Ebooks vs Printed Books

While I enjoy reading a print version of a book, preferably in hard cover, my husband typically reads two books per week. I proudly keep my books from various authors on the bookshelves within my home, but he keeps his collection on his iPad. Guess whose books need to be dusted?

I know there is a convenience factor with ebooks. Nothing can be more practical than being able to carry your entire library with you whenever you head out of town. No more selecting two or three books to stow in your luggage for long flights or for lying on the beach. Instead, you can have dozens available at your fingertips, ready and waiting at your beck and call.

But what about the feel, look, and even smell of a brand new book? There’s something emotional about cracking the spine and breaking in the pages for the very first time. It’s magical. It not only pulls you in with words from the pages, it almost transports you directly to the location, allowing you to become a part of the characters’ lives. You don’t get that from an ebook.

But, alas, as authors we must keep up with the times.

According to Publishers Weekly, statistics show that in 2014, ebook sales accounted for 23 percent of the market, while hardcovers came in at 25 percent and paperbacks at 42 percent. Statistica reveals that ebooks brought in around $5.6 billion into the US economy during the same time period, while sales of print and audio books produced around $10 billion.

While ebooks haven’t outpaced print versions as fast as what was once originally predicted, they definitely have a hand in the way we read.

People have preferences. People won’t read something in a way you might prefer. And why would we want them to when we can give them exactly what they want?

That’s where publishing your book on multiple platforms comes in handy.

Amazon may be a giant in the ebook retail  world, but it’s by no means the only platform to consider. How about Barnes & Noble? Or iBookstore? Or Smashwords? Or Kobo?

Yes, ebooks are here to stay. And no matter how you prefer to enjoy reading your favorite books, it’s nice to know as authors that we can please everyone.

Have you jumped on the ebook train yet? Why or why not? Let me know in the comments below. 


Michelle

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