The popularity of eReaders has decimated the mass paperback
market, and several publishers have even abandoned the format. An eReader can
display font in any size, so I assumed the next casualty of eBooks would be large
print. Not so. Or, at least, not yet. When I received my statement from my
large print publisher, I was pleasantly surprised. How is it that large print holds its own against the ebook
revolution?
I think it has to do with the market for large print books.
Whether it’s libraries or direct purchase, the market is seniors. Seniors are
not gadget prone and remain attached to the feel and simplicity of a real book.
No buttons, no touch screens, no hot links. Books are what seniors have read
their entire life and only their children prod them to change. Seniors can’t
see the point. They get lost in the story and turn the page without conscious thought,
just a motor reflex learned through decades of practice.
The boomers will
probably carry their eReaders into old age, but most of their parents will remain loyal
to the printed book.
If you're looking for a senior gift, you might consider one of these large print books.
Honest westerns filled with dishonest characters. |
All of the Steve Dancy Tales have been published in large print, library binding editions by Center Point. Some have sold out, but are still available through used book dealers.