Today I remembered that Orson Scott Card's latest installment of his Enderverse series was due to come out soon. I confirmed by a quick glance on the front page of his website that Shadows in Flight did indeed come out yesterday, January 17. I eagerly searched the Nook library in hopes that I would quickly and easily get my hands on the book and get back into the story.
Sadly, I could not find it.
Curious, I returned to his website, but saw no obvious announcements about any sort of publishing news, other than a picture declaring that the novel would be released on the 17. This picture was not clickable either and therefore failed to provide any meaningful information.
An exploration into the forums did however bring some light to the quickly darkening situation. Apparently, the eBook isn't being released today or any time soon.
As a reader, I find this disappointing. I have yet to decide how badly I want the book, and if there is space on my already overflowing bookcases for a physical copy of the book.
As a member of internet-obsessed social media generation, I find this, quite blatantly, stupid.
Today, many readers--especially younger ones, for whom Card seems to write--prefer to read on some type or eReader, whether it's a Kindle or Nook or some other device. To avoid this area where so much of the market gravitates shows a severe lack of media and marketing savvy.
And that's only where Card's mistakes begin.
His website, Hatrack River, is out-of-date and does little to provide readers with useful information. A well organized website can help further his brand, and a better online presence could substantially grow the already sizeable following he seems to have. At a time when one of his most popular books is being made into a movie, he needs to be prepared to greet new fans with a well functioning website.
He also denounces fanfiction by claiming that it deprives him of money he deserves as his livelihood. Now, I can agree that every writer deserves to get paid for his or her hard work. But the catch here is that fanfiction can act as a promotional tool. Maybe it sounds farfetched, but let me explain.
I first started participating on the internet in 2000 after reading Harry Potter. I wanted more. I loved the books and my appetite for more was insatiable. What was going to happen? When would Ron and Hermione get together? I found fellow fans on the internet who loved the books as much as I did. I started reading fanfiction. People even wrote essays on a variety of subjects. The Harry Potter Lexicon was created. Then MuggleNet. The network of Harry Potter resources was there to constantly act as a resource for those long years between book releases and movie releases. Essentially, they kept the embers sparked and fueled a worldwide obsession for Harry Potter during long waits.
Without fanfiction, and the subsequent community that sprung out of that, I don't know that Harry Potter would be as big as it is. Big, sure, but not as big.
What I'm saying is that these internet communities help keep the passion for a writer's story alive. Without them, fans would quickly move on the next story, and lose interest in following a long series. Its about keeping the hype alive. And that is something Card fails to do when he doesn't release an eBook version or denounces the value of fanfiction or fails to maintain a good website.
Newsflash Mr. Card, these times they are a-changin', and it's time to wise up and adapt.
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