The electronic book, or eBook, is rapidly becoming a mainstream industry. While eBooks may never achieve the popularity or demand of the printed books, eBook readership is definitely increasing and will prove an important form of media in the future.

What is an eBook? Simply put, the term "electronic book" is self-explanatory: an eBook can be a novel, collection of stories and/or poetry, self-help manual, or any document of book length. eBooks may be as short as five thousand words or well over a hundred thousand. Some eBooks may have illustrations and charts embedded within the pages, and others may prove to be more interactive and include audio and/or video capability. Some eBooks are made available as downloadable files or on CD-ROMs. 

The important difference between an eBook and a paper book, of course, is that the eBook is an electronic document devised to be read on a computer or special handheld device. eBooks can be made available in a variety of formats, such as:

HTML - presented as a simple Web page;

Adobe PDF - read with a special format for the Microsoft Reader;

EXE - this self-extracting format allows the reader to "turn pages".

Special reading software may be required to read the document. Usually a simple HTML document needs only a web browser, while formats with a different extension may not open in certain readers. 

So what is the purpose of an eBook? Electronic books are used for the same purposes as print books, namely for entertainment, business, or news. 

How are eBooks distributed? The most common forms of eBook distribution are through the individual publisher's website. The Publisher websites offer either immediate download of an eBook through a weblink, or delivery via e-mail as an attachment. The Digi-Seller online store delivers eBooks in an attachment form via e-mail. Other publishers may burn eBooks to CD-ROM and ship them to customers.

It is likely eBooks may become an important medium in the future. As technology evolves and reading devices become more sophisticated, sales of eBook fiction may rise in the years to come. For authors, eBook publication represents the opportunity to polish writing skills and test readership. For entrepreneurs, eBook publication offers new opportunities to promote their products and increase sales. Whatever your plans for the eBook are, surely electronic books are here to stay.