For a variety of reasons, I’ve been looking for some of my favorite books in e-format. Specifically for Kindle since that’s the e-reader I use. To my great disappointment, the results have been less than stellar.
One of the books I wanted was available, but priced ridiculously high. I blogged about that last week, I think. The other titles I’m looking for don’t seem to be out as an ebook anywhere. I assumed that because these were older books and out of print that the authors had their rights back. I found out with one author that this wasn’t the case–she hadn’t been able to get her rights back from what I read online. I don’t know about the third one.
It’s not that I’m going to get rid of my paper copies of these books–I’m not–but I would like them in e-format, too. I guess I have an interesting perspective on things because I know so many authors who do have their rights back and who are getting them out there as ebooks. It honestly shocks me when I can’t find what I’m looking for on Amazon for my Kindle. Although, after the past week and all the books I can’t get, maybe I shouldn’t be so stunned anymore, huh?
I guess my plea is to all the authors who have their rights back and aren’t doing anything with them, please, get these books formatted for the different readers and available for sale. At a reasonable price. You don’t know who is out there, waiting to buy it. Like me.
And readers, I do have the rights back to my first four books and I am working to get them out there in e-format. It’s just taking longer than I’d hoped. My goal is before Christmas. I can do this. I hope.
Totally agree. I have many books on my wish-list which aren't in Kindle yet (I put them there to remember to check every now and again). I rather object to spending over 10 dollars for an ebook (because production costs are so much less than producing a paper-book).
I don't mind paying mass market paperback prices for ebooks because most of the cost is in the editing, copy editing, covers, etc. rather than the paper/warehousing. But I'm not willing to pay more than mmpb prices. When the cost starts going above that? I don't buy.