“The Story Of Rose” will be published digitally next Monday, August 6. That evening, at 6 p.m. I will be discussing this radical turn in my writing life at a bookstore, where “The Story of Rose” will not be available for purchase, although my paper books will. This is not something I would have imagined just a few years ago.
Connie Brooks of Battenkill Books has graciously agreed to help me mark this new book – it is available where ever digital books are sold, regular edition $2.99, enhanced edition (eight videos) $3.99. I am grateful for Connie’s friendship and her willingness to discuss the implications of e-books with me. We will share the podium. Battenkill Books is my local bookstore, my favorite bookstore. I care about it. I am glad to kick-off a new book in a bookstore. I am not giving up on paper books, just adding this dimension to my story-telling.
I will talk about the reasons for writing and publishing an e-book and my perspective on what this means for books and writing and writers. Connie will talk about the impact of e-books on bookstores. I call it a talk and signing because all of my paper books will be available for purchase or pre-order at the store, and I will be happy to sign and personalize them.
Publishers believe e-books can be a valuable tool to bring reader’s a writer’s paper books. We’ll see soon enough. On September 25, “Dancing Dogs,” my first short story collection will be published by Random House.
I am very excited about “The Story Of Rose.” I am mindful of the fact that I am publishing a book that costs less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks. It is not a short book or a chapter or two. It is a real book. It is a beautiful book, lovingly crafted by the Random House digital designers. It is a very different kind of book – 40,000 words – a new kind of narrative and I am very proud of it. It tells the story of Rose in many different ways, and I was profoundly moved in a very new way when Random House showed it to me via Skype.
I have wanted to explore this approach to publishing for some time, and I am well aware it has traumatized – some would say threatened – bookstores, publishers, many writers. It is not a simple thing for me, either, on many levels.
It is, I know, a controversial book. A number of my readers and fellow writers are disappointed I have chosen to write a book in this format and at this price. I have gotten more messages about this book in advance of its publication than anything I have written. Some people have been reading and collecting my books for years and are upset that they cannot order this memoir of my life with Rose in paper. Many say they have gone out and bought Kindles and Ipads so they can read it, or plan to read it on their Iphones. That is humbling. It is amazing to consider all of the new ways people have of buying and reading books.
Some of my readers don’t have Kindles or Ipads and don’t want them. Many are passionately wedded to the form of the paper book and are feeling railroaded. Many – quite a few – have been reading e-books for some time.
These are all things we will talk about at 6 p.m. Monday, August 6 at Battenkill (519 677-2515) or later, online or during my fall book tour. The Monday night discussion is not a debate but an open discussion. We have no plans to video stream or record this event, but I will be writing about it. “The Story Of Rose” is being sold on Amazon. Bn.com, Ibooks (where it is a featured August selection) and on Kindles, Ipads, Nooks and through various software reading programs on computes and smarphones. There are no plans to publish it in paper. The content is original and includes many new stories about Rose.
For me, “The Story Of Rose” marks a seminal moment in my writing life. I believe this book is one of the most exciting and creative things I’ve ever done, and I want to do more e-books as well as more paper books. It is a very natural format for me, both in terms of writing and also my visual side – my photography and videos. I think the future suggests both forms will exist in different ways alongside one another. I should say this is a risk for me as well. Publishers don’t pay advances for e-books and the sales price is so small that volume becomes important. Book sales are simply split with the writer. The idea of the price is to spur sales. If there is no volume…well, you can do the math. There is an out-on-a-limb feeling for sure.
My purpose is to be creative and to change. And to survive. And to tell my stories as well as possible. The new economics of publishing are definitely on my mind as well as the creative challenges involved. I intend to be relevant. I hope you will read “The Story Of Rose.” It is available for pre-ordering. I would very much like to know what you think about it. I want this feedback. If you are around, hope to see you at Battenkill August 6. Connie has invited Red and Lenore. There will be an opportunity for questions and discussion.