Author Stephen King has experimented with ebook-only and digital-first publication in the recent past, but now the prolific author is using digital publishing in a new way. His latest digital release, “Guns,” is an essay which explores the author’s stance on the gun-control debate that is currently raging in the U.S.
King is certainly not the first write to take advantage of the pace that digital publishing allows, but he might be one of the most well-known. eBook developer Vook released the ebook of David Frum’s Why Romney Lost the moment the election results were securely tabulated enough for Romney to concede to President Obama; Now and Then Reader released an ebook on Osama Bin Laden within days of his death.
The once-laborious time it took for high-interest current event titles to reach reading consumers has been stripped away, thanks to digital publishing. Assuming the writing and editing have been completed, quality pieces can be in front of readers’ screens within minutes now.
For his essay, King opted to publish it via the Kindle Singles platform, allowing for the exclusivity that is built in to the platform in order to reach as wide an audience as possible while still maneuvering the pace of publication.
“I think the issue of an America awash in guns is one every citizen has to think about,” said King in a press release. “If this helps provoke constructive debate, I’ve done my job. Once I finished writing ‘Guns’ I wanted it published quickly, and Kindle Singles provided an excellent fit.”
Mercy Pilkington is a Senior Editor for Good e-Reader. She is also the CEO and founder of a hybrid publishing and consulting company.
