eReader Part VII - pricing

I've just finished up reading a few more novels on the eReader despite the crazy rush of holiday sales and the subsequent winter term textbook rush and found another quirk worthy of discussion regarding eBooks: pricing. Just before Christmas I had the pleasure of selling books for an off-site event at the Reading Public Library for author, Stewart O'Nan. As is typical with author events, you never, ever quite no what to expect in terms of audience size and sales. I was told they were expecting about 80 people, turned out to be closer to 40 and I knew right away I had too many books. However, the attendees were lovely and the presentation given by Stewart was excellent, funny, and insightful. His commentary on his successful book, Last Night at the Lobster, about the closing of a Red Lobster Restaurant in New England interested me. From the cover shot I originally thought it was a novel about Hockey in New England and never really gave it another thought. After hearing Stewart's presentation and the funny questions and experiences of the audience and their fond (or not so fond) memories of working in food service - I had to read the novel. Of course, continuing the eReader project I went onto Sony's site and purchased the book for $13.96. Which got me thinking - there are no Hardcovers or Paperbacks in the eReader world - just one format. I sell the paperback for $13, so the eBook costs more money. Now going back to Hardcover I paid just $11.99 for the $25.99 eBook of Edgar Sawtelle. Conclusion - reading books in the eFormat is certainly easier on your wallet in the Hardcover version and more expensive in Paperback. Interesting... I wonder what authors would think if all of their books came out only in one lower priced format - less royalties? Or possibly more, since the cost is cheaper to the publisher? I'll have to query the publishers on that one too... nonetheless the Lobster is a great little gem that takes just a night to read and enjoy. Happy New Year!