Seven years ago I started writing The Trust. When I finished it and was telling friends that I had written a book, one of my attorney friends ask, “Are you going to publish an eBook?” I answered with a simple, “No.” What I really meant was, “H*** no, you fool!!! I want someone to read it!!” Seven years ago I don’t think I had even seen an eBook.
When I was asked this question the only real method to read an ebook was at a computer and most of us don’t want to sit in front of a computer anymore than we have to.
Oh how the times have changed.
The other day I read a statistic that more than 15% of all book sales were from eBooks. While that may not seem like a lot at first blush, keep in mind that just a few short years ago the sales were in the low single digits.
When I was asked this question the only real method to read an ebook was at a computer and most of us don’t want to sit in front of a computer anymore than we have to.
Oh how the times have changed.
The other day I read a statistic that more than 15% of all book sales were from eBooks. While that may not seem like a lot at first blush, keep in mind that just a few short years ago the sales were in the low single digits.
Another statistic reports that since November of 2010 eBook sales were up more than 100%.
Publishers love eBooks because there is no messy ink involved. Seriously though the cost to produce and deliver eBooks is minimal and with digital delivery they will never go out of print. Authors love them because while they may sell for less than traditional print books the profit for the writer is generally a higher percentage and even with a lower price the authors generally earns more. The readers that read them love them because they cost less.
I have a Nook. It’s size is quite pleasing and it has a number of great features. The two best are that with the free 3G access I can enjoy instant gratification with purchases and it holds up to 1500 books – 1500! Given that my house resembles a cluttered library the nook will be nice.
So the quick conclusion is that the eBooks are here to stay. I think we will continue to see the sales rise and we will likely see the sales outpace those of traditional books. This will also open the door to scores of new writers who may otherwise never have a market for their work.
The publishing industry will have to adapt, there is no question of that.
The one question I do have is how does an author do a book signing for an eBook?
Publishers love eBooks because there is no messy ink involved. Seriously though the cost to produce and deliver eBooks is minimal and with digital delivery they will never go out of print. Authors love them because while they may sell for less than traditional print books the profit for the writer is generally a higher percentage and even with a lower price the authors generally earns more. The readers that read them love them because they cost less.
I have a Nook. It’s size is quite pleasing and it has a number of great features. The two best are that with the free 3G access I can enjoy instant gratification with purchases and it holds up to 1500 books – 1500! Given that my house resembles a cluttered library the nook will be nice.
So the quick conclusion is that the eBooks are here to stay. I think we will continue to see the sales rise and we will likely see the sales outpace those of traditional books. This will also open the door to scores of new writers who may otherwise never have a market for their work.
The publishing industry will have to adapt, there is no question of that.
The one question I do have is how does an author do a book signing for an eBook?
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