
︎︎︎ How has the digital shift affected the publishing of books? Is there a synonymous shift to more e-books being published?
If we look at the consumption of content, the digital shift has already happened long time ago with the advent of the internet. Specifically for book, the shift accelerated when smart phone and tablets become increasingly popular. Regardless of print ebook or ebook (or even audio book), these are just different mediums of expressing the same content. The curation of good content which is what the publishing process entails remains pretty much the same. With the ease of self-publishing of ebooks, the barrier to publishing has been been lowered. But along with this trend also comes the bane of lower quality book entering the market. So yes, we are publishing more of ebooks on top of printed books now to cater to readers who prefer to consume content on electronic devices.
︎︎︎ Personally speaking, do you enjoy books in printed or digital format more? Why?
Personally, my preference is still to read print books. I guess my growing up years revolve around holding books in my hands when I read. Hence, the tactile feel and the smell of paper holds fond memories for me. Besides, I also do not enjoy the glare from electronic devices.
︎︎︎ Has there been a higher demand for e-books or printed books? Why so?
Generally, demand for books has dropped. The reason is because books are competing with other popular media like social media, games, videos, etc. for the same readers’ attention.
︎︎︎ Do you foresee yourself to transition into a digital-only publisher in the near future?
In the near future, we still see ourselves as both a print and digital publisher. In fact, the allure of print will means print books are here to stay. But the quantity will decrease. Hence, for readers, holding a print book will become more exclusive. In my viewpoint, this is not a binary choice. We will continue to publish in both formats as long as it meets a market demand.