Book Release Hoopla · 9 November 2013
I can imagine a lot of hoopla for a great writer’s newest book release. Interviews with reporters and television appearances. Book signings and autographs. Blog posts and social media updates. And of course, books.
While I can imagine all of these things (including being a great writer), I cannot figure out how any of them really fit into a digital book release. Especially, the book signings.
I just published my second electronic book for the Amazon Kindle called Long Walks Home or Pee on Poo Potty on the Shoe and other stories from my childhood. It is just a collection of stories about growing up. The book has been sitting around my house for a few years and I had apparently loaned a hard copy to my friend, Tim. That hard copy and my friend were the reasons I decided to publish it digitally.
Tim never read the book when it was sitting on his shelf, but he says he is a sucker for 99 cent books. It is the lowest price Amazon allows self-publishers to set and it is a price that I figure people would pay to read a bunch of stories from a MediocreMan’s childhood. So if Tim would buy it (and maybe read it), I figure there might be a few others who might like to read my books too. Or at least buy them. (By the way, if you are selling an e-book for 99 cents, tell Tim. He might not read it, but he will probably buy it.)
Tim also told me about at least one success story of 99 cent books. At least one author turned his e-book into an amazing print deal and movie deal. I may never get a great print or movie deal, but I figured I ought to publish something for people to read.
Which brings me back to the book release hoopla.
I am certain people would line up to see me at a book release party (at least I can see my few real and imaginary fans doing so). And I am sure I would be a media darling (at least for silly things I wish I never said). But I just cannot figure out how to handle digital book signings.
I have had authors sign books before. It is nice to look in the front cover to see a scrawled note and signature and know you stood in front of the author to get it. While I might be able to see lines of digital customers and envision webcast interviews, I cannot figure out where I would sign a digital book. If anybody asked.
So I thought maybe somebody ought to create an autographable digital book reader. A Kindle with a signature reader and stylus. Authors could just write a quick note and sign on one of those new readers and millions of people could have signatures in the time it takes to tweet and nobody would need to stand in line. (Of course, that would create all sorts of other problems.)
Maybe instead, Amazon ought to create a Kindle with a pad of paper in the front. Or better yet, people could just tape a piece of paper into the front of their e-readers for those times when they meet the author of their favorite e-books.
I am ready for that day when my book releases come with more than just a blog post and a few lines on my social media platforms. I am ready to make appearances and sign books. I am ready for the whole book release hoopla. I am sure it will be more than I could ever imagine.
© 2013 Michael T. Miyoshi
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Congratulations, Mike! I look forward to reading more funny and sweet tales from your childhood. Tell your friend Tim he can get A SPARK OF DEATH for 99c (first in my series). And someone did invent a way to autograph Kindle books.http://www.authorgraph.com
— Bernadette Pajer · 9 November 2013, 09:09 ·