Kate’s Adventures in Digital Reading or How I Made the Exhilarating, Exciting Expansion into eBooks!
13 Comments May 28th, 2008 in author, eBooks, online read Posted by Malleby Kate Walker
I have to admit that I’m old enough to remember a time BI – before the internet. When I had my first book bought, way back in 1984, we did everything the slow way. I wrote my first book on a typewriter. I submitted it by snail mail. When it was accepted, and revisions were needed. I typed those too. And every communication with my editor, with any other authors, was by courtesy of the postal service.
My first book was published in hardback only, the first paperback didn’t come till 1986. That was when I had the thrill of seeing my first ever book on the bookshop shelves. After that there were so many more firsts. First USA publication, first Japanese edition, first linked books, first #1 slot on Waldenbooks. Oh yes, and my first computer.
Another admission. I only ever used that computer as a glorified typewriter. One where I could erase and edit, rework, revise and print again. But gradually I learned more about how to use this new technology. I learned about email – about its speedy, near instant international communication. I remember when my DH told me all about how it was in use at the university where he worked and I thought – ‘I want!’ I got email just as soon as I could and it transformed my life. I love email. Don’t know how I ever managed without it.
It’s all everyday routine now. Switch on the computer, log in to my email. Read messages from friends and readers all over the world. I got used to using my computer and email for work – sending in a manuscript by email, using the word processing programme to make light work of revisions. (OK – light work of writing out the revisions and incorporating them in the manuscript – sadly, no one has yet come up with a computer programme that would ever make the revising easier!)
I joined the Community over on eHarlequin, made friends and chatted with them in spite of thousands of miles of distance and mixed up times zones (my community profile). I saw my books on sale on the web site – but still print books. And then in 2002 I ventured into the world of digital reading with my very first on-line publication, Wife For Real. I was asked for a 10,000 word short story to be published in weekly instalments. That was a challenge – I had to cram a full story into a short space, end each week on a cliff hanger to keep the readers coming back. For the first time I was able to see instant – or near instant – reactions to my work as each episode was published. Wife For Real started my digital career – though it wasn’t actually published in ebook form until December 2006. My first true ebooks appeared in August 2006. That was when The Antonakos Marriage was the very first of my titles to appear in this magical new form. At the same time my Writers’ Round Robin story Stolen By The Sheikh was offered as a free Harlequin Mini to let readers sample this new medium, to let them ‘taste’ this new way of reading books. (It’s still free–Malle)
I can remember the time that Harlequin Mills & Boon Editorial Director Karin Stoecker showed a group of authors one of the very first ebook readers. I was intrigued, impressed, but I wasn’t sure it was for me. I still love the appearance of a ‘real’ book, the feel of it in my hand, the covers, the pages . . . But there was so much about ebooks that appealed too. The instant download, no waiting. The way that you could carry large numbers of books around with you in the space – and weight of one.
As someone who once had to pay excess baggage because of a load of books bought while we were on holiday, carrying them all in one small space seemed like an excellent idea to me.. (The books were for my DH, not me – honest!) This was the future – but would it take off?
I soon got my answers as I watched the sales of ebook editions of my novels sell – and sell. At Christmas I had the thrill of receiving a card from the team at eHarlequin on which there was a note telling me that: ebook readers love their Presents, and in 2007 you had two of our most popular titles! Those titles were The Italian’s Forced Bride and The Sicilian’s Red-Hot Revenge. I also learned that my Mini Round Robin title Stolen by the Sheikh is a consistent top download on eHarlequin.com! I was really starting to love ebooks. I even downloaded one for myself when I realised that I only had the chapters I’d written of the Round Robin story and I wanted a copy of the whole thing. I had such fun working on that with all the Round Robin writers and the gang known as The Hoods.
I didn’t think there was anything more that could come my way in digital reading – on-line read, done that – Writing Round Robin, Mini books, ebooks . . ..but in June I have yet more new ventures coming up. Â
That on-line story (now a Harlequin Mini) Wife For Real spawned a whole trilogy of books. The hero, Alex Alcolar, had two brother and a sister – and by the time the story was published on-line, all three of them were begging for their own story.  The Alcolar Family was the result. And oh how glad I was when Alex’s story came out as a Mini ebook! I had so many letters from readers saying ‘I’m reading the Aloclar Trilogy and it says there is another brother, Alex - where can I read his story? The online read had been taken down but at least I could direct them to the ebook.
Now I’m getting letters saying ‘I missed part one – or two – or three – of the Alcolars. Where can I find the missing part? And the great news is that from June 1st I can point them in the direction of my next latest ebook development – an ebook Bundle with all three of the books in The Alcolar Family trilogy published as a single download. The trilogy will also be published in a 3 in 1 By Request print book in the UK but the ebook Bundle will be around for much longer. I might even have to download myself a copy just to have the experience and to mark the event.
So with Spanish Billionaire, Innocent Bride out on June 1 and The Alcolar Family being ‘bundled’, June is already an exciting month for me – but there’s one more digital form that my books can take – and this is perhaps one of the most exciting of all. You see, on June 1st . . .
Ooops – no – I’d better wait to announce that. Or let Malle do it when the official announcement is made. But perhaps I can just give you a tiny hint – perhaps I can just mention the words Daily Lit . . .
And like I said – I really, really love email . . . .
Watch this space for more details!
So what about you? Do you love the new forms that books are appearing in? Have you joined in and commented on an on-line read? Do you download ebooks? What do you think of the digital reading revolution?
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I love the new medium! As you say, nothing beats the feel of a real book, but the accessibility is excellent. Being able to read the classics for free on my laptop is just like having a massive library, always available, without the hassle of needing more bookshelves!
I’m experimenting at the momemnt to see if I can read Harlequin e-books on my PDA, which is also my mobile phone so is always with me. That Daily Lit site looks fab- can’t wait to hear what the news is!
Hi Kate,
Great to see you posting here!
While I love the internet and email — really, really enjoy the ability to communicate quickly with friend and with people that I haven’t met — authors, other readers on the boards, I still read books the “old fashioned” way. I don’t own an ereader and as of now do not have any plans to get one.
I really enjoy my reading time and like picking up a book and sifting through the pages.
Kate, it’s amazing how technology has changed, isn’t it? I have vivid memories of offices without computers and of typists valiantly keeping up with the paperwork.
While I love email I have to say I’ve never read an ebook. I should since people keep recommending them. I recently had a couple of people mention they’d caught up with some of my older titles via ebook and I thought that was great! Maybe it’s because I spend so much time in front of a computer screen that I rather like reading with a book in my hand instead. But I’m definitely going to try the new approach soon.
Annie
Hi Mulberry
Now with bookshelves, you’ve hit the perfect point. I recently reworked and redecorated my office – and first on the list of wants was more bookshelves. I’ve got bookshelves – lots of them – and they’re still overcrowded, double stacked . .. And I can’t fin what I want when I want it.
I can’t help thinking that ebooks would help with that They would take up so little space. And I’m sure it must be easier to find the book you want on a reader without trouble.
And I’m sure that if I travelled regularly then an ebook reader I could put in my bag would be so useful.
But – Oh, I love real books!
Kate
Hello Lidia – great to see you.
I so understand how you feel. When reading is at its very best then that wonderful ‘old-fashioned’ way can’t be beaten. I just don’t think that curling up by the fireside, with a cat – and an ebook reader – or on the beach, stretched out on a towel . . . has quite the same image.
But though it’s not really ‘me’ , I’m just so glad that there are these other ways to getting books to people. Anything that encourages people to read. And I love the fact that things like the new Alcolar Family ebook bundle will bring older books back to people who haven’t read them. Harlequin are great in the way that so many backlist books are now available this way.
I would never want to be without email though! One day without it and I get withdrawal symptoms.
Kate
Hello Annie – thank you for dropping by. I loved your May book – The Greek Tycoon’s Unexpected Wife.
I don;t really want to remember what it was like to write when all I had was a typewriter – shudder! And doing revisons was an extra form of hell. There was no cut and paste, no ‘find and replace’ . I was never a very good typist and so I used to struggle to get a page looking even presentable (oops – no pun intended – I also used to struggle to get it Presentable!) All but the smallest revisions meant that you practically had to type the whole thing out again.
And like you I’m sure it’s that being at a computer screen all day means that we want to ’switch off’ when we relax. And a book is so great for that.
But I also really fancy the instant gratification of an immediate download.
Kate
Hi Kate,
Your post has just taken me on a trip down memory lane. I felt quite nostalgic when I recalled those years of typing away on an old typewriter – first draft, second draft, then the all important final draft which would be the one I’d send in to my Editor – in other words – a heck of a lot of typing!
Then there was the isolation of the job pre email. How did we manage before we had the ability to whip off an email to someone and know they would be reading it within minutes whatever part of the world they lived? The Internet quickly became a wondrous place of exploration and discovery and when the e-harlequin website went live it soon became the best place to go to meet with other like-minded writers and readers, but email is the lifeline that keeps everything else cyber moving. Being without it now is…well… inconceivable!
Now we have the magical wonders of e-books to delve into, and you’re here dropping hints linking e-books to e-mail – I want to know more!!!
Michelle
Hi Kate,
I have to say give me a real book any time – but like all things new, people need time to get used to the idea. Having read your post I might just download an ebook and give it a go.
As you pointed out, the old bookshelves would be grateful I’m sure. More importantly getting more people reading in whatever format is a good thing.
Rachael.
Hi Kate!
Lovely to see you here! I’m more traditional too in that I LOVE a real BOOK in my hand!!! I doubt that will ever change.
But . . . these added avenues do make it easier than ever to access books in other forms and like some mentioned here, I should really open myself up to these. And bottom line, reading, in whatever form, is a good thing!
MARIAN
Hi Michelle
Memory lane is right! Remember, we even used to write letters to each other : shock: Everything took s-o-o-o much longer in those days. And all that retyping! And then there was the waiting for the books to be printed and appear on the shelves . . .
But then I suppose we had more time to deal with all that because we weren’t exploring the internet and whizzing emails all over the place : wink: We didn’t have the opportunity to chat with readers and fellow writers as we can now. I
Ebooks – and emails . . . yes, there is a link, I promise you . : lol: You’ll find out soon – promise!
Kate (hoping that her smilies work!)
No – no working smilies! Oh well, I tried
Hello Rachael – good to ’see’ you again!
Yes, that bookshelf consideration is a big one, isn’t it? I keep telling myself that I’d be happy to download boks to read, if I thought they weren’t ‘keepers’ – but then how do I know what would be a keeper? Knowing me, I’d download one and then decide I wanted to keep it – and end up with a print edition as well. Great for the author, but it wouldn’t solve the bookshelf problem.
But then I’m the sort of person who has bought a second edition of books I love because I love the covers – or to keep one edition beautiful and one to read.
I’m just a bookaholic.
Kate who may have solved the smillie problem – the answer is to read the instrcusions!! (I hope)
“read the instructions” ! Not instrcsions!
But at least the smilies worked.
Hi Marian – thanks for dropping by
If I’m honest, then as a reader I’m with you – give me a real book all the time. But as a writer, an ex-librarian and a mother who has tried to encourage her son to read as much as possible, then I’m behind any initiative that gets people reading and practising the skill as much as possible.
That’s one of the reasons why I totally support eHarlequin’s Reading Challenge – such a great idea to help others get more reading, while reading myself. Like the best ideas, simple but brilliant.
But all the books I’ve read for that challenge have been in ‘real’ book form. And I’ve been so glad they were because with books like Michelle’s Markonos Bride, I know I’m going to want to go back and reread them sometime.
Kate
I generally dislike reading on screen and prefer print, but I’ve found that if a story is engrossing enough, it doesn’t matter what format it’s in. I had such an experience with an excerpt from a YA book a few months back — it was in a tiny font, on a patterned background that made it pretty hard to read, but the story was so fascinating that I soon forgot about those things and just enjoyed reading the words.
For those that haven’t tried ebooks yet, I recommend reading a few excerpts on eHarlequin.com with the Browse the Book feature. It’s not exactly the same as reading an ebook but you can get the general feel.