Patrick, you're proving my point. As 100s of thousands of self-published writers eventually take advantage of this, it will nearly impossible for anyone other than the most recognizable names to be found in these stores. While it will be a boon for any writer to self-publish, will be a disaster for new writers who are actually trying to find new readers.
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Well, I've read more new writers since I acquired my Kindle than I have in the last 3 years reading conventional books. I'm willing to invest between $0 and $10 in a book that sounds interesting but whose author I've never heard of. Between $10 and $55 for a bound book, not so much. Frankly, I think to survive books stores as we know them are going to have to provide entertainment other than books as we know them. Around me there are more and more poetry readings, book signings, writers' groups and similar events going on and starting up in local book shops. I think electronic publishing will do to conventional book publishing what desktop publishing did to conventional typesetting. This is happening. To fight it is pointless. Used books will continue to be of interest to people just as vinyl records are still of interest to some people. There are those who will refuse until the last to read anything but paper books and a small industry will cater to
this minority probably into the next generation. But the cry is out there right now: adapt or die!
Patrick King
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 06 Nov 2009 EST