Book research and a poll.

[mckitterick]

Hi folks -

So I have a book coming out in late October or early November, so it's time to start thinking about how to prepare. I plan to give away the book electronically via my website, plus it'll be available as a Kindle book among other formats. When it hits the shelves, I plan to partake in a book tour or two, with readings and signings and more, and give away signed copies and so forth... but I'm unsure how much of this would actually be useful without knowing more. So: A poll!

[Poll #1600753]

Thanks!
Chris

Comments

ebooks

[sweetnightshade.livejournal.com]

I don't have a dedicated ebook reader, but I read an awful lot of ebooks in pdf format.

Re: ebooks

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

And .pdfs are readable on most of the dedicated readers, I hear.

[queenmomcat.livejournal.com]

I suppose I could download ebooks to my computer, but since the chief attraction of books is their portability and their ability to be dropped in messy, sticky and/or wet substances or on hard surfaces from a great height while still retaining their readability, ebooks generally hold little interest for me.

I work at a public library and am one of the people responsible for finding new books, so that's how I find out about a lot of things which might interest me. I'll tend to order stuff for my library, then decide if I want it.

[queenmomcat.livejournal.com]

Oh, the local independent book store (at which my Espoused Person now works) is Forever books. Although it is convenient to an Amtrak station and hotels...not a clue if you'd manage to come to a town as weeny as ours, though.

[geekmom.livejournal.com]

Ebooks have only very recently reached the point where I can comfortably read them, so I can't really say how I'd behave toward free eBooks written by live authors. I have, however, purchased eBooks to read on my phone, and I'll probably continue to do so. It's ironically the portability of eBooks that I personally enjoy, since I now keep a library in the cloud that I can access on just about any device with an Internet connection. It would make a very heavy backpack.

If I'm honest, the book will have to be out of this world fantastic to prompt me to spend money on it after having read it for free, though. I've purchased very few books after reading them in the library.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

The "library-in-the-cloud" plus portability (of entire libraries, that is) nature of ebooks is what's most interesting to me. I still prefer paper (and cover art for my DVDs and CDs, too).

my complaint

[roya-spirit.livejournal.com]

I've donated up to $20 to an author I really like and knew the print version would have cost me more than that.
Perhaps a range of $$ options would be more telling?

And until I realized that I really didn't care for audiobooks, I used to download new to me titles from Audible. I had a monthly download fee, but I never donated to an author I discovered from there.

I, too, use .pdf format most of all.

ETA: Oh, and I learn about new books through Goodreads.com also.

Re: my complaint

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Cool, thanks!

[shrijani.livejournal.com]

I love Audible.com. I think Amazon owns them now, though.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Of course. *sigh*

[shrijani.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I am still resisting ebooks and readers, because when I read a book book, I like to lie in bed and hold it, and I am not sure how I would hold one of those things. I am usually not such a luddite --in fact, I love technology-- but, for some reason, I just can't warm up to the idea of an electronic reader.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

The ebook readers are now getting really nice to hold; one of the summer workshoppers has a lovely leather binding for his ultra-thin Kindle, and he's only had to recharge it once since June. Got me thinking....

[ms-danson.livejournal.com]

I don't read ebooks either online, pdf, or kindle/etc. I like the idea but it doesn't work for me right now. I spend so much of my working day reading (large) documents on my computer screen that my eyes get tired and that form of reading has been divorced from pleasure. I do enjoy reading shorter stuff online. Blogs, articles, short stories, serials, etc are a perfect length for my usual style of online pleasure reading. Longer stuff gets sliced and diced by my checking the 14 other things I'm doing at the time. When I read novels I like to focus on them. I can't do that when I'm on my computer.

The custom flash drive however lit up with a big flashing sign that said: "GIFT IDEA". I have a friend who is attached physically to her kindle. If she could transfer the book into her kindle (I'm not sure if it has a usb port) then that is a very sweet format. One of the things I'm miffed at kindle for is how difficult it is to share/lend books.

I buy almost exclusively from Chapters (Online and in store) since I am in Canada.

Reviews by people I know/follow are my primary means of finding new books. Reviews in magazines (ie Spectrum) or articles I read for other reasons are secondary. Also I am likely to look for new books by authors I've had positive experiences with (whether or not I've read their books).

If I really like a book that I've gotten for free (borrowed) I will buy it.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Like you, long ago I realized that I can't use the same computer for computer-ey stuff _and_ reading pleasure. Somehow, lying down with a book propped on my chest is really the only way I can get into a novel.

Thanks for the feedback! The flash drive would include a Kindle edition, I'm sure, though one of the summer workshoppers says that one can send all kinds of files (such as .pdfs) to his Kindle email and use that as a sort of library cloud.

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

Book schmook, I haven't seen you in years. Come to Seattle.

Oh, also, I'd not only come to a reading you did here, I'd pimp the hell out of it all over town.:-)

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I miss Seattle! Half the fun of doing events there would be seeing friends I haven't seen for far too long. (Let's be honest: MOST of the fun would be that part.)

[(Anonymous)]

"Invalid form submission."

For the record, I'll pay for what the ebook costs, and not donate anything if it is legally free. I'll pay more not to have a physical copy of the book.

B

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

(Looks like you weren't logged in to LJ - stupid LJ used to allow non-LJers to respond to polls. *sigh)

Interesting about your take on ebooks. I suspect most people think this way (as opposed to, say, roya_spirit, above).

[cmt2779.livejournal.com]

I have read electronic versions of books, but I don't have a reader, just my laptop, so it's not terribly comfortable. I still definitely prefer old-fashioned paper books.

And I get tons of book recommendations through Goodreads (both through the friends I've made there and through ads and author pages).

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Y'know, I need to spend more time looking at recommendations over there (goes to Goodreads...).

[weaselmom.livejournal.com]

Although I was given a Kindle as a gift, I never use it and don't like e-books. Why are you going to give your book away for free on your Web site? Capitalism, let me show you it.

I find out about interesting new f/sf books from two sources: Walking around my local Barnes & Noble and reading about them on Scalzi's blog.

Yes! Come to Seattle! Read to us!

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Why give it away? Ah, yes, that's the question! I'm doing this as an experimental follow-up to Cory Doctorow's experiment. His was successful right off the bat, of course, with major funding from a wealthy fan, but I wanted to see how a much simpler plan by a new novelist would stand up to the giving-it-away theory. Because my publisher is newish and a small press, I should be able to compare results pretty clearly against prior books they've published....

And it would be SO NICE to visit. I miss you!

[kalimeg.livejournal.com]

Reviews, mentions by others, cruising racks at Half Price Books, Costco, B&N and Borders, hunting stuff on Amazon -- there's no lack of places to find things to read.

I already own way too many books. Never mind -- weeding them is very difficult.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

"Too many books" - what is this strange language you speak?

[graydown.livejournal.com]

I bought _The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms_ because it was being advertised on all my podcasts.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Interesting - which podcasts do you listen to?

[drpaisley.livejournal.com]

I have only begun reading things on my computer with the advent of the Hugo packet (a wonderful thing, it is, it is!). I must say that it has been a much more reasonable process than I had expected. But I still prefer real books. All of them. My precioussssssssssss!

As for complaints, well, no cats, obviously.

I'm sure I'll be within range of at least one of your readings. Maybe we can get you and Eric to do a presentation to KaCSFFS at some point.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Everything's better with cats. As long as they're not old and infirm and peeing on everything, that is.

Oooh, good idea about presenting to KaCSFFS!

[jjschwabach.livejournal.com]

I like to buy books at The Book Den in Dansville, NY. Right across the street from the torture cham.... er... orthodontist. It's that incredibly rare endangered species, an independent bookstore.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

It should be a law that no B&N, Borders, etc. can exist in a town unless there's an independent bookstore. Except... er, not sure how that'd work.

[siro-gravity.livejournal.com]

PRINT!!! and like, only.

i mean, books are my friends!! so i want to read them in bed, see? cozy. warm. with the smell of the paper and the pages i can scribble on if i want to.

i want a signed copy!!!

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know, but I suspect most publishing is moving toward ebooks with the current generation of new readers.

[stina-leicht.livejournal.com]

bookpeople! yay!

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Everyone knows that book people are smarter, more attractive, and more interesting than the mundanes ;-)

[queza7.livejournal.com]

I read ebooks, but only free ones. You don't have that option on question 2. :)

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Good point!

[cyprinella]

I have a Sony reader and convert everything to that format if possible. .lit converts the best and pdf the worst. I usually avoid pdfs like the plague. Extras don't really do anything for me either for books or movies.

My major source of trusted reviews at teh moment is Dear Author.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the feedback. And nice to meet you! Cute puppy you have there.

[professormass.livejournal.com]

To explain my "other" choices:

Other ebook format: I generally read things in EPUB on Stanza or PDFs (rarely, because they don't reflow).

Discovering new books: I use Chapters often, a large Canadian book chain.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Of course!

I hear good things about Chapters.

from ghent

[(Anonymous)]

PDF files are fine. I use a tablet (convertible) notebook, rather than a reader. Good luck with the new novel.

Re: from ghent

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I get the feeling that we'll end up with ultra-cheap (say, near-disposable) e-readers as well as low-power notebooks with pleasant-to-read (e-reader quality) screens.

[bryanthomass.livejournal.com]

I guess I'm old fashioned, Chris. I just have a hard time with ebooks, which is funny, because I do editing and proofing for clients on my laptop, but maybe that's why. It feels like work to read on the laptop and I spend too much time at the computer as it is. But for me, leaning back with a good book in my hand is where it's at.

I have a friend, former publicity person for major trade publisher, who helps authors do their own custom campaigns, using social media and other options. You can buy as many services as you want. But it enhances your ability to help pubs like Hadley Rille get your book out there. You can even get pro book reviews.

And you should discover Goodreads. Giveaways on Twitter, Goodreads and FB are hugely popular and I have had success getting my name out there and interest in my work. I see a lot of known authors doing the same.

I'll look forward to reading it.

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean, Bryan, though it seems that the young folks today just getting started reading won't have the same attachment to print. *sigh*

I've seen some good ideas at those author-promo sites and will do some of those things. Hadley Rille is pretty good at getting books to reviewers, and we hope to get some more blurbs for it, too!

Thanks!

[stuology.livejournal.com]

Okay, I don't read eBooks either, sort of. I subscribe to Safari -- O'Reilly's online tech book service: http://my.safaribooksonline.com/

And I think it is phenomenal because I'm now not paying for physical books that take up space whose information becomes stale after about a year and is no longer good for anything other than a craft project. I'm also not paying for physical books, where authors need to write the same introduction Chapter or Two, information that I do not need again and again and again. When I go to Safari, though, it is to search and scan for specific information. There is not a lot of times where I just sit and read, but I have at times.


When it comes to reading books for pleasure, I just can't get into the electronic format. I'm not scanning for just bits of information. I'm reading for long periods of time. I also don't have the same comfort of curling up with my laptop, and it doesn't smell or feel like a book. This would be due to my age. My children will probably feel differently.

It also bothers my eyes more than reading a book. This could just be because of my farsightedness, but reading something that glares at me close up for a long period of time is a quick trip to a bad headache. My eyes physically do not want to do it.

And forget my phone. I cannot read on something that small with sentences cut off that frequently. It would be like reading your novel written in small newspaper column format. Eeks.

I wasn't going to take your poll because of my eBook aversion, but I did want to at least note that if I do pay for an eBook, it is because I don't want more physical things taking up space in my house. And if I get a free eBook, I may buy the print copy, but it would have to be a really, really good book. Much like checking it out from the library.

Now, here is my big idea for promotion. I had a dream about your book last night. You tried to sell your book by packaging it in a big bag of potato chips. You had me take some boxes of them to hold for you, and I was so hungry and wanted to read your book, so I figured you wouldn't mind if I just opened one bag of chips for both a snack and to get to your book.

So, flash drive for electronic books? No, defeats the point of getting en electronic book by giving me something physical. Print book in a big bag of corn chips. Awesome!

[mckitterick.livejournal.com]

Book in bag o' corn chips - awesome! Though maybe better for a book where, y'know, corn chips are relevant to the plot. Which gets me thinking....

I hear you about reading ebooks on a glowing monitor. I'm slightly tempted by the e-readers, but they're still not anywhere near as nice as a print book... and cost a hundred bucks more just for the container.