Saturday, August 7, 2010

Our Ever-Changing World - Hang on!

It's happening. It's really happening. There are rumors that Barnes and Noble will be closing their doors. Oh, I know those whisperings have been around awhile but today, at my writer's meeting, they sounded real.

Not rumor, Dorchester is going digital and POD only. Read this blogpost. You won't find their authors in bookstores. Bookstore? What's that?

There are 129 million different books published in the world. Who is trying to digitize them? Yes, ALL of them.

The book world (the publishing world) as we know it is coming to an end. Feels like things are moving pretty fast. How do you feel about it? Will you make the change work for you? Are you going to dig in your heels and refuse to purchase that Kindle--even if your kids try to buy you one for Christmas? Do you all ready have one and L-O-V-E love it? Why do you love it?

Share your publishing plans for the future. Let me know your thoughts. These little girls show you mine. I feel sad. I feel like it's time to dig out those jewelry-making kits.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

I am with you. This would be terrible in my opinion. To be fair I don't have a kindle, but still, it just seems terribly sad.

sunny smiles said...

I work in a library..I love books, old books, new books. The smell of new ones and the musty smell of an old one..Nothing can take their place...Books make wonderful gifts too..

Charles Gramlich said...

I'm doubting that Barnes & Noble will actually close. They may cut back on branches, and perhaps even be bought out. but I'm not expecting them to close. I do love my Kindle but I love print books much more.

Anonymous said...

I've done most of my reading online for the past few years. Ebooks seem to be the way of the future whether we like it or not. Sad to say, I think the next generation will have to Google the word book & newspaper to find out what one looks like.

~Ron

Unknown said...

I don't own a Kindle yet. I don't read online except for a couple of things I've read from Project Gutenberg. Things are going where they're going whether I like it or not. I hope to roll with the changes.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I followed you from your comment on Scott Eagen's blog-- "60 is a bit late to be talking career" LOL I just had to find your blog. Am following you and looking forward to getting to know you better. As for the publishing industry, wow it is changing so incredibly fast. Bookstores are struggling like crazy. A year ago this really upset me, but now I'm seeing new opportunities within the changing climate.

Jessica Ferguson said...

Hey gang, thanks for popping in. I love comments. :)

KarenG, you have a wonderful blogsite and very interesting publishing company. I hope you keep in touch...

Anonymous said...

I don't think the printed word will ever disappear, Jess. I think we should look at this as an expansion. I believe publishers who are switching over to digital only, will eventually switch back to printing as well, as soon as they can afford to. This economy is playing hell with their houses too, both large and small.