To eBook or Not to eBook, That is the Question

In 1999, I contracted with an electronic publisher to “publish” my book Tangled Memories. It was a dreadful mistake and a big disappointment.

Eight years later, I’ve taken the plunge again, trusting that a new small press will be different. Times have changed too. iPods and iPhones, PDAs and laptops abound. Technology has moved forward at a fantastic clip. And thanks to Ellora’s Cave, eBooks are not the same any more.

According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, “Ellora's Cave has primarily published romantic erotica, dubbed “Romantica.” The term "Romantica" has been registered as a trademark by the company.” (You can find out more about Romantica® from the publisher at http://www.ellorascave.com/newtoebooks.asp.)

Chana R. Schoenberger, in the 06.18.07 online article “E-Bodice-Ripper” (http://members.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0618/048.html), explains the full impact of Ellora’s Cave. The Akron, Ohio, company last year netted an estimated $600,000 on revenue of $6.7 million, up 11% from 2005.

This is remarkable as Schoenberger points out because “since their emergence a decade ago e-books account for less than 1% of the $24 billion U.S. book market, according to the American Association of Publishers.” Romance “is single-handedly saving the electronic Gutenberg from extinction.”

Harlequin has seen the trend and is now uploading nearly all its new books as soon as they are released in print.

What is the reason for this sudden popularity? Women wanted hotter novels but were too embarrassed to ask the booksellers to start carrying them and eBooks are “discreet.”

My publisher, Resplendence (http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/28.html), lists other reasons to read an electronic version of a book. They also advocate “Reading Green.” “We live in a world of dwindling resources, and print publishing is not exactly an environmentally friendly endeavor. Print books require paper, ink, and energy (fuel, etc) for production and shipping. In addition, retailer returns of print books are a waste of paper and shipping costs. Even recycling returned books requires energy. For readers who want to do their part in conserving our environment, e-books are absolutely the greenest way to read.”

Still many readers aren’t convinced that eBooks are here to stay. They want to curl up on the sofa with a paperback in their hands. Holding a book is comfortable. Familiar. But for other readers, eBooks are the only way to go. By the simple click of a mouse, these people download compelling books that transport them into wonderful worlds of reading pleasure.

As for me, I’m giving eBooks another chance. I have two novellas with Resplendence, and this week agreed to contract with them for my medieval.

Jan