To e or not to e

There is always buzz about ebooks. Some endorse them and proclaim to the world how wonderful the world of electronic publishing is. Then some detract ebooks and claim that ebook authors are not truly authors.

Here’s what I have to say. I know this is repetition but so be it:

When I first stepped into fulfilling my dream of being an author I was in the camp of ebook sellouts. I didn’t think a real author worth their salt would be epublished. I was speaking from an uninformed and unintelligent point of view.

Ebook authors are indeed real authors. We work our tails off just as hard as any print author out there. We have edits, dead lines, and frustrating editors. In some ways I think ebook authors work harder than some (not all by any means, but some) print published authors. We spend many hours of the day on promotions across the Internet. In the “real world” we have to spend time explaining to the public what exactly ebooks are and how they are purchased/read.

There are so many benefits to ebooks. In this day and age everywhere you look there is technology advances that not only make your phone calls, hold your rolodex, email, and even news, movies and television shows, that can also hold your books. When you travel, most people are restricted to one, maybe two books.

With my PDA Palm Zire, I can carry up to 30 books. And we’re not talking small 100 page books. I’m talking books with page counts up near 600 and 700 pages. (Frankenstein, Dracula, Last of the Mohicans, and Wizard of Oz) I have these as well as all my books, a couple of friends’ books, my research files, as well as my music library. I can kick back with my tunes and choose which book I’m in the mood to read at that time. Do you think I could carry ALL those in print? No way. With my ebooks, I can transport them everywhere for the weight of 4.8 oz. Can you say the same for your print books?

Another bonus to electronic books, if you are into reading those spicy hot erotic titles but you don’t want the world to know it, then ebooks are for you! You can read your favorite erotica title on your commute, on the plane, in the car on vacation, and no one is the wiser.

You aren’t restricted to your computer to read your ebook. You don’t have a palm organizer or your cell phone doesn’t have the PDF program, no problem. You can print your book at home! There are also ebook readers on the market: Ebookman, RCA ebook reader, Pocket PC, and Palm products (Including my Zire) are just a few examples. There is also the newest addition the Kindle

There are so many positives in the ebook world you shouldn’t short change yourself by missing the boat. If you are one of those literary snobs who still believe ebook auithors are NOT real authors I challenge you to give it a try. I can guarantee you I’m just as real a writer as any of you in the print only world.

I can go you one better, I think I’m even on the better end of the deal. Print books have a very limited shelf life. My books are still active and will be for the full length of my contracts (which is usually 5 years) AND some of my publishers do provide a print program so I get double life.

If you haven’t read an ebook but your still on your hill looking down on my “kin” and me I say you don’t know what you’re missing. Ebooks are here to stay. Did you know that many schools are going to ebooks for their classes? This will benefit the kids in the long run. No more backpack producing back pain and muscle strain. This is the beginning of the new age of thinking and I hope you don’t miss the boat.

For years, I believed that the golden ring of publishing was Harlequin and I got a closer look only to find it was imitation gold leaf over rusted steel. Will I ever submit to them again? I NEVER say never, I only say unlikely. I’m happy where I am. I have the best publishers—Samhain , Champagne and Resplendence--each have print programs and I’m happy living within the best of both worlds.

Huggles,
DC