Author Bill Bryson Encourages Ebooks with Purchased Printed Versions

His fear is that eventually we may lose physical books by being "forced" to choose the more convenient digital version. He says, "That's the direction we're heading in because publishers are not responding as effectively as they ought to."

In early September, Amazon announced a plan to offer free or discounted books to people who bought the printed version. Bryson responded, "If they [publishers] don't move to that really quickly people will be forced to take the digital version whether they really want to or not."

Bryson's latest book, ONE SUMMER: AMERICA 1927, is set for release October 1, 2013. "Earlier this month, Amazon announced its MatchBook scheme, which will offer digital copies of 10,000 titles when they are bought in print. Some will be free, while others will cost up to $2.99 (£1.92)."

Bill Bryson's bestselling books include A Walk in the Woods, Notes from a Small Island,In a Sunburned Country, Bryson's Dictionary of Troublesome Words, A Short History of Nearly Everything, which earned him the 2004 Aventis Prize, and The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. Bryson lives in England with his wife and children.