Amazon.com announced today that they are reducing the price of the Kindle 2 ebook reader from $299 to $259. Of course, the Kindle app for iPhone and iPod Touch is still FREE!
There is also a Kindle 2 equipped for GSM wireless networks available at $279.
This of course is only good news for Indie published writers. Amazon charges nothing for indie authors to publish their books for the Kindle and does not require an exclusive deal.
Read the full story at CNET here:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10369321-93.html
In the mean time, Smashwords.com’s highly-anticipated distribution deal with BarnesandNoble.com has yet, as of this morning, to go live on BarnesandNoble.com. I have yet to see my books or my friends’ books appear in search results on the B&N site. When that happens (it was supposed to happen October 1) I will post a more thorough review of my Smashwords experience.
I recently went to one of my favorite author’s book signings, and as I walked out the door, I was thrilled to see he had signed “Best wishes! Your friend, ….” I got back in line and waited over an hour to ask what he wanted to do that night; grab a pizza, catch a movie, whatever. He looked perplexed and indicated he “had plans with friends.” I showed him the book where he had just signed “Your friend,” and said I assumed I was included, since he just acknowleged our friendship. He said, “That’s just something I sign. It doesn’t mean we’re actually friends.” He writes non-fiction. Now I’m begining to wonder if it really is. Was I wrong to think we were friends? I ask you, Tom Jonq, as a respected author.
sorry this reply took so long, nate. this is a very interesting question, especially since writers stereotypically aren’t what you’d call “people persons.” should you have taken “your friend” so seriously? maybe, maybe not, but even though someone is an author, they should still think about dealing sincerely with their readers. and by readers, i mean, customers.
if he didn’t mean it, then maybe he shouldn’t have written it. i don’t see anything wrong with, “thanks for your support!” or some such as a generic inscription, since it’s t least honest.
as a respected author, who takes months to reply to blog comments, let me ask you, a reader of books who likes autographed copies, how do i autograph an e-book? asking customer to send me SASE’s so i can send them autographed photos of me sounds a tad 1950′s fan-clubbish. of course, you can buy autographed paperbacks directly from me, but what about my kindle, etc, customers? selfishly, i’m really tickled when i see ads for my books in used book stores that mention, “inscribed by author!” how can i get the same narcissistic thrill from an e-book?
thakks for your comments!
your humble respected author