While I’m waiting for the final copyedited version of RIPTIDE to get the green light, in large part due to the Spanish text, I thought I’d share a few uplifting bits of information with you.
And the first one is this article about how publishers are less enthusiastic about ereaders increasing reading.
I realize that sounds a bit twisted, but here’s what I think. All you have to do is read the actual article (and I quote):
Even though eReader sales are skyrocketing, it doesn’t necessarily mean that more people will be reading. According to a new report from Forrester Research and Digital Book World, publishers aren’t as enthusiastic about eReading this year as they were last year.
The report interviewed publishers who represent 74% of all U.S. publishing revenues. When asked if readers will be better off, only 61% of respondents said that they will be, down from 74% in the 2010 study. When asked if “more people will read books than did before,” in 2011, only 60% thought so, down from 66% in 2010. And when asked if readers would read more books than before only 47% of respondents agreed, down from 66% in 2010.
Commenting on the research, book industry expert Mike Shatzkin told Digital Book World: “In the short run, digital is likely to increase book consumption for two simple reasons: It’s easier to get them and it’s easier to have them with you at any particular time.”
Well, I have loads of paperback books I’ve bought that I haven’t yet read, too.
So, far as I’m concerned, this is good news for authors and readers. Because, after spending money on a device that makes it easier to buy books and have them with you at anytime, it hardly seems likely to increase consumption of ebooks only in the short run, does it? 
But what do I know? I’m no expert. Ha ha ha … experts are so retarded weird interesting sometimes.
Furthermore, here’s why I don’t believe in writing novels by committee.
And here’s a really awesome post from The Better Man Project.
Okay, I can’t resist. Here’s a peek at the cover of RIPTIDE. We might make a few teeny tiny changes, but basically, this is it. Voila!
January 19, 2012 at 8:46 pm
I appreciate the uplifting words and most especially thank you for the great and much needed article, “the Rise of the New Group Think.”
January 19, 2012 at 9:00 pm
Sure thing, Brenda!
My pleasure.
January 19, 2012 at 10:18 pm
Wow! Your new cover looks great! I’m buying tons of ebooks this year, even at a faster rate than last year, and eventually I will read most of them. Although Amazon and the authors already got my money, they’re probably all moping around worrying whether I’ll ever actually read the books I paid them for. Must be awfully discouraging.
January 19, 2012 at 10:26 pm
Okay. I reread the article and I still don’t think they are making sense. They’re saying that just because people bought more iPods, doesn’t mean they’ll load them with music, or just because people bought more swimming pools, doesn’t mean they’ll fill them with water. Sounds like they’re looking for bad news.
January 19, 2012 at 10:45 pm
Thanks, Brenda!
I’m glad you like the cover. The graphic artist is a real genius, and we took the time to really work out the details.
I think the article is suggesting that people are buying ebooks, but not reading them. Even so, I don’t think ebook consumption will drop. People will continue to buy and read them, eventually.
I subscribe to cable TV with a gazillion channels, but that doesn’t mean I watch all of them. Yet, I’m willing to pay for all of them, in order to get the ones I want. And I do, in fact, have more shows to choose from and end up watching more, I think.
See what I mean?
January 25, 2012 at 10:59 pm
I love the new cover!
January 26, 2012 at 1:14 am
Thanks! We’ve made a few tiny little changes, but it’s even better now.