Author |
Topic |
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
|
Thrasymachus
Learned Scribe
195 Posts |
Posted - 02 Sep 2014 : 23:35:57
|
I went through the Bombard podcast. A minor point of disagreement on your view about ebooks displacing ink & paper editions. I doubt ink and paper is going away... ever. There’s a quote attributed to Thomas Edison that goes… "We will make electricity so cheap that only the rich will burn candles." Edison has been dead for decades, and we still have candles. To underline my point, Spectral Blaze paperback is currently going for (US dollars) $42.77 and $82.99 on Ebay.
I sleep with my copy. |
Former Forgotten Realms brand manager Jim Butler: "Everything that bears the Forgotten Realms logo is considered canon". |
Edited by - Thrasymachus on 02 Sep 2014 23:36:34 |
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36809 Posts |
Posted - 03 Sep 2014 : 05:30:05
|
quote: Originally posted by Thrasymachus
I went through the Bombard podcast. A minor point of disagreement on your view about ebooks displacing ink & paper editions. I doubt ink and paper is going away... ever. There’s a quote attributed to Thomas Edison that goes… "We will make electricity so cheap that only the rich will burn candles." Edison has been dead for decades, and we still have candles. To underline my point, Spectral Blaze paperback is currently going for (US dollars) $42.77 and $82.99 on Ebay.
I sleep with my copy.
I got a used copy for $25, along with three other books from the series - the owner didn't know what he had, and didn't list the title in the auction. So now I can finally read these books for myself... |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
|
|
Thrasymachus
Learned Scribe
195 Posts |
Posted - 03 Sep 2014 : 15:53:54
|
That was a find at $25. I am not sure why Spectral Blaze is so difficult to find, but that third installment (Spectral Blaze) was hard to get even when "Prophet of the Dead" (the fifth book of the series) was still on the shelves at the bookstore.
|
Former Forgotten Realms brand manager Jim Butler: "Everything that bears the Forgotten Realms logo is considered canon". |
|
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 04 Sep 2014 : 01:42:01
|
Sure, we still have candles for power outages, setting a romantic mood, and birthday cakes. But in the course of an average month, on how many days do you light one? I think Edison was more right than he was wrong.
With regard to books, it has been pointed out to me that cookbooks and other how-to books are more convenient on paper than they are on screen. And if eBooks become the norm, paper-and-ink editions of certain books may well be prized collectors items or conversation pieces.
So I would agree that we will still have paper-and-ink books to about the same extent that we have candles now. Which is to say, I stick by my opinion that eBooks are pretty much going to win the battle. |
Edited by - Richard Lee Byers on 04 Sep 2014 01:42:56 |
|
|
Thrasymachus
Learned Scribe
195 Posts |
Posted - 05 Sep 2014 : 02:57:24
|
quote: Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
So I would agree that we will still have paper-and-ink books to about the same extent that we have candles now. Which is to say, I stick by my opinion that eBooks are pretty much going to win the battle.
You're the pro writer, so I assume there is something about this I am clueless about. This isn't me going all Waukeen on you…
*casts uber respectful tone*
I don’t see it as a war where you have to choose a side/format at the expense of another. Sell the ebooks, and sell the audio books, and sell hardcovers, and sell the paperbacks.
For instance, I have a paperback copy of the Reaver for my game, and to loan out. I have the hardcover Reaver for the Man/Nerd cave collection. When I finally have time to actually consume the story it will be by audiobook on my long commute.
I am not suggesting the sale of any one format should subsidize the others. Let them carry their own weight if it’s profitable.
Before you put all the eggs in the ebook basket you should probably know when you Google “Byers Reaver”, and then click on the cover art on the right hand side, you go to… http://books.google.com/books/about/The_Reaver.html?id=0JWBnQEACAAJ
… and on the left hand side it says “No eBook available”
Thank you for spending time here! Respectfully, Thrasy |
Former Forgotten Realms brand manager Jim Butler: "Everything that bears the Forgotten Realms logo is considered canon". |
|
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 05 Sep 2014 : 12:24:16
|
Please don't get me wrong. I love paper-and-ink books, and I definitely don't think they're going away overnight.
But I do think eBooks have obvious advantages over traditional books, and I also think we have young people coming up who are quite comfortable getting all their entertainment including fiction off a screen. Thus, I believe that over the long haul, eBooks will become the dominant form of book. |
|
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36809 Posts |
Posted - 16 Sep 2014 : 21:56:57
|
quote: Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
My novella MURDER IN CORVIS releases 9/26, but neither the publisher nor I will mind if you preorder. https://skullislandx.com/iron-kingdoms/murder-in-corvis
I already have -- got an email from Skull Island Expeditions a week or two ago, offering a dollar off for a pre-order. I've been buying all the Warmachine books, anyway, so it was a guaranteed sale -- knocking a dollar off just sweetened the deal.
I'm still hoping that they'll collect all the fiction from the sourcebooks into one book. That would be awesome! I skipped over that fiction, when I was first getting the books, during the Mk.I era, and I generally don't do No Quarter. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
Edited by - Wooly Rupert on 16 Sep 2014 21:58:28 |
|
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2014 : 02:38:43
|
I hope you enjoy the story! |
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36809 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2014 : 04:31:12
|
quote: Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
I hope you enjoy the story!
It's set in Corvis, which is part of the greatest nation of the Iron Kingdoms. What's not to love? |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
|
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2014 : 15:57:18
|
I have a new blog post.As my contribution to a "blog hop," I answer four questions about my writing. http://rleebyers.livejournal.com |
|
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2014 : 17:17:08
|
Just in case anybody's interested, you can check out my panel schedule for Necronomicon 2014 (Tampa, Oct. 3-5) here: http://rleebyers.livejournal.com |
|
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 26 Sep 2014 : 16:51:11
|
Murder in Corvis is now available. This novella is a sword-and-sorcery yarn, a murder mystery, and, seeing as how it's set in the Iron Kingdoms universe, has a bit of a steampunk overlay to it. It's the first piece of fiction to star the Black River Irregulars, whom fans of the setting may recall from some of the gaming products.
You can check it out here:
https://skullislandx.com/iron-kingdoms/murder-in-corvis |
|
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36809 Posts |
Posted - 26 Sep 2014 : 17:28:24
|
quote: Originally posted by Richard Lee Byers
Murder in Corvis is now available. This novella is a sword-and-sorcery yarn, a murder mystery, and, seeing as how it's set in the Iron Kingdoms universe, has a bit of a steampunk overlay to it. It's the first piece of fiction to star the Black River Irregulars, whom fans of the setting may recall from some of the gaming products.
You can check it out here:
https://skullislandx.com/iron-kingdoms/murder-in-corvis
Ooh, I'll have to go download that! I didn't realize it was out. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
|
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 26 Sep 2014 : 21:58:29
|
It just came out today. |
|
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
|
Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36809 Posts |
Posted - 19 Nov 2014 : 22:09:49
|
Color me interested. I love gun mages (I'm playing one, in a Pathfinder/Iron Kingdoms game), and I enjoyed Murder in Corvis. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
|
|
The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31784 Posts |
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
|
Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 21 Nov 2014 : 15:18:38
|
I love Gun Mages!
quote: Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Color me interested. I love gun mages (I'm playing one, in a Pathfinder/Iron Kingdoms game), and I enjoyed Murder in Corvis.
Seconded. They were what drew me to WM in the first place.
I'm not really a 'steampunk' (or arcano-tech) guy, but there is just something about that setting that... works. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
|
|
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 22 Nov 2014 : 14:29:39
|
I agree. The Iron Kingdoms is a cool setting, and gun mages are one of the particularly fun things about it. With Canice, I'm trying to do justice to the concept. |
|
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 01 Dec 2014 : 15:05:06
|
The website for Dirge, a new horror magazine, is now live. There's an interview with me about writing in shared worlds. I should have more content there in the days to come, and I'll have a new short story in the first paper-and-ink issue of the magazine in month or so.
Anyway, check it out:
http://www.dirgemag.com
|
|
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
|
Richard Lee Byers
Forgotten Realms Author
USA
1814 Posts |
Posted - 08 Jan 2015 : 20:41:52
|
I was on the Thaco's Hammer podcast (Splatbook 99 installment.) You can find it here: http://thacoshammer.info |
|
|
Topic |
|