I have watched the debate over ebooks, publishing rights, drm, the death of ‘proper’ books for quite a while now. There’s an opinion or two out there as to what should be done to protect the publisher’s author’s rights. I firmly believe that creators of work should gain a fair remuneration from it. That, however, is not what I want to put forward today.

I love books, have done from a very early age, and read and re-read favourites til they are falling to pieces (Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy trilogy is about due for yet another replacement) so to get them as ebooks alongside the dead tree version would be perfect. But why would I buy both when the ebook is often a similar price to the physical copy?

Why should I have to choose?

Publishers should possibly look into the idea of offering those who buy a paper-based book the opportunity to download an e-version for a nominal sum. I know I would happily pay a pound or two extra to get both. That way I could sit down by the fire with my book when it’s cold and rainy outside or I could take my preferred eReader (Sony for me) out and about knowing if I did finish what I was reading I could easily find something else in my electronic library to keep me going until I got home. You should have seen the pile of books I took to the US a few years ago - bet they could have added another passenger on the plane if I had left them at home!

I love the feel and smell of physical books, I love the cover art, I love having a library of books that I can peruse - but I also love technology and the ability to have a library in my handbag.

So, come on publishers - be brave, be innovative and be my friend forever.

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