Comments on: Best of the Blog 2009: Alphabet Soup: CEOs @BEA

By: janetgrant

janetgrant — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:06:53 +0000

KC, I saw the same article. It’s clear that e-readers are leading the way to a device that does more than one function (i.e., make books available to read). Maybe Apple’s e-reader that as other apps with be the device that does it all. (It releases in 2010.)

By: KC Frantzen

KC Frantzen — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:01:29 +0000

Speaking of transitions – just saw this:

“E-Readers: They’re Hot Now, But the Story Isn’t Over”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704328104574519851557848662.html?mod=WSJ_hp_mostpop_read

By: Terry Burns

Terry Burns — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:36:10 +0000

Janet, excellent report on what is on the minds of the big CEO’s as well as on all of our minds as we watch the transitions occuring in the industry.

Terry

By: Janet Grant

Janet Grant — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 18:44:32 +0000

Rich, as Paul Coughlin’s agent, I know he signed an agreement with his publisher to put his books on Kindle (and his publisher had received many requests for his material to be available via e-readers); so keep a look out, they’ll be available soon, I hope.
But here’s the best news: Even though I own a Kindle 1 (bought six months before Kindle 2 came out, thank you very much, Amazon), I can buy any books as they become available, not just books that were available when I made my e-reader purchase. I understand you’re saying you want more of your favorite books “Kindle-ized” before you make the purchase, but hundreds if not thousands of books are being added to the list every day. It’s all unfolding very fast.

By: Rich

Rich — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 04:07:51 +0000

I’m toying with the idea of a Kindle for my birthday late this month, but am finding a number of authors I read are not available yet (Paul Coughlin, Pat Morley).

I question whether to jump in now or wait and get a newer version at a time when there is a more completely library available. I

don’t see it replacing books for research (take too many notes / tab pages) but for novels and enjoyment reading I think it would be GREAT.

By: BJ Hamrick

BJ Hamrick — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 09:10:00 +0000

Excellent information from BEA, Janet. Thanks so much for sharing.

By: sandy cathcart

sandy cathcart — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:28:40 +0000

Okay! I’m hooked. I’m really wanting a Kindle now. But the books will still go with me to the tub.

Thanks for the clarification on crashing and viral marketing. And thanks for sharing all the great info.

By: Janet Grant

Janet Grant — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:25:52 +0000

I so understand the skepticism about e-readers. As a child, my goal was to read every book in the library; so I’m a book lover from way back. But once I put a Kindle in my hand, I haven’t looked back. Sure, I still appreciate the feel of a book, but reading on a Kindle is a pleasure. I can lie in bed and never fuss over how to hold the book without losing my place; I have the sensation of turning pages; and the words are clear and easy to read. The Kindle does have its drawbacks–no page numbers, harder to take notes (although certainly possibleand easy to highlight passage)–but, well, I’m in love and willing to accept less than perfection.

By: Janet Grant

Janet Grant — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:19:24 +0000

In response to Lynn’s question about viral marketing, it’s when word of mouth (or the Internet)generates “free,” unasked-for recommendations of a book. So, if you read a book, love it, and tweet or blog about your fave new read, you’re part of viral marketing. The hope of every publisher is that so many people will be so excited about a book that it “goes viral,” meaning, like a virus, more and more people get “infected” and feel they must buy the book–and tell others.

By: Janet Grant

Janet Grant — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:15:18 +0000

To answer Gina about what crashing a book is, it’s when a publisher sets aside the standard publishing process, which generally takes a year after the finished manuscript is handed in before the book is printed, and condenses (or crashes) the schedule down to a nugget of its former self. Some books that are especially timely have been produced in a month. This can be a killer of a way for a publisher to function because every step of the process is rushed rather than carefully planned.