The first attempt of a cover design for my free digital StoryStarters (writing prompts) book due out in September.

Will add more details soon.

There are two main reasons why I think the rush of new eReaders is a good thing. Here they are.

Competition breeds innovation.

The more companies competing for market share there are, the more each will try to push the envelope of what their product offers that others don’t. This is not revolutionary thinking; it’s a cold, hard fact. Not only does the company that comes out on top win, but so do we, the consumers.

Second, Competition leads to lower prices.

The more products there are on the market, the more likely that prices will begin falling. Again, nothing revolutionary here, just a cold, hard fact. Aside from innovation, the quickest way to garner market share is to beat your competitor in price. The company wins because of selling more products leading to more profit and consumers win because of the lower prices.

These two reasons alone, together or separately, are enough to celebrate the coming onslaught of new eReaders to the market.

Today, at Publishing Perspectives published an editorial about CES, eReaders, and tablet computers that stated:

…until books somehow morph into something other than “books,” the e-readers we have are already good enough to satisfy the needs of the vast majority of readers.

While I mostly agree in the context it was being stated, that no new eReader hitting the market is likely to revolutionize publishing, I do think they are of benefit simply for the two reasons above. Let’s face it, not everyone is willing or able to shell out the cash for an existing dedicated eReader at the prices currently being asked for them. Add in the innovation of devices that are more than just readers, though, and they may be willing to pay that price. Factor in lower prices brought on by more devices to compete with and even more people will buy them.

It is then, that either the devices become innovative enough or cheap enough, that they will truly have mass appeal. And once enough people have them and are using them, then there will be a true revolution of the publishing world. Sure, it may be a long time in coming, but there has to be steps in bringing about radical change.

For now, though, I’m happy enough with the idea of better devices at a cheaper price that I can actually afford to spend my hard earned money to buy. What about you? Do you think the new eReaders coming this year aren’t needed? Or do you think they are of benefit, no matter if they aren’t able to revolutionize the publishing world? Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment.

“We’re doing this to preserve our industry,” Mr. Young said. “I can’t sit back and watch years of building authors sold off at bargain-basement prices. It’s about the future of the business.”

Mr. Murray said that if new hardcover titles continue to be sold as $9.99 e-books, the eventual outcome will be fewer literary choices for customers, because publishers won’t be able to take as many chances on new writers.

The problem is these publishers are fighting e-books instead of embracing and using them to their advantage. No matter how bad they want it, the reality is that e-books and their lower price points are inevitable. They should be planning for this instead of trying to postpone it while alienating potential customers in the process.

I’m not a publisher, or even someone with a business degree, but I do I have a few ideas of strategies publishers could use to make e-books work for them. Note that none of them includes delaying the release date until after the hard cover release.

1. Serialize e-book editions of potential best-sellers.
   Publishers would serialize the e-book edition of potential best-sellers by breaking the book into three equal parts. Release the first part the same day as the hardcover edition is released. The next two parts would then be released one per month over the next two months. Each installment would be priced from $1.99 to $3.99, whatever would bring the e-book edition to approximately in-line with the price point the paperback edition would be set at.
2. Bundle backlist books with e-book editions of potential best-sellers.
   Publishers could take advantage of the e-book edition of a potential best-seller to promote backlist books from the author or of other authors who fall within the same genre. Prices would be set at around $19.99. Customers would get two books, the author’s older books could be sold, and readers could be introduced to another author they may decide they like and eventually buy more of their books.
3. Bundle books by debut authors with e-book editions of potential best-sellers.
   Instead of releasing a hard cover or paper back edition from a new author, test the waters by releasing their debut novel only in an e-book edition that would be bundled with a potential best-seller in the same genre as their book. Again, the price would be set for around $19.99. Customers would get two books, publishers could take a lower cost risk on new authors, and the new author would get the promotional advantage of being included with an expected best-seller. If the new author is well received and interest is high enough, the publishers could then release print editions in either hard cover, paperback or both with the knowledge that the potential for sales is already there.

Like I stated above, I’m not a publisher or someone with a business degree, but these seem to make sense to me. What do you think? Are they feasible options publishers could take? Or am I way off base in my thinking and should leave business ideas to the professionals? Don’t be shy, speak up and let me know.