As Borders and Barnes and Noble exit stage left, we writers need to “get used to the new world of books.” I know, I know, everyone is saying it but, one, it can’t be said enough and two, it’s obvious many aren’t listening. The executives and directors at these two once book-behemoths weren’t listening. They couldn’t shed their old mind set and see a new horizon. It’s not like the ebook phenomenon crept up on them. Other companies have adapted and succeeded. These guys were simply to stuck in the 20th century business model. But despite having their head and feet buried in past thinking, it’s the fact that they didn’t listen to the market. That is the crucial point of no return. And in the book business we’re just getting started with rampant change. We ain’t seen nothin’ yet.
Ebooks are going through the roof – actually through millions of Kindles, iPads, iPhones, Torches and desktops. And the readers for we writers and publishers (we need to be both or linked to each other) are not only everywhere but waiting for anything of true value to reach them. All we have to do is create it AND figure out how to get it to them. Not easy. But straightforward IF we listen to the market.
