1. Of course, in the last two years or so we’ve read dozens of books. But the latest batch of stuff we’re in the middle of includes
The Ghost by Robert Harris
A (very thick) book on the first 25 years of Saturday Night Live (I don’t recall the title offhand) (this book is checked out from the public library)
One Knight Only by Peter David
Volume three of the collected Journals of L.M. Montgomery
…and if these don’t last us through the blackout, we have about 66 feet of bookshelves with more books (naturally, this doesn’t include the kids’ books… um, or the boxes in the garage… did I mention that our house is something of a firetrap???)

2. I was aware of Lulu and have a couple of items I’ve been looking at from them, but haven’t bought… yet. I did buy a series of books published through Cafe Press (two volumes left to go) by an author whose previous work I have enjoyed very much (J. Michael Straczynski) and my only complaint so far has been that the covers curl badly.

3. I tend not to read online books that I can’t download to my own system (and if it can be read online, it can be downloaded), so the download takes precedence. If it is downloaded, I can read it on my laptop - which has batteries, just like the flashlight has batteries…it would be a while before I was out of luck reading e-books.

Recent e-book acquisitions include the Sue Grafton books (a couple of which I have already read), The Jumper trilogy by Steven Gould (Saw the movie less than two weeks ago, and I tore through the trilogy since then - the books are superior to the movie, naturally), and Old Man’s War by John Scalzi (the only one that was a free download from the publisher, and I have already read it since downloading). So I would have some e-books to read, and a way to read them (until the batteries ran out).

4. The books by JMs printed by (and ordered from) Cafe Press were linked from his own site, which is how I got to the ordering page on Cafe Press. So unless question 4 is about e-books, the answer is yes, I have purchased because I saw info about the book an author’s website, but it is the only author so far. Generally, though, I read only authors I know about already or that have been recommended to me via my “social network”. I haven’t (so far) depended much on author websites.

5. I have never received a physical sample from a publisher due to having ordered from them directly. I have (in the past) received physical samples for other reasons (most recent was attending the Texas Book Festival, where one publisher was passing out copies of The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry; other examples are primarily from when I was managing a bookstore nearly a decade ago, when I was on a couple of comp lists… in fact I am *still* receiving an industry magazine on comp).

So - here’s my summary $.02 :

I am actively in the process of turning my “dead tree” library into bits. As I get closer to making this happen, I have a plan to make sure I can read even in a blackout - UPS (uninterruptable power supply, not the delivery company), additional batteries, and the like. But I have had to move all that paper a time or two too many already, and (when I am done moving to digital from paper) I can carry the entire library and a laptop to read it on in a backpack that still has room for other stuff…. like a couple of paperbacks.

I won’t wean myself from paper entirely - some physical volumes have sentimental value, plus (even though I only fly a couple times a year) at this point the 20 minutes or so each of takeoff and landing time require that all electronics get turned off, so paper comes in handy at those points.

As for self-publishing… I like the authors I like. If they stopped publishing through a publishing company and self-published all of their remaining works, I wouldn’t bat an eye buying from the authors directly. Used to be, publishers were gatekeepers to the bookstore market… now they are gatekeepers in a world with fewer and fewer fences. From here on out, “major” publishers are becoming more and more irrelevant… if they want to survive, they could carve out a niche as a bush league, places to develop undiscovered talent, before they move on to the major leagues of self publishing. (I believe this to be true of both books and music). They can lead, follow or get the hell out of the way, but anything other than leading the way exposes them to increased risk of extinction. The industry’s copyright battles against the most effective marketing tools in existence shows signs of being dying spasms.

Your mileage may vary.

naa

Sorry I’ve taken so long to respond; I didn’t figure I met the book buyer criteria you may have wanted for your sample population. I fit in random readers I would guess but not much of a book buyer anymore. I bought 100’s from the 60’s till the 90’s so am going back and either rereading or reading for the first time many of them–mostly nonfiction.

I will try to answer you survey however:
1. Right now I’m reading “Men to Match my Mountains“, Irving Stone. Just finished Darwin’s Dangerous Idea” Daniel Dennett and before that Goodwin’s Team of Rivals. Did wedge in the DeVincie Code (gift). All of the others I got from the local Library (mostly form the Exchange/Loan program). I have Meecham’s “American Gospel” on order for my next read. Much like your brother Mark, I’ve gone back to read (study) a few college texts. Not being a masochistic however (I hated friging Calculus) I periodically pick up my favorite “Geomorphology” by Lobeck–a classic–and several of my books re: Evolution–ammo to lambaste the morons supporting the stupidity of Intelligent Design.

2. Nope none from on-line. Hadn’t heard of iuniverse or lulu. Have search the web for a few books that are out of print for gifts. Probably would not unless from a friend publisher.

3. Nope, none. Would not read from the computer–too cold in this room and read mostly in the winter–in bed!

4. Nope; got interested from telly interviews with the author or current activities. Websites I’ve queried occasionally get back to me but no authors have.

5. Nope–inter-library loan is my main source. None from a publishers website.

Hope this might help in your survey but doubt it.

Please say hello to Mark and Lucie and Buff as well.

DK Halling

2. Were any of these books from online, self-publishing companies such as the much maligned (by traditional publishers and your friendly bookstore) iuniverse or lulu?
~~ None were from online self publishing companies. I have purchased from online stores in the past (such as amazon). I need to browse the sites mentioned to see if I find anything of interest.

3. Were any of your books free, online books in PDF format or had you planned to read them online, and are out of luck, on this dark and stormy night?
~~ I don’t read anything online. I can’t curl up and read so it’s just not comfortable. If possible, I will download the (free) book to my Palm130 and read it there. I normally buy paperbacks so power outage is no problem.

4. Did any of your books come from seeing author websites similar to A Woman from Cairo—very sophisticated, The Kill–trailer caused my dog to stroke out, or The Alphabet of Manliness—eek, eek, brace yourself? Do websites that sell books find you or do you find them? (I’m not talking about the big guys—Barnes and Noble, Borders or Amazon. I mean authors who are attempting to attract you to their websites.)
~~ Never heard of the books you mention, but then they don’t sound like books in the genre of my interest. Amazon does an amazing job of reccing me books. I usually look for an author’s books myself after I have discovered them by browsing in a book store or at amazon.

5. Did any of these books arrive at your now-darkened and chilly house because you purchased, say, directly from Random House, Simon & Schuster, William Morrow, Knopf or Rodale’s online bookstore? Have you ever purchased a book directly from the publisher’s website?
~~ I have never purchased directly from a publisher. I would be interested if there was a discount involved and shipping didn’t void the discount.

One last comment. I do not purchase eBooks any more. I was so excited to have purchased my Palm130 ’cause I was going to read “everything” on it but I found that the prices are usually exactly the same as a paperback or hardcover, which brings me to my biggest problem about eBooks. I cannot share or give the books away. Since the eBooks are secured for use ONLY on my Palm, I cannot lend them to my friends or give them away when I am done so the money I spent for a eBook is a waste. Therefore, I purchase paperbacks (i rarely purchase hardcovers) and can usually get a good discount from Waldenbooks (25% off), have found Amazon to have good prices (and free shipping incentive) or I buy used books. I can then easily share, give away or donate to my local library.

Were any of these books from online, self-publishing companies such as the much maligned (by traditional publishers and your friendly bookstore) iuniverse or lulu?
Nope.

Are you even aware of these websites as sites to buy books?
I’d heard of them

Now that you’ve looked, what do you think?
Nope

Would you buy a book from them if the author was someone other than a self-published friend?
Not even then.

Were any of your books free, online books in PDF format or had you planned to read them online, and are out of luck, on this dark and stormy night?
Lots of ebooks, but those are to kill time at work.

Did any of your books come from seeing author websites similar to A Woman from Cairo—very sophisticated, The Kill–trailer caused my dog to stroke out, or The Alphabet of Manliness—eek, eek, brace yourself? Do websites that sell books find you or do you find them? (I’m not talking about the big guys—Barnes and Noble, Borders or Amazon. I mean authors who are attempting to attract you to their websites.)
Nope, not big on buying books online other than out of print ones on eBay.

Did any of these books arrive at your now-darkened and chilly house because you purchased, say, directly from Random House, Simon & Schuster, William Morrow, Knopf or Rodale’s online bookstore? Have you ever purchased a book directly from the publisher’s website?

Nope.

Note from the Wicked Witch of Publishing ™: Sounds like you have a great job!

2. Nope.

3. Nope.

4. Well, usually the book comes first, then the website. One exception: I read Tod Goldberg’s blog first, then went out & bought all his books. The Crusie/Mayer blog whetted my appetite for yesterday’s book, Don’t Look Down, but I’d have bought it without it.

5. I do get a bunch o’ books directly from Berkley/Jove and NAL, but that’s because they lurrrve me–I don’t buy them.

1. I am reading Skystone by Jack Whyte. A book on the years leading up to King Arthur. Right now the first book is on two Roman soldiers living in Britian around the time that Hadrian’s Wall was over run. It’s pretty fascinating look at the Roman life and military life.

1a. Listening to on cd at work “The Outlander” series by Diana Gabaldon. A historical romance series on the Jacobite uprising in the Scottish Highlands in the 1740’s.

1b. Eagerly awaiting Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher. I’m rereading the series at the moment. Also awaiting the newest from the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, the next in the Undead and Unwed series by MaryJanice Davidson, and finally a small author Shanna Swendson has a second book coming out. These are all in the ‘que’ to read and I will probably purchase all of them from different places.

2. Proven Guilty is coming thru an odd venue. Jim, the author, lives in Kansas City. He is having a ‘virtual signing’. I ordered the book thru a small book store near him. He will sign it and personalize it before it’s sent out. They are having a wonderful response to the this. If you want to check it out - here’s the link.
http://www.dogearedhalf-pricebooks.com/virtualsigning.html

I’m using the library more and more. The Outlander is all library loan, the Jack Whyte series I borrowed from a friend at work and the library.

I know of the smaller self publishing places and I might buy one from them. I know a smaller author who is having his second book being released by one in a couple days. I havent’ been able to find it thru the library system yet.

3. Free? Besides the library? No, not since the days of working at hte bookstore and getting some ARC’s. I have purchased on E book a couple years ago. I didn’t like reading it that way, I went and purchased the book in softcover. There is something about physically holding the book that I like.

4. I have not had an author find me or a book selling store find me. Personally, that would REALLY bother me to get spam or junk mail like that. It’s to pushy. I bought from one bookstore once, a smaller co. and they send me notices all the time, even after being asked to stop. I won’t purchase from them again. There are lists and book review sites now to help me search for new things.
I found the Harry Dresden series(Butcher’s), one of my favs, because I was someplace and saw the audio books, they were read by an actor I like. I dished out the $40 for it and then was hooked on the series.
I frequent the websites of two authors, Jim Butcher and Janet Evanovich. Also joined the email group for Butcher, there are quite a few published authors in the group and librarians. IT’s been the best way to hear about books.

5. I don’t think I’ve bought directly from a publisher before.

Finished … Perfectus!