I used to use the library a lot. I also loved roaming used bookstores for cheap books, ditto for yard sales, thrift stores, and friends' book shelves.
Then I decided I want to make my living as a fiction writer.
As a result, I've paid more for books in 2009 than ever before to ensure the author is getting his/her due... in the hope that people will do me the same favor when I'm published. I bought ebooks and new paper books (if no e was available) and all but stopped going to the library. I began to eye used bookstores as a guilty pleasure.
No more! On Saturday, I found Carrie Ryan's FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH at the library, so I made a deal with myself: if I get a book for free (library or friend) or a deep discount (used-book vendor), and I read that book past page 20, I'll buy the ebook version of it.
I want authors (and everybody else who worked on a book) to get paid, but I don't want to store paper books in my house. Ebooks will be my solution; creatives get paid, and my virtual bookshelf can get as crowded as my hard drive allows. For this to work, publishers need to provide ebook versions of their titles, but within a few years, I doubt there will be many in-print titles without an ebook format (or many out-of-print titles, for that matter).
By the way, I only had to read two pages of Ryan's book before I went online and bought the ebook.
What about you? Do you have rules for your use of media -- books, music, movies, etc? Have your rules changed over the years (new technology notwithstanding)?
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Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Paying for Art: My New Deal with Myself
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4 ate pie:
I shouldn't tell you this, but I'm cheap. I only buy books full price if I have a gift card. I just can't get into ebooks. Part of the appeal of reading is the book itself...the smell, the feel. I get my songs for 9 cents...it's legal in the country of origin of the website :)
Ha! Well hey, I hear you. I used to get ebooks through LimeWire, till it got super-sketchy. I just deleted my stash a couple months ago. :)
I feel the exact same way as you--and because I like small-town economics, I also try to buy more from my local independent book store. It's more expensive--and I sometimes break and use Amazon instead--but I do make an effort to go to the indie bookstore and support both them and the authors I love.
It's good you have an indie near you that you like. I haven't given ours much of a chance yet. :(
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