As an author, I'm a huge proponent of e-books. I've been able to make my novel, IDENTITY CRISIS, available at no monetary cost to me (other than the electricity I need to run my computer) as an e-book on Amazon, Scribd, Smashwords and even Lulu (which has published it in print, too, and for which you can get 10% off if you order from Lulu and enter the code FALLREAD at checkout--sorry for the commercial).
Anyway, I know people with Kindles and other e-readers who love them. I can see how they'd be great for travel, easy to handle, eco-friendly (maybe--there's still the issue of powering them and creating e-waste when you upgrade to a newer model or they break) and help de-clutter your house (though it's nice to peruse the titles of people's books).
Okay, I've already pointed out some cons, as well as pros. However, in addition, there's also the effect on independent bookstores. Not good. How can indie bookstores benefit from e-books? Can they get on board somehow? Can they do it collectively? Just throwing the questions out for consideration.
Along with indie booksellers, the act of browsing through bookstores is negatively affected by e-books and buying print books online.
And, of course, who needs a distributor when you can publish books online. So distributors will feel the effects.
That's the thing about progress. You know there had to be some pissed off candle and lantern makers when Edison invented the electric light bulb.
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