Sunday, March 29, 2009

Angela Burns Replies

It's an interesting idea, Harry, but I don't think it will fly. A bricks and mortar shop is just not smart these days. Authors and publishers need to look outside the 'box' (sorry for the cliche).

I'd much rather see members create a distributor and ensure that books are placed in independent bookstores around BC. Most books are produced in digital format for printing, so a website offering downloadable versions for a small fee would also be a good idea, and generate some income for authors. Websites are cheap.

It's important that authors have their works available to be read - by any means available. E-books are soon going to replace print copies - simply because they will be more accessible. Google and Amazon are gearing up to flood the market with them. I love books and bookstores, but this is the future. If we don't recognize this, we will all go down together.

Readings by the author or a professional 'voice' can be done through audio files and made available online - thereby opening another market for books, and a way to publicize them. Audio books are a huge market.

I don't live in Vancouver, nor do I visit the Mainland - so a bookstore there would have no value to me, either as an author or a publisher. I certainly could not assist in the front.

Also, setting up a printing business is an expensive, complex proposition. It isn't something that can be done in a 'back room'. Print-on-demand shops, like Printorium in Victoria, have economies of scale and technical expertise. I use them and find their product both very good and affordable - as long as one understands the technical side - which I do.

So, digital media has to be considered seriously - websites, audio, visual - even a virtual shop fronts in Second Life. It would be a lot cheaper and give a bigger bang for the buck. Even a chat room devoted to authors and publishers would be helpful. There is open source software for this. We all need to discuss our trade - and not everyone can attend meetings or events.

If we diversify, we may survive.

Cheers,

Angela Burns
GSG Ltd.
Publisher/Editor/Writer/ etc.

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