Readers and Writers Learning to Love Ebooks


I wanted to be a writer since the time I was a little girl.  I collected books I admired, books that made me smile, books that taught me something life-altering. If you’re a reader, you know that mean. I collected a lot of books.  Over the years, those numbers reached the thousands.  I moved a few times, all over the country, and each time I packed fewer books because I simply couldn’t afford to lug them.  My parents kept the majority, but when they retired and sold our family home, my beloved books went to the Salvation Army.
Now I live in a small cabin, and space for literature is limited.  I’ve filled the bookcases at my office and even the trunk of my car, so what’s a book lover, a writer, and an English professor to do?

Welcome to the 21st century—the era of digital downloads.  Now almost all the old classics, latest steamy romance novels, and best literary releases are available for purchase and can be loaded onto a computer, ereader, or smart phone. 

That’s great for me, the reader. No more space issues. 

But what about my own readers?

As an aspiring and electronically published romance author, how do I appeal to traditional readers who don’t want to read online? It’s been hard for me.  It’s made me doubt the “realness” of my own accomplishments when people I love and respect say, “Tell me when your book comes out in print…”

Sigh.

Most of my titles won’t ever be in print, and I’ve explained it and accepted it. But can they?  Can my mother, my mail carrier, and my secretary ever read my books and believe they’re “real” books?
The surprising answer is, “Yes!”

Not all of them, but some of them were willing to give electronic books a try. 

My mother went to Barnes and Noble, where she has spent many happy hours perusing the shelves, and told them about her daughter, “the electronically published author.”  Two hours later she had a Nook and all three of my books. She loves the varying font size feature, the brightly lit screen, the ability to instantly purchase a novel she hears is a “must-read.” She has become an online book shopper and reader.

My postal worker wanted to read my books so badly, she actually bought herself an iPad for Christmas.  An iPad.  Is that cool or what? She spent several hours being tutored by her daughter, and then bought and read my first book on her “new toy.”

My secretary is a hold out. Thank goodness one of my books will be in print this year, and I am able to purchase promotional copies from my electronic publisher I’ve gifted her, almost grudgingly.
But hey, converting two out of three isn’t bad.

So if you’re a writer considering electronic publishing but worried the revolution might leave some of your potential readers behind, it will. But don’t blame yourself for taking an amazing opportunity to harness the newest technology to reach readers.

As writers, we need readers, as many as we can garner, as many who want to experience our stories and live our dreams.

Electronic books are here to stay, and we who bravely publish them should feel honored to be the pioneers who usher them into modern lives.  The electronic medium might not be what we envisioned when we wanted to write novels, but revolution is never easy.  Just remember, change can be good, can be life altering, just like great books.

Guest post by Ann Montclair. I grew up sneak-reading all my mom's steamy romance novels. She kept them high on a shelf in her closet and warned, "You better not read those..." Of course, I read them. And now I write them! I strive to take readers on a fun, emotionally charged, and highly sensual ride to happily ever after. Available now: THE BILLIONAIRE'S BAUBLE (Soul Mate Publishing 2011), ONE WET SUMMER (Musa Publishing 2012), and GOOD THINGS COME IN TALL PACKAGES (Musa Publishing 2012). Next up: LADY IN DEED, my debut novel in historical romance set in Tudor England (Musa Publishing Winter 2012).

I am a member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and a community college English professor. I live in the Finger Lakes region of New York with my sexy hero and our teenage son. Our grown daughter lives in Los Angeles, California--my hometown.

Thanks for learning a little about me. You can contact me at ann@annmontclair.com

LINKS
Web site: http://www.annmontclair.com
Blog: http://annmontclair.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnnMontclairFanPage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/AnnMontclair
Buy link: http://www.musapublishing.com/



Ann will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so I encourage you to follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: http://www.goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/07/name-before-masses-tour-good-things.html

3 Comments

  1. Anonymous12 November 2012 at 18:48

    It took me a while to get used to my e-reader, but it does have a lot of advantages! Great post.

    vitajex(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Rita Wray14 November 2012 at 17:49

    Great post, thank you.

    Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mary Preston15 November 2012 at 12:58

    I think there is a place for both. I will always prefer print, but my Kindle is handy to carry.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete

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