Monday, October 17, 2011

Your thoughts on ebooks for Middle Grade readers

I'm interested in the pros and cons of publishing ebooks for younger readers. My original plan was paperback only, because I didn't think dedicated e-readers would have made it to younger readers yet, but my daughters convinced me to release an ebook because a lot of their friends use smart phones and laptops to read with.

Has anyone else published in both print and ebook, and what were your findings?

Simon Haynes is the author of the Hal Spacejock and Hal Junior series (Amazon / Smashwords / other formats)

8 comments:

Three Hoodies Save the World said...

I published two YA books purely for Ereaders. While I've had nearly two hundred downloads of the free part, I had no sales at all. Although this could simply be a reflection of what people thought of my work

Simon Haynes said...

I think one or two per hundred is about right for free samples vs sales. It doesn't mean the work sucks, it might just be people deciding it's not their genre. It could also indicate the cover doesn't properly represent the story. (e.g. click the sample based on the cover, then discover it doesn't match.)

I'm only guessing and not directing these comments at your own work.

Simon Haynes said...

BTW is there a reason you haven't published to Amazon Kindle? For my ebooks Amazon outsells Smashwords by about 50 to 1.

Kelly Polark said...

Today's My Choice In Publishing have some great thoughts on all of the craziness in publishing right now.
I am considering epubbing my middle grade novel after having it edited more.

Simon Haynes said...

Thanks for the input - I'll check it out now.

LynNerdKelley said...

Hello Simon - Thank you for stopping by my blog yesterday and leaving your comment. Your post fits in perfectly with the My Choice in Publishing blog ring. I don't doubt one bit that eBooks for kids are coming -- soon. Very soon. I have friends whose kids have e-readers and I bet there will be an avalanche of sales during the Christmas season.

We just got our first two Monster Moon books converted from hardback to eBooks. I've had numerous requests from people about buying the MM books for their e-readers and also requests for audio books, too. One thing at a time here!

I think you'd be making a huge mistake if you didn't offer your MG as ebooks also. Best of luck to you! Let me know how it goes, okay?

LynNerdKelley said...

Oh, to clarify my above comment - eBooks for kids are already here, but I'm talking about them catching on and becoming as popular as the YA and adult eBooks.

Simon Haynes said...

Hi Lyn

Don't worry ... I released my MG novel in ebook before print. It makes sense to have it available!

I was just checking whether anyone felt it was much of a market yet.