In the last 9 – 18 months, the publishing world has been turned on its ear – e-readers are on the rise, e-books are outselling paper books, Borders is closing. These are seismic shifts.
It feels like vertigo every time I open my browser.
Notes from the E-Revolution is a new semi-regular feature on the blog (on Fridays),where I’ll be rounding up tidbits from the e-revolution. I try to stay on top of the changes and hope by sharing some of the cool stuff, I can help you too.
E-book Signings
Peter Smalley (a new Google+ friend) recently held an e-book signing using Kindlegraph, which “lets authors send personalized inscriptions and signatures (“kindlegraphs”) directly to the electronic reading devices of their fans.”
How cool is that?
Authors: If you have a Kindle book, go to kindlegraph.com, sign up to have your book added to their list. When a reader requests a kindlegraph, you’ll have the opportunity to type a personalized message, attach your signature, and it is emailed to the reader’s Kindle. The “e-signing” is then attached to their e-book on the title page, as well as collected in a kindlegraph book (like a signature book) on their Kindle.
Readers: Go to kindlegraph.com, see which of your favorite authors are listed, and request an e-signing. It will be sent directly to your Kindle!
I signed up (of course!), so if you want your Kindle version of Life, Liberty, and Pursuit signed, just click here.
FOR THE NOOK: If you have a Nook Color, authors can now do in-person signings with a stylus.
Awesome.
Primer on the E-Revolution
Let’s Get Digital: How to Self-Publish and Why You Should by David Gaughran is a book you should read, regardless of whether you intend to self-publish or not.
There are many who still line up in the traditional-publishing vs. self-publishing tug-of-war, vowing a to-the-end throw down over which is best. But increasingly, as the E-Revolution wears on, authors aren’t choosing traditional-pub vs. self-pub – they’re doing BOTH. Traditionally published authors are self-publishing their backlists (one of my favorites is Arthur Slade, who helpfully posts charts and stuff). Self-published authors are being offered traditional publishing deals (here’s the latest). Authors are self-pubbing some books while waiting in the traditional publishing trenches (see my recent interview with Kris Yankee).
Everyone has a stake in understanding this new self-publishing movement.
The second half of Gaughran’s book is a comprehensive how-to for self-publishing, and I recommend that part for those who are heading down that path. But the first half of the book, while making a strong case for why you should self-publish, is actually a concise analysis of the E-Revolution. As such, I think everyone would benefit from reading it. This in particular struck me as the game-changing part of the self-publishing movement:
“But what (traditional publishing advocates) don’t realize is that the rise in self-publishing is good for them too. If you are a trade-published writer with no interest in self-publishing, the increased viability of self-publishing is good for you…With up to 70% royalty rates available through self-publishing, from now on, every time an author negotiates with a publishing house, the publisher will know that the author has another option.”
When in negotiations, having other options always strengthens your hand. Many authors may not seriously consider self-publishing, but the industry as a whole knows the option is there.
Whatever path you choose, it pays to know how the game is being played.
What burning questions do you have about the E-Revolution and would like to see covered in future blog posts?
p.s. The Winner of Kris Yankee’s Saving Redwind is ….. Leslie Rose! Thanks to everyone who entered!
Great topics. and thanks for the book suggestions!
Wow. Seriously incredible tech news here. Thanks, Susan!
I'm buying a Nook Color for my birthday present. Good to know I can have signings done.
Woohoo, Leslie!! I love this feature. It makes my head spin too, and I'm glad to hear you are on top of things. I LOVE that Kindle feature!! I'm totally checking that out. And how cool is the stylus thing for the Nook? That book you recommended looks good too. So much to research, so little time. Oh well, back to school will help. 😀
What a great post! I'm definitely going to have to check out your other E-Revolution posts.
So cool that you can sign kindle books now–it's about time! And I'm definitely taking a look at Let's Get Digital (I've already added it to my Amazon Wishlist). Thanks for the recommendation!
That's so cool!! and great suggestions!
All sounds pretty cool, but I got to say I still love going to the library. Does that make me strange? 😉
Susan, I need to check that book out, for sure! My crit partner and I were just discussing whether we should go the self-publishing route or not. The problem I seem to find with many self-published books, though, is the lack of editing. Errors so take away from a good plot and well-drawn characters.
@Mark Not at all strange! We raid the library all the time. Or you could e-lend from the library! 🙂
@Ava I hope you will stop back! I've already got cool stuff lined up for next week. There's just so much happening these days! 🙂
It's true about the buzz! A year ago I would not have considered self-publishing. Now I'm on the virtual eve of putting out my second book.
@Dalya Congrats on your first (and soon to be second) book! It's amazing how fast the wave has washed over us. (p.s. your book sounds adorable -just right for Young Teens)
Yay! I love this and will come baack for more.
Lots of info here, thank you Susan! 🙂
@Len Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
"Increasingly, as the E-Revolution wears on, authors aren't choosing traditional-pub vs. self-pub – they're doing BOTH."
This.
Great post. Looking forward to more from the E-revolution, which is a great title for the topic, by the way.
@BJ I'd been calling it that for a while, but I'm so lousy with titles, it took me about ten tries before I came up with this one! Sometimes the first instinct is the best. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
I'm so excited I put my fingers on the wrong keys and typed this: i8jwwn w9 3qd853e. I can't wait to share this book with my class. T-minus 5 days until the school year starts. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
What a great topic to cover. Thanks for doing the research for us. Now…how do you get your signature onto the Kindlegraph?!