The Corean Chronicles
E-Books and Print Books
Over the past year, I've received a number of questions about why more of my books are not available as e-books. I've discussed this with my editor and others at Tor, and the answer is fairly simple. Tor doesn't like losing money. Most e-books don't cover their costs of production.
At this point, someone always points out that Baen Books makes lots of their books available online and electronically. That's true, but it's not primarily because Baen thinks that it will make money on those formats. In fact, the goal of making electronic editions available on-line is to get readers to buy the hardcover and paperback editions of those books, as well as other Baen products, not to make millions, or even thousands, from e-books.
While there are readers who prefer to read in e-book and electronic format, the vast majority of readers still prefers books in some print format and is likely to do so for some considerable time. Now... I'm definitely not against e-books, although I frankly prefer books employing the printed page because most of my reading occurs when and where using electronics would be inconvenient or difficult, if not impossible. And... in time, science may well resolve such issues, but for the moment, as an industry, book publishers are faced with several options, none of them even close to perfect. They can create few or no e-books and alienate that small minority who prefer them. Or they can use e-books as loss-leaders and trust that the readers will eventually buy more of the print kind to cover the costs and losses of e-books. Or they can selectively release as e-books those novels which have a large enough audience that the small percentage of readers who prefer e-books is large enough for the publisher to come close to covering e-book costs.
The last position appears to be the strategy most publishers, including Tor, are following, but that creates particular problems for me, because certain of my books sell far more than others, and that means -- as I have been told more than a few times -- that more than half my books are not available in any electronic format.
At this point, there's very little I can do about this situation, but since I haven't seen much discussion about this point -- except surrounding the Baen initiative -- I thought it might be useful to discuss the situation.
At this point, someone always points out that Baen Books makes lots of their books available online and electronically. That's true, but it's not primarily because Baen thinks that it will make money on those formats. In fact, the goal of making electronic editions available on-line is to get readers to buy the hardcover and paperback editions of those books, as well as other Baen products, not to make millions, or even thousands, from e-books.
While there are readers who prefer to read in e-book and electronic format, the vast majority of readers still prefers books in some print format and is likely to do so for some considerable time. Now... I'm definitely not against e-books, although I frankly prefer books employing the printed page because most of my reading occurs when and where using electronics would be inconvenient or difficult, if not impossible. And... in time, science may well resolve such issues, but for the moment, as an industry, book publishers are faced with several options, none of them even close to perfect. They can create few or no e-books and alienate that small minority who prefer them. Or they can use e-books as loss-leaders and trust that the readers will eventually buy more of the print kind to cover the costs and losses of e-books. Or they can selectively release as e-books those novels which have a large enough audience that the small percentage of readers who prefer e-books is large enough for the publisher to come close to covering e-book costs.
The last position appears to be the strategy most publishers, including Tor, are following, but that creates particular problems for me, because certain of my books sell far more than others, and that means -- as I have been told more than a few times -- that more than half my books are not available in any electronic format.
At this point, there's very little I can do about this situation, but since I haven't seen much discussion about this point -- except surrounding the Baen initiative -- I thought it might be useful to discuss the situation.
—L.E. Modesitt,
Jr.: 4/20/2007 11:23:00 AM
Comments:
<< Back to all Blog posts
Don't think I'd like ebooks. I prefer the paper and ink types. They fit nice in the hands and have interesting smells.
I read e-books a lot. A huge number of which i have either downloaded for free from baen or purchased at their webscriptions site. I also physically own almost every book i have read as an ebook.
On another note... I don't understand the high cost of an ebook? I work with computers for a living though not in publishing. I do have extensive knowledge of the web and of building websites. If I have a document in just about any electronic format you want, I can convert it to any other format with a few clicks of a mouse. I would assume that you send your books to the publisher in some standard electronic format for them to edit and publish from. If so it shouldn't take more than 2 to 3 hours to convert that document multiple other formats such as pdf format, rdf, palm format, doc format, rocket reader etc.
It seems like to me the overhead in editing and such is already done for the print version and an electronic version then or later is a simple file conversion.
Just as an afterword. I've read and own almost all your books.. keep up the good work.
On another note... I don't understand the high cost of an ebook? I work with computers for a living though not in publishing. I do have extensive knowledge of the web and of building websites. If I have a document in just about any electronic format you want, I can convert it to any other format with a few clicks of a mouse. I would assume that you send your books to the publisher in some standard electronic format for them to edit and publish from. If so it shouldn't take more than 2 to 3 hours to convert that document multiple other formats such as pdf format, rdf, palm format, doc format, rocket reader etc.
It seems like to me the overhead in editing and such is already done for the print version and an electronic version then or later is a simple file conversion.
Just as an afterword. I've read and own almost all your books.. keep up the good work.
I imagine it is only a matter of time, much like downloading music. Personally, I still prefer to own the real CD, same with books. Taking pride in my bookshelf or music collection is about as materialistic as I get.
# posted by 
: 9:14 PM
: 9:14 PM
I not only own physical copies of all of your books I frequently have to have multiple copies as reading and rereading them tends to result in inevitable wear-and-tear.
While I prefer physical books when I am at home I have to travel frequently and there is just no way to carry a large number of books nor do I find the idea of buying new books in every city, reading them, and then having to leave the majority of them behind particularly attractive.
It's reaching the point where I have to either spend money on books I would LIKE to read but have hardly any time to actually do so or spend the money on books I can read when it's convenient for me. That's a choice that a LOT of people are starting to make and... there's a reason that BAEN makes ebook versions available.
I also have to agree with audeojude that generating an ebook is not that difficult. Most publishers nowadays accept electronic submissions in a number of different formats but those formats are all relatively common ones that can be easily converted to any number of ebook formats. Those ebooks can also be distributed with a DRM scheme that would prevent easy illegal distribution of them. Notice I did NOT say prevent ANY illegal distribution... just EASY illegal distribution and let's be honest... While I am a huge fan EVERY author is a specialized taste in literature. I must point out that I would rather PAY to get copies of your books in electronic format (which would certainly SAVE me money when it comes to keeping my physical copies in good condition longer) than go without... and how hard IS it to simply delay the release of a book in electronic format to several months after the hardback copies have hit the stores?
No offense but I think your publishers are full of it and if they think that little of the people they want to buy the books they publish... and you think that little of your fans... then maybe I need to rethink my opinion of Tor books
While I prefer physical books when I am at home I have to travel frequently and there is just no way to carry a large number of books nor do I find the idea of buying new books in every city, reading them, and then having to leave the majority of them behind particularly attractive.
It's reaching the point where I have to either spend money on books I would LIKE to read but have hardly any time to actually do so or spend the money on books I can read when it's convenient for me. That's a choice that a LOT of people are starting to make and... there's a reason that BAEN makes ebook versions available.
I also have to agree with audeojude that generating an ebook is not that difficult. Most publishers nowadays accept electronic submissions in a number of different formats but those formats are all relatively common ones that can be easily converted to any number of ebook formats. Those ebooks can also be distributed with a DRM scheme that would prevent easy illegal distribution of them. Notice I did NOT say prevent ANY illegal distribution... just EASY illegal distribution and let's be honest... While I am a huge fan EVERY author is a specialized taste in literature. I must point out that I would rather PAY to get copies of your books in electronic format (which would certainly SAVE me money when it comes to keeping my physical copies in good condition longer) than go without... and how hard IS it to simply delay the release of a book in electronic format to several months after the hardback copies have hit the stores?
No offense but I think your publishers are full of it and if they think that little of the people they want to buy the books they publish... and you think that little of your fans... then maybe I need to rethink my opinion of Tor books
I would also like to get your books in e-format and would be willing to pay to do so. I have virtually everything you have published, mostly in Hardback format, and have read all of them several times. However, when travelling for work it is not easy to take several hardbacks in your luggage and yet you can carry hundreds on an ebook reader.
Post a Comment
<< Back to all Blog posts
© 2006-2007
by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC. Tor® and Forge® are
trademarks of Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, and are
registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.