I intended to have a set order of my posts, and lay out the case for openness in the publishing world step-by-step. But then this news comes along, and I have to throw it out there.
First it was Amazon with the Kindle, then came the iPad. Now it looks like another tech giant is entering the e-publishing scene–Google.
Google looks to be taking a different tack. Where Apple and Amazon try to lock you down to a single device, the iPad and Kindle, Google will allow you to read your book on multiple formats, including a simple web browser. However, don’t be surprised if you see a nice reader for the Android phone come out fairly soon.
When Apple entered the market it affected the prices of ebooks–they went up. It will be interesting to see if Google’s announcement will affect the landscape at all.
The big question in my mind, as an author, is whether or not Google will allow me to sell my books through them–with or without a publisher. For authors, the more channels we have for distribution, the better. It’s not about getting around the publisher, it’s about getting their attention. If your book is good, it will sell. And if it sells a lot, you’ll have a much better chance of finding a publisher.
Google will start selling books in late June or early July.
