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Ebooks—Will They Work for You?

March 18, 2008 by Atilla Vekony, Publishing Information Manager I have been following the development of ebooks for eight years now. The one thing I still remember from Book Expo America 2000 in Chicago is how the topic of ebooks seemed to dominate every single workshop I attended. Ebooks were the next big thing.

We've been publishing books for eight years now and converting to and distributing our titles as ebooks has always been in the back of our minds. (We were even fortunate to register the domains ebookpublishing.com and ipublisher.com in time!) Yet the big ebook invasion promised in 2000 never really happened. There are still too many competing ebook platforms and formats to choose from. (See the recently resolved battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD for high-definition DVD formats.) Digital rights management (DRM) is also a mess. Besides, we already offer superior book publishing services and distribution of paper books, and we will do the same with electronic books only if it benefits our authors and the sales of their books.

Having said that, this may be the time to reevaluate launching our ebook services and I need your help! Amazon has recently introduced its ebook reader, the Kindle. This device breaks away from the other competing technologies by including its own wireless distribution system: you don't need a computer or Internet connection to be able to purchase and read ebooks on the Kindle. As we look into the launch of our ebook publishing services, Amazon's Kindle will definitely be on the top of our list for available formats.

I need your help with the following: Assuming that you have written or are writing a book, post a comment below with your thoughts on whether you think your book would be well-served by distribution as an ebook. Do share with us also whether you have a strong preference for a particular ebook format: Kindle, MobiPocket, Adobe Reader, Microsoft Reader, Palm Reader, etc. If we were to provide you with your ebook, would you want it distributed and rights managed by Wheatmark (through Kindle, Amazon, online ebookstores) or would you just prefer to get a particular ebook file (e.g. PDF) that you would host and distribute on your own website yourself?

Any comment you have, please, share it with us by posting it below. Anonymous posts are OK.

Tags: marketing, amazon, self-publishing, ebooks, kindle
Filed Under: Publishing

Comments

I think e-books would be a wonderful up to date way to help in selling more of my books… I would prefer Micro-soft word format for my book.<BR><BR>As to whether I would want to add and e-book to my website…I’m so busy with life now I would prefer to have Whearmark manage the e-book for me.<BR><BR>Thanks…

                    posted on 3/18/2008 by Anonymous

I think e-book is one of the ways to meet the demands of the fast-paced literary world. I also think Microsoft Reader is more accessible to many readers.<BR><BR>Regarding whether or not I prefer to market my e-books on my website, I would prefer Wheatmark to manage the e-book for me because I am a college professor with a very busy life. I also have lots of unpublished manuscripts, so can I send them to you to start the experiment on e-book?<BR><BR>Mrs Felicia Ibezim, Ph.D<BR>Ekwike Books & Publishing<BR>www.ekwikebooks.com

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by Felicia Ibezim

They are excellent way to sell your book. $15 + about $10 for postage, or $5 just to download it… which one are you going to choose?<BR>I’ve sold heaps more of my books “U-Mart” since I started selling cheap in EBook format. You make about the same amount of money too and didnt even need lulu.com etc.<BR>Had it made free at http://dw3k.com/printing

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by Jim

Felicia, thank you for your feedback on the ebooks. You mentioned Microsoft: don’t confuse the “Microsoft Reader” with “Microsoft Word” though!<BR><BR>Here is where you download the Microsoft Reader:<BR><BR>http://www.microsoft.com/Reader/<BR><BR>Jim, thanks for the input. I’ll check them out.

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by Atilla Vekony

As someone considering Wheatmark as publisher of my book, I would want the ability to offer the book as an ebook, as well as a paperback book.  This is especially important to me because my book can be broken down into discrete, self-contained chapters that I might be able to sell individually as well as a whole ebook.

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by Anonymous

I am also an author (just completed my novel) who is considering Wheatmark to publish my book. I would also like both paper and ebooks. I was looking at desktopauthor.com, which allows the ebook to look and act like a real book. How does what you are considering compare? Also, I think I would like the option to have Wheatmark manage the ebook, or that I could manage it myself.  I am looking at various website venues where I would post it for sale in conjunction with an online store.  Thanks.

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by LM

I have two novels in the Christian fiction genre that are fully edited and ready to go.  I’m considering creating a website with “teaser” e-book pages to facilitate orders online.  What do you think—will this work?<BR><BR>In terms of entire books on an e-book format, I tend to think not, since one must sit at a computer for many hours to read one.  That’s hard on the eyes and the butt.

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by Hale Meserow

What about downloadable ebooks? Many people are downloading ebooks to their ipods and palm devices.

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by Anonymous

Hale, your book is Christian fiction and it’s true that ebooks are not the best format for fiction. What you would need is just a PDF file that you can display or give away on your website (a few pages), or something like the preview function of Google Book Search. <BR><BR>LM, the DNL (Desktop Author) format is a good one. We’re looking into many different formats and that will be one to consider. They key is how an ebook is distributed.

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by Atilla Vekony

I think I would be interested in my book “To Be Chosen” being available in ebook form…I’m not sure which reader…The amazon product will probably eventually dominate the market, but in the short run, people appreciate being able to download to whatever device they already have. I would probably want Wheatmark to host and handle it as long as I didn’t have to turn over my rights and ownership…Michael Travis Jasper

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by Anonymous

I think that e-books is a VERY good idea! I think that you should have a poll/vote taken as to which download format is the most famous and then use it.<BR><BR> I think that you will find that most authors will prefer Wheatmark to manage the rights etc…  We are very busy and just would not have the time to manage it.<BR><BR>I really appreciate Wheatmark contining the monumental task of growing with services that will bring to light and make it easily accessible for many authors. Thanks for all that you do!

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by Anonymous

Amazon’s “Kindle” is not cheap, and I think only dedicated-book-buyers would spend the money.<BR><BR>Can an ebook be sold via both Wheatmark’s site and the author’s website?<BR><BR>My non-fiction book can be broken down into purchasable sections/chapters, so it would lend itself to being practical for an ebook approach.  I assume that going ebook does not prohibit traditional print sales.

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by James Charnock

I do not have a preference for the format, but if The Unicorn and the Dragon was made available as an ebook, I would want Wheatmark to manage it.

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by Cleve Johnson

I believe Amazon has it right with their distribution channel.  You buy and the next day wake up with a wonderful new book on your Kindle.  That’s great!  No store.  No traffic.  No worries.  Having said this, I’m an author who has used Wheatmark and am in the process of placing my novels on Amazon’s Kindle.  If Wheatmark were to offer this service, I’d certainly consider.

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by Tyler Gant

I have friends whose jobs involve a lot of travel and they have started doing all their recreational reading through ebook purchases. They tell me they prefer the Sony electronic book reader over the reader they’d need to purchase for Amazon Kindle. <BR><BR>If offering The Healing Art of Pet Parenthood as an ebook would have a positive impact on my royalties and not entail any additional work for me, then of course, I’m all for it. <BR><BR>Hopefully, this feedback is of value, then again, I still use my VCR to record TV shows, so if I’ve missed the point, please forgive!

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by Nadine M. Rosin

I would you want it distributed and rights managed by Wheatmark.  It would be easier for me to manage the sales of my Soft(Hard) cover and ebook from one location.  I definitely would like to see Kindle (Amazon) book also and another form of ebook.  Kindle seems to be the way of the future.<BR><BR>Thanks

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by Anonymous

Most publishers would (my opinion) leave management to Wheatmark. I read 60 - 100 books a year and I don’t like e-books as the source of reading novels. If I enjoy a book, I like to pass it on to someone that might not have the $ to purchase it. Children need to get away from the electronic aids and learn to read as an enjoyment, as an escape from work and/or school. As an author, I would leave it up to Wheatmark’s judgement as to the +/- advantage n sales, but I think e-book is still in the birth stage and caution is still to be considered.

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by eddie.b

I have not kept up to speed on e-book technology so, unfortunately, I cannot comment on it.<BR>However, I will look into it after I finish my second book.<BR><BR>Kind regards,<BR>Coach Melvin<BR>www.FearNoDog.blogspot.com

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by Coach melvin

Since some of my material is esp helpful for military personnel, I think that at least one large chapter of my book would be very beneficial as an e-book. Despite their heavy schedules, it is amazing how much time some people have while waiting to go out on their field duty. Overall, I believe that e-books are the wave of the future. Yes, I would have Wheatmark manage it for me. <BR>LC

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by Anonymous

Yes, e-books are beginning to be quite a big hit in the world and would be an asset in selling my book to a wider audience.<BR><BR>I would prefer Wheatmark to manage the e-book on my behalf, though.<BR><BR>Kind Regards,<BR>Cathy Dannhauser

                    posted on 3/19/2008 by Anonymous

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