Questions

More of a survey, or market research, if you like.

The small story which I have had published, and which has caused quite a
stir, is, I hope, the first of many. Certainly, I have a barrowload of
them, many of them in publishable condition.

I have decided to go self-publish route via Lulu, but much work is entailed
there, as I have to learn the formatting techniques necessary, using Word.
I have to formatt the pages, size them, proof them, edit them etc etc.

However, there is another option - eBook. I have the facility to offer
short stories individually, or as a complete set, in book form. By means of
either of these, I can get the stories before you, in order that you can
get to them (small(ish) fee, of course) but the question remains - which
one.

So, would anyone care to say how best I might approach this?

Would you want the facility to download a PDF of a single story?
" " " " " " " " " " a collection of stories?
or would you prefer to have and to hold a paper back book?

Please bear in mind that these books are every bit as well built and
constructed as any you may buy via regular means, only the content will
differ.

All this depends on your wanting to read me in the first place, so my
questions might well be purely academic, but I would really be interested
in your replies.

Thank you in advance,

Goromoff aka Ambrose Salathiel

PS. I have now completed 2 stories, both of which have been test read by my
contacts. All have said OK, in fact, two of the ladies 'complained' that
the one story "gave them a warm glow, then made them weep".

These, I think, will be the test pieces for the above, should the answers

Goromoff...

you are not alone, Jeanette, in preferring printed copy. I will certainly
be guided by what people say.

be favourable.

Jean B....

Call me a dinosaur, but I would prefer a book....

**Dalin**...

I agree Jean. A book can go anywhere with you. In bed at night,
while waiting in a doctor's office, on vacation etc. You can turn
down pages, underline if you wish etc.

Jean B....

Shhhhhhhhhhhh, don't let Joy hear that!

Joy...

I much prefer books myself. In fact, I'm currently in the process of
rereading my hundreds of books and trying to bring myself to part with a few
of them to make room in my four bookcases, which are overflowing.

Among the things I will be packing today for my trip to Alaska today will be
several books, for reading on the plane and at the airports, as well as
other times.

Jean B....

I am going to reread my books. I think I'm going to read the
#1 Ladies Detective Agency series, since I want something

Jean B....

I wish he would concentrate on that one. It is so charming!

light.... I think I have read all but the one that just came
out, and I own several of them.

Jean B....

The Blue Shoes one is out! I may start rereading from the
first one tonight.

I have read some of his other books. I REALLY didn't like the
first (there may be two now) Sunday Philosophy Club one. The
Portuguese Irregular Verb series is okay but very odd--and not

david...

i agree, jean. one of my frustrations with much new software is that the
'book' is on the CD, which means I never read it or dog-ear pages or get
out my yellow highlighter...

Jean B....

Joy...

I saw a mention of manuals in another post. That is my exception to the
rule. They need to be marked. ;-)

Goromoff...

no dinasaur you, Jean. I myself prefer the touch and the feel of an actual,
physical book. However, and I'm sure there are others in the same boat, my
fingers and eyes often refuse to coordinate their activities to make for
comfortable reading for me.

Jean B....

Well, of course, if I couldn't deal with a book, I'd want to
have ebooks!!!! Or books on tape. Or anything...

Oh yes! I hate just having manuals online. :-(

even close to The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books.