Over the last few months, I have been putting together eBooks, some are compilations and collections of previous works, while others are from scratch. Being a highly charged prolific writer, I am able to do this perhaps faster than other people, and now, I have a system which helps me do it efficiently. Still, it's not easy, it's a lot of hard work - a real ass-flatener if you will - and then there's another aspect to all this, I am noticing that the eBooks which I am producing will be outdated within the next two years.
This is because more and more people are competing in this new expanding marketplace, and they are interjecting more multimedia into their books - okay so, let's talk about all this if we might.
Recently, I've noted that there is new software for creating multimedia eBooks, and it is a program which is available for the Mac which costs around $99. The eBook author is able to stick in pictures, just as they might in a Microsoft Word program, but they can also insert videos. Then, they can download these eBooks to the Apple eBook store, where people who have an iPad can buy them and watch/read them. Indeed, I believe this will be the new way of doing things. It's a great new innovation, but it will also challenge all of those who have already produced eBooks, which might be selling well today, but will not be able to compete in the future.
Now then, this begs the question for someone like me who has produced 160 eBooks so far for Kindle users. Indeed, no one will want them, and why should they if they can buy a multimedia book on the same or a similar topic, do you see that point? Another question is; does somebody go ahead and upgrade to the new system, and way of doing things now, to sell their multimedia books at the Apple Store, or should one wait until someone produces a more standardized version of software that can be used on any platform including Amazon, Apple, Barnes & Noble, or perhaps even a new market player in the venue of eBooks or multimedia eBook-like products?
Personally, it will be a challenge for me, but I do believe that this new venue is an excellent way to put forth nonfiction information, and will also do quite well for fictional writers, enabling them to tell a story in their book. Imagine a Harry-Potter book, or something like that which was full multimedia enabled? Does that mean the eBook industry will move towards larger companies that can afford the staff to produce these types of works? Will that be how the publishing houses stay in business, by jumping onto this new trend?
Will this new trend end the lowly eBook author's new claim to fame? Indeed I guess we will see in the near future. Additionally, it seems that covers do matter, and people do judge eBooks by their cover, by that graphic representation which is shown in the picture when the online consumer decides to buy or not. Those books which have more graphic representation inside, generally get higher ratings, and are enjoyed more by eBook readers - therefore, I would submit to you that eBook authors who want to stay in the game, are going to have to migrate to the multimedia book format sooner or later.
Right now, it's hard to say who will be the winner in this game, and which technologies will emerge as the new standard. Switching now might also be a problem if that new standard is not adopted by all sides of the industry. Indeed, I am taking a wait-and-see approach, it's hard to say how this will evolve in the near future. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net/
