my bookshelf.

I've brought ebooks and loved a story so much that I will check to see if there is an option to buy a physical copy. If there is, I will buy it. If there isnt, I'm a bit disappointed that I can't add it to my bookshelf collection.

[Maron]

I think the availability of print copies depends on the audience the author expects to have. Some audiences (e.g., romance readers) are more likely to be comfortable with ebook only than others. (Literary fiction strikes me as a genre likely to have readers who could primarily want print, but I could be wrong.)

When I first got an ereader (a Kindle touch with e-ink) I thought I would want print copies of the books I really loved but read as an ebook first. This quickly changed. I love my ereader. (Oh, and e-ink is essential for eye health!) Some of my new all-time favorite books were first read as ebooks, and I feel no different about them than I do about my favorites that I discovered through print.

Using an ereader feels like a purer reading experience for me. It's just me and the words; no cover, no differing paper texture, etc. that can shape my experience. Just me and the words.

[Noel]

As a reader, I love reading books on my phone. I always have a book with me wherever I go. I like print books. I try only to buy paper books I would like to keep long term, but sometimes when I visit a book shop I can't resist buying. I had a lot of books destroyed by mould years ago and since then I have been a lot less attached to physical copies.

I made a physical edition of my book on Createspace. It was mostly for relations and friends who don't have ereaders. There are a lot of people who are more comfortable with physical copies. I like having a paper copy (mould paranoia notwithstanding). One advantage was that I could do a Goodreads giveaway.

[Jojobean]

I prefer if authors have physical books in addition to ereaders. I am an avid book collector and am always in Barnes and noble or on amazon to buy PC books. I do have a kindle and I love it but I prefer physical books. o got my kindle for books that are only published as ebooks and for arcs.

[Bruno]

I personally cannot stand ebooks.. I need the tactile feel of a paper book and the action of turning pages. My attention span on a digital screen whether it is a tablet or a PC is very limited.

[Renee E]

I have three books I really, really want to read, have started one of them, but they're on a .pdf file and right now the only places I'm getting time to read are when I'm hiding out at the pool at my friend's place or late, late, late at night right before I go to sleep and neither are environments for e-readers. If I had them as hardcopies I'd already have read them!

And I love scoring first editions of favorite authors.

[Thomas]

Personally I am okay with either. However, a point was brought up in a topic some months ago that was basically "physical books are better because they spark conversation easier" and therefore I lean toward wanting a physical copy.

I've actually seen the difference. Reading on my tablet, I was asked if I was writing or editing. However with a physical copy I've been asked directly about the book.

[Shari]

I'm leaning towards preferring ebooks nowadays for the convenience and the lack of space on my bookshelf!

That being said as an author I do have physical copies of my books available to purchase as I feel that its good to offer readers a choice.

[Justin]

I'm a bit of a hypocrite because while I would say an author absolutely needs a physical copy of their book, lately all I've been reading this year is ebooks.

[Rachel]

For review purposes I'm all about ebooks. Some special novels I'd like in hard copy but I buy far fewer than I used to. It's just so much easier to read a huge volume & keep notes as you go using a device.

Having said that I get irritated at not being able to loan an ebook to someone I know would love it. I tend to then buy a hard copy as a gift do I guess the author gets two sales anyway ;-)

[K.P.]

I love physical books. I have a storage unit full of them -_- and even more are in my house. so after getting a tablet I finally embraced ebooks. I'm miffed most of the books I own don't have book versions yet but at least I can save trees and space