By Alexandra Valint
Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
Imagine using a few easy clicks to upload an entire novel into a portable, convenient technological device. Imagine that paperback books are literary relics.
The electronic text movement has in fact already started and is gaining speed and supporters along the way. At tomorrow's Publisher's Day 2002, topics such as electronic texts and others that pertain to merging the online and literary worlds will be discussed through a myriad of programs and guest speakers.
As part of the Virginia Festival of the Book, the second annual Publisher's Day entitled "Publishing and the Internet: Mixing and Maxing Media," will be held in Newcomb Ballroom and Newcomb Theater.
Fourth-year College student Matt West is working with the Festival of the Book through the University Internship Program. To West, one of the most interesting programs of the day will be "Postcards from the ePublishing Edge" a presentation led by Jason Epstein, who pioneered the low-cost, quality paperback industry and is a front-runner in the e-book business.
The program "How to Build a Webpage" features Web page designing experts Eric Anderson and Carol Fitzgerald and aims to educate the audience in creating an effective author Web site. Many "authors have webpages, posting new information so people can follow their careers," West said.
David Seaman, Director of the University of Virginia eText Center, will run another anticipated program, "Innovations and the Future of Publishing."
Seaman will address issues in e-book technology, a field that often is characterized by having to use small, Palm Pilot-like computer screens.
"The future technological reader is as thin as a sheet of paper and attractive to the eye," West said.
Although he has some reservations about the future of electronic publishing, he said it does hold many advantages.
"You don't have to worry about how many prints to make on your first round of publication," he said. "Whether you have thousands of buyers or just 20, the fixed cost is low."
The Internet also offers a variety of opportunities for authors looking to publicize their work. West said that authors often place the first five to 10 pages of their books online to entice potential buyers with a taste of their writing.
For anyone interested in a future in publishing or writing, West said the programs will provide information on the "different avenues and venues for getting their work published."
Publishers Day 2002 is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The price to the public is $35 which includes admittance to all the panel discussions plus lunch. Undergraduate and graduate students can take advantage of a few remaining scholarships to attend the day's events for free.
(Matt West is a Cavalier Daily Opinion Columnist).
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