People have no excuse not to read any more
You don’t need fancy equipment and special readers like you did a few years ago either.
These days e-books make reading incredibly easy.
If you are reading this blog in the African Reporter, then you can read. If you are reading this blog online, then not only can you read, but you also have access to a smartphone, tablet or computer and the internet.
Even for those people who have difficulty reading, audio books are available. You can listen to them when you are doing something else. Boring stuff like cleaning the house, ironing or travelling on public transport.
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There are many different platforms online where you can access books.
If you join Amazon or Smashwords—and it’s free to sign up—there are books that you can read for free.
Good ones, too, you just have to take the time to search for them.
Many of the classics are available and often authors have promotions.
They give their books away for free to increase their readership.
Of course, there are millions of books that cost money too, but they are still cheaper online than buying a print copy.
The great thing with e-books is that you can load lots of them onto your electronic device and carry them around in your pocket or handbag (in the case of a smartphone).
You can’t do that with piles of books.
This is also an awesome time for writers.
They no longer have to struggle to try and find somebody who will publish their book(s); they can publish them themselves online.
And it’s free too.
You do, however, have to market your own book. It doesn’t sell itself, no matter how good it is. And it had better be good because there is loads of competition out there.
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You definitely don’t want to be publishing shoddy content.
My friend, Ginny, is known for her Sibo Series, but she’s also written a few other books.
Do you remember Fudgie, the dog from the blog in the Springs Advertiser? She’s busy collating all those blogs into a series of books that are available online. You can follow her author profile on Smashwords (https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/GinzStone) or on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Ginny-Stone/e/B005CMI1DE?ref=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000).
One thing you should remember when you read books online is to consider taking the time to go back and leave a review.
Writing a few lines is a way of thanking the author for the free book – or even for the books you’ve paid for.
Read more people!
Sibo
