Palpitations.
Hair-pulling.
Insomnia.
Frantic phone calls.
Blizzards of e-mails.
Yes, it's my first book launch, and after all of the above, Blood Orchids is finally available in both e-book and hard copy.
He's promised to actually read it now that it's in PRINT.
I thought I was a convert to e-books. After all, the sad truth is that on Maui, we have only one major bookstore, a B&N in Lahaina, an hour's drive away to an area I never go to unless I'm showing around tourist friends or visiting a gallery showing of Renaissance Man‘s work.
No, Maui is not a hotbed of literary stimulation, alas. So of necessity I've become a Kindle reader, so I can download and read manuscripts easily, support other author friends, and if I hear something's good, have it in minutes on my e-reader. I highly recommend it.
That was until I got my proof copy of Blood Orchids in my hands. It's a writer's dream come true to see the sweat of my fingertips converted to actual ink and paper, to see how great it looks–a silky, slightly oversized, gorgeous example of good design.
I'm falling in love with “real” books all over again. Siiiiighhhhhh. So pretty.
I want bookstores to come back, and libraries, and instead of the sterile black-and-white of pixels pretending to be letters, to smell, touch and fondle the joy of a real book.Growing up on Kaua`i without TV, the weekly trip to the library was our sole entertainment.
“You Wilson girls, you always get da sand inside da books. Shake 'em out when you bring 'em back or I going give you fine!” A Hawaii librarian, gimlet-eyed and multiple-chinned, taught me to respect books, my favorite pastime on the planet. I never forgot those lessons, though I confess to being a corner-folder instead of a bookmark-user.
How about you? What's your favorite way to read?
I love my kindle. But after I read a book I really like on it, I immediately think, “Now I’ve got to get that in a real book.” So I guess I’m not a true kindle convert.
Sometimes only a “real” book will do. I value them more now that I read on Kindle–and I get fewer of them.
I love to hold books still but also love e books too!
Give me exciting books anyway possible. It’s fun on kindle!
I’m like you Marilyn, it’s all good!
They are gorgeous! I love my Kindle, but for books I *really* like, I like to get a hard copy, something that I can show off on my shelf.
Funny thing about that, isn’t it? I love my physical books and revisitng special favorites.
It looks gorgeous! I’ve got it downloaded on my Kindle by now and I can’t wait to start reading it.
I love my Kindle and I love paper books. It’s as if they’re different media. Some stories I need to read on paper, others I instinctively associate with Kindle. I think I’d prefer reading yours in the paper version, but I’m not patient enough to wait for amazon to send it all the way over here. 😉
That’s a real vote of confidence. I’m hoping you like it…
95% of my reading is on PC—every imaginable ebook format. I read about sixty books a year. My own four novels are available in print and ebook, but my fifth novel will be hardbound only. I want the feel of that binding in my hands, and to know that it does not exist in any other form. Sortof a gift to myself; a pure book.
I love the idea of a “pure book.” Hardbound even. Thanks for popping in and sharing that, I’m going to mull that over.
Yeah, same again. I buy a hardback of Terry Pratchett’s books as soon as they’re available. But for ‘read once’ books, Kindle is fine. Mind you, I used to use the library for that. I’d read a book and if I really loved it, I’d go and buy it. So I guess, for me, e-books have become the same as library books.
Ah, so you’re a Pratchett fan?? I’m that way about Gabaldon. Her books are big as a tombstone, though. I might Kindle the next one.
It really depends where I am. I love print books. I love the smell of the paper and the feel of it.
But when I’m travelling, I’d rather have all my reading materials in one lightweight reader (and be able to have quite a few titles) than having to pick only one book and then get bored if I finish it too quickly.
So true about traveling! i loaded up my Kindle this last time and hardly recognized my lightweight backpack!
HUGE congrats on your print book! I like ebooks but there’s nothing like cuddling up with the old kind 🙂
Thanks so much Rachael!
I put my latest book out in eBook and paperback forms because there are still a whole lot of people who like “real” books. As for myself, for fiction reading, I prefer reading on my Kindle. I love the portability and the ability to keep two or three works going at once (I tend to hop back and forth according to my mood). For non-fiction/reference material I still prefer paperback because I tend to flip through to review and notate.
I can only imagine the thrill of holding a beautifully hardbound copy of your own novel, must be wonderful. CONGRATULATIONS!
Thanks so much for the kind words, Allan! And I think your observations are spot-on- for reading novels, Kindle or other ereader is great, but for reference where you need to do browsing, flipping and returning–nothing beats a “real” book. And yes, for those special ones close to our hearts, like our own book… gotta have the real thing too.
Am I the only person that doesn’t own a Kindle, iPad, or Nook yet? I am considering the Kindle though, thinking it would be easier to search for a passage and carry on trips. But I will still dream of having my book published and in my hands someday, in all of it’s printed glory.
Get both. THat seems to be the conclusion we are coming to.
Congrats on the book! That cover looks gorgeous! I love my Kobo ereader, but there still is a magic about turning the page of a real book, especially if it’s your book.
It’s my friend LoudQuietGirl!!! Great to have you pop by. Orchids is going to Kobo within the week *crosses fingers* so I hope you’ll give it a sample!
Congrats on the book! Ebooks are great, but paper books are so much better. I’m addicted to books. I want to smell, feel, bend the pages and the spine and stack them on my overflowing shelves when I’m done. 🙂
Yes. And yes. And yes to Kindle, too!
The other, and more alarming side of everyone going ‘Kindle’ is that we are denying a whole class of readers, those that could care less that it’s hip, or cool, or in eBook format.
I have some elder relatives that try regularly using their computers. Alas, the first glitch – they shut it off. And living within a block of a hospital, I see many nurses carrying books with them as they walk by, on break. Haven’t seen a single kindle, or other device.
They feel safe, maybe even showing off a little leaving their current read out so others could see it. But leave their eReader out on a counter, and walk away? Not smart.
Great article. Thanks for the sensibility!
Yes, this is so true! There’s a vast number of people who dont’ have, and will never have, ereaders. Thanks for mentioning that, I think those of us in the thick of things forget how it’s an expense and difficulty many can’t afford.
Congrats on the release; wishing you many sales and wonderful reviews xxx
I’m an ebook girl here, 100% — only print books I bother buying now are those that I loved so much that I want a hard copy with hopes I can get the authors sig in the future, or books that the author has already signed.
The only other instance that I might consider buying a hard copy is when it’s cheaper to do that, than to buy the ebook — but I don’t do that often as I hate to give publishers the message that it’s okay to over charge on ebooks because the reader will simply buy another version. I’m not sure if they’re doing that to discourage the growth of ebooks, or if they charge that much because they simply can. Either way, Im of the opinion that ebooks should be cheaper than both hard back and paperback. Ha, I jumped on the soap box, how did that happen?
Back to congratulating you on your new release, and to say I’ll add Blood Orchids to my ever growing to-read list as it sounds like an exciting read!!
Yay, I hope you’ll give it a look, so far people are enjoying it! And those overpriced ebooks? I just won’t buy them.
I still read books in print and have drawers filled with books waiting to be read. But I am sold on my ereader and take it with me everywhere except the shower. This is how I read my morning newspaper also. One thing that has me sold on purchasing books via ereader is that I would rather sit in the sun on the lanai to order a novel via ereader than browse the poorly-lit shelves of an air-conditioned book store.
Hear hear on the time wastage shopping!
It depends on where I am reading. It is not too bad when you drop a paper book in the pool. But when I drop my nook in the water I can’t just set it in the sun to dry out.
I am with you – I love reading a real book. I spend enough time on the computer, it’s nice to read things on paper too