Print Books and Ebooks - Diminishing Bookshelves

Are our print books suffering from lack of visibility?

I clearly remember how happy I was, when first being able to afford to buy a book for myself and placing it proudly on a shelf.  From then on it became a hobby to choose, read, keep notes about, the latest book and then let it join the growing collection.

When friends came to the house they always made for the bookshelf to see what I'd been reading and we would take books from the shelves and discuss them.  The current book would be lounging on the coffee table or arm of the settee, its bookmark protruding.

I have welcomed the E-readers and my first novel is published both in print and electronic version. It is so useful to read using the electronic method but, thinking recently, I noticed, with a certain sadness, that because of my use of the E-reader, my friends are being denied the previous availability of being able take a book from my shelves to discuss the latest exciting find as the titles are now hidden away in my reader.

As Louis L'Amour used to do, for years, I have kept a notebook listing each year's reading and it is through this documenting that I often remember what was happening that particular year when reading a particular book and it was good to look up at a shelf and see the book standing there.

Although I make a point of reviewing every book bought via Amazon, it is not the same as having the physical book in your own living-room in order to give personal recommendations.  A collection of books on a bookshelf has always been aesthetically pleasing, sort of cosy.  The books become friends in themselves to take down, to re-read, and to quote from.

I wonder what you think?  Is it possible that authors are being denied this simple method of recommendation, as many readers no longer have the latest printed copy of a book displayed on a bookshelf or lounging on a coffee table?

Here is a snippet of a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson, 1850-1894 called 'The Land of Story-Books'.
I think we perhaps also need to leave books lying around so that children see our own enjoyment of them.  It is clear, in this little excerpt from the poem, that books were Robert Louis Stevenson's childhood friends:

At evening when the lamp is lit,
Around the fire my parents sit;
They sit at home and talk and sing,
And do not play at anything.

Now, with my little gun, I crawl
All in the dark along the wall,
And follow round the forest track
Away behind the sofa back.

There, in the night, where none can spy,
All in my hunter’s camp I lie,
And play at books that I have read
Till it is time to go to bed.

It would be good, if you have time, to take a look at my book here

UK: 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maz-Me-Sharon-Loveday/dp/1494361582/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

US: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1494361582/sr=8-1/qid=1403778533/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1403778533&sr=8-1 

 

Why I published using Createspace

As I was approaching the completion of my novel 'Maz and Me' I began to explore my options regarding publication of the book.  My father is a published, award-winning author and, at first, I thought I should take the route of putting my book out to various agents in the hope of finding one who would consider it.

Then my circumstances changed.  My job was no longer in existence, both my elderly parents became ill at the same time and needed many months of assistance which made it difficult to contemplate taking another job at that time, with the possibility that I would need to take more leave very soon.  Also, my age was a consideration (59).  With all these factors presenting themselves I looked into the self-publishing arena.

I found Createspace and it looked like a very good option for someone with no income as you can publish without any cost at all.  Was I confident enough?  After consideration, I thought that it would give me an opportunity to use skills I'd gained during my working life. My diploma in editing and degree in creative writing and literature should stand me in good stead to take the challenge, be brave and be behind my own book in the marketing process. Here is the process, as I found it, for publishing my book via Createspace............. 
www.createspace.com 

• I created an account
• Uploaded carefully edited word document
• I chose the book size recommended to me by Createspace
• I  let the Createspace tools resize my manuscript
• Opened the Cover Creator tool. I then listened to advice from my French friend who advised me to choose a plain cover as, although my book is humorous, it is a philosophical story and he thought I should choose a cover which might appeal to readers who are used to books like 'Bonjour Tristesse' etc.
• Using Cover Creator was easy and fun. I even had a grand-daughter take the author photo, which was simple to upload.
• I chose the wider distribution options so that outlets such as Barnes and Noble have access to selling the book.
• Createspace gave me a free ISBN number
• I chose my price and royalty level and agreed my distribution rights
• I used the Interior Reviewer tool and when everything seemed satisfactory I only had to click to agree and Createspace sent me a message to say that the book was in the review process and I would hear within about 48 hours.
• The next day an email arrived to let me know that the book was approved.
• I was able to open it on my computer to preview it and then agree to publish.
• Within a few days it began to appear on Amazon channels and then within a few weeks all the wider distribution channels.
• I ordered copies and was delighted with the quality of the finished product.

If you would like to take a look here is the link

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maz-Me-Sharon-Loveday/dp/1494361582/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_pap?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1391168558&sr=1-1&keywords=maz+and+me