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Lancelot Schaubert

Ebook Sales Leveling off… and why that’s a great thing.

EbookSales

Ebook sales have leveled off to normal growth, and sooner than most technologies.

If you’re someone who reads a book every week during your commute, say a detective novel or romance novel, the e-book format is perfect for you. But those people have pretty much all shifted to e-books, and there are only so many of them. If you read a book of serious nonfiction a month at home, and maybe even put it on your shelf afterward as a bit of a trophy, printed books are pretty darn good.

See the full article at the Washington Post.

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Lancelot Schaubert

Lancelot Schaubert authored Bell Hammers, which Publisher’s Weekly called “a hoot.” He edits anthologies and journals; produces albums, films, and photo novels; raises funds, friends, and minds for artists. Learn more here.

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  1. sedula

    I read fiction on my ebook, because I can even check out ebooks from my library, but you are correct. My non-fiction and poetry books are all on bookshelves. Also a few Scfi/Fantasy series that I just like to have in book form.

    But guess what, some schools are issuing students with ipads loaded with their textbooks. Pretty snazzy and much lighter!

    I don’t collect first editions, even thoug I have several. And I was reluctant to buy a Kindle, but it has made my fiction reading much easier and even faster.

    I am not afraid of books disappearing. And I don’t think getting picked up by a legacy publisher is superior to epublishing. Readers gotta read.

    Reply
    1. lanceschaubert

      Also classics. Yeah, my highschool has a test iPad lab for freshman. They’ve had a kindle lab for ages and I learned video editing on the iMac lab back in the day. It was awesome — a highschool with smartboards in every room before my college had a single one.

      First editions, collectors, etc. And sorry to those who do this, but I can’t ever conceive of having an author sign my kindle. 1, because it’s worthless that way except as an oddity and 2, I hate defacing electronics. I like them clean, personally.

      That is an interesting stance — you don’t fear books disappearing but you’ve also got no bias toward legacy publishers. Is that apathy or conviction directed elsewhere?

      Reply
      1. sedula

        No, not apathy, not usually a word associated with me.

        I have been researching, and some people that start in self publishing get picked up by a traditional/legacy publisher, and then some authors keep the erights to their books while selling the print rights to publishers.

        Some authors only self-publish for the larger percentage of each book sold and the ability to control when their books are made available to the public. Others prefer the more traditional route. I purchase both. As for publishing my own writing. We’ll see.

        People still adore books. Including me. I don’t think I was displaying apathy, more like there is room for both. I have a pretty big library, I love books. But I also love the free-wheeling aspect of the self-publishing world.

        I wouldn’t have an author sign my Kindle or tablet. I think some people do this, but when I go to a reading I buy the book at the bookstore to be signed, unless I have one already. I primarily have signed poetry books at any rate. So, yeah, I like those on paper.

        I suppose if there is any conviction it is to keep an open mind.
        I am willing to pay $24.95 for a real book, but I balk at that for an ecopy. I think they have figured that one out.

        And I don’t just check out ebooks from the library. Egad, some books I need for research are out-of-print and only available through inter-library loans, I love that I am able to borrow these. However, how can I not also love being able to check-out a ripping yarn on e-book out a 10pm on Saturday night?

        I am currently excited over every part of it. It is a complicated topic. But I think a lot more people are writing and I haven’t researched this, but I hope to discover that even more are reading.

        Peace. 🙂

        Reply
        1. lanceschaubert

          That’s really really interesting. I haven’t thought about it from that angle. For me (and this sounds stupid as soon as I say it now) it’s always been an either/or thing even thought I’ve participated in both. Your approach seems more level-headed given the times. I really need to think on this…

          Yeah, we even read both too. Our library is bigger than sanity should permit. We’re selling like 300 books before moving to Brooklyn. And probably 100 DVDs. I hate accumulating stuff. I hate it. It’s the law of empty space — empty space will be filled. But the stuff just gets in the way so often, especially in the way of real human contact.

          Agreed @ signing.

          Yeah, I wouldn’t pay over 12 for an ebook — and even then it’d have to be an *incredible* ebook.

          Agreed again on the ILL. There’s virtually nothing available on our ebook lending library. That’ll change in Brooklyn, but still. Yeah, checking stuff out at night is good. These are all really awesome points.

          Yeah, literacy globally is on the rise because of ebooks — that’s statistically proven. More people have access to the classics than ever before, also a huge plus. More people are writing. All good things.

          I think the massive shift happened right as I learned the traditional stuff, so it feels like I’m having to relearn everything I spent the last ten years learning. It’s not bad, it’s just frustrating.

          Suggestions on reading is appreciated. Most people are very either/or about the whole thing.

          Happy Sabbath.

          Reply
  2. sedula

    Oh…I mean The Washington Post is right. Hahaha.

    Reply
    1. lanceschaubert

      Yeah, I’m tracking. 😀

      Reply
  3. sedula

    http://bookriot.com/2013/08/12/why-keep-books/

    Reply
    1. lanceschaubert

      That’s a good list. I can dig it.

      Reply



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