When I first got my Kindle, I thought it was the coolest way to read. I loved the anonymity of carrying a variety of titles anywhere from the gym to vacation with the parents to the dentist office. I read ebooks exclusively for months. Until my book club chose a selection that wasn't available as an ebook. Okay, so I could deal with the occasional paperback.
Months later we decided to take a long car trip and unfortunately, I get an awful headache when I read in the car. But alas -- I remembered that my Kindle played audio books and I embarked upon a brand new experience. Isn't it wonderful all the choices we now have in books? I was thrilled when I learned Protective Custody was going to be an audiobook. I could be part of the book revolution!
One of my other romantic suspense books, Tropic of Trouble, a personal favorite (since the hero is loosely based on my wonderful husband), is coming to print. Yet another format I'm going to conquer -- or something like that.
I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see what the future holds for books. Will we be able to somehow read a hologram? Watch our story unfold in 3-D? I'm curious. What as yet uninvented format would you like to see come into being?
16 comments:
This is a great post, Wynter, and I share your enthusiasm! In my opinion, all the new formats are ADDING to the fun and pleasure of reading. We don't have to choose one over the other - we don't have to abandon print for ebooks, or dismiss ebooks because we like print. We have lots of choices!
I'm waiting for the ebook or audiobook that turns itself off automatically when I fall asleep LOL. Perhaps it could respond to my snoring! My other option is to have a print book that has padded edges so they don't stab me in the eye when I fall asleep on *them* LOL
LOL - those would be great features for me, too!
Great Post! I agree with Clare- every format is a plus.
What I’m hearing is interactive books. Different endings are programmed and the readers choose what they want. Say the book can be read in three different ways. Also imbedded video. Flashes of when the H&H kiss or action scenes. Eeep! Good luck if anyone thinks I can figure out how to do that.
I talked to 15 people last week about ereaders. My main focus is people aren’t going to stop reading, they are going to read more and with exciting options. We are limited only by the brains of the smarty pants that think all this stuff up
It's all about story, I think. Whether someone is whispering it in your ear, you're reading it on an e-reader, or soaking in the tub with a damp paperback, story is king.
Great points, Rita. I like the idea of interactive books, but I'm not so sure I'd be too keen about imbedded video. Kind of like seeing the movie before you finish reading the book!
I need to work out how to play audiobooks on my ipod through the car stereo for our big road trip this summer. Then choose some kid friendly numbers to listen to. It is exciting to have all these formats and choices. I love it.
It's a great way to pass the time on a car trip, Toni.
This is an excellent post. I bought my Nook two years ago and am almost completely an ereader now. I do still read the occasional print book, though. Usually it's for a review. I now have 4 ereaders - my latest is a Kindle and I'm absolutely loving it!
I agree, Wynter. The more formats, the better. I love my Nook. Find it extremely easy on the eyes. but I like hardcover and paperback and trade too. Easy to pass on to friends andthey can pass it on too. Audio is great for a car trip. Whatever will they come up with next?
As a Kindle gal, Wynter, I have to chime in with praise for the electronic reader. Actually electronic imaging provides us with the first new book delivery system since the scroll was abandoned for the manuscript form. The first new method in over 2,000 years! I find that awesome. That said,as someone recently remarked, "The magic isn't in the format, the magic's in the words."
Wow, Yvonne - 4 ereaders?? I'm drooling!
Elise - the one format I don't care for is hardcover because I often read while lying in bed or on the couch. I like a lighter book to hold, or better still, an ebook reader;-)
Jean - what a great point. 2,000 years to make any significant format change and look how fast technology is moving now!
I'd love to see an interactive book with all the added elements, but I find I'm thinking 'kid's story' when my mind runs that movie. My Nook has the 'you can research this term' feature and I confess I've never used it. If I'm lost in the story (like all good books, regardless of the format!) then the last thing I want to do is detour
Good point, Cathy. I agree that the interactive would work best for kids' books. My kids loved any book that had some sort of gimmick - like buttons that played sound. I can imagine the newer gimmicks would get kids more interested in books, which could only be a good thing!
Like Rita, I was thinking imbedded video is the next wave. But I hadn't thought of alternate-ending (Anybody remember Choose Your Own Adventure books? I LOVED those!). That would be cool, too...or maybe the reader could change the hero/heroine to fit an image in their head if they didn't like the author's image? Hmmm.... I'm sure the possibilities will be endless!
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