By Alyssa Guarino, Editorial Assistant
An innovative new feature is coming along in the e-publishing world: specific book apps for Apple's iPad. This new technology personalizes the eBook experience. "Electric Literature", a short story publication, is combining new technologies to create a unique literary experience. Originally, "Electric Literature" was simply a print magazine, but the company has expanded to all manner of eBooks.
EL does continue to print, but only on demand, both as a way to stay eco-friendly and reduce costs. With each publication, EL showcases five authors, generally well-known ones like Aimee Bender and Michael Cunningham. In addition, EL works with animators to create YouTube animations that serve to express each piece.
EL should be commended for having such an all-inclusive approach to publishing. But they haven't stopped there; the company is currently pursuing a new marketing technique that will further serve to incorporate all publishing media. This new effort is designing and creating individualized "book apps" for writers. EL's publications are no longer limited to just the short story. Nor is the new approach intended only for the authors showcased in EL's magazine publications. EL is now catering to any author interested in their revolutionary technique, for the inexpensive price of $600. Not bad, considering that each book app is unique to the author, with features handpicked by the writer himself.
With this new technique, the bridge between writer and reader is further narrowed. The book app allows for an interactive experience, far more personal than anything previous--even compared to, say, the Nook or the Kindle version of the same text. By purchasing one of EL's book apps, the reader is essentially buying into a special community only available to other book app purchasers. Some of the perks of this include privy information about the book and special updates from the writer, about upcoming releases and so forth.
Stephen Elliott's Adderall Diaries is EL's first published book app, and subsequent novels are to follow. EL is closing the gap between writer and reader and expanding the limitations of the electronic publishing industry. Perhaps this will eventually serve to remove some of the boundaries set by the many versions of electronic publishing now.
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