Mellie's Books

And I’m not even sure why.

What debate, you ask?

Print vs. ebook vs. audio books.

I know. Right? Does it make a difference? The purists say only print books are real books. Anything else is a poor copy, at best. And audio books don’t even enter into the discussion there. Others are fine with print or ebooks, but waffle when it comes to audio books.

Now, I know this is going to make one group or the other upset with me, but here’s the deal. I prefer actual physical print books. I love the feel of the paper, the smell of the ink, and the act of turning the pages to discover what waits on the other side.

That being said, I can’t afford to buy all the books I read, if I buy them in print. And when I travel, the weight of books alone would put me over the limit. So ebooks are easier and more economical for me, especially when reading a new author. Do I want to invest $15-$20 on a book I may decide wasn’t worth the $0.99 for the ebook?

Another thing to consider. Before my cataract surgery, I couldn’t read most print. On my e-reader, I could adjust the print size and the brightness, which allowed me to read while I waited for surgery. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to read at all.

What about audio books?

I love to listen to an audio book while I drive. With road noise, I find music difficult hear properly and get annoyed with the whole thing. But an audio book I usually enjoy–traffic noise or not.

And what about people who are blind or are vision impaired? Should we accuse them of “not reading,” because they don;’t pick up the physical book or e-reader? Must they be shunned because they choose to listen to an audio book? What other choice do they have? I suppose they could buy the print book and have a family member or sitter read it to them. But what is the difference between this and an audio book?

In my opinion, and only my opinion, I see no difference between the three. As an author hoping for royalties, whichever version of my book they buy still means a sale. Someone has chosen to read my book. And this makes me happy.

Folks, let’s not be judgmental. We don’t know the reasons a person is choosing a particular format of their reading material. They are still reading and that’s what’s important. It really doesn’t matter.

Just read!

Or listen.

But if you want to check out my books, or the books by my alter ego, Sultonna Nadine, go on over to Amazon or Smashwords and give them a once over. I also have 2 books available at Audible and one over at Apple Books, as Sultonna Nadine.

So, that’s my rant for the day. Don’t be petty. Be grateful for the opportunity to read, however you choose to do it.

And as always,

Don’t Forget…

…to Share the Romance…

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