Comments for Dean F. Wilson http://deanfwilson.com Dean F. Wilson Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:00:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Google+ Versus Facebook by Dean http://deanfwilson.com/2011/07/google-versus-facebook/#comment-48 Dean Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:00:16 +0000 http://deanfwilson.com/?p=414#comment-48 More on the privacy elements of Google+: http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/feature/2087712/google-privacy-features-exposed More on the privacy elements of Google+:

http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/feature/2087712/google-privacy-features-exposed

]]> Comment on The Importance of Reading by Jason http://deanfwilson.com/2011/06/the-importance-of-reading/#comment-35 Jason Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:34:55 +0000 http://deanfwilson.com/?p=378#comment-35 Well spoken -- er, written! 'Nuff said. Well spoken — er, written!

‘Nuff said.

]]> Comment on Book Trailers by Dean http://deanfwilson.com/2011/06/book-trailers/#comment-33 Dean Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:06:07 +0000 http://deanfwilson.com/?p=372#comment-33 You don't see many trailers for books on TV, but there are a few every now and then, usually by big names. Often this isn't invested in, because the cost won't justify the return in sales, since most readers will happen upon a book via other sources (in a bookstore, in a review online, or via word of mouth, for example). However, the internet opens lots of possibilities for cheap trailers that can be displayed on websites and via YouTube. These can be produced in minutes for free, or can be made professionally for a price that would still be significantly less compared to TV. I agree that book previews are important. I think sample chapters and other writing from an author should be displayed on their website and the website of their publisher, especially if they are a new or little known author. Why should a reader fork out their cash on something they cannot see is good when they know there are other good books they can invest in? Online is the way to go. Authors need to build a relationship with their readers. This is important for feedback, but also because it is in many ways a symbiotic process between the two. Hehe, it will indeed. I'm not particularly photogenic, but I might be a bit more videogenic :P -D You don’t see many trailers for books on TV, but there are a few every now and then, usually by big names. Often this isn’t invested in, because the cost won’t justify the return in sales, since most readers will happen upon a book via other sources (in a bookstore, in a review online, or via word of mouth, for example).

However, the internet opens lots of possibilities for cheap trailers that can be displayed on websites and via YouTube. These can be produced in minutes for free, or can be made professionally for a price that would still be significantly less compared to TV.

I agree that book previews are important. I think sample chapters and other writing from an author should be displayed on their website and the website of their publisher, especially if they are a new or little known author. Why should a reader fork out their cash on something they cannot see is good when they know there are other good books they can invest in?

Online is the way to go. Authors need to build a relationship with their readers. This is important for feedback, but also because it is in many ways a symbiotic process between the two.

Hehe, it will indeed. I’m not particularly photogenic, but I might be a bit more videogenic :P

-D

]]> Comment on Book Trailers by Dean http://deanfwilson.com/2011/06/book-trailers/#comment-32 Dean Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:00:09 +0000 http://deanfwilson.com/?p=372#comment-32 You're welcome! Your case study sounds very interesting. I look forward to reading how well each trailer type does :) -D You’re welcome!

Your case study sounds very interesting. I look forward to reading how well each trailer type does :)

-D

]]> Comment on Book Trailers by Emlyn http://deanfwilson.com/2011/06/book-trailers/#comment-31 Emlyn Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:24:04 +0000 http://deanfwilson.com/?p=372#comment-31 Hi Dean. Thanks for referencing Novel Publicity in your article. I'm with you; I plan to produce multiple trailers. One of each method, actually - it will be something of a case study for me to present on the Free Advice blog later on. Good luck with your trailers! Emlyn Hi Dean. Thanks for referencing Novel Publicity in your article. I’m with you; I plan to produce multiple trailers. One of each method, actually – it will be something of a case study for me to present on the Free Advice blog later on.

Good luck with your trailers!

Emlyn

]]> Comment on Book Trailers by Jason http://deanfwilson.com/2011/06/book-trailers/#comment-30 Jason Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:52:43 +0000 http://deanfwilson.com/?p=372#comment-30 Hey Dean, I am unfamiliar with the sort of trailer you describe. I'll have to look for some of these trailers now, because I'm curious. I am also amused by the irony of an AV trailer for the print medium. For my part, I appreciate book previews that are offered online, and those often help me decide whether or not to buy a book. (Well, mainly for non-fiction.) They are a different ballgame, but I do find them useful. I also like when fiction authors have an online presence, although I'm mainly familiar with their blogs rather than AV presentations of their work. Author interviews, eh? I guess that will compensate for the scant handful of outdated pics you have posted online. ;) Hey Dean,

I am unfamiliar with the sort of trailer you describe. I’ll have to look for some of these trailers now, because I’m curious. I am also amused by the irony of an AV trailer for the print medium.

For my part, I appreciate book previews that are offered online, and those often help me decide whether or not to buy a book. (Well, mainly for non-fiction.) They are a different ballgame, but I do find them useful.

I also like when fiction authors have an online presence, although I’m mainly familiar with their blogs rather than AV presentations of their work.

Author interviews, eh? I guess that will compensate for the scant handful of outdated pics you have posted online. ;)

]]> Comment on Ebook Sales Soar by Dean http://deanfwilson.com/2011/06/ebook-sales-soar/#comment-26 Dean Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:22:03 +0000 http://deanfwilson.com/?p=186#comment-26 Very true. I used to order from Amazon.com and waited for up to 6 weeks for the books to be delivered. I now order from the .co.uk variant, which delivers within a week or so, but delivery in seconds trumps that every time. I guess a writer has to also factor in the shipping costs of their book just as much as the cover price itself. If the book costs $15 and another $10 for shipping, compared to maybe $4 for the ebook, it's easy to see why ebooks are becoming popular. -D Very true. I used to order from Amazon.com and waited for up to 6 weeks for the books to be delivered. I now order from the .co.uk variant, which delivers within a week or so, but delivery in seconds trumps that every time.

I guess a writer has to also factor in the shipping costs of their book just as much as the cover price itself. If the book costs $15 and another $10 for shipping, compared to maybe $4 for the ebook, it’s easy to see why ebooks are becoming popular.

-D

]]> Comment on Amazon Now Sells More Ebooks Than Print Books by Dean http://deanfwilson.com/2011/06/amazon-now-sells-more-ebooks-than-print-books/#comment-25 Dean Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:17:56 +0000 http://deanfwilson.com/?p=350#comment-25 Oh, definitely. There's only so many books our houses can hold (though I have some friends who have more books than bricks in their houses!). I tend to keep books that I will never read or that I have read years ago, but they do take up a lot of space, which a digital library would address, without question. In regards to the formatting, I think each format should be individually looked over to ensure that everything is up to scratch before pushing out to a new device. A one size fits all approach doesn't work when there's so many different ways to view ebooks. Kindle books should read as perfectly through the Kindle app as they do on the Kindle itself. I imagine a lot of that rests with the publishers though. Likewise, I'll be keeping an eye on Smashwords too :) -D Oh, definitely. There’s only so many books our houses can hold (though I have some friends who have more books than bricks in their houses!). I tend to keep books that I will never read or that I have read years ago, but they do take up a lot of space, which a digital library would address, without question.

In regards to the formatting, I think each format should be individually looked over to ensure that everything is up to scratch before pushing out to a new device. A one size fits all approach doesn’t work when there’s so many different ways to view ebooks. Kindle books should read as perfectly through the Kindle app as they do on the Kindle itself. I imagine a lot of that rests with the publishers though.

Likewise, I’ll be keeping an eye on Smashwords too :)

-D

]]> Comment on Ebook Sales Soar by Jason http://deanfwilson.com/2011/06/ebook-sales-soar/#comment-24 Jason Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:12:53 +0000 http://deanfwilson.com/?p=186#comment-24 Also, instant gratification -- the instantaneous purchase of a book from anywhere -- can be a wonderful thing. Also, instant gratification — the instantaneous purchase of a book from anywhere — can be a wonderful thing.

]]> Comment on Amazon Now Sells More Ebooks Than Print Books by Jason http://deanfwilson.com/2011/06/amazon-now-sells-more-ebooks-than-print-books/#comment-23 Jason Fri, 03 Jun 2011 01:10:59 +0000 http://deanfwilson.com/?p=350#comment-23 When I referred to saving space, I mean physical space -- those overflowing bookshelves that you note! I try to periodically sell books back to the used bookstore, but it's often hard to give them up. It's not a problem with virtual books, but then we get into all the concerns that come with proprietary formats. Or badly formatted books. I've returned a couple of Kindle books with poor quality conversions. These were non-fiction books that have charts or diagrams that end up blurry and hard-to-read. I'm not sure if it's the particular publisher's conversion to ebook format, a limitation of the .mobi/Kindle format, or the fact that the Kindle reader app can handle better quality than the Kindle itself is limited to. I agree that choice is nice. I don't think the Kindle will be going away anytime soon; and amazon.com does offer a great selection. I appreciate the format options of Smashwords though, and will keep an eye for books there in future. When I referred to saving space, I mean physical space — those overflowing bookshelves that you note! I try to periodically sell books back to the used bookstore, but it’s often hard to give them up. It’s not a problem with virtual books, but then we get into all the concerns that come with proprietary formats.

Or badly formatted books. I’ve returned a couple of Kindle books with poor quality conversions. These were non-fiction books that have charts or diagrams that end up blurry and hard-to-read. I’m not sure if it’s the particular publisher’s conversion to ebook format, a limitation of the .mobi/Kindle format, or the fact that the Kindle reader app can handle better quality than the Kindle itself is limited to.

I agree that choice is nice. I don’t think the Kindle will be going away anytime soon; and amazon.com does offer a great selection. I appreciate the format options of Smashwords though, and will keep an eye for books there in future.

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