I’ve been dabbling my toes in the eBook ocean this week. I have read erotic sci-fi (blimey!), YA fiction, motivational fiction (which if poorly written feels a bit like being lectured at) and some godawful wittering that was so bad I don’t think there is a label to encompass it.
But, what I discovered in the process is that people are getting really inventive with the whole process of publishing and reading.
I thoroughly enjoyed visiting Book View Café (http://www.bookviewcafe.com/) and I did actually brew a pot of tea and wander through its virtual bookstore, pulling out titles at random because of an interesting cover or curious title. Very satisfying, and I could foresee the pleasure of becoming an author’s collective and promoting your own eBooks. Vive la Révolucion!
Then I got enthralled by the gossip and insider tittle-tattle over at e-reads (http://ereads.com/) and pondered the meaning of Harper Collins new morality clause in which authors will sign away their earnings for future transgressions. Don’t just take my word for it. Go read what the esteemed Richard Curtis has to say about it - http://ereads.com/2011/01/are-you-a-moral-author.html and consider the implications. I think old publishers will just go the way of Betamax video players, ie they’ll still be loved and revered by many for the quaint way they operate,but more authors will move over to the eBook playground and keep it fast and loose.
Talking of fast and loose, here’s the link to the erotic sci-fi that I know most of you have only read this far to obtain. Naughty, you deserve a spanking! http://www.circlet.com/ If you’ve never tried it, don’t knock it. And if you think it might be your thing, why not have a go yourself. There’s a call for submissions this month : deadline May 15th.
