A Magical Trilogy
Part III of IV
By now you should have an eb0ok to read. Even if you haven’t found a magic one you like you can go to Barnes & Noble and download a freee one.
How will you read your ebook? If it’s in PDF form you can download Adobe Acrobat reader at no charge. What if it is in a different format? Then I suggest you try Stanza.
What if you want to read on the go? Smartphones are the answer. The Apple iPhone will allow you to read epub formats if you install Stanza on it. You can e-mail PDF files to yourself and open them on your iPhone. I prefer using the HTC EVO, or any Android based phone, for reading on the go when it comes to phones. The operating system isn’t as restrictive as the Apple OS. You can easily moves files on and off Android phones.
The best method, in my opinion at this time, is the nook by Barnes & Noble. You just can’t beat this system right now. You have a paperback book sized device that carries 2000 books. Unlike the Amazon ereader you can easily drag and drop books onto the nook just as if you were moving files between folders on your computer. The only drawback is it will not play video files because of the way eInk works. I can live with that though because of the massive amount of storage this thing has. If you wanted to take your current printed books, scan the pages into PDF form and read them on your nook you could. Just don’ t post the files on the internet for others to take. Also, it works with various file types. I use the nook for reading magic books, regular books and it even has a built in mp3 player. You just can’t go wrong with it.
Head to your local Barnes & Noble to take a nook for a test drive and you will see how incredible the nook is.
By now you have probably noticed that this Trilogy consists of four parts. My original plans called for three parts but as I was working with a couple of authors I realized a fourth part was needed. You will see it soon.
A Magical Trilogy
Part II of IV
I know what you are thinking.
If I put my best work out as an ebook pirates will take it and give it away for free!
Yes, they will. If you make your work available anywhere somebody is going to share it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a magic book, a magic dvd, a monthly magazine, a Hollywood blockbuster or even a new paperback novel describing the loves and lives of vampire mice.
I find the piracy argument to be a waste of time. Ever since Ug painted on his cave people have been copying the work of others. Prior to ebooks people were copying magic books at the office Xerox machine. Prior to magic video downloads people were copying DVDs and VHS tapes. Prior to all of this people were learning new routines and moves from books and sharing them with others at their local magic club meetings.
I’m not saying piracy is a good thing. It’s simply an unavoidable thing. It would be better for people to concentrate on the quality of the product than to worry about who may get their hands on it.
This was my ESB post. It’s a little scary and the bad guys seem to have the upper hand. The next one will be a happier one.
A Magical Trilogy
Part I of IV
Am I the only one, outside of those that publish and sell them, to notice a steady decline in magic book sales?
I remember in the early 90′s that while magic books would sell that most people I met would rather buy a new packet trick than a new book. Even if they were the same price. Today I hear of sales being worse and younger magicians not even wanting to touch the books unless they come with a DVD. It makes me sad.
There is a bit of hope though. The ebook market continues to grow. Places like imentalism, Lebanon Circle, Lybrary, Trickshop and others are selling ebooks every day. A big plus I see for the ebook magic market is that the books are quite often very affordable compared to printed books. I am also finding that there a number of lower priced ebooks that contain 3-10 effects in them. If you haven’t tried ebooks yet visit any of the vendors above and find something of interest.
The best ebook I have seen so far comes from Elliot Bressler. His book Switchcraft is an incredible collection of billet moves and routines. For les than $30 you will receive a PDF big enough to make Stephen King jealous of the word count. This is an incredible work on billets and is not to be missed. It’s also a great example of why ebooks are, in my opinion, the future of magic publishing. After purchasing Switchcraft you will receive updated version from Elliot at no charge. The updates he has put out have been incredible and I count the purchase of Switchcraft as one of the best magic investments I have ever made.
If a mentor ever encouraged you to pick up a magic book, say thanks.
Thank you Gary!
