The Last American Vampire | Seth Grahame-Smith | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Physical book sales are declining while digital reading is on the rise, leading to changes in the publishing industry.

Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] SIMON PERKOWSKI: Greetings, everyone. I'm Simon Perkowski. I'm very excited to introduce Seth Grahame-Smith here today. He's a "New York Times" bestselling author, screenwriter, producer, and director. He sold over two million copies of "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" as well as "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter," both of which hav... Read More

Key Insights

• 😮 Physical book sales are declining, while digital reading is on the rise, leading to changes in the publishing industry.
• 🤳 Authors may self-publish or partner with digital platforms to reach a broader audience.
• ✋ The relationship between creators and aggregators, such as editors and producers, remains important for producing high-quality content.
• 📔 Physical books will still have a market, especially for collectors and those who value sentimental value.

Questions & Answers

Q: Are physical books going to disappear completely?

Physical books are unlikely to disappear completely, as there will always be a market for them, especially for collectors and sentimental value.

Q: How do you approach writing a book set in a specific historical timeframe?

I research major events and turning points in history, then create a story that weaves the characters' involvement in those events.

Q: Do you still read physical books?

Yes, I still read physical books because I believe in immersing myself in other authors' work and finding inspiration from their writing.

Q: How do you think the writing process will change with the shift to digital media?

The writing process may change with serializations, in-app purchases, or the need for enticing chapter endings to keep readers engaged.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Physical book sales are plummeting, while digital reading is increasing, leading to changes in the way stories are consumed.

• Authors are likely to self-publish or partner with digital platforms like Google Play or Amazon to reach a broader audience.

• The relationship between creators and aggregators, such as editors and producers, is still important for producing high-quality content.

• Despite the shift towards digital, physical books will still have a market, especially for collectors and sentimental value.