Wednesday, May 16, 2012

First Love, Once Removed

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I have gone over to the dark side – or the light or bright side, depending on your publishing perspective.


Much to my delight, my sons actually do listen to me – it’s not all selective hearing.  Truly, I was not planting subtle hints but after hearing a few tentative, “I’m considering buying a…” they seized the day and bought me a Kindle Touch for Mother’s Day.

I’m still immersed in the User’s Guide, experimenting & playing with my new toy and, as yet, have downloaded only three books.  (I actually considered downloading my own e-book but concluded that would be counter-intuitive in terms of money spent/earned.)

Although I’ve finally embraced this new technology, some things never change.  The day after receiving my Kindle, I just happened to be in the neighbourhood of my favourite used book store and purchased two hold-in-both-hands print books.  I will never lose that love, that addiction.

And while on the topic of print publications, I recently received my contributor’s copy of the magazine containing my short story.  Never mind that I know exactly what the story is all about, seeing and holding a magazine or journal containing my work never fails to thrill me.  The remuneration is rather nice, too.


Why a Kindle?  I know many writers who have gone or are going the Amazon Kindle e-publishing route – best (only?) way to read their work.



photo credit: google images

22 comments:

laughingwolf said...

grats beth!

one of these days i may get one of those ereaders....

Gorilla Bananas said...

E-publishing does seem to be all the rage. There is a blogger called Stella Deleuze who has made a career of it. Google her name and you'll find her blog, but be warned: she owns a pet iguana!

Beth said...

LW:
Congrats may be premature – I have yet to read one of the downloaded books for any length of time. Takes some getting used to.

GB:
I checked out her blog – some interesting posts – particularly the one about authors reviewing their own work on Amazon. (Good reviews, of course.)
Iguanas don’t alarm me – just mice and bears. ;)

Adam said...

I want one of those nook tablets

oreneta said...

Nothing is like a book. Ebook readers have their virtues, I'm not against them (except on something of a visceral level) but an in your hands book that you can hold....something to that.

nursemyra said...

I love my Kindle!

Beth said...

Adam:
So many “toys” to choose from! ;)

oreneta:
“…an in your hands book that you can hold....something to that.”
There is NOTHING like that!
(So far, have downloaded books available in e-format only…that’s my plan…)

nursemyra:
Encouraging words – I’m still struggling to adapt to reading from mine.

The Bodhi Chicklet said...

Mmmmmm, I might have a wee bit of Kindle envy. Travelling by plane a few times this past month made me wish to have one. Whereas before I resisted the technology, I now see it's draw. And yet I still love the heft of an actual book in hand, the smell of the ink and especially of old pages. Enjoy!

Beth said...

The Bodhi Chicklet:
So far, I miss not seeing two pages and turning pages with my finger(s) AND it’s so small!

Cheri:
The boys say it will be great for the cottage – I can see myself dropping it in the lake… ;)

Pearl said...

Have a Kindle myself and am still getting used to not turning pages.

Feel like I'm cheating on my paperbacks...

Pearl

Anonymous said...

I bought a Kindle about 6 months ago and immediately adopted it. It's not a touch one, the model before that (I didn't want to splurge for a traveling device).

I still like paper books but I have been able to download and find books I couldn't get from the library (French books, popular titles for which I have to wait months, etc.)

Once a reader, always a reader... no matter the format you choose!

Beth said...

Pearl:
Both my paperbacks and hard-covers are giving me the evil eye. ;)
Or so I think…

Zhu:
You download books you can’t get at the library – I’m downloading e-books published by friends. E-readers are fulfilling needs that can’t be met by print.
Read on – either in “e” or “p” form!

laughingwolf said...

my younger daughter won a sony reader, never asked how she likes it - like me, she reads a lot....

JJ said...

i dont have a Kindle. i got my husband an iPad but i dont see myself with one yet.
:) congratulations, Beth.

Jules said...

Let me know how you get on with it. I can see the benefits but nothing beats the smell and feel of a book! Or, your work in a magazine :)

Beth said...

LW:
The apples don’t fall far from the trees…

Jaya J:
Bet you occasionally use his iPad!

Juliette:
Tried reading with it last night – ended up putting it aside and reading the old-fashioned way – with an old-fashioned print book.
This is going to take some time.

laughingwolf said...

son reads less, older daughter reads most... after me! :P lol

Cipriano said...

What a great gift you got for Mother's Day. I will look forward to your impressions of this innovation in reading -- one that I have not yet moved on over to.
Just the other day I had a talk about the whole Kindle idea with my best friend and his wife. For me, it may be an eyesight issue that finally steers me Kindleward. I'm finding it more and more difficult to have the proper lighting for reading as I enter into my state of decrepit old age. Then again, maybe the electronic devices aren't good for the eyes either! I sort of attribute my own failing eyesight to a year at a job staring all day into a computer screen. Then again -- it could just be the old age.
I still love the bookness of books though.
Cheers, Beth!

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

Beth, congratulations on seeing your work in print! And your sons are wonderful -and clearly know they have a wonderful mother. Enjoy your Kindle!

xoRobyn

laughingwolf said...

quiet vdw, i hope?

JJ said...

if he's around, i only ever use it to Draw Something !

JJ said...

if he's around, i only ever use it to Draw Something !