Someone once said, (paraphrasing) “Professions are a conspiracy against the laymen.” This seems to be the same sort of attitude: instead of serving the audience, going with the flow of the marketplace and providing them with material they want, it seems people are digging in their heels and saying, “No, we don’t want to do it like that, we want them to pay for it on our terms!”

We can’t afford to sit back and throw material into the void and hope people pay for it anymore, fellows. The old ideas of celebrity – geniuses in ivory towers – are falling away, bit by bit. The future, as I see it, depends on cultivating an audience: of being real and honest, making a genuine connection, and being faithful to it.

Scott has found enormous success, in my point of view, not just because of the quality of his work, but because of his willingness to speak to his audience as his equals. He doesn’t wrap himself in the spotlight of success, he shares it with his listeners. They become part of his success, and rightfully so, feel personally invested in what he does.

In short, we cannot afford to treat our audiences like demographics. The Internet is not just a media network: it’s the biggest small town in the world. It’s time we start getting to know our neighbors.

For smaller publishers and authors, relying on Google Ads seems to me to be doomed to failure (although I do use Google Ads, as well as sell banner space when I get the chance). Still, I’m interested to hear that you’ve made a success out of it. I’ll certainly check you out and see if I can figure out how to emulate your example.

Rob Preece
Publisher, http://www.BooksForABuck.com

I know that’s what you’re saying, “let’s think about making it free before we plow ahead,” but regardless of our debate, it’s going to happen anyway.

I suppose that’s the crux, isn’t it? The genie really is out of the bottle, and e-books will probably become something neither of us can yet predict. Between Microsoft, Adobe, and IDPF, the technology will continue to evolve and authors/publishers will have to struggle to keep up. I think you’re probably right about the concept of a simple file with text as an “e-book” to be a short-lived concept. We’re probably entering an e-book feature space race, and authors (or publishers) who don’t demonstrate technical sophestication will get left behind by those who do. Technical barriers will be just as effective at keeping some authors from self-publishing as editoral barriers are at keeping them from traditional distribution.

If an author wants to do an e-book: great. More power to him. Even more kudos if he can make money at it, as Scott Sigler apparently has done.

I in no way, shape, or form said you have to give up your own opinion or preferences. But until I can curl up with an e-book that I don’t have to plug into anything, turn its pages, and have it still work after it falls out of my bed when I fall asleep with it, I’m not interested. I think a good bit of the book-buying public agrees.

However, I do like the idea that authors are getting their stuff out there, and avoiding gatekeeper editors whose tastes might not reflect what would actually sell. I feel the same way about the music industry.

But music can be played on darn near anything. The kinesthetic qualities of a book aren’t going to be as pleasing on an Ipod.

The market will dictate e-book success or failure, eventually. I think the consumer will probably have to accept it, if paper costs become so high they can do nothing else. They won’t like it, though.