Tell us your thoughts on e-reading and win a Kobo Arc tablet, plus a signed copy of award-winning author Margaret Drabble's latest novel The Pure Gold Baby

i think e reading is great, much better to carry 1 lightweight device around rathere than a bag full of books great for the children too

I have an e-reader and it's really handy. The only thing that is irritating is that it doesn't recognise new ebooks added to it very easily, it's kind of a hit and miss, which puts me off putting new books on.

When e-books first appeared I hated them. Now I've got used to them but I'll always have my 'real' books as well

Do you use experiences from your own life and your family and friends in your book?

I've tried ebooks and the jury is still out, I do still live the feel of a freshly bought book, but an ebook is so much more convenient when traveling

I like reading a book on the kindle because other people cannot see what your reading (if your shy reading 50 shades of grey in a public place lol)
also is good on holiday because you dont get the glare on the kindles. Also very lightweight and easy to hold as some books are quite heavy and uncomfortable in your hands.

I have never actually read a novel as an e-book, many articles, even the newspapers but not an e-book. I would love to give it a try to compare it to my love of reading books. A great competition I hope to win to try it out for myself, thank you.

The ebook certainly has its place in a modern society but I also love the feel of a real book. I use e- books for books which I may read only once and of course when travelling when it really comes into it own. The books I buy tend to be those by favourite authors, poetry and short stories. I also love my many bookcases with my books ordered by Authors surname surrounding me. When moving house the first things to be organised have always been my books as they make a house feel like a home.

I love ebooks but I love proper real books too. As an author if you could only be published in one format (e-book or physical copies) which would you choose and why?

As a lover of real books I never thought I would enjoy an ebook. However going abroad in a caravan and needing about 20 books each, hubby and I invested in a Kindle each. We have never looked back. So quick and convenient and no problems with weight. However there is still nothing to beat the enjoyment of opening, smelling and feeling a new physical book so now we like to have the best of both worlds

I have always loved "real" books and I love browsing round charity shops and boot sales for more books to add to my huge collection!
The Kobo Arc does sound amazing though so I am very tempted to try it. It would be amazing to just search for any book you wanted and download it at a click. I think this might be the way forward for me!

Prefer the feel of real books but would like to win this for my mum who would love one

I love e-Readers, as I like to flit from bokk to book, it's so useful being able to carry so many books around in one small portable object. I can pop it in my bag and have on hand on holiday, at the hairdressers etc. I've even been known to get my e-reader out in long queue in supermarket :-)

I was concerned that using an ereader would not be as an enjoyable experience as reading a book but my sister bought me one of the early Kobo readers (she lives in Canada and bought it as a gift) and, until it recently broke, I have loved it. I don't particularly miss the smell of a new book but there are two things I particularly enjoy about the ereader. The first is that you can carry hundreds of books on a lightweight tablet and so will never run out of something to read (and if you do, it is easy to download more books) and the other thing I love is that, in winter, when it is really cold, it is easier to snuggle down under the covers and read, without the annoying middle crease getting in the way.

Love the e-reader - it is so much easier to handle than a book as it is lighter and often smaller - perfect for anyone with arthritis in their hands, but the real beauty of the reader is that you can download almost instantly any book that you want to read, no waiting to go to the shops and also store those that you have already read. It's just like a library at your fingertips! You can change the font size, so that if you have trouble with your eyesight, you can make the words as big or small as is comfortable for you. I personally find this very useful, as my eyes tend to become blurry when I am tired and I have trouble focusing, so a bigger font is easier to read. Can you tell that I'm definitely a fan!

I'm sure e-readers are great for many people but I still prefer to handle a book look at its cover, read the blurb, see how thick it is - just handle it and have it on my bookshelf, in sight, should I want to refer it to others or revisit it.

Whilst I think nothing beats the thrill of flicking through the pages of real book I do feel that e readers have their advantages. I find e readers particularly useful when on the go as you have all the books you need wrapped in one small package, you can literally take as many books as you like anywhere, which is fantastic. However, I do miss leafing through the pages when using my e reader and seem to find my eyes are more strained and my concentration is generally lower for some reason. Whilst I certainly think e readers have their advantages they don't quite live up to a good fashioned book !

I love having all my books in one place but I do still love a proper book

I like my ereader but the only trouble is when I want to go back and look something up! It is very handy for travelling and lightweight so I can read lots of different books while away.

I love to read and used to read everywhere especially on my commute to work and on holidays I would love to try an ebook as I find it increasingly difficult now with toddlers to pack books in suitcases on holiday when space is so short as it is.
I think ebooks would give me the flexibility and I would definately feel the benefit of having an ereader also like the idea of being able to choose a book when I like and get it there and then without having to trail into town with little ones in tow or wait in on delivery this is definately the way forward

ebooks must be great for holiday s and travel when space is ltd.( not that I have one at present) still enjoy browsing in book shops as this can change thoughts of what you are looking for

ebooks are such a fantastic invention. I love the fact I have any book I can dream of at my fingertips in an instant. ereaders are certainly a godsend when travelling too.

How long do you spend researching for a book from original idea to when you commence writing ?.

where do you start writing a book with your ideas? I have a wild imagination but to put to paper I would find so difficult! I can't live without an e-reader now as travel a lot and it is so much easier with it!

I tend to do most of my reading on ebooks as it easier to take a selection of books on holiday etc.

Despite the convenience I still think that a real books feels nicer and you feel like you are getting something for your money.

Another downside to ebooks is being unable to share them or pass on to a charityshop when you have finished it.