In the meantime I'll see what I can do with a website. If ya can't beat 'em...
At times I am completely frustrated with the publishing situation...
But at times I feel like I'm at Sutter's Mill in '48!!
The direction of change in information delivery is still unclear. Hard copy books still account for billions a year. The alternatives have never been more diverse. Apple is engaged in a war with Amazon and others, ie, ibook vs ebook. Sorta like the old vhs vs betamax situation. Audio books and podcasts on the rise. In the 1st month of release for the new Apple Ipad, they sold over 1 million devices. They also sold nearly 14 million ibooks. However, these electronic alternatives are not 1/10th the revenue stream of paper books.
Google has a goal of digitising 15 million copyright free historical texts. Along with that effort, they are approaching authors of more recent works to cut deals.
So the question is, do you publish to a traditional paper book or some form of electronic book?
My fear is that 100 years from now, we will have lost a great deal of information if everything goes digital. A silver nitrate negative still out lasts a jpg on a cdrom. All the information exchanged here will end up in the bit bucket without those willing to publish.
Pete
