The trouble with eBooks by Ian Barker

The trouble with eBooks - by Ian Barker

I love ebooks. I love the immediacy of being able to download a book straight away. I love being able to get a sample before buying and I love, sometimes, the lower price over the print edition. Evidently other people love them too since Amazon reckons it now sells more ebooks than dead tree versions. Ebooks, it has been said, are the biggest revolution in reading since Gutenberg.

            A big part of the attraction of ebooks is convenience. Amazon in particular has understood this perfectly. You can buy a book almost instantly and since it’s stored in the cloud you can sync it across devices without having to mess about copying files around or plugging in USB sockets. There is a darker side to this though, you don’t really own a Kindle book so much as rent the use of it and Amazon can remove books if they wish.

            So what are the problems? Well, lovable though they are ebooks aren’t perfect. First of all there’s the thorny issue of format. The reason digital music took off in a big way was the existence of the MP3. Whether you have a computer, a proprietary device like an iPod or a cheap player from eBay, MP3s will work on all of them and you know that if you exchange a file with someone else it will work for them too. So far we don’t have such a ‘standard’ format for ebooks. The closest is the open source ePub file but it doesn’t work on the most popular reader, the Kindle. Yes, I know you can download Calibre and convert but it screws up the formatting a lot of the time and if the technology is going to become widely accepted you shouldn’t have to jump through hoops.

            Formatting is a tricky issue. I’ve read ebooks put out by major publishing houses where the formatting is diabolical – missing line breaks, misplaced hyphens, poor spacing. It looks like they’ve just taken the PDF of the print version and got the office junior to run it through some sort of conversion routine without bothering to check the result. Frankly this is unacceptable, if they expect us to pay a decent price for ebooks the quality control has to be at least as good as that in the print edition.

            Which brings us to price. I’m not one of those who thinks all ebooks should be available for pennies. Having been through the mill of getting novels published I know how much effort goes into editing and design whatever the finished format. However, price is important. Charging almost as much as the print edition – or more in some cases – for an intangible product is just taking the mickey. The trick is to price ebooks such that they’re attractive to the buyer whilst covering production costs. Price them too high and you encourage piracy (more of which shortly), too low and you devalue the work. Publishing has the opportunity to avoid the mistakes of the recording industry here, the jury remains out on whether or not it will manage that.

            Illegal copying of traditional books isn’t really a problem, requiring as it does time, effort and access to a photocopier. With ebooks piracy is a problem. Lend a print book to a friend and they might lend it to someone else, there’s still only one book in existence. Copy an ebook and it can be in the hands of hundreds of people. There are all kinds of views on whether this is a good or a bad thing – whether reading a pirated copy ultimately leads to a sale for example. But there is undeniably a problem and one which the industry needs to address. Locking down books with DRM is something of a blind alley so the solution probably comes back down to price. A legitimate Kindle book has added value over a pirated version because you can effortlessly sync it across devices with all of your bookmarks and notes intact. As long as it’s priced right most people will be willing to pay for the added convenience.

            So yes, ebooks are brilliant, but they’re not yet perfect. We need a universal format – a book equivalent of the MP3 – we need proper attention to ebook design and formatting, and we need consistent pricing. Above all we need publishers to take ebooks seriously, they’re not a spin off to the main game, in a very short time they’ll be the main game.

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Ian Barker is the author of Fallen Star and One Hot Summer, visit his author page on Amazon.

Thank you for swinging in.

Until next time...

Ciao

JET

Dishing it up with Ian Barker

Today I have the pleasure of dishing it up with Ian Barker, author of Fallen Star. Ian has always dabbled in writing since leaving school. However, he spent almost 20 years working in IT before he discovered that writing about computers was easier than fixing them. He is now editor of PC Utilities magazine and lives and works in Greater Manchester, UK. Fallen Star is his début novel.


JET: Thanks for joining us Ian. Can you tell us about Fallen Star?

Ian: Fallen Star is about discovering that there are more important things in life than fame and celebrity. It follows boy band member Karl on his downward spiral from stardom, taking in some terrorism, family conflict, a look at how our lives are influenced by our parents and falling in love along the way.

JET: What’s been your most challenging hurdle on the road to publication?

Ian: I think, as for any new author, it’s getting that initial foot in the door of publication. Whether that’s with a short story or something more substation. You need that affirmation that you have what it takes. I think most new writers make the mistake of sending out stuff before its ready. It’s important to learn the discipline to hold back and polish your craft.

JET: What was your favorite moment in the journey?

Ian: I got one of my early breaks into getting writing accepted doing topical comedy radio sketches. Hearing your words spoken by professional actors is a fantastic buzz.

JET: Which authors had the most influence over you growing up?

Ian: As a teenager I read a lot of Alistair MacLean. Not a great writer in the literary sense but boy can he tell a story!

JET: When did you know you wanted to take the plunge into the writing world?

Ian: I’ve always been a writer on some sort of level, though I spent a long time doing other things with just the odd bit of writing here and there. It wasn’t until turning forty that I began to approach it more seriously, a desire to leave something behind perhaps? That ultimately led to a shift of career direction as I ended up writing for computer magazines – classic write what you know.

JET: What’s the craziest thing you’ve done in the name of book research? Most interesting fact you uncovered?

Ian: I’ve stood out in the rain in order to work out how to describe what it feels like. I discovered you get very wet.

JET: Of all the novels and stories you’ve written - which one is your favorite? Why?

Ian: I’m still very fond of my first – and as yet unpublished – novel. Why? Because it’s a very personal story. As it stands I think that works against it, but someday I’m definitely going to go back and write it better, with a little more detachment.

JET: Any advice for the novices out there?

Ian: Write first research later. If you do a lot of research up front you’re tempted to include it all and you end up with a book that reads like an encyclopedia. Concentrate on telling the story then do your research to make sure you have the facts straight.

JET: All right - now that I’ve hammered you with the big questions, let’s tackle my favorite (and geeky) quick ten. . . starting with: Paper or Plastic?

Ian: Paper.

JET: Steak or Tofu?

Ian: Steak.

JET: Beach or Mountains?

Ian: Beach, I grew up by the sea.

JET: Country or Rock-n-Roll?

Ian: Tough call. Rock-n-Roll, as long as I can still have access to Willie Nelson and Don Williams.

JET: Paper or Digital?

Ian: Digital, it was a long hard road but I’ve eventually trained myself to write straight to the computer rather than doing it longhand first.

JET: Silent Film Classics or Cheesy B Rated Horror?

Ian: Silent classics (with the proviso that Charlie Chaplin really isn’t funny).

JET: Coffee or Tea?

Ian: Tea, black no sugar, thanks.

JET: Salty or Sweet?

Ian: Sweet.

JET: Top 10 best seller or Unknown Back Shelf Find?

Ian: Back shelf find, but it’s important to read the best sellers too.

JET: 2012 Mayan Prophecy Believer or Ain’t Gonna Happen?

Ian: Ain’t gonna happen – at least I hope not after we’ve spent all that money on the Olympics.

JET: Thank you for indulging me. Before we wrap this up, can you tell us what you're working on now? What's next?

Ian: I’m working on a sequel to Fallen Star which picks up the main characters a few years further on. I don’t see this turning into a long series though.

JET: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat on my blog. Folks, you can find out more about Ian Barker and his work at the following places:

http://www.iandavidbarker.co.uk/

www.twitter.com/IanDBarker

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fallen-Star/132351093483591?ref=ts

Swing in next week when I have Morgan Gallagher on tap.

Until then,

Ciao.

JET

Happy June First!

Welcome to June!


We’ve got some outstanding releases from my backspace brethren this month, but before I go into that, I just wanted to say thank you to those that followed my blog tour in May. I had a lot of fun and hope you did too.

This month I have quite a few cool authors swinging in, starting with Brett Battles this Friday – June 3rd. The rest of the month lays out like a Hollywood who’s who with: Ian Barker on June 10th, Morgan Gallagher on June 17th, and finishing on a stellar note with Marcus Sakey on June 24th.

Now without further adieu, here are some books to check out for June…

Joe Moore & Lynn Sholes – THE PHOENIX APOSTLES June 8, 2011

Magazine journalist Seneca Hunt is reporting on the opening of Montezuma's tomb in Mexico City when the dig team learns that the remains of the Aztec emperor are missing. Within moments of the discovery, an apparent terrorist attack kills everyone at the site except Seneca, who barely escapes the carnage.

Determined to get answers, Seneca starts investigating. She finds out that someone is stealing the remains of the most infamous mass murderers in history-and plotting to slaughter millions in the name of an ancient cult. Seneca needs to prove the threat really exists while trying to stay one step ahead of those who want her dead. With time running out, she must follow a deadly 2,000-year-old trail that leads back to the death of Jesus Christ.

Marcus Sakey - THE TWO DEATHS OF DANIEL HAYS June 9, 2011

Marcus Sakey returns with his most ambitious novel, a captivating story of love and memory, where the only thing more frightening than the questions are the answers.

A man wakes up naked and cold, half-drowned on an abandoned beach. The only sign of life for miles is an empty BMW. Inside the expensive car he finds clothes that fit perfectly, shoes for his tattered feet, a Rolex, and a bank envelope stuffed with cash and an auto registration in the name of Daniel Hayes, resident of Malibu, California.

None of it is familiar.

What is he doing here? How did he get into the ocean? Is he Daniel Hayes, and if so, why doesn't he remember? While he searches for answers, the world searches for him-beginning with the police that kick in the door of his dingy motel, with guns drawn. Lost, alone, and on the run, the man who might be Daniel Hayes flees into the night.

All he remembers is a woman's face, so he sets off for the only place he might find her. The fantasy of her becomes his home, his world, his hope. And maybe, just maybe, the way back to himself.

But that raises the most chilling question of all: What will he find when he gets there?

Camille Noe Pagán - THE ART OF FORGETTING June 9, 2011

Marissa Rogers never wanted to be an alpha; beta suited her just fine. Taking charge without taking credit had always paid off: vaulting her to senior editor at a glossy magazine; keeping the peace with her critical, weight-obsessed mother; and enjoying the benefits of being best friends with gorgeous, charismatic, absolutely alpha Julia Ferrar.

And then Julia gets hit by a cab. She survives with minor obvious injuries, but brain damage steals her memory and alters her personality, possibly forever. Suddenly, Marissa is thrown into the role of alpha friend. As Julia struggles to regain her memory- dredging up issues Marissa would rather forget, including the fact that Julia asked her to abandon the love of her life ten years ago- Marissa's own equilibrium is shaken.

With the help of a dozen girls, she reluctantly agrees to coach in an after-school running program. There, Marissa uncovers her inner confidence and finds the courage to reexamine her past and take control of her future.

The Art of Forgetting is a story about the power of friendship, the memories and myths that hold us back, and the delicate balance between forgiving and forgetting.

Katie Alender - FROM BAD TO CURSED June 14, 2011

Alexis is the last girl you'd expect to sell her soul. She already has everything she needs—an adorable boyfriend, the perfect best friend, and a little sister who’s finally recovering after being possessed by an evil spirit.

Alexis is thrilled when her sister joins a club: new friends are just what Kasey needs. It’s strange, though, to see how fast the girls in the Sunshine Club go from dorky and antisocial to gorgeous and popular. Then Alexis learns that the girls have pledged an oath to a seemingly benevolent spirit named Aralt. Worried that Kasey’s in over her head again, Alexis and her best friend, Megan, decide to investigate by joining the club themselves. Soon, Alexis trades in her pink hair and punky clothes for a mainstream look, and finds herself reveling in her newfound elegance and success.

The club’s connection with Aralt seems harmless, and before long, Alexis can hardly remember why she joined in the first place.Surely it wasn’t to destroy Aralt. . . . Why would she hurt someone who has given her so much, and asked for so little in return?

Ally Carter - UNCOMMON CRIMINALS June 21, 2011

Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life: Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners. There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long — and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous, and that is . . . the emerald is cursed. Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all, she has her best friend — the gorgeous Hale — and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses and realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time. Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules.

Kristina Riggle - THINGS WE DIDN'T SAY June 28, 2011

What goes unsaid can sometimes speak the loudest . . .

What makes up a family? For Casey it's sharing a house with her fiancÉ, Michael, and his three children, whom she intends to nurture more than she ever took care of herself. But Casey's plans have come undone. Michael's silences have grown unfathomable and deep. His daughter Angel seethes as only a teenage girl can, while the wide-eyed youngest, Jewel, quietly takes it all in.

Then Michael's son, Dylan, runs off, and the kids' mother, a woman never afraid to say what she thinks, noisily barges into the home. That's when Casey decides that the silences can no longer continue. She must begin speaking the words no one else can say. She'll have to dig up secrets—including her own—uncovering the hurts, and begin the healing that is long overdue. And it all starts with just a few tentative words. . . .


Such great titles this month, just in time for beach weather.  Speaking of bathing suit form, I'm still holding steady on the Jenny Craig side of things.  No gain, no loss and this past week, no change in inches either.  I'll pick back up on my Wednesday Jenny updates next week. 

In the meantime, don't forget to swing in on Friday while I dish it up with Brett Battles. 

Until then,
Ciao,
JET