eBooks versus Traditional Books

This is becoming a new debate with opinions divided on both sides.

Whether to use ebooks or traditional printed ones was a tough question for all authors. Way back in the dark ages when computers were but a dream and we had only printed books, there was no choice. We took pride in the bookshelves we possessed.

Moving into the age where technology changes faster than we can comprehend it is time to take a good look at the advantages of ebooks. In my research I found many reasons in favour of them and I also discovered that they really did make sense. Here are some of the advantages I found quite valid:
* You can purchase, download and start reading them within minutes, without leaving your chair.
* eBooks are much cheaper.
* No trees are required to manufacture paper for the pages of ebooks.
* eBooks take up less space. You can store hundreds and thousands of ebooks on your computer or eBook reader.
* eBooks are portable. You can carry a whole library of books with you, on CD, in a laptop, or any ebook reader, without worrying about their weight. (much less back pain!)
* They also withstand time more than books.
* They offer hyper-links to other sources.

The print in an ebook can easily be enlarged or changed in colour to suit the tastes of each individual reader. Obviously, we cannot do this with traditional printed books without permission, copy machines and a lot more work.

The idea of being able to highlight, make notes in the sidelines, etc. in the ebooks, is really exciting. One of the downsides is being able to change text. There are many with an old-fashioned belief that the author should be able to write the book and get all of the credit. Whilst constructive comment is always welcome, authors do not appreciate changing what was originally written.

The only real disadvantage to ebooks is that some people find reading ebooks tiring. It is a little harder to snuggle down with a laptop or a larger computer. Also after reading on the screen for too long my eyes get very tired and I feel I need more breaks than when I read a hard cover book.

Undoubtedly, ebooks is the look of the future and it is definitely a ‘green’ way to go.
Whether they will remain in the current form is questionable. In all probability, an evolution will occur to make the use and practicality of eBooks, much more acceptable.

My Crazy Wish

If I could have a wish, it would be to open a store that sells highly sought after things like – Common Sense, Maturity, Wisdom, Hindsight and the real biggy – Foresight!
Such a store would be successful in a very short space of time!

What if Johann Gutenberg had possess the foresight to appreciate what he had just invented and registered a company to sell its software! Maybe a modern Microsoft!

Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg (c. 1398 – February 3, 1468) was a German goldsmith and printer who introduced modern book printing. His invention of mechanical movable type printing started the Printing Revolution and is widely regarded as the most important event of the modern period.

[1] It played a key role in the development of the Renaissance, Reformation and the Scientific Revolution and laid the material basis for the modern knowledge-based economy and the spread of learning to the masses.
[2] Gutenberg was the first European to use movable type printing, in around 1439, and the global inventor of the printing press.

Among his many contributions to printing are: the invention of a process for mass-producing movable type; the use of oil-based ink; and the use of a wooden printing press similar to the agricultural screw presses of the period. His truly epochal invention was the combination of these elements into a practical system which allowed the mass production of printed books and was economically viable for printers and readers alike. Gutenberg’s method for making type is traditionally considered to have included a type metal alloy and a hand mould for casting type.

The printing press was one of the early steps towards the democratisation of knowledge. An early example of this during the Industrial Revolution was the creation of libraries for miners in the villages of Leadhills and Wanlockhead in 1741 and 1756 respectively.
Acknowledgements to Wikipedia

How we have moved on! Given some computer skills, a good imagination and any one in the world today can create and publish their own book. Self publishing has now leap-frogged the whole printing process. Now it is possible to produce 1, 5, 50, or 300 books, with images, paperback and even hard bound in just a few weeks, thanks to Print On Demand technology

Apply your mind to your favourite subject and see what you can create, turn it into a manuscript .doc file and away you go! Let me know if you some help. Contact me at www.scribesink.net

Easy isn’t it.

Forced Absence

The past couple of months have been hectic and annoying at Scribes Ink Publishers. I don’t plan to bore you, but with some indifferent health, a three week holiday in Adelaide and some domestic issues to be sorted out this has taken up most of my valuable time. However, enough of the rambling, already!

We have taken a new direction at Scribes Ink Publishers.
We are still passionate about Family History and publishing Family History books for our clients, but we have decided to open our vision to include a wider range of publications, such as novels, cooking books, children’s books, e Books etc. Still specialising in Print-On-Demand, Self Publishing, but offering services that encompass all publishing, not such a narrow line as Family History.

This has meant revamping the Scribes Ink Web site and working to ensure that we are offering what authors want and not what we think they want! In the pipeline is an On-line catalogue that will showcase the books that we have published that are available for sale. Other inclusions are planned and we will advise as we go along.

So, the next few weeks will see the website completed, and some marketing to the areas that we wish to serve.

Stay with us as we are ‘getting more organised’ and we will keep you informed on our progress.

Pete Loveday

Successful launch of ‘Scibbles’

Congratulations to all of the Taree Scribblers group for putting on what was a professional, exciting and well run book launch.

They all gave 100% and it showed in the satisfied faces around the rooms. The choice of venue was inspired and the MC, Anthony Zanos, lent a very professional touch to the day’s proceedings.  It was great to hear from Daniel Scott and his comments were so pertinent to what we were attempting.  The readings were well received and lent another little professional touch.

And that massive cake!! It was a big hit!

I missed some of the proceedings by being on the drinks table and that got  bit busy! In no order at all, thanks go to Jacqui and Elizabeth for co-ordinating the day’s proceedings and it went off without a hitch. What about Lucy, Fanny and Fanny’s sister, Adriana for preparing the food sooo professionally! Evidenced by the empty plates!

The books package was beautiful and mention here to Lucy for laminating and Fanny for the inspired creation of turning a plain brown paper bag into a work of art. The book marks were fantastic and a real collector’s item!

Kate and Jacqui were kept busy with book sales that kept the money rolling in and Elizabeth was so gracious as our meeter and greeter. Bob and Garry excelled with the drinks serving and Brian kept the sound at the right level at all times.  We all helped to clear the room in record time and we were able to breathe a sigh of relief after a job well done.

The sponsors were amazing with their generosity and it would not have been the day it was without them.  The video clip on NBN news Saturday night was great, as was the radio clip. The press were great and all in all we got wonderful publicity.

Family History Book

Now that you have complied a wealth of information about your family and the dates and family structures, it might be time now to add more information about individual family members.

For instance, you might have a family member – a brother, your mother, maybe your grandfather , who achieved or created an interesting life story. Perhaps your father invented a new desk calculator, or your sister won the World High Jump Championship. Whatever, the situation, you might like to write a story about this person.

For a start, the family history software that you are using, in my case, Family Tree Maker, contains a system for creating a Family History book, using all the data that you have entered into the software.  It is also possible to create a book about just one individual. Then it is possible to print this book to give to members of your family.

Another method is to contact a small run Book Publisher who is able to print with a nice glossy cover and bound smoothly, a lovely book that can be passed onto all members of your family. Scribes Ink Publishers are able to do this for you.

Such a book could contain the life story of your great, great grand-parents and the possible reasons for leaving their country of birth and migrate to another country. Their story will fascinate their descendants and provide a lasting record of your own history.

To learn more contact me on plover@y7mail.com or visit – http://www.scribesink.net

Beginning Your Family History

I always enjoy the television programmes that feature the subject of “Who do you think you are?”

They are full of exciting discoveries that the featured celebrity has uncovered.   This shows the process and the directions that we all must use to uncover our past and our earlier generations.

Sadly, though, the programs all give a false sense of success, as they are all ‘pre-discovered by the various database staff and local historians.  Now, guess what – this does not happen to you and me, Joe Public!

No, we have to do the hard yards and do the research ourselves. Maybe, if we are lucky, some other person may have already done a lot of work on uncovering the dust and leaves that surrounds your family history, but nine out of ten, you have to do it all!

So, where do you start? Well it is quite simple, really. Start with yourself and your parents! That’s logical, as you know all there is to know about yourself and your parents. Then working up, record what you can learn about your grandparents and don’t forget you have got two sets of grandparents!

About now, you will probably need to start thinking about some method of recording all of this information that you are uncovering. There are a mass of software programmes available – you can buy many of them or there are some free ones available. The great starting point is probably familysearch.org.  The Church of Latter day Saints have provided a wonderful service for free, for all beginning family historians. In no time at all you will have accumulated a large amount of information about your family.

If you just wish to gather a record of births, deaths and marriages, this will be the way to go. However, I must stress here that the professional Genealogist will gather every certificate and citation record that they can find. This can become expensive fairly quickly.

More later…

Frustrations of Blogging

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress.com. This is your first post. Edit or delete it and start blogging!