EBooks

Compared to the printed version of a book, the eBook offers several benefits:

• The eBook can be downloaded instantly from a website into a computer, mobile phone, PDA or soon into an iPod.

• The text is searchable.

• The eBook can contain hyperlinks to relevant websites for further information.

In the same way that people are ‘ripping’ their CD collection into their iPods, boxing up the old discs and putting them into the attic, we now have the same option available to us for our book collections.

It’s not a concept that appeals to everyone, but the ability to carry an entire library in your pocket will at least lighten a few holiday suitcases that were previously stuffed with heavy novels.

Internet publishing

There are publishers who only produce eBooks. Their investment in each title published is much lower than in the traditional model because they avoid print, storage and delivery costs for their products. Therefore they can publish more books than other firms and do not need to reject such high percentages of the submissions they receive. But most authors don’t want to let go of the dream of seeing copies of their book on the shelves of a bookshop and are reluctant to accept publication only in eBook formats.