Jennifer's Journal

 

Thursday, July 09, 2009

Electronic Books

I love ebooks.  There, I've said it.  And it's not just because I was a pioneer, so to speak, in this field--though I first signed with E-Reads.com to have my backlist books produced in digital media ten years ago, in July 1999.  Nor is it the checks from e-editions that move me, though they amount to lovely "found" money since the work was done ages ago.  In fact, I only bought a Sony e-Reader in April of last year.  Since then, however, I've downloaded a couple of hundred books and discovered the pure pleasure, not to mention the convenience, of carrying a virtual library with me everywhere I go.  I've also become addicted to buying and downloading books at midnight if my heart desires, or when I have one foot out the door on the way to the airport.  I've read classic novels that have been on my life list for years, and got them free from the Sony website with the purchase of my device.  I've discovered wonderful research books in the Google copyright free library--e-copies of books that actually reside on the dusty shelves of libraries on the far side of the world.  I've signed up to borrow just-released literary and bestselling ebooks from libraries.  And of course, my credit card bills attest to the dozens of books I've bought outright. The experience has been stupendous so far, and I just keep finding advantages: no stacks of books in a TBR pile, no lost places as the readers always open to where you were reading last; no bookmarks to keep track of, no overdue fees at the library, no boxes of books to be disposed of--the list goes on.  Now the price point for ebook readers is dropping: Amazon just lowered the Kindle by $60, to $299.  Can the Sony e-Reader be far behind?  And this isn't the end.  Like the hand-held calculator and the cell phone, these devices will get progressively cheaper.  The technology is set to be included in many devices already in widespread use, including iPods and iPhones.  It's a publishing revolution that promises to forever change the way we we use and think about books.  Have you joined it yet?
 
Jennifer 
--
Challenge to Honor, 2005
Dawn Encounter, 2006
Rogue's Salute, 2007
Guarded Heart, 2008
Gallant Match, 2009
Triumph in Arms, 2010

4 Comments:

Anonymous Sarah said...

I'm not sure how else to contact you since when i go to the contact page, the message always comes back undelivered, but i would like to say that you are an amazing author and i really enjoy reading your books.

by the way, i don't have an e-reader yet, i've been trying to convince my mom to let me get one!

please keep writing your absolutely amazing novels!
~sarah

8:55 AM  
Blogger Jennifer Blake said...

Thanks for letting me know the contact button isn't working, Sarah; I'll get that fixed. And *many* thanks for the kind words about my books. Writers know when they're books are selling, but it's only through personal contact that they learn how readers are affected by the stories that tell.

Maybe an e-reader for Christmas?!

Warmest,
Jennifer

9:13 AM  
Blogger Evangeline Holland said...

I love e-books too! I'm test-driving a Sony Reader and LOVE it. I'm so glad your backlist are available electronically: I am going to buy every book I had to borrow from the library.

8:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Lovely to hear, Evangeline, that you want my books on your Sony Reader. Hope you enjoy the stories all over again. My Sony is the first model out though not all that old--but I'm already hoping Santa Claus will upgrade it. LOL

Warmest, Jennifer

7:10 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home