E-Books vs Paper books.

         Will we see the day when there are no REAL books being published?

                I see it on the news and read about it in the paper: E-Books will mean the end of printed books and change our lives forever.   Libraries will be made useless and be closed down forever.   They are as passionate as the the old geezers on the street corners with their signs that say the world is about to end.  Forever is a long time.

                I am not convinced.  I have an active social media life on Facebook and Twitter, so I talk to other writers and even a few publishers and editors every day.  Some of the traditional publishers are afraid that their days are numbered. They would never say it in actual words but they complain about the e-book publishers making it too easy to publish junk and the lack of quality of the e-books being put out by self-publishers through such venues as Kindle Direct and Smashwords.  They do have valid points.

When movies became available on DVD, there were people who were certain that movie theaters were on their way out.  The truth is that the theaters did lose business.  Even so, there is nothing to compare to seeing an action packed film for the first time on the big screen with surround sound and a bucket of popcorn in your lap.  For that reason, I honestly feel that Movie theaters will always have a place in the movie industry.  Going to the movies is a special thing.  To keep up, the theaters now offer more 3-D films and a larger selection of foods and treats and even movie memorabilia such as programs and T-shirts to make the movie patrons spend their hard earned dollars.  What they do not make on ticket sales can then be made in food and merchandise sales. 

When personal tape players came out and kids were copying tapes from each other, the doomsayers were convinced that the music industry was on its way to oblivion. There are issues to solve even now, but the music industry is booming.  Satelite radio is replacing the Walkman in some circles but the kids and their mp3 players are still alive and well.

The book publishing industry will have to find their own ways to adapt to the advent of e-books.  My personal suggestions would include being more  willing to consider the submissions of first time authors as well as looking through the thousands of independently published books for  hidden treasures .  One trip to Facebook and reading a few of the postings of the “wannabe’s” found in the book sites should show them that there are plenty of writers there who are putting their hearts and dreams on paper or at least on the internet daily.  If they did nothing but read a few blogs, they could possibly discover the next “Harry Potter” or the next “Twilight” and save their own industry as well as make writers extremely happy.  It can’t all be junk.  

There is a perception that e-books, especially independently published e-books are not REAL books.  Traditional publishers seem to believe that they have the only REAL books and anything else is inferior.  They talk about the feel of a hard backed book in the hands and the pleasure of turning the page.  They have pointed out the lack of proper editing and the mistakes they spot in the work of self-published authors.  They are right.  But then I have read some truly atrocious books by authors that are traditionally published too.  Editors can fix a lot of mistakes and traditional publishers have access to those.  Any Author worth considering should have the good sense to get it edited before sending it to any kind of publishers.  While it is true that Smashwords and Create space do not REQUIRE an editing, the writer should have enough pride in their work to want it done if only to make their work as good as possible before submitting to any publisher, whether traditional or on the internet.  It is important. 

My personal opinion is that the two parts of the industry will eventually come together and it will be a good thing for both publishers and the authors involved. .  My own publisher has realized the potential for sales of e-books and has made  that format an option for all their authors.  I have taken them up on the deal.  I would believe that most of the serious writers in their stable will do so.  I want my books to be available in every format to include audio books and am working toward that goal.   I am getting trailers made for my books just like the ones made for movies.  Today’s e-readers can read the children’s books  aloud and even make the sounds of the animals or the noise of the machines as they read.  They offer music in the background and provide a total entertainment package for the child and the parent.  Traditional publishers who are willing to adapt and change with the times will do fine.  Those who refuse to move forward will possibly find themselves being left behind.  Perhaps that is the way it should be.  Technology does not have to kill their companies.  They have choices.  We all know that our choices determine our future whether it be for an individual or a business.  No one stands still; we either move forward or get overtaken.   Life is like a book… A real book...whether it is printed in hardback , paperback or available on kindle.