Books Which Sing And Dance

You're reading a book. Nice and quiet. Very peaceful. Lost in your own world. Just the book and you. A gentle breeze. Makes you sway left and right. Suddenly, you hear a voice, very close to you. He's saying exactly what you're reading on the page. You look around, startled, to see who else in the subway is reading the same book. Don't see anyone. But why is everyone looking at you? You have this sinking feeling low in your stomach. It's the audio in your book. Technology integration now allows you to publish books with music, games and video.

Kimberly Maul, writing for TheBookstandard.com, has an article about this. "Authors Add Music, Games and More To Their Books". Punch line? "So as authors grab their guitars, bust out the glue gun or get creative with games, look for even more multimedia book experiences to come out in 2007."

I think it was the books whch were supposed to sing and dance. Not the writers. Now they want the writers to do it. I thought grovelling at a publishers feet was enough.

In a related development, your book can now be an mp3 file played on a single-play mp3 player. Don't even think about asking me how that works. Besides, I have only question. You think bookstores across the UK might need something more than mere police protection if JK Rowling were to release the 7th Harry Potter book in her own voice along with the book?