Several people have asked me what I think the new Millennium holds for writers. I'm not psychic but I know that the glass is no longer half empty for authors who have the talent and the drive to pursue alternative publishing opportunities. E-books, e-publishing, e-readers and print-on-demand are moving along at warp speed.

Taking a look back at 1999's headlines, all predictions for the future seem very rosy indeed.

In March, Publisher's Weekly reviewed its first e-book. The Mozart Code by Dick Adler, published by Hard Shell Word Factory. Jeff Zaleski of PW said: "Our commitment is to review the books that our readers need to know about. As e-books become more relevant, we'll be reviewing more of them."

In March, my own novel Lip Service, originally rejected by traditional publishers, was discovered online and became the first self published novel to become a Featured Alternate Selection at both the Doubleday Book Club and The Literary Guild. It was released as a hard cover via Pocket Books in September of '99.

In September, iUniverse.com, after selling 49% of its company to Barnes & Nobel, announced it would release 20,000 Print on Demand titles in the year 2000. Barnes & Nobel will offer these titles through kiosks in their bricks and mortar stores.

In October, The first e-book was sold to Hollywood. Indie Gal Productions bought Pauline Jones' I love Luci when I don't want to kill her. Jones had never been published traditionally.

In October, Microscoft announced the Frankfurt e-Book Festival promising to give out over $100,000 in awards.

In November, David Saperstein, best-selling author of Cocoon put his new novel, Dark Again, up on the net instead of releasing it through a print publisher.

In November, Publisher's Weekly used a Rocket Reader and e-gallery instead of an advanced reading copy on paper.

In December, ForeWord Magazine instituted an e-book review column. "We're open for business for e-publishers," said editor in chief Mardi Link.

In December, Simon and Schuster, along with Recipricol.com, offered an unprecedented online fundraiser for Literacy Partners. Customers were able to download chapters from upcoming novels from such best-selling authors as Mary Higgens Clark, Stephen Ambrose, Steven King and Jackie Collins.

In December, Leta Nolan Childers, whose books cross too many genres to be published by a traditional house, became the best-selling e-author in 1999 when her book The Best Laid Plans published by DiskUs Publishing sold over 6000 copies. (www.diskuspublishing.com). In October, Childers formed Cooperative Resources for Electronic Author Members (CREAM).

There are hundreds of other headlines the media hasn't picked up on that are no less important to anyone who wants to understand the power of the Internet on publishing. Here are just two.

Joe Votolo, a blind and partially disabled writer who can no longer type or read Braille, but uses a voice activated computer, discovered e-books in February of '99. In late 2000 he will publish his first e-book through Gemini Press. He says, "Because of the evolution of technology, we who are blind are now able to write, edit, spellcheck, use a thesaurus and hear our own written words spoken back to us as we work. And we can read other's books via e-technology."

Kd McIntosh, a successful freelance journalist and author who works from home because of a chronic illness, sold 1,000 e-books the first two months after publishing her first title. Her e-publisher, BookLocker.com, pays an unprecedented 70% royalty. "If I had published off-line in print only, I never would have had this success," said McIntosh. "The Internet opens up marketing, promotions and sales vistas for authors who find they can do more for themselves online than many commercial print publishers would ever do for them off-line."

Copyright © 2000 M.J. Rose All Rights Reserved

M.J. Rose is the author of Lip Service, PocketBooks Sept 1999. Lip Service is also available as a Featured Alternate Selection of the Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club - Aug/Sept (www.readLipService.com) MJ Rose is the author.