Read an E-Book Week

Theo,

There are advantages to both print and e-books, and it sounds like you’re using both in the best ways.

I enjoy both, love books when lounging around (rarely get a chance for that, these days!), and love ebooks on a smartphone when travelling. With typical journeys lasting about 2 hours, it’s good to have a good read which works even on bumpy roads.

Mavis,

Understand about wanting to get away from proprietary readers. Glad you’re enjoying your tablet PC.

I’ve been reading e-books for about a year now. I started on an ebookwise reader, and then I wanted to get away from the proprietary readers. So now I have a tablet PC. It’s a bit heavy, but I can put any non-proprietary reader on it, and also Stanza and Calibre. I can play music and games, too. I wouldn’t give it up for the world.

Viv,

Glad to hear you’re a long-time e-book reader. There are certainly advantages to reading on a PDA that offers many other functions as well.

I am “old-school” e-book reader. Have been reading e-books on my PDA for years now. In fact, one of the justifications for my purchase of my first PDA was the fact that I could read books on it (in addition to time management, contacts management and playing music). No problems reading the text (I set it to same font size as paperback) and reading (navigating the files and book) is truly one-handed on my PDA. Not sure I would like the new readers (Sony, Kindle etc), since they seem too big and awkward. Bigger objects are harder to carry around in a jacket (or even pants – cargo style) pockets. While I like the idea of ebooks taking off, I’ve noticed that some of the new books are only available in the newer formats (Kindle, Sony or the dreaded pdf) and not in the older (mobi, ereader, html) formats… meaning if I want to continue reading on my Palm or PPC, I might be more limited… I’d be sad if this came to pass. I’d have to go back to my paperbacks…

Jose,

It’s good that you’re reading some of the classics now that you are reading electronically.

I just got a Kindle 2 and I am loving it. I am reading more than ever before. I don’t think it will replace regular books, but I find myself looking for the electronic version and skipping books that are not available for the Kindle.

I am also into reading some of the public domain/classic books. I have just finished The Three Musketeers and I am now reading The Phantom of the Opera.

I am looking forward to receiving your free ebook and checking it out.

Have a great day!

Sherri,

It sounds like you live an “electronic reading household.” Spring House is coming to you through e-mail. Enjoy.

I enjoyed the first chapter of Spring House, and am looking forward to reading the remainder of the novel.Thank you for adding yourself to Read an Ebook Week!

I live in a “reading household”, and between all of us, we read electronically on a Sony Reader, eBookwise 1150, iTouch, and Palm PDAs!

Priscilla,

You are one of the pioneers of e-publishing. Thanks for seeing the future so long ago and for offering a free e-book during Read an E-Book Week.

Hope you enjoy Spring House.

Finally! E-Books are finally getting getting the attention of the public. But until the reader is affordable I fear the E-Book won’t take off as they should. When you can carry a libray in your pocket, read in a dark room, download in the middle of the night without a trip to the library or shopping mall, and pay a fraction what a paper book costs what more can you ask for?
When our school systems began to use the E-Book readers can you imagine how fast textbooks can be updated. No more book bags, torn books, marked up books.

Can you tell I’m an E-Book fan?

When I chose to have my first book published in E-Book format then heard “then your book isn’t a real book”, I wanted to cry. But, I saw the future of publishing even in 1997.

I’m looking forward to reading your western saga. And BTW, I, too, am giving a free E-Book away this week.

Kay,

The Kindle is a great way to read.

Ann,

E-books are excellent for getting young people who are reluctant readers to read.

Ebooks are the future of book publishing. I’ve been reading tons since I got my kindle ereader… as has my 12 yo son with his (he got his for christmas). Definitely a way to get reluctant readers to step up their reading!

Looking forward to reading your book, The Westward Sagas. I have just gotten involved with reading ebooks and have an Amazon Kindle. What a great way to read!

Angelia,

Hope you and your writing partner get involved in Read an E-
Book Week.

If you’d like a copy of Spring House, comment on Monday’s post.

Although the settings and timeframes are different, both Louis L’Amour write/wrote fictionalized family histories.

Although I primarily write romance, usually paranormal or SF/F, I read widely.

Spring House sounds interesting, a sort of comapanion piece to the Sharyn McCrumb and Louis L’Amour I’ve been enjoying lately.

I must consult Naomi about offering a free ebook this week.

Cat,

There is definitely room for both paper and e-books. Devices like the Kindle make it convenient to read and carry a number of books in the palm of your hand.

I have been a voracious reader since early elementary school. I am now 60 years old. Over the years I have spent a lot of time in the library and book stores. When I don’t have a book in my hand, I have an audio book playing in my ear through a MP3 player.
This past Christmas I received a Kindle. Since then, eBooks are at the center of my world and the Kindle is my preferred delivery system. Technology is great. I feel that the eBook has a widespread appeal and will continue to grow as people become aware of it. Read an EBook Week is a wonderful way to foster that and let the public try eBooks.
The paper book is not dead and will not die, but there is room for both systems. I continue to check books out from the library and download audio books as well.

Chelle,

Looking forward to having you return on Monday to request your free e-book.

I will have to keep this all in mind on Monday! I’ve come to love ebooks because I can read them instantly without waiting for them to ship or having to worry about taking them back to the library.

John,

Most people who read e-books do not read them on the computer screen but on hand-held devices that allow you to read them anywhere, even semi-reclining or fully-reclining.

I have tried to read ebooks in the past and I found it very uncomfortable. For one, I like to lie down in a semi-sitting position when I read. Also, I find that I can’t stare at a screen for any more than an hour. But, I also have a friend that loves ebooks and thinks that they are the greatest thing to come out of the digital age. Meh. To each his own.