Enhanced ebooks - a good thing?

[MattC]

Since the good folk at Pan Macmillan reverted the rights to my first book earlier in the year, I've been mulling over the creation of an enhanced ebook. The Kindle version came out just over a month ago, but with iBooks I wanted to do something a bit different - something that I could have some fun with.

My plan is to produce an ebook that has optional animations at the beginning of the three key part's of the book, accompanied by a musical score that can be switched off. It will have an appendices or "Extras" bit at the back, featuring the full score to the book, a video interview (including never released footage of the book launch to the first novel way back in 2007) and other gumph. And space allowing, it will include the original edit Pan Macmillan signed off in 2007, as well as the revised 2012 edit.
And the customer will be pay nothing extra for this enhanced ebook, it will retail at the same price as the Kindle book.

The question is, will it be worth all that work? I admit I'm not doing it really for the money, more for the challenge, the fun, and because I have the kit to do it with. But really, do enhanced ebooks entice more readers? As a reader are you really bothered about the extra stuff? Does it annoy you? Or is there curiosity value?

~​

If I do go ahead with this, I might ask to keep a log or blog here on SFF showing what I've done so far (if the mods are okay with that) with the emphasis on the kit used, the software and all the annoying problems that occur (for example, getting my MS Windows-head around Mac O.S.!!). And to ask the forum here for help and opinions. What I'm not is an art major/degree educated, and although I have an eye for it, having more than one opinion on things such as covers, animations, musical scores would be helpful.

 

[Abernovo]

Heh, so you're real name is Ridley Scott and this is your Director's Cut.

Okay, seriously, this goes back to a thread we had in General Writing about background music whilst writing or reading. I personally value quiet when I'm reading. If I do have music on, it's what I choose. I'd hate to have it chosen for me.

I don't understand 'enhanced ebooks'. This is the first I've heard of them. Does it really add to the experience? Could the extra content not simply be placed on your website, presuming you have one?

Then, I wonder (not knowing, as I said, about these enhancements) whether or not it might seem, to the average buyer, like a selling gimmick. I don't mean that nastily. Because I don't know about it, that's how I might see it if I had no idea of the author - you've explained your reasoning, but how do you get that across to someone who hasn't read this post. Are these sorts of extras common in enhanced ebooks?

 

[MattC]

I don't understand 'enhanced ebooks'. This is the first I've heard of them. Does it really add to the experience? Could the extra content not simply be placed on your website, presuming you have one?

Then, I wonder (not knowing, as I said, about these enhancements) whether or not it might seem, to the average buyer, like a selling gimmick. I don't mean that nastily. Because I don't know about it, that's how I might see it if I had no idea of the author - you've explained your reasoning, but how do you get that across to someone who hasn't read this post. Are these sorts of extras common in enhanced ebooks?

I suppose I could publish much of this stuff on the website/blog, so enhanced books are a gimmick, in that respect, though in the same respect as extras are on a DVD/Blu Ray. If I were to use a website only route though it would feel more like a publicity ploy than extra content. The animations and score (optional and only at the beginning of each "Part" of the book) are more presentational than publicity. The video interview is archival stuff, as is the original Pan Mac edit of the book. They would seem more suited to being with the book and in context with it rather than on a website surrounded by different projects.
But I see your point. Readers come to books to read. Extra content isn't necessary - but if it came at no extra cost, would that make a reader curious?

 

[Abernovo]

It wouldn't do much for me, but, as an idea, you could put both the 'normal' ebook and the enhanced ebook up for sale, couldn't you? If they were at the same price, or within a few pennies, it might be an interesting (and helpful) bit of market research for you.

I hope my remarks didn't offend you before. I could see the interview working in a similar way to an author bio on the inside of the dust cover of a hardback (and I generally read those), so I'd be curious to see how it turns out. Good luck with it, Matt.

 

[HareBrain]

I do sometimes listen to music when reading, and the idea of a carefully chosen (and optional) score to go with a book is a potentially interesting one. But how would the tracks work? Would they be tied to chapters? Scenes? Would the quality of the speakers be shocking, or would headphones be essential?

 

[anivid]

Don't know much about such things, but have seen a Kindle extract where audio/video clips are included - even I haven't had access to exactly that part of it
here

But why don't you ask your editor about it ??
They surely have some experience with the effect of such things.
Personally I'll say, that if the extras are relevant to the story it should be O.K - but if gluing something allotria on it e.g. music I don't like - I'll not buy you again

 

[Brian G Turner]

I think we'll definitely see publishing move along these lines eventually - the big problem at the moment is how to get the desired effects.

Previously I might have thought you could add extra effects in Flash, but Apple devices don't allow it. The most recent release of Flash is buggy and Adobe have effectively abandoned future development of it.

That means needing some form of HTML 5 development tool to get those effects and extra features in - but frankly I have no idea how to even begin here. Hopefully there will be some pointers somewhere, but I suspect it may be quite a bit harder than simply coding normal HTML. And if a programmer is required to code Javascript or Ajax (at the very least) then this could get quite expensive.

 

[Moonbat]

It sounds like a good idea and certainly, as Brian said, it is probably going to be the future of publishing. I wondered how it would work, so I followed anivid's link. It seemed interesting but it said for the kindle only works on IPhone, iPad or iPod devices, so not sure that is kindle at all. My kindle can play sound, not that it ever has, but I don't think it could play video.
I wonder how it'll work, but also I reckon there must be a lot of areas where free extra content could be packaged up with the book, the question is would/should it be a different media? I'd be happy with extra notes our more pics, the audio soundtrack would be hard to do, I suppose in the future they could have eye tracking software so it could increase the tension at the right moment, but as everyone reads at a different speed it'll be hard to create anything more than a general backing track; not a proper score. Also would animation/film add to the experience or just be more gumph.

A nice idea though, if you have the time, motivation and means then go for it, I reckon a certain amount if novelty interest would be sparked and also die hard fans would probably want to soak up anything extra they can get their hands on.

 

[anivid]

It sounds like a good idea and certainly, as Brian said, it is probably going to be the future of publishing. I wondered how it would work, so I followed anivid's link. It seemed interesting but it said for the kindle only works on IPhone, iPad or iPod devices, so not sure that is kindle at all....

Yes Moonbat, that’s it – but when downloading the extract and viewing it by means of the Kindle program one can download for viewing Kindle contents on the computer –(instead of on the device), it says :

« There is video content on this location that is not currently supported for your Kindle device » -- telling that we’re not far from getting there J

 

[Grinnel]

There is little doubt that at least some publishing will go to 'Author's Cuts' and comments on the books and difficulty of publishing/writing etc. Some authors' websites already have this stuff.

The biggest benefit of this type of thing, in my (never actually) humble opinion, would be to promote other works by the author-that is where it might make some comercial sense to put some time into development. Also by MatC and Coming Soon.

It is also a good place to do some cross-promotion with fellow authors who's work you like (hint hint ).

I think much of what was discussed in the string on Author's Websites would be valid here; in fact, one of the features on this should be to allow connection directly to the author to download some of his/her other work.

(Perhaps this would be a place where short stories would actually pay off!)

 

[Interversus]

I don't like the prospect of a book playing music at me, or the idea I have to search for ways to disable it, anymore than when I come across a website that plays music (thankfully most websites have learned that this is bad practice).

I like ibook and the epub format, with its modest embedded images, but that's about it.

I had a quick look and can't see any support for animation, music or links, but I'm sure if its not available, it will come.

The danger I see is it will be another method for advertisements being shoved at us.

So for me, an ebook with animation; only in very specialised, very relevant circumstances.

an ebook with sound effects; it would only detract from the story and the act of reading.

an ebook with music; I can't think of anything worse.

The only exceptions I can think of is if it were a detective story where the multimedia were some very integral part of the plot, but it would have to be very well implemented, and maybe ebook isn't the right way to format this, maybe a new media crossover - ebook/game.

Authors cuts is interesting, but I'd rather they were on your website for the reader to seek out if curious enough.

 

[thaddeus6th]

I agree with Interversus. I read to relax. If I want music, I'll put it on.

I think this could work well for certain sorts of book, such as history showing animations of battle deployments, but it'd just annoy me for fantasy.

 

[Metryq]

"Enhanced" or multimedia books are basically the same thing as a Web page, so approach it from that angle. I can see adding maps or illustrations to a fictional work, but any other multimedia is in the realm of textbooks.

Marco Patrito's SINKHA from 1995 was a "multimedia novel" that started out as a graphic novel, then expanded from there. The novel was a novelty, considering the technology at the time. Today's audiences would no doubt regard the work as gimmicky and limited. If you're going to do music and video, why not go all the way and make an animated feature? The tools today make it a snap.

"Cut scenes" work for videogames because the colorful, noisy animation continues as the game resumes. But a written novel is a totally different kind of animal. I prefer to internalize the experience; anything that dumps me out of the book so that I become consciously aware of looking at a page of text is an annoyance. I don't need perfect silence. A good book can help pass a long commute, or idle time while waiting for something else. However, I rarely play music while settling down to read. Novels are not an "interactive" experience.

——

Post Script: The first SINKHA novel was interesting and a little thought-provoking. Although graphic technology had improved by the time the other books in the series appeared, the story nose-dived and crashed hard enough to leave a sizable crater. Art should remain a form of expression—don't let the technology become the expression.

 

[MattC]

I hope my remarks didn't offend you before. I could see the interview working in a similar way to an author bio on the inside of the dust cover of a hardback (and I generally read those), so I'd be curious to see how it turns out. Good luck with it, Matt.

Hi Abernovo - absolutely not, your remarks weren't offensive in the slightest, and were actually quite helpful. I think it's easy to forget about the reader's needs when it comes to creating the finished product, and to get carried away with the non-writing side of things. Yours, and everyone else's comments here have been supportive, very useful and a reality check from the reader's point of view.

Just a shame I couldn't have responded sooner (I've had the kids all weekend!)

 

[MattC]

That means needing some form of HTML 5 development tool to get those effects and extra features in - but frankly I have no idea how to even begin here. Hopefully there will be some pointers somewhere, but I suspect it may be quite a bit harder than simply coding normal HTML. And if a programmer is required to code Javascript or Ajax (at the very least) then this could get quite expensive.

It's been suggested to me that I use a program called Hype, which I can download for free on a trial basis. I'm okay with HTML but I if it gets too fiddly I might well get the animation going via Sony Vegas but making sure the frame rate is correct and animating at the correct speed. Tricky - yep - but I've done it this way before.

 

[MattC]

I'd be happy with extra notes our more pics, the audio soundtrack would be hard to do, I suppose in the future they could have eye tracking software so it could increase the tension at the right moment, but as everyone reads at a different speed it'll be hard to create anything more than a general backing track; not a proper score. Also would animation/film add to the experience or just be more gumph.

There's a company who are already doing books with musical scores, called BookTrack. I've taken a look at a couple of their books, and they are fun. But the music is a little too intrusive for my tastes.
For my project, I decided to go with music at the beginning of each part of the book (the novel is split into 3 parts, starting with what happened after Waterloo, the journey to Rome, and then the mission to Aosta). This would stop the music being overly intrusive whilst reading the actual story, kinda like a musical introduction to the next stage of the book.

Though, I'm now thinking this might still be too intrusive...

 

[MattC]

"Cut scenes" work for videogames because the colorful, noisy animation continues as the game resumes. But a written novel is a totally different kind of animal. I prefer to internalize the experience; anything that dumps me out of the book so that I become consciously aware of looking at a page of text is an annoyance. I don't need perfect silence. A good book can help pass a long commute, or idle time while waiting for something else. However, I rarely play music while settling down to read. Novels are not an "interactive" experience.

I guess that was my worry, and to be honest with you all, I was getting carried away more with the technology and its possibilities. A book is a book is a book, as they say, and the point of the book is telling the story. I think you're right - anything that distracts the reader from the book itself is a very bad thing. I think I might have to rein myself in and include much of the multimedia stuff in the rear, so the reader can access it if they are curious, but it shouldn't be part of the initial read.

I've just downloaded the multimedia ebook Yellow Submarine via iBooks, and it's wonderful to look at, but have I actually read any of it?

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Mac OS is the least of your worries, Matt. A piece of cake.

 

[billhafan]

Hi Matt, there are lots of excellent quality programs and software that may suit your needs, which are Open Source, and free. Check out Sourceforge.net and have a look around. A lot of it is cross-platform, too. Don't know if you've ever used open source software, but would recommend dipping your toe in the water if you haven't. I haven't used MS Office or Word in years - only Open-Office, which is more intuitive and just as powerful, whilst a fraction of the size, and certainly seems less prone to viral attacks etc.

 

[nightdreamer]

I'd go with no, at least at current technology. As others have mentioned, you can make all this material available on a web site, and not have to worry about delivery or file size. Readers can get it if they want and ignore it if they don't. Including such material in your ebook has two consequences I can think of right way. (1) It's going to take up more room on the reader's device. That would annoy the heck out of me, remember, as I do, when memory was $1 a byte. (2) Amazon on one of their pricing models (I don't know about other ebook publishers yet) charge delivery costs, which translate into file size. The more you add; the less you make, whereas if available through a web site, unless you get 100,000 hits a month, you're not going to have to worry about bandwidth or delivery cost.