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These are the images I carry in memory that form my understanding of passion and compassion in science: Rachel Carson waking at midnight to return to the sea the microscopic marine organisms she has been studying, when the tidal cycle is favorable to their survival; John Muir clinging to the upper branches of a tall pine during a violent storm, reveling in the power of natural forces.

The post Passion and compassion: The people who created the words and numbers of environmental science appeared first on OUPblog.

It’s tough to follow the news these days - and I’m talking the popular press, not just the news media such as Publishers Weekly that appeals to writers - without hearing about how much profit is being driven by e-book sales. BUT, here’s the recent headline posted today at Publishers Weekly: Barnes & Noble Sales Jump Led by Digital Products.

Another from the Wall Street Journal reads: Retailers Struggle in Amazon’s Jungle.

We all know that the fuel in the Digital Products jump is e-books and we all know that Amazon was one of the early platforms to fuel the e-book revolution. So, when will this ride end?

No time soon, in my opinion. I could be wrong, but I don’t think that I am. What does this mean for writers? Should you rush to get in on the e-book band wagon as fast as possible. Should that be the publish-it-yourself band wagon, or the go-through-an-established-e-publisher band wagon? Well, that depends.

Don’t overlook the options to publish straight to the internet but don’t overlook the value of an established e-publishing house that can provide editorial services that just might improve your book and improve your sales. In fact, I would suggest that authors pursue both avenues of approach.

If you receive rejections from e-publishers and strongly believe that your book is worthy of an audience than the good news is that you now have lots of choices on how to get your book in front of an audience and by doing so you might just generate enough readership that will catch the attention of an established publisher - if that’s what you want. It’s been done many times before.

BUT, if you do go the route of the publish-it-yourself band wagon, don’t be lulled into a sense of laziness that once you put your book up for sale that it will fly off the e-shelves like pancakes from a hot griddle. You still have to get the word out that your book is available and you still have to connect with readers.

Now, it is much easier with the internet but it’s not so easy that you don’t have to make some sort of investment of at least time. Rob Walker has posted about the tips and tricks that have worked for him and then of course there is Joe Konrath and his stellar success. AND then there is Amanda Hocking. If you don’t know who these folks are - and if you’re reading this blog you have to know who Rob Walker is - then Google their names, follow their blogs and do your homework.

So, at least one thing about being a published author has not changed - you always have to do your homework regardless of the medium by which you publish your books.