eBooks: a boon to readers and self publishers

Summary The eBook revolution is a  blessing for readers and authors. Both now have a much wider range of choice and opportunities for what they read and publish.

The speed at which the sales of Kindle and other digital ebooks have taken off has been quite spectacular. Amazon online sales of digital books are now greater than sales of all other printed book forms. My own Kindle Books are already outselling the paperbacks by more than 4 to 1. With the recent launch of Google eBooks this trend may well accelerate.

Now the ease of self-publishing in digital form makes it possible for anyone to publish and make their work available to the wider public as never before – and let the public decide. The old monopoly of agents and publishers controlling what and who gets published is broken. And they are none too happy about it. They fear that there will be too many inferior books reaching the market now that ePublishing is so easy and economical. The simple fact, and history proves it, is that this elite is no better at judging the quality and potential success of books than the reading public.

And as there are no printing or postal costs and with Amazon’s 70% royalty option authors and small publishers can actually make profits instead of losses. Payment is easy and quick – straight into bank your bank account each month.

The geographic reach for digital books in English is increasing rapidly as well. Amazon Kindle Books have been available in the U.S.A, U.K. and Canada for some time and are now also available in Germany, France, Italy, Austria and many others.

Recently launched Google eBooks will provide choice for readers and worldwide availability of English eBooks. Google has the world's largest ebooks collection, which are suitable for Android, for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, for the Web and for eReader. They are already available in UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Italy, and more soon.

The books of Linda Carlino's Spanish Hapsburg Trilogy - That Other Juana (Juana la Loca), A Matter of Pride (Charles V), Wives & Other Women (Philip II of Spain) are now available at Google eBookstore www.Books.Google.co.uk/ebooks as well as Amazon. The books of the trilogy are connected (mother, son, grandson) but each book can be read separately.

That Other Juana (Juana la Loca), was published in Portugal in 2009 and the other two books of the trilogy will be published there during 2012.

It will also be published in Brazil in 2012.

Reigns in Spain

Spanish history and Spanish royals as the subject for historical fiction can make for very entertaining and interesting reading and provide a real change.

Intriguing characters and fascinating stories abound: Juana la Loca (Joan the Mad) who was imprisoned for most of her life by her family and denied her rightful claim to the Spanish throne; the outrageously ill-tempered Emperor Charles V who ruled most of Europe - badly - and whose only solace was in memories of Barbara; Philip II who grossly mistreated his wife Mary Tudor and launched The Armada against England.

Linda Carlino became so fascinated by these historical characters and their connections with England she wrote the historical fiction Spanish Trilogy

Linda had a lifelong passion for history and historical fiction but writing as a second career was never planned or sought. But a five week independent tour of Spain in 1988 was a life-changing event. Its history, particularly the historical connections with England, caught her attention. She was hooked.

The books of A Spanish Hapsburg Trilogy are connected (mother, son, grandson) but each book can be read separately.

That Other Juana (Queen Juana I of Spain) Juana la Loca

Juana founded the Hapsburg dynasties of Spain and Austria but her life was ruined by three men: her husband a blatant womaniser and political schemer; her father who betrayed and isolated her; and her son who imprisoned her for a further thirty years.

Her spirited resistance to this lifetime of barbaric persecution earned her, unfairly, the infamous nickname Juana la Loca, Joan the Mad.

A Matter of Pride (Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor)

In 1557 a prematurely aged, ill, and very irritable Charles V retires to a secluded monastery in western Spain. He brings memories of past loves, years in power, and military campaigns – mostly failures. His major domo freely speaks his mind, other characters tell tragicomic anecdotes and an all-knowing narrator makes sarcastic and funny observations. It all makes for a wonderful story - sometimes tearful, sometimes hilarious.

Wives & Other Women (Philip II of Spain)

At a time when kings were expected to produce male heirs Philip embarked on several dynastic marriages but was always disappointed and frustrated.

The story focuses on these loveless marriages — and his compulsive pursuit of other women. With a background of family turmoil and a court plagued by intrigue and treachery, the result is a fascinating and very lively story.

In 2009 That Other Juana was published in Portugal by Editorial Presença and the other two books of the trilogy will be published in Portugal during 2012.

In March 2011 the Brazilian publisher Editora Europa bought the rights for That Other Juana and will publish it in Brazil in paperback and ebook format during 2012.

All of Linda Carlino’s paperbacks and Kindle Books are available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.

Linda’s ebooks are also now available at Books.Google.co.uk/ebooks

Google eBooks, has the world's largest ebooks collection, which are suitable for Android, for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, for the Web and for eReader.

Biography. Linda was born in a small mining village at the southern edge of the Durham coalfield in the Northeast of England. Linda had a lifelong passion for history and historical fiction but writing as a second career was never planned or sought. But a five week independent tour of Spain in 1988 was a life-changing event. Its history, particularly the historical connections with England, caught her attention. She was hooked. She wanted to know more, much more. She studied Spanish and then started reading Spanish sources. Many exciting days followed in the Biblioteca Nacional in Madrid, other public and private libraries in Spain, and the British Library in London.

In 2008 she was elected a Full Member of The Society of Authors.

TAGS:

Princess of Eboli, Charles V-HRE, Don Juan of Austria, Ferdinand & Isabella, Historical fiction], historical novels, Juana la Loca, Mary Tudor, Philip II of Spain, Philip the Fair, Prince Don Carlos