MY DRUG OF CHOICE

A-Z QUASI (meaning I won't be posting daily) ARTICLE WASN'T POSTED YESTERDAY--I HAD SOME TROUBLE WITH THE INTERNET. IN FACT, I WASN'T ON THE INTERNET AT ALL YESTERDAY. THERE WILL BE AN ARTICLE ON WEDNESDAY AND FRIDAY.
Happy writing 'cause I'll be reading!

When life reaches a certain level of insanity and stress, I tend to increase my reading. Books give me a world to get lost in and far removed from everyday life. I get to go on adventures, fall in love, have supernatural abilities, solve a crime, and see the bad guys lose and good guys win. Of course, I write for many of the same reasons.  

Reading and music have always been at the top of my list of necessities. I could care less about TV (most of which drives me nuts) and while I like the occasional movie, I don’t need movies like I do books.  Books are truly a magic carpet whisking me away to far away worlds accompanied by a musical soundtrack of whatever takes my fancy at the time.

Since I've had to go back to work, reading for the pleasure of it (stories I want to read not books I have to read for reviews—that's work because you read with a different mindset) books have become my solace.

I just finished a good story, Immortal Ever After, by Lindsay Sands. I've read her books before but not this particular series (Argeneau). As usual, I started several books into the series rather than at the beginning—but that’s okay, I can catch up. She’s a good author who has a smooth way of keeping the reader abreast with what’s already happened without losing the thread of the current story she’s telling. I have to say; I love her wicked sense of humor (Count Rip-Your-Throat-Out? plus there is a great scene when Valerie has to deliver a baby, fight off the Count and wooden mallet…it cracked me up). Lindsay makes me laugh while feeding me an enticing dose of suspense, danger, and a fiery hot romance. I truly enjoyed the interaction between a feisty lady veterinarian, a cool German Shepherd, and an immortal man long on action and short on words.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Amazon, Barnes and Noble

A KISS DOESN'T MEAN ETERNITY… 

Valerie Moyer doesn’t believe in vampires—until a fanged psychopath kidnaps her! After escaping her bloodthirsty captor, she’s through  with creatures of the night. Until she finds herself under the protection of the darkly handsome Anders. Not only is she expected to accept that Anders is immortal, but also that she is the woman destined to be his life mate.

…OR DOES IT?

Anders felt a connection Valerie from the moment he cradled her bruised body in his arms. But before he claims her, he must destroy the vampire who almost stole her from him forever. His job would be easier if Valerie didn’t fight him every step of the way. Still, Anders loves a challenge, and the green-eyed beauty is worth fighting for. Excerpt 

                                                                                                                                                                

One of my favorite places to find good books to read is on Goodreads. Did you know, according to Publishers Weekly, Amazon is acquiring Goodreads? I discovered Goodreads (founded in 2007) about the time I started to take my writing seriously. I enjoyed the interaction between the authors (68 thousand) and their readers. I’m part of the 16 million members, I've shared more than one of the 23 million reviews posted to the site, and am part of a few of the 30 thousand book clubs listed there. For sure, I've added my share of the 530 million to my shelves. Be interesting to see how Amazon handles this. I only hope Goodreads is able to maintain it’s distinct identity and not become a little me Amazon as far as books and authors go.

Another bit of news I was happy to see was Penguin Group reducing their price to libraries for e-book lending and starting April 2, 2013, libraries will be able to lend e-books of new release hardbacks. It used to be readers had to wait 6 months to get their hands on a new hardback release. We had to wait until it was released to paperback. Not anymore. Now, if only Random House would follow in suit. But, no, they’re raising their prices for the use of e-books to libraries. Exorbitant prices that few libraries are going to be able to afford (like $65 to $85 per hardcover release for e-book lending).

According to Random house, "new library e-pricing reflects the high value placed on perpetuity of lending and simultaneity of availability for our titles…We believe that pricing to libraries must account for the higher value of this institutional model, which permits e-books to be repeatedly circulated without limitation. The library e-book and the lending privileges it allows enables many more readers to enjoy that copy than a typical consumer copy. Therefore, Random House believes it has greater value, and should be priced accordingly." 

Say what?

• Anyone read Lindsay Sands new book? Have you been following the series? 
• Any thoughts on Goodreads or libraries having current releases available in e-format for lending?

Monday's Musings: Digital Is Changing Everything...

There is an enormous amount of chatter, gnashing of the teeth, and good amount of jubilation, over the changes impacting publishing world today. Everything is changing.

On the surface, the changes seem rapid although they’re not really. We’re just seeing more concrete results of the impact digital technology has had on the market. These changes have been developing over the past fours years that I’ve been tracking them.  People don’t react well, for the most part, with change. It pulls them out of their comfort zones. So, what we’re really seeing is the knee-jerk reaction to that change.

Like everyone else, I’ve been watching the debate over traditional publishing versus self-publishing, paper books versus e-books on blogs, industry rags, and forum chatter. I’ve seen authors devote a blog post on why their dear readers must help them out by buying their latest books as paperbacks or hardcover as opposed to e-books so they can reach the bestsellers list. I’ve heard the wailing over e-books taking away revenue of authors not smart enough to have their agents negotiate better profits on digital.

I’ve read about publishers decrying Amazon, and like online bookstores, for allowing low prices for e-books. How readers are shying away from buying the book at full price (Winged brow. Well, Duh) Then I came across another argument by a literary publisher against e-books, which had my brows climbing into my hair, followed by an unladylike snort (sorry, Mom), and laughter.

“This has always been my problem with e-books: they emphasize immediate entertainment — and gratification — over real 'reading,' which takes more commitment, patience, attention and time.”

Say what?

C’mon, reading is reading, whether you choose to read on an e-reader, paperback, or hardcover. I have news for him; reading is entertainment as well as a pleasure. Reading is also a learning experience. What difference does it make if I get my entertainment, or research, immediately via my kindle, or I-pad? How does this devalue a book, author or publisher? How is this not real reading?

So, we who use e-readers are basically lowbrow plebeians? Apparently we can’t read something of import on an e-reader and take the time to soak in the ambiance and beauty of the words and meaning unless there is an actual paper book in our hands? How screwed up is that reasoning? Shall I send him a catalog of “classic” literature now available as digital files?

Are we seeing a comparison to a certain little Dutch boy putting his finger in a levee thinking it will save life, as we’ve known it?

Don’t get me wrong. I love books and always have. I love the smell of a library, of opening a book, of holding it in my hand because it’s special. Reality is, it’s not the book itself, but what it represents to me, a portal to learning, adventures, new worlds and people. I have colIected books all my life. I have favorites I have read many times over. I don’t go anywhere without a book. I’ve crippled moving company workers who have carried 15 large metal (think 5 ft long x 5 ft wide, and 3 ft deep with locks and padding) trunks of books from one house to the van and unloaded them in another duty station. My husband and I got into one of our first major fights over not only the money I spent on books but also the space my books took up. He’s since learned to grumble under his breath and has accepted the fact that whither I goest so goest my books.

I now have a kindle. I love it--E Ink display is easy on the eyes and simulates  reading a printed page w/out any glare or back light and I can adjust font size. It's light and easy to carry around. I must have a couple of hundred titles (thank god for alphabetical order and author's names). My husband has said a quiet hallelujah to the heavens that they are on the kindle and not physically taking up space. He’s been eyeing my collection and I've given my trademark evil eye, sweet smile, and a growl--don't even think about it, 'cause we're talking death, dismemberment and itty-bitty pieces scattered to the four winds.

While we’re at it, let’s add my opinion to the heated discussion over the pricing of e-books.

I’m eclectic in my reading choices and always have been. My choices on Kindle are no different than what I buy in a bookstore, except I’m more inclined to try out ‘new to me’ authors.  I like how many publishers offer specials—free to $4.99. Publishers and authors recognize this is a perfect way to build a readerbase. I’ve found some wonderful books and authors that way. I’ve also gone back and bought other titles from those authors that weren’t discounted.

The most I’ve paid for an e-book is $12.99 and I cringed. I collect hardback copies of several authors and will buy those on Amazon.  Frankly, shelling out $17-30 for an e-book is not something I will be doing anytime in the future, unless it’s a research book I need and even then, I’m analyzing whether I really need it. If I can’t get it any other way, I’ll buy it.

My thoughts on this: I can understand the price of paper books being high. I don’t like it, but I understand it. You have to factor in all involved between the time the authors submit a completed manuscript (electronically as a digital file), buying the paper, ink, and running thousands of copies on a printing press for mass paperbacks (or even hardcover), the high cost of transporting to the market and exorbitant cost of returns. There is a lot of money built into that book I hold in my hand.

E-book. Transmitted electronically from author to publisher. Design is done by computer and attached to the digital file, format setup by computers to a digital file, electronically submitted to the market place, via digital file,where it is bought electronically, delivered electronically, as a digital file, from online to your electronic reading device.

Hello?

Digital doesn’t have the same built in costs to produce. So why should I pay the same price for an e-book as I do for a hardcover paper book?  Especially when it's first released as a hardcover and the price is the same for the e-book.  As Spock would say, it’s highly illogical.

So, the debate over digital publishing and e-books will rage on until an effective compromise is reached. Pricing will have to factor in the cost of staff to produce a finished product and if we want paper books to hold in our hands or put on our shelf we’ll have to pay the higher price for the privilege.

I can work with that.

Although this article is somewhat of a rant and a bit sarcastic, this whole issue is a serious one.

Your thoughts? 


Trust me, you're not going to hurt my feelings if you don't agree.

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