The Wilder Life is coming out as a hardcover book. I was fine with I’m Not the New Me being a trade paperback, but the idea of hardcover thrills me—the smooth jacket, the photo on the back flap, the board binding and stamped spine underneath. I love how you can take off the jacket of any hardcover book, even the Snooki book, and suddenly it looks important and serious, like a Franklin Library Classic.
I keep thinking it’s sort of a weird time to be published in hardcover. I wonder these days, with the book business the way it is, and bookstores closing down, and ebooks as this bright new flickering thing. It’s a fun time to be working in children’s books—at work our picture books are starting to show up on tablets and we’re starting to think in terms of apps. (I wish there was a better shorthand name for a digitally enhanced picture book than “app,” as long as it’s not something inane like “blingybook” or “schmoopystory” or whatever.)
But when it comes to hardcover books in general, I wonder whether they’re destined to become more precious objects, or just clunkier ones. I wonder what it’ll all be like the next time I have a book out.
I’m definitely not one of those people who thinks ebooks are the end of the world, but I don’t quite know what they’re the beginning of, either, or even if they’re the beginning of anything different. I have an e-reader now (I don’t want to say what kind, but it has a k in its name). It’s great—nice and light and I use it mostly for reading manuscripts, and it’s already pretty life-changing in that respect. I have a few books on there, but I haven’t gotten around to reading them yet, and probably won’t until I do some traveling this spring. I suspect when I do finally start reading this way I am going to love the hell out of not having to stuff books in my carry-on and that there are certain books that I’m going to buy and read this way. But I also know that I’ll still be buying a lot of new books in hardcover for the time being. I’ll keep buying my friends’ books in old-style booky form, and books from people whose readings I go to, and books from bookstores that I want to support so that they don’t go out of business and get turned into Jimmy John’s franchises. I know most people don’t have all of those same reasons I have, but I like to think that when it comes to book formats we’re going to stay omnivorous and consume different books in different ways.
One side effect of having a book published, I’ve found, is that people tend to tell you how they bought or didn’t buy your book, whether or not you want to hear the truth. They’ll tell you that they loved reading the copy that fifteen of their friends are passing around, or that they bought it for ten cents at a library sale, or that they read it at the bookstore because they “just don’t buy books.” And yes, some of these truths make me wince a little, but it’s also true that those people found me and read me and thought enough about what they read to email me about it, or to post something on a place like Goodreads. I will try to remember that next time I hear that someone is reading a pirated PDF of my book on their internet-enabled digital watch or something (but please don’t read a pirated PDF of my book on your internet-enabled digital watch).
I don’t know what the takeaway of all this is: a book in the hand is worth something, even it’s not the kind of book that you can hold in your hand? That sounds right. Hearing that someone has my book on a Nook or a Kindle or a Kobo or an iPad or a Samsung tablet thingamabob or as an mp3 audio download will be humbling and wonderful, and I hope when the time comes you’ll let me know how you’re reading The Wilder Life.
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Speaking of Goodreads, there’s still time to sign up for a chance to win a free galley. (Just don’t pirate it and stick it on your watch.)
The biggest down-side of ebooks to me is that they don’t give me anything to sign for readers. I’ve met a couple people at conferences or signings who tell me they’ve bought the book on Kindle or Nook. I thank them and then…can’t sign anything! I suppose I could sign their hand or something, but it’s not quite the same.
Otherwise, I quite like ebooks, though I hope a standard royalty rate is established soon. It seems to vary a lot more in contracts than the rate for paperbacks or hardbacks etc.
Although I have a kindle app I will be reading your book the old fashioned way, I pre-ordered the hardcover version and look forward to reading it.
If I find an internet-enabled wrist watch, I will pirate ALL THE BOOKS. My internet-enabled wrist watch will have a very large memory card. VERY VERY LARGE. And I will pirate EVERY BOOK EVER. Except yours, because you specifically asked.
Thank you. There may be no such thing as an internet-enabled wrist watch, but I made it up because it sounds like the worst thing in the world for reading ebooks.
I love my Kindle. It’s changed how I read. But I still prefer printed books over eBooks. As a book reviewer, the Kindle helps me keep the clutter down in my house, and I can find free books that are classics, that I just wouldn’t pay for at this point in my life: A Christmas Carol, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, etc.
I’ll be reading your book the old fashioned way, but I don’t share very well. My friends will have to buy a copy if they want to read it.
REFUSE to use ebooks and wont unless I get old and my eyes require it, lol.
PREORDERED your book from Barnes and Noble.com and will NOT be passing it around. A true LIW fan – have even been to one LIW site to prove it. (Though I can never remember exactly where it was – Minnesota I think. It was on the way from northern Iowa to Oronoco, MN to visit cousins. We stopped at a church where Laura & Almanzo attended during year or so of their marriage. If you could help me out with the name that would be GREAT, lol)
I will be buying your book in hardcover, of course. And I won’t be sharing it, either! Can’t wait to read it!
Becki, you’re thinking of Spring Valley, where Almanzo’s parents lived. Laura and Almanzo lived there for a short time to get back on their feet after they got diptheria and their house burned down. Not one of the major sites, but the museum in the church basement has tons of crazy (non-LIW) stuff. Did you get to see that? It’s a kick!
Hey Wendy! Hope you don’t mind but I just linked to your site via a recent post of mine (more than just a couple of times. You’re one of my favorites! I’m not creepy, I swear.
xo
Sarahfae
Yes! Spring Valley – that was it. Yes a minor site but STILL they worshipped in THAT church that I WAS IN, lol. And no – missed the basement. Maybe next time. It was still so exciting to have seen it.
Can’t wait for your book!
As much as I am a fan of technology, I cannot seem to get myself on the e-reader bandwagon. There is something about physically holding a book in your hands and turning the pages that can’t be replaced. I will be reading “The Wilder Life” in hardcover. 🙂
I also ordered but can not find anywhere in Hungary. The Kindle and other e-book readers do not care. I checked the most popular shop as well (www.konyv-konyvek.hu), but we did not find. Anybody got any idea?
I would normally get this at my local bookstore (having them order it for me if necessary), but the pre-order price from Amazon is certainly attractive… Do you get any Brownie points out of pre-orders? Does it make the Amazon rating system realize how much we love you? Cuz then I could fer sher justify ordering online.
Also, apropos of nothing, I picked up a copy of Pamela Holm’s book The Toaster Broke, So We’re Getting Married on remainder the other day. The title and cover amused me. I think a few things about the wedding planning might make you laugh, particularly if you’re stressed about culling the guest list, wondering about wedding favors, and more.