Mar
Publishers issuing e-readers to editors
I have it on good authority (my agent) that more and more publishers are reviewing mss on e-readers.
What might this mean? For one thing, the ability to submit more mss via email instead of all those weighty hard copies getting sent back and forth and maybe or maybe not getting recycled when they are no longer needed.
Publishers Weekly confirms this today with their headline:
RH Latest Publisher to Use e-Readers In-House
Random House will give its sales reps, management and most support staff Sony Readers to allow them to read galleys and other preview material in digital form. The publisher said it hopes to soon move the dispersal of all manuscripts to the sales group from print to electronic format. RH joins several other major houses who have already found ways to use the Reader to reduce the use of paper.
What could this mean for the industry down the road? Will e-publishing be coming into the mainstream more? Your thoughts?
I think those writers who drag their feet when it comes to new technology are only hurting themselves. It’s like we were discussing last Thursday night at the Scribes’ Tribe meeting–when you deal with the publishing industry, you’re dealing with twenty-somethings who operate in the high tech world of texting, emailing, and cell phones.
As for e-publishing itself, has anyone been on Amazon lately? They’re selling a wireless product called “Kindle” which allows the owner to download for a price books, newspapers, blogs, etc. They run about $400, and they can’t keep them in stock. Wouldn’t mind having one myself, but I still love the pleasure of holding a book in my hands.
April 1st, 2008 at 5:28 pmThe Kindle looks like a great deal. My husband and I are thinking of getting on the waiting list to buy one. You can do a lot more than download books, as Amy mentions. At the rate we buy and read books, and at the rate they pile up around the house and fill our already sagging bookshelves, we’re seriously considering this. But now that I think about it–we frequently both are reading at the same time–yikes! we’d have to buy two!! And one isn’t in the budget right now.
On the other hand, there is the matter of Amazon and BookSurge . . . see the post on that from today.
April 1st, 2008 at 7:13 pm