It’s time we talked about the elephant in
the room. More precisely, the elephant in MY room. And by elephant I mean the
emails I’ve been getting and comments surrounding the controversy over
e-reading vs paperback.
First let me say I LOVE my readers. I know
lots of authors say that, but I’ve got a special file with emails received from fans. If that sounds stalkerish
I apologize but being an author is lonely work and sometimes you need the encouragement
and opinions of people who you’ve never met. Weird, right? In my defense I
write paranormal murder mysteries so there is no way to be “normal”.
My readers are wise, wonderful, witty women.
Oh and great men too (sorry Jack). And you are better than most people in the
world because you actually read. If you’ve read a book in
the last year you’re already a million times better than a person who, say,
would rather watch reruns of Miami Vice instead of pickup a book.
Back to the emails.
In January, Carina Press will be publishing
GROUNDS TO KILL. In February, Penguin will be publishing DEAD SUITE (Ghost
Dusters 4) and in May they will also be publishing Ghost Dusters 5. I am super
pumped about this!
All three of those stories are coming out
as e-books only at this point.
Did I work just as hard on these e-books as
I did on my paperbacks? Yes. (Harder if you count the fact that I had to finish
one book only typing with my right hand since I hurt my left shoulder.)
Could they eventually come out in print?
Maybe. That will depend on sales.
Did I do this to piss you off because you
only read “real” books? No. I wish I could wave a magic wand and please
everyone. Hell, I wish I had a magic wand just so I could summon a cabana boy to
deliver me a latte every hour!
Did I have a say in whether or not these
books got published only as e-books? Sure. I could’ve said no to their offers and
they, in turn, may have refused to publish the stories. This is a business and,
like most businesses, publishers need to make a profit or they will go the way
of the Dodo bird and my first word processor.
Now, for all of you on my newsletter list there
will be a contest to win an e-reader!! *YAY* If you already have an e-reader
*YAY* you can choose a gift card to Amazon, or Barnes and Noble, or somewhere
else that sells books.
Not on my mailing list but dying to be? Click here.
In unrelated news, I’m getting my
hair done tomorrow to cover up the gray hair that comes with having 4 teens and
writing 3 books in 15 months. What are you doing?
13 comments:
First of all, I love your books and am so glad that there are new ones coming out, they had me simultaneously crying and creeped out.
I was a dedicated book reader until I got an iTouch for my birthday and installed an e-reader app. I still read and buy books, but I do get ebooks if they are cheaper, if I want to try out a new author or if the book is only available electronically. I'll always love books, but the best thing about e-books is that they are instant, which is great when you are at that 'I *have* to know what happens next' in a series!
I imagine that the publishing business is changing as more smaller publishing houses are releasing ebooks... What it comes down to is that more great stories are available to the reader and I for one am *really* excited about reading your new books :)
Thanks so much!! I read on my ipad but, yes, I still buy paper books too. Love your blog!
Thanks! I am slowly getting through my backlog of books I have read, but keep on getting distracted with new ones :)
I came, I read, I think I signed up for your newsletter. Now to go type in the code to prove I am not, contrary to the niece and nephew who call me Auntie Robot, a robot.
Hi Wendy -
I still do the majority of my reading the old-fashioned way. I have a fascination with book covers - not sure why! With that being said, I am not opposed to e-readers. Especially, when traveling!
I hope you're not getting any grief from fans about your books being e-books this time around! I am happy to get them however they are published and really like that there are three newbies coming before summer 2013. What a treat! I am so excited for you and for us (the fans).
How's the shoulder doing?
Laura, I've always suspected you're a robot :O
Thanks, Leslie! I wouldn't say I'm getting "grief" but I think some readers are disappointed and I hate that. Shoulder is not bad ... waiting surgery date. Thanks for asking & thanks for being a friend & fan!
Wendy, thanks for being such a great support!! While you're picketing I'll be in the rain watching a football game. Is it wrong of me to wish they'd lose in playoffs? Never mind ...
I don't care whether your books are coming out as hardcopy books, ebooks or someone hummed them through their noise onto an old scratchy cassette tape. As long as they're coming out.
Have fun getting your hair done. I think about coloring mine sometimes, but for now, I'm embracing the grays. I earned them. ;o)
Wendy - There is so much negativity these days, my wish is that people would focus on the positive. As you said, What if you had passed on this offer and we had no books to look forward to? Just something to ponder for those that are "disappointed".
I'm glad the shoulder isn't too bad right now. There is nothing worse than nagging pain you can't get away from. Keep us posted on the surgery date!
I just noticed that almost everyone on here has a blog! Geez -now I feel like a slacker.
B.E. you had me snorting coffee out my nose at the visual of humming my stories onto cassette tape lol!!
Leslie, you're right about the negativity & you're definitely not a slacker!
I'm looking forward to reading all three books.
I read on my kindle or nook or sometimes my iPad and yes, I still read printed book. It's all about the reading experience.
As you already know I purchased my Kobo in anticipation of your ebooks but have since become addicted to Angry Birds. Darn those apps. I love paperbacks and always travel with one tucked inside my purse. I am currently trying to read all the books nominated for the MYRCA award so I can do some recommending to my students (you can't recommend if you don't read). Always a true fan of your series and looking forward to your newest addition.
Thanks, Wendy!
Yes, Dru, you're right. It is all about the experience!
Yes, Sis, we both got bitten by the reading bug for sure ... and we're both hooked on those damn birds ha ha!
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