Kindle books on Amazon

I think the industry is so warped that the big trade publishers will
publish almost anything if it's been publicized enough: murderers on death
row, confessions from serial killers, priests' misconducts. I think
that if you can generate publicity, you can get published.

Only problem is, that's not the route I want to go. But it doesn't say
much for the industry or ourselves, for that matter. Because if we, as
the public, didn't buy it, publishers wouldn't publish it.

And I don't think PA could ever generate that kind of publicity, Ahad, so back to square one.

'A Study in Red' currently sells on Amazon.com for $15.29 and they offer the kindle edition for just $4.79, so I'm not sure where the $10 figure comes from. I would think that the retail price of a kindle edition is set between the publisher and Amazon, though it may be different for self-pubished books. I can't speak on that subject as I have no experience of it, but if kindle editions account for 6% of sales as has been quoted, then they are deifnitely worth it. In my case I had no say in whether or not A Studyin Red was offered as a kindle edition as the ditribution of the book is solely in the hands of my publisher.

In conclusion I would have to say that any avenue that gets an author's nmae out there has to be realistically seen as a positive move.

Regards to all

Brian

When you consider that only a portion of works are available on kindle, would 6% really be that far out of line?

I think it's wildly inflated.

Just one consideration... how many people do you think actually own this $400 device that can only read amazon books?

lin, do you have any info on how many kindles and how many mobi-pockets are out there in the general public? I am totally ignorant of any figures.

All wise advice from everyone, and yes Dick it’s good of you to point out what’s at stake here when it comes to publishing reputation.

My wife always says I lack ambition and I never take enough risks. In contrast to this, my mum always says it is better to remain a beggar with integrity than to elevate to a king under false pretences. So I guess sticking to the straight and narrow would be the more honorable thing to do here, and so it shall be...

As a mother, Ahad, I say listen to your mom. You can't go wrong there. We're smarter than most of our kids think.

Ahad,
when you go with your "gut" feeling, it is usually right. In my opinion, that gut is the unconscious telling you the right thing to do. And as Brenda said, Mom's are wise.

If the Kindle interests you, don't miss the story in today's (July 7) Publishers Weekly morning report.

Is that in the online edition, Dick? I haven't received it yet, but will watch for it.

Here's a link to the article:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/04/MN3611KC3M.DTL

Thank you Shelagh. Lots of room for speculation, it seems.

Wonder how much amazon paid the writer to do that puff piece?

The disadvantge of the Sony is you have to plug it into a computer to get books.

So it's an advantage to pay twice as much for a reader that only allows you books from one source????????????????????????

And it's this big hassle to upload from a computer? What you suddenly need a book when you're out in the middle of a lake or something?

This piece has "corporate swag service piece" written all over from the glowing tones to the breathless approval.

BTW... do the millions of iPod (and better, cheaper mp3 players) find it a "disadvantage" to have to upload from computers?

Old dogs have trouble with new tricks so Kindle ranks at the bottom of my want list.
Speaking of New Tricks, has anyone else seen the great BBC production of that name now running on PBS?

You can see a video clip with the theme tune of the series here:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=nzVm_jh8AkA

Amanda Redman, Dennis Waterman, James Bolam and Alun Armstrong star as an unlikely team of crack defectives ... oops! detectives.

My son and I bought a kindle for my visually impaired granddaughter last Christmas. It is very cool for her, but since she will be a high school senior in the fall, and with encouragement from family, she is getting into what to do with the future and learning computer skills she should have been instructed in years ago by her vision "experts."

What is the best is that she can increase the font to the right size for her. Otherwise she reads with her nose literally in a regular book, and does love to read. What we are hoping is that in the future text books will be "kindlized."

Since she is on my account with amazon, the account has not gotten out of hand, but she is doing good things and her kindle is there when needed, and she did learn quickly how to use it.

Carol

Carol that's a great use of the Kindle as a helpful piece of technology. I am glad it has that aspect to it because I still thing there's nothing like a book in my hands...especially out on the middle of the lake.

That's great, Carol. Anything to help those with any disability to be able to enjoy what others take for granted is good in my book, even if it's not my cup of tea.

I tend to be with Dick, though, for my personal use. I grew up on books, which would make a kindle feel very strange for myself, I think.

I shall have to check the program schedule for the defective detectives. Sounds like a good show, and if it is a BBC production, I am sure to like it.

The word 'kindle' had to have been well chosen, possibly as a marketing ploy I think

To my ears it does have certain 'kindness' ring about it... so I'm glad Carol that it's proving to be a hit with your grand child.

Actually...
I just found on Dictionary.Com it's quite the reverse! To do with fire and ignition, not very kind at all.

Kindle has these meanings:

1. to start (a fire); cause (a flame, blaze, etc.) to begin burning.
2. to set fire to or ignite (fuel or any combustible matter).
3. to excite; stir up or set going; animate; rouse; inflame: He kindled their hopes of victory.
4. to light up, illuminate, or make bright: Happiness kindled her eyes.
–verb (used without object) 5. to begin to burn, as combustible matter, a light, fire, or flame.
6. to become aroused or animated.
7. to become lighted up, bright, or glowing, as the sky at dawn or the eyes with ardor.

Well, this is proving good for my English improvement... and I haven't even read the first kindle book yet

Perhaps it is intended to 'kindle' or set interest in motion with excitement for reading?

It's certainly got me very excited, Zada, but I guess I'm still too much into paper books. You know, 'old habits die hard' as they say...

I think, or at least I hope, that there will always be a place in the world for paper books. Paper books don't need batteries or computerized gadgets or memory cards and paper books don't short circuit, get viruses, or need to be recharged. New technology is developed all the time, but paper still has its advantages and one of the greatest of those advantages is its simplicity.