Best of luck with the blog!

As you know, the text-to-speech issue is an important one to me. If you need the references on the legal parts, see my earlier article, The Disabled Deserve to Read: http://ilmk.wordpress.com/2009/10/11/the-disabled-deserve-to-read/

http://www.davidderrico.com/being-pointlessly-mean-blocking-text-to-speech/

I’ve bucked up…with the world being the wonderful place it is, I don’t stay in a funk for long. Believe it or not, that’s not sarcastic.

I agree with a lot what you’ve said. I see the EPUB thing as less significant than a lot of other people, although they may have to do it eventually. What people don’t understand about that it that it isn’t like the “universal donor” MP3. If you get an EPUB book one place, that doesn’t automatically mean you can use it with another reader. EPUB can be made without DRM (Digital Rights Management), in which case Kindles can already use it pretty easily (after simple, free conversion with Calibre). If it’s not, it isn’t any more open than unprotected mobi. I also don’t hear good things about EPUB from users, actually. What I think may happen is that Amazon may enable free conversion of EPUB to AZW…although I don’t know what that would cost them in licensing fees.

It hasn’t been quite three years on the Kindle (that will come November 19 of this year), but you are right, they certainly grabbed the sleeping e-book market by the ears, gave it a shake, and took it for a ride.

It’s the twists and turns and ups and downs that make the ride interesting…

Welcome to the Klub!

Buck up. It is certainly disheartening, I agree, but here’s my take on the situation:

1. You are correct, of course, that the “big six’s” primary reason is to preserve their market share and their quasi-monopoly

2. They will Lose. The. Battle. Period. The days of paper books are numbered, for good or ill. They have been ever since the advent of the automatic adding machines in the forties and fifties.

[Sidebar: Ironically, the one who had a very big role in number 2 is one Steve Jobs, who is now colluding with the Big Six to help them shore up their monopoly. Unlike some observers, I know their CEOs are not stupid: they realize Jobs is playing them, but see this as a way to delay the inevitable, until they can float down on their golden parachutes to safety. Because, of course, not being stupid, they know their days are numbered too.]

3. Amazon will win. The reasons are several, but they are all economic in nature. First, over the past three (?) years of the Kindle’s existence, they have controlled the market. That means they have a tremendous built in loyalty base. Perhaps more importantly, by holding the $9.99 price point so long, that base is conditioned NOT to spend more on books. I’ve only had a Kindle for a month and a half, and already will not spend more.

4. We all will win. Amazon, by those very same economic factors, will be forced to include an “open” standard like ePub in the Kindle’s repertoire. Probably not for a few years, maybe — faced with the Nook, which will iron out it’s problems — sooner.

So buck (and buckle) up: it’s going to be a bumpy, but exhilarating, ride.

I agree…having text-to-speech definitely ups the number of books I read. That’s not too complicated a calculation. I don’t know if it’s twice as fast, but it’s a lot faster.

Good observation!

I have to say, that’s one of the best written comments I’ve seen.

I understand that feeling. It’s a bit like somebody saying, “Thanks for not slamming the door in my face.” “Um…you’re welcome?” It kind of seems like it should be assumed.

People assume the publishers (or even the authors) had to program the book to do text-to-speech…as we know, if you don’t do anything, it happens.

It was nice of your reader to thank you, though. They don’t do that with people they don’t like.

I’ll take a look at one of your books, at least get a sample. Oh, and in case you’re wondering…

http://www.amazon.com/Intrepid-International-WHIP-DRIVING-GIG/dp/B000FFDVLU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1266527172&sr=8-3

And, just like the buggy-whip makers, it won’t work.

Next, they’ll probably make the e-books expire after a certain amount of time and try to disable changing font sizes and dictionary lookups. Anything to remove the benefits of e-books and try to get people back to paper, where they own the market.

I actually had a nice reader post on my Facebook fan page the other day and thank me for enabling TTS in my novels. I didn’t even know how to respond — my initial reaction was, “Why in God’s name would I ever DISable it? Just to be pointlessly mean?” But your post shows that — incredibly — leaving the natural advantages of e-books in place and not INTENTIONALLY crippling them has become the exception instead of the norm.

On the one hand it’s sad; on the other hand, I do believe that readers are fed up with it and will continue to respond by supporting authors and publishers who meet their needs and treat their readers with respect. So, let the big publishers keep spitting on their customers. It only hastens the realignment of the publishing industry and helps independent authors like myself.

I appreciate your concern, really. I’m never offended by honestly offered advice, especially when it comes from what seems to be a heartfelt place.

In terms of my having material to read, I’m not worried about that. I mostly read public domain, and nothing is likely to stop that. It’s not that it isn’t frustrating sometimes, especially for my Significant Other (SO). We hear about a book we’d really like to read, but don’t buy it. That just happened with a non-fiction book…I heard the author on the radio, my SO read about it.

However, I can read Tolstoy, Dickens, Burroughs, Bierce… Also, I don’t think that everybody will go this way. I think lots of independents will see this as a competitive advantage they have over the big dogs. Hey, I may find some brand new authors that way!

As to the battle…it isn’t a battle for me, although it is for some people. I don’t see it as I’m fighting them, storming the castle so to speak, trying to force them to change their minds. I just don’t want to give my money to people who take this position, and that’s because I think it’s unfair to a group of people. I don’t want to support that…even with referral fees.

Could I be marginalized by this? I’m so marginalized now, I’m practially standing on the edge of the page. I’ve never felt the need to be mainstream. I do regret (already) that there are books I don’t mention…some books that I read years ago that I think are great. On the other hand, if I’m the only one out there in the hinterlands bringing you news of this cool new species of book I’ve found, that could be useful too, right? I haven’t really made this blog about reviews anyway. If I never mentioned another new release title in it, I think that would be okay with most readers.

Am I a bit Quixotic? Sure. I’ve always admired Don Quixote for that (although not for everything, of course). It’s not about winning…it’s about believing in what you do.

I reallly want to thank you for the kind words and the concern this morning. You’ve helped me out of my funk. I hope that what I do write will continue to entertain you and others and be valuable for you. There will be a lot of good things to discuss, and once the tide has turned on e-books versus paperbooks, I think we’ll see the return of text-to-speech from everybody, for everybody.

But Bufo, what are you going to do? You can’t not read and so many have joined TTS blocking that I worry you will now have a very narrow market to read from and to recommend to your subscribers. I know it’s probably anathema to suggest, but maybe it’s time to realize this battle is lost and go back to reading and recommending those publishers. I hate to say that, but I’m trying to be practical too. You do all of us a great service and I’d hate to see your influence, in essence, marginalized by this. I hope you’re not offended and understand where I’m coming from.