Feb
A Reader Poll
Everywhere I go, as an author, I’m asked about e-readers. What do I think…am I worried about the publishing world…etc. And my answer is always the same–the verdict is still out. 
But I am curious about the way e-readers are (or aren’t) affecting people’s reading. So I’m hoping you’ll all take a moment to weigh in your thoughts to the following questions (and if you’re a lurker–speak up, the ONLY information that we see is your name as you care to share it and your answer…that’s it.)
1) Do you own an e-reader? If so, what kind?
2) If you don’t own one, why not?
3) For those of you with an e-reader do you feel you read more or less than you did before you got one?
4) For those who own one, what made you take the plunge?
5) For those who don’t own one, where do you buy the majority of your books (chain bookstore, independent, online)?
~Elizabeth
P.S. All those who answer today’s questions (in the comment section) will be entered into a drawing for a “mystery book.” By “mystery book,” I mean, I’ll stick my hand into my box of books and pull one out. The winning name (randomly chosen from today’s comments) will receive that “mystery book.” The winner will be announced on Sunday.
February 21st, 2012 at 7:53 am
1) Yes, nook simple touch, kindle touch, kindle fire – I’m a geek
2) not applicable
3) I read more and quicker when I read books on my e-reader
4) I’m a geek and I just have to have the latest in technology
5) I still read printed books which I buy mostly at Amazon and B&N.
February 21st, 2012 at 8:34 am
1) Yes, original Kindle
2) only have it because it was a gift. Probably would not have bought it for myself
3)Same amount. I do like it for airplane trips
4) it was a gift
5) Still read a lot of printed books. Buy them from Amazon when new releases I’m excited about, or local chains when needing something for the kids.
February 21st, 2012 at 9:00 am
1. Yes, I have a kindle. One of the basic ones.
2. n/a
3.I think I’m reading about the same amount as before. Hard to be sure, as I got the kindle the same time child #5 arrived, so if there are differences, it’s hard to decide if they’re due to the reading format or the kiddo.
4. I bought one because we were adopting kiddo 5 from Russia, and I was facing a two-week span alone in a country where I knew I wouldn’t be able to buy more books in English, and I definitely didn’t want to carry enough books to last me that long. That convenient portability is still my favorite side to my kindle. I still prefer paper for non-fiction books I will use – cookbooks, anything with steps I want to follow, etc.
February 21st, 2012 at 9:41 am
1) Yes, kindle & kindle fire
2) N/A
3) I read about the same amount as before.
4) I got my e-readers for the convenience of having books always available and for ease of travel
5) I still buy paper books too – Amazon (US, CA and UK), B&N, MLB and indie brick and mortar bookstores (I order from MLB online).
February 21st, 2012 at 10:01 am
Actually, let me clarify answer #4 a little.
In 2009 & 2010 we had some very atypical of our area weather events (i.e. horrendous amounts of snow). I was in the grocery store attempting to buy groceries two days before the first snowstorm was due to hit. As is common for our weather reports for this area it was predicted we would get negligible amounts of snow. HA!
The lines were obscene. I waited two hours to pay. The only thing that kept me from committing violent acts against the immediate area was the fact that I had just downloaded this new app to my phone. It was for the Kindle. One free book later (I believe it was Secondhand Spirits by Juliette Blackwell) and I was intrigued by what the app could do. But it was WAY too small to read on.
Fast forward about two months and I am in line DESPERATE for something to do when I remember my book.
I finished that one and downloaded another one. Not free but only $.99.
BHE got me the full Kindle for that next Mother’s Day right before vacation.
February 21st, 2012 at 10:51 am
1) Kindle Keyboard; no ads
2) Gift from DH this Christmas
3) Reading a wider variety of ebooks, free and low cost, plus downloaded out-of-print books no longer carried by libraries
4) Gift but we had talked about getting one for a year
5) Mostly read library books, but buy from Amazon 3 or 4 at a time to get free shipping; yes, I am cheap!!
I love my Kindle. I made a cover wrap for it just a couple of weeks ago and I can now prop it up on my knee on the couch and read it hands-free, it stays where I put it. ELC, maybe a good sewing project for the Sewing Circle ladies??
February 21st, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Great suggestion, Carol.
How about it, ELC? An e-reader cover from the Southern Sewing Circle ladies.
February 21st, 2012 at 6:24 pm
1) I own a KOBO, and have been considering buying a Kindle as well
2) Not applicable
3) I read about the same as before
4) I read a lot, and also travel. Having the e-reader makes it considerably easier to carry 20 books with you (and saves on luggage!).
5) I still buy the occasional “real” book, mainly from Book Depository.
February 21st, 2012 at 9:20 pm
1) Started reading on my pda, moved on to a Kindle (1st gen) and then got an iPad about eighteen months ago. I like using the Kindle app because I can switch between the iPad and iPhone and it keeps track of where I am.
2) I bought the pda and Kindle. The iPad was a gift from my family.
3) I always read quite a lot but it had reduced due to eyesight problems so I’m back to reading a lot.
4) I’ve often liked t read in low light situations so I used to read on the pda at night. Couldn’t do that with the Kindle but often do with the iPad.
5) I buy books for signings at an idie bookstore, and now some ebooks from them since they started selling google books. Most are still from Amazon so I can use the aforementioned apps to switch between the iPad and my phone.
February 25th, 2012 at 3:01 am
1. Yes, Kindle Fire
2. N/A
3. I think I read about the same. I have a big stockpile of paper books here at home to get through, and I’m still working on them in between Kindle books becoming available.
4. Christmas gift
5. I do have one, but I still buy paper books. I try a large used bookstore in Nashville first, then Amazon. For Kindle I always check my library website first before I buy.
February 25th, 2012 at 2:08 pm
1. Yes. Nook Color and can download iBooks on my iPad.
2. N/A
3. I go in cycles, where I may read and read, but then I will play cards to relax. After a couple weeks, then it’s back to books!
4. Hubby gave me both Nook for my birthday and iPad for Christmas. My iPad is much easier to read on, but still love to hold and feel my paper books!!!
5. I buy most of my books at Barnes & Noble and Amazon. I also check iBooks to see if what I want is available. If it is an Elizabeth Lynn Casey book, I buy paper, not download because I like to keep them in my stash of books in my bedroom bookcase!
February 25th, 2012 at 11:09 pm
Carol S…would love to hear how you made your ereader cover! Email me if you can: ElizabethLCasey@aol.com
February 28th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
1) Do you own an e-reader? If so, what kind? Yes, a Kindle (3rd generation?)
2) If you don’t own one, why not? I only own it because it was a gift
3) For those of you with an e-reader do you feel you read more or less than you did before you got one? MORE! It is so much quicker for me to get books than it was before. I would go to the library a lot and if I couldn’t get there, I was stuck waiting. Plus, I take my Kindle everywhere.
4) For those who own one, what made you take the plunge? It was a gift. I was completely against them and now am sucked in! I will always love the feel of a page, a book, the bookstore and library!
5) For those who don’t own one, where do you buy the majority of your books (chain bookstore, independent, online)? Even though I don’t buy books for myself, I do for others in my family. We usually go to the library or to B&N (as there are no independent bookstores or other options near us).