By Linda Eberharter Copyright 2000 (c)

Electronic publishing isn't brand new, yet up until recently it has stayed well in the background. As we move into the 21st century, epublishing will emerge to take its place as a vitally important player within our societies. Its direction is not yet determined but will be defined as new technology arises.

At this point in time ebooks can be found as a marketing tool for Internet business owners to either spread the word about their expertise or to house their informational products for purchase. Both methods have been extremely successful. The other side of this industry is the appearance of literary authors converting their titles into ebook formats for sale by themselves or the sprouting epublishing houses appearing on the Internet.

Within this article, we will explore what the ebook is doing on both sides and how the combination of the two could indeed change the standard of publishing as it has been known.

A pertinent observation has been made more than once: "The good news is, anyone can have a web site now. The bad news is, anyone can have a web site now." A contradiction? No, not at all.

Whether you build your own web site or someone does it for you, at its completion, it is far from being done, only the beginning. Regardless of the fact the Internet has a global audience, yours will sit in obscurity as though it is at the end of a dead end street unless you let the masses know you are there.

Exposure, becoming known within your area of expertise, establishing your credibility, is your quest. Without it, you will soon be closing your doors.

Ebooks are one method to help you achieve these goals and they are being used by the most savvy of Internet Marketers.

Creating an ebook with information about your area of expertise, offering valuable information within it's confines and then giving it away is one method used with outstanding results. Free is a magic word and if your ebook contains pertinent information which would be of value and you give along with it the right for others to distribute it freely, your ebook exposure could grow exponentially, giving you and your site excellent exposure.

Many Internet Marketers who are in the business of selling information or the how-to manuals sell this information via ebook downloads. It puts the product in the hands of the customer immediately for the instant gratification they desire. How-to books are the highest selling type of ebook.

Another side of epublishing is the literary author's works. The Internet has opened doors which have been closed to numerous talented authors by traditional means of publishing. Now authors can choose to self-publish their own work or find an online epublisher to represent and sell their work.

Although many epublishers have taken the basic traditional standard approach, publishing contracts are being made for less time, at higher royalties and quicker publishing times.

At the present, there isn't a standard format for ebooks. Many will offer one title in a variety of different formats such as PDF, HTML and EXE. E-readers have been making an appearance from companies such as Nuvomedia (eRocket Reader), and Softbook.com.

Critics are outspoken by proclaiming ebooks are inferior to print published works. These opinions come from those organizations which represent the traditional standards and it becomes obvious quickly these critics are concerned. The print publishers have no control over the epublishing industry and the truth is, that's a major fear.

What is in store for the future of epublishing? The possibilities are only limited by imagination.

Imagine, for a moment, if you will, children arriving to school on the first day of the year. Instead of one, two or three textbooks handed out in each class, the student takes his/her ebook reader and downloads the necessary texts for all classes in the one unit. Our kids already are experienced computer users, comfortable with reading working and yes, playing either online or with computer software. They are primed and will be the ebook readers of the near future.

This will be global and evidence is already available. Just recently, China made the announcement of one of their companies producing an ebook reader. They are calling it an eC-book with plans to offer a color version to the adult market and introduce a black and white version to the primary and secondary schools.

Maybe, above all else, the big news in this past week has been author Stephen King's announcement that next week his book "Riding the Bullet" will be available exclusively in ebook form. Sure it is a short one (66 pages), and yes it is an experiment, but it is clear evidence that epublishing is very real and an industry to be investigated and explored. Surely China's announcement of it's new eC-book reader is of greater global importance than King's 66 page e-novella, but it is hard for anyone to brush off the likes of an author such as King - for sure other famous authors will follow suit.

Epublishing will continue to take many forms. It will be used successfully in the selling of and distribution of valuable how-to information by Internet Marketers. It will be utilized by talented and gifted literary authors. It will ultimately be accepted by the average consumer as the reduction of ebook readers occurs.

Before long it will be common place to pull out your ebook reader from your carry-on bag, download a novel, magazine, or newspaper from a kiosk in the airport prior to boarding the plane for a long awaited vacation or a business meeting in another city. Exciting times we are fortunate enough to live in with many new discoveries yet to come.

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Linda Eberharter is the owner of Bridge Works Publishing, an
ebookstore offering quality, top-class ebooks for sale by Independent and represented authors. Also the editor of Ebook Junction, the official newsletter of Bridge Works Publishing, offering reviews of ebooks and interviews with the authors, tips, advice and resources for anyone writing and creating ebooks. Visit the Lighthouse eBookstore at Bridge Works Publishing http://www.atlanticbridge.net