Recently some of my older titles have been reissued by Changeling Press as part of their ten year anniversary celebration. 2012 was my ten year anniversary with Ellora’s Cave and prior to that I had some stories published with other small press companies. These milestones have made me think about how much things have changed, not only in how books are read and published, but in how day to day life is different than the way it was presented in older books.
Though older print titles have always been available in libraries or for special order at a physical bookstore, with electronic publishing an author’s titles both old and new are available instantly. They’re also listed right alongside brand new titles. This is great for both authors and readers, but it can also present some problems if readers are unaware that a title was written ten or more years ago.
Using my stories as an example, many of my backlist books were written in the 1990s or early 2000s. Back then modern technology was certainly available, but was less prevalent than it is now. Not everyone carried a cell phone (I didn’t until about six years ago). Travel, especially when dealing with airport security, was different. Those are just a couple of changes. There are so many other ways that life now is different from just ten or fifteen years ago.
This might lead some readers to question why a story isn’t an accurate reflection of life today. Other readers might realize that certain backlist books are from a time past and even appreciate the differences between life then and now.
As a person (getting!) older, I don’t mind reading romances from times past. I still reread my favorite books from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. I also have a collection of romances from the 50s, 60s and 70s (old gothic romances are among my favorites). I also love reading brand new titles.
Unless I’m writing a fantasy or historical romance, characters in my contemporary settings now carry cell phones. Unless it’s a trait of a particular character to dislike technology, they use it!
I’m curious to know how you feel about backlist books. Do you prefer to read them as they were originally written or do you think older titles should be brought up to date? Will updates make a story easier to read and understand, or will trying to modernize a story make it lose its flavor?
I would love to hear from you about this topic.
Thank you!
Social
I do not mind reading books as they were originally written… I enjoy the characters’ journey… do not worry about them having pagers or cell phones, etc.
Thank you for commenting, Colleen!
I love your books, old or new!
I don’t believe the books should be updated. When the stories were written they were consistent with the times. I read time travel,regency, and sci-fi I have a variety of different genres I enjoy.So techo things one way or the other don’t really bother me. Though I admit I have been known to return to the beginning of a story to check the copyright date if I question something happening in the story line.
Thank you very much, Shelby and Pat!
I love rereading the old stuff
As long as I know it is a re-issue I have no problem. Sometimes a re-issues reminds me how great a story was
Hi, Kate!
I think “writing it as you wrote it,” so to speak, is better than constantly scrambling to try to keep up with the latest innovations. The world moves so fast these days it’s practically inviting insanity to keep revising your work (like we writers need any help with THAT!!! 😉 ). Think about how your work reflects the person you were at the time and what you’re showing the reader about who you were, and who you’ve become.
Just my own personal, as always. Thanks for a thought-provoking post! 😀
Thank you for commenting, Chris, Ani and J.S.! That’s how I feel as well.
Old books are still good one’s