Why Short Story eBooks Are Awesome

Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.As I've written before, and regardless of how you feel about it, we are in the middle of a book industry revolution. And it's all because of the eBook. Last week, Allanon's Quest published to all ereader platforms. It is a short story by New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks, a prequel to his genre-changing debut novel, The Sword of Shannara. The short story is told from the point of view of the Druid Allanon, perhaps Terry's most important character. It is $.99 and a great gateway to the world of Shannara. I have been Terry's webmaster for 16 years now. That's a long time to surround yourself with another person's work. Few know it better than I do. I've seen trends come and go with Terry's audience—what they want and how quickly they read and re-read. And in the last week, more people have picked up Terry's first three novels than I've seen in a long time. Allanon's Quest has done something to his readers—and possibly with people who haven't tried Terry's work. For his fans, the short story has reminded them how great a character Allanon is. The short story is set before the events of The Sword of Shannara, before the Druid has located a long-lost heir to wield the fabled power of the Sword. It leads nicely into Terry's debut novel. Fans are finishing the short story and thinking, "Wow, it's time for a re-read of Sword. And, as a result, I've noticed sales for those first three books have bounced upward on Amazon and B&N. For new time readers, the short story is a great way to try Terry's world, his writing style, etc. It is a cost effective way to try something new—and let's face it, we are always looking for something new. Terry has long been one of the bestsellers in the fantasy genre. If you haven't tried Shannara, Allanon's Quest is an excellent opportunity. I have no doubt other authors are seeing similar spikes in their sales after publishing a short story set in their respective fantasy worlds. It's inevitable. It's for that reason we are seeing so many short stories and novellas being published on the e-platform. As readers, we largely forget a story after five years time and re-reads are necessary—and even damn enjoyable. That reminder leads to more sales. And authors like more sales! It let's us keep doing what we are doing! Allanon's Quest by Terry Brooks is $.99 and available now on all ereaders, smart phones, and PC/Mac desktops and laptops. Order it now! The power of the ereader continues.