 On Christmas day people, armed with their newly-presented e-readers, downloaded over a million plus e-books!
Talk about regenerating and transforming bestseller lists in an instant...
E-readers have rode in and, in one swell swoop, saved publishing, the book industry and inspired reading. What a shot in the arm!
The only question is: who the hell truly understands all the opportunities in this newly-transformed, sleeker, more efficient, offspring publishing industry??*##% Did I say newly-transfo... Continue reading ...
 David Sokol, an Omaha native, has self-published a business management book (his first book) through online bookstore Bookworm. It has been it's bestseller over the last two years with 8000 copies sold to people from all over the world.
Of course, it doesn't hurt that Sokol is a top manager in a Berkshire Hathaway major subsidiary company AND that Sokol is rumored to become Berkshire Hathaway’s next chairman and CEO, succeeding Warren Buffett, 80.
Anyway, the purpose of this post is essentia... Continue reading ...
 Books, albeit 'live' or interactive, will remain a part of the human experience forever....And they will primarily consist of text, whatever the media format. Publishers, as an industry, will not. That industry has been fragmented into a democratic individualistic endeavor, if you will...A vastly more level and responsive playing field
Everyone who writes and presents are now 'publishers'...Talk about an all-inclusive vertical business model...In fact, talk about an all-inclusive horizontal b... Continue reading ...
 The New York Times recently published a front page story essentially writing the orbituary for children's picture books...A story much in conflict with the real world according to big house publishers, booksellers, libraries and agents.
Karen Springen, Publishers Weekly, gives the straight story on printed picture books (with considerable associated writing):
Don't Write the Obit For Picture Books Yet
Children's book publishers are still reeling from the New York Times front-page story back in ... Continue reading ...
 The newly opened Google eBookstore has some nice surprises and offerings. The Google Store can sell books to targeted people right after they search a particular topic AND they can also create an ad-supported publishing model...delivering targeted ads from the book subject purchases...Seems this is more possible since the ebooks will be provided from the cloud configuration.
Wonder what the split is on an ad-supported publishing model? Authors/publishers get what % and Google retains what %? ... Continue reading ...
 In the digital publishing age a balance needs to be created between the customers' desire for immediate accessability at any time to enriched text (enhanced with audio, video, three-dimensional objects, full text searching, note taking, etc) and "...publishers’ needs for financial self-sustainability."
We are at the age where researchers can access works in the form of e-books that are accessable at any time and any place and never go out of print!
This is heavy neatness to the extreme. Publ... Continue reading ...
 Peaceful resolution may be at hand! I've posted on this issue previously several times on both this blog and Writers Welcome Blog, but I will give one reference here from Writers Welcome Blog for a little background on Google's effort to corner and monopolize digital rights to books (especially out-of-print books).
Anyway, the French publisher Hachette Livre has reached an agreement with Google that may serve as a model for other countries...It certainly is a pact that benefits all concerned (... Continue reading ...
 A German author has introduced a concept for new e-books that will further differentiate them from traditional books...And, he hopes, will make them a better reading experience for readers.
The German author who is on a mission to make e-books more interactive, and with the possibility of no beginning and no end, is Juergen Neffe and his program is called Libroid.
More details by Barry Neild for CNN :
Never-ending book heralds new chapter in e-publishing
It's an age-old problem for avid book read... Continue reading ...
 We could always choose where and when, just not how. Technology has enabled us to receive digital, video and audio formats in almost any location and over large and small devices...Neat, no?
The introduction of eReaders, iPads, SmartPhones and iPods, etc. has actually increased the number of readers (and people interested in reading) through an intense modern obsession with gadgetry (but, our ancestors were probably taken with gadgetry, too)...If ever there was an instance where the end justif... Continue reading ...
 Amazon is still proving it's ahead of the power curve in innovation of new publishing models and dynamics.
By introducing a shorter and cheaper model for works 10K to 30K words in length (about 30 to 90 pages of print) Amazon is climbing way out of the old established print molds for publishing; and, I might add, opening up the public to unique stories, theses and papers that were previously unavailable to the public on a large published scale...not to mention a new source of revenue for writ... Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Friday, October 8, 2010,
In :
publishing
 Another chapter RE the so-called "agency model" (where publishers and not booksellers set the book prices) and what physical book and eBook prices should be.
Please refer to the 10/5/10 post "E-Books are Selling for More than Hardcovers!" on the Writers Welcome Blog for an interesting background.
Apparently, the sole argument put forth as to why eBooks should be cheaper than their physical counterparts is the fact that you don't have the more expensive production costs (printing, paper, binding... Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Friday, October 1, 2010,
In :
publishing
 Good question...And one I would have answered exactly the same as author J. S. Wayne
, even before I knew of him, in an article he wrote for Wordpreneur:
One or One Hundred Million?
So you’ve finally published your first book. Whether it was self-published or you went the more traditional route, you’ve got that first, shiny-covered book in your hand. Now you can give a wave to the people who supported you. You can also do the same to the people who said, "So, when’s that book coming o... Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Thursday, September 23, 2010,
In :
publishing
 The AAP (Association of American Publishers) has released the latest book sales figures.
The eBook sales have increased 150 to 190 percent! But, the print books did OK too...with some mostly small decreases in a few areas but increases in other areas. Not bad, in my opinion, considering the bad economy.
More details and figures are in this release from AUTHORLINK:
New York, NY, September 22, 2010— Publishers’ book sales tracked by the Association of American Publishers (AAP) for the month ... Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Monday, September 20, 2010,
In :
Bookstores
 Publishing and bookstores in the U.S. are in a turmoil due to changing business models and technology...But, how would they like to be in a turmoil due to unsafe streets, an unstable government and unreliable electricity supplies? Or even if they would be blown up when they opened their doors?
We in this country really don't have it that bad, do we?
Here is one view from an Iraqi bookstore, the Iqraa Bookstore on Mutanabi Street...which, strangely enough, has tripled in size in the last two yea...
Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Tuesday, September 14, 2010,
In :
publishing
 Sourcebooks Publishing is growing because it has learned one simple but very important principle: treat your employees like entrepreneurs and be open to their ideas and input.
In other words, treat them like respected partners and be transparent!
Ann Meyer reports this in the Chicago Tribune:
Book Publishing Firm Finds New Sources of Growth
As the book publishing industry undergoes a transformation, at Naperville-based Sourcebooks Inc., Dominique Raccah (pictured above) is embracing the change ... Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Saturday, September 11, 2010,
In :
publishing
 Where is all the action regarding independent publishers and new creative energy happening today?
It's taking place in Brooklyn NOT in Manhattan! And more specifically it's happening this Sunday at the fifth annual Brooklyn Book Festival...
This is a book festival that has quickly taken on an international flavor and will include a special stage devoted to international programming that will feature several famous international authors.
John Williams, writing for Publishing Perspectives, gives ... Continue reading ...
 Just when other newspapers are cutting back on such reviews, the WSJ is initiating a dedicated weekly book review section beginning this month. The former financial news staple is expanding it's content for broader appeal.
The WSJ was purchased by Rupert Murdoch back in 2007 and he appears to be trying to introduce more diversified content to attract a greater readership.
I don't usually agree with much that Rupert Murdoch thinks, subscribes to or acts upon...but, I applaud this move.
Get more ... Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Thursday, September 2, 2010,
In :
writing
 Ah, the business of writing and publishing does go on...Intrigue, stress and pressure are a constant (though in varying degrees).
By the way, just how much does a Yahoo sports writer make now-a-days? For that matter, how much does a sports writer make working anywhere? Keep that in mind as you read the following short article. Is their salary enough to ignore a $140,000 advance? Sports writers must make a lot more than they used to!
This rundown is by Tim Gardner in USAToday:
Publishing house... Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Tuesday, August 31, 2010,
In :
writing
 Books from countries around the world should...besides detailing their native country's histories and thought processes that defined those histories...address current world challenges and the particular country's feelings, thoughts and possible solutions to those challenges.
Beijing's 17th annual International Book Fair, which begins on Monday in Beijing, and which attracts more and more foreign publishers and authors, is becoming a great venue for exchange of cultural messages and increasing ... Continue reading ...
 With the dynamic growth of and increasing competition in the eBook world, prices are smaller for publishers.
What to do? What they have done in every other media venue...include ads! I have no problem with this if it will translate into more profits for the writers/authors also...
Read this informative article by Joe Aimonetti for CNET Reviews :
The Wall Street Journal reportsthat iAds may appear in iBooks as publishers watch their profits dwindle amid technology advances like Apple's iPad. Th... Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Wednesday, August 25, 2010,
In :
booksellers
 Talk about hard work just surviving. The much anticipated YA novel Mockingjay, the last forecasted big seller in the printed book world for the foreseeable future, has the brick and mortar bookstores jumping through hoops to put on all sorts of parties to announce it's debut...even dress-up, costume parties at midnight for goodness sake.
God bless them all! I do wish them much success because I do love bookstores and feel they will always have a place.
Things look bad for print right now, but, ... Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Tuesday, August 10, 2010,
In :
publishing
 When talking about certain industries, you sometimes have to learn their inside language to truly understand their professional-speak.
Here is an article from Saint Louis Today (www.stltoday.com) by Jane Henderson that provides clarification of some of the latest publishing and book handling terms:
Publishers sometimes use terminology differently, but Christine Frank offers a primer on how the St. Louis Publishers Association defines common terms.
Traditional publishing (also called commercia... Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Friday, August 6, 2010,
In :
writing
 In a society that wants to sue everybody for anything, you need to know how to write a legal disclaimer for your book. Especially ANY book giving advice or books on health, nutrition, finances and memoirs where characters may defame another...intentionally or not.
Alicia Nicole Dunams gives some examples and some insight into how to write legal disclaimers for books in this timely article for Wordpreneur:
How to Write a Legal Disclaimer for Your Book
With a society that is often prone to rush... Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Sunday, July 18, 2010,
In :
booksellers
 College students will soon be able to download textbooks or aggregate and organize other study materials in any neat form they desire to accomplish course work. Technology is making a big impact in the student world again...as it always has!
But, will it make a big difference in the cost of these materials compared to their printed counterparts? It should! Barnes & Noble indicates a 40% discount...Wonder if this will last? Good news for students if it does.
Here is an announcement of the up-a... Continue reading ...
 Today's post is introducing a blog and website that gives insight from authors who have actually self-published...There are nuggets to be mined from this resource for those who are thinking about self-publishing or want to learn more about self-publishing and marketing books online.
This press release from prlog.org:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Jun 29, 2010 – Dearborn, MI – June 29, 2010 – Today, jexbo.com, the site that helps self-published authors sell books on... Continue reading ...
 The international digital publishing industry was an invited guest at BookExpo America (BEA) taking place now in New York AND given a kings welcome!
This is a good move and shows that booksellers realize they must gear up to sell both digital and print versions of books to grow and survive in the new publishing paradigm.
Here is an interesting take on this years BEA by Bob Hoover of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
The technological elephant is finally welcome in the living room of the America... Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Saturday, May 22, 2010,
In :
publishing
 The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) will celabrate 20 years of solid work in protecting American freedoms next week in New York at Book Expo America (BEA) 2010...
I want to point this out because of the important work ABFFE does in fighting those who would limit our freedom of expression through promulgating censorship...due to mostly those who can't interpret mature literature and art without acting out there own stupid fantasies!
This from Publishers Weekly Indust... Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Friday, May 21, 2010,
In :
booksellers
 Books-A-Million's revenue and income dropped a bit at the close of the first quarter ending 1 May 2010. I wonder if BAM is mulling over new biz models...you know, like Barnes and Noble who entered the self-pub sector with Pubit?
I look to see BAM jumping more heavily into the digital whirlpool and soon!
Publishers Weekly's senior editor, Jim Milliot, reported this:
Books-A-Million reported slight declines in sales and earnings for the first quarter ended May 1. Revenue fell 1%, to $117 millio... Continue reading ...
There are different things to consider when writing an eBook versus a traditional book. That makes perfect sense...but it takes a good writing and internet marketing coach to REALLY nail it down; and Judy Cullins (pictured below) is exactly that and does just that in an article for Wordpreneur:
Did you know that you already have an ebook inside you?
And you can earn thousands of dollars each month?
Even if you are a non-techie like me, you can write your ebook at the same time you write y... Continue reading ...
Amazon, Google and Apple are in the eBook biz, why NOT Boarders? And other current bookstore chains are probably scrambling to integrate digital as I'm writing this post! Follow the money, right?
Calvin Reid reporting in Publisher's Weekly says:
Borders has provided a few more details for its move into offering digital content, beginning with plans to take pre-orders for the new Kobo digital reading device. Kobo’s new $149 e-ink reading devices will begin shipping in June to be followed by ... Continue reading ...
If a free Amazon eBook gets popular, Amazon is going to remove it from the free list and put it on a pay list! Better read them while they're free...
This from Jason Boog of Mediabistro/galleycat:
Last December, we reported that 64 of the 100 eBooksthat topped the Kindle bestseller list were free. Today Publishers Weekly broke the news that the online bookseller will soon divide the bestseller lists into free and paid categories.
Here's the scoop: "A representative at the e-tailer has confi... Continue reading ...
How about a site directory of author events (yours included!)...that you can join for free and contains such useful marketing info as authors bio, bibliography, public appearences, etc, etc?
Well, Joe Nassise, successfull urban fantasy writer of such novels as The Heretic and A Tear In The Sky, stumbled across one and tells us about it on the GENREALITY Blog to which he contrubutes :
Joe Nassise
I’m always on the lookout for new tools that can help bring my work to the right audience and... Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Monday, May 3, 2010,
In :
writing
Writing children's books can be personally rewarding and lucrative. Caterina Christakos, writing for Wordpreneur, gives away some secrets to understanding and structuring novels for the "little buggers."
Caterina Christakos (Wordpreneur Classic):
Ever wonder how the most successful children’s book writers get their ideas? The answer may surprise you.
Most children’s books are based on the same exact story – good versus evil.
Ex. Harry Potter vs. Voldemort. Cinderella vs. her wicked st... Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Thursday, April 29, 2010,
In :
publishing
 Some interesting book, publishing and production stats from R. R. Bowker Company...and a little about Bowker, the guardian and issuer of ISBN's; also the world's leading provider of bibliographic information management solutions designed to help publishers, booksellers, and libraries better serve their customers.
Increases in tech and finance titles offset continuing decline in fiction; Explosive growth in “print on demand” drives total production past the million mark. Bowker, the global... Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Saturday, April 24, 2010,
In :
writing
Why do we keep books after we read them? We liked the story and may want to read again someday? We liked the author's writing style? We liked the subject matter and want to keep as a reference? We liked the setting and mood? We liked the characters?
Rosemary
Rosemary Clement-Moore, a fine author of many YA novels and contributor to GENREALITY blog, keeps books because she likes and/or can identify somehow with the characters...A good reason...and she says:
Keep it or kick it to the curb?... Continue reading ...
Have you ever thought about making money on your eBook by running ads inside the eBook pages? A thought, anyway... AND a possible income stream...I'm not sure how I feel about this yet, but I will throw this concept out there with the following article from Wordpreneur by Eldon Sarte:
We all know we can sell our ebooks. And give them away for free. And give them away for free plus get revenue for running paid advertisements within them, just like magazines — and many ezines — do. So why d... Continue reading ...
Posted by John R. on Thursday, April 15, 2010,
In :
publishing
Big challenges to be debated by big players RE book rights across ever-increasing digital channels...as well as print, audio and film...all to take place at the London Book Fair 2010 next week...Should be an interesting fair that could produce industry-changing guidelines!
The following press release is for LibreDigital by Heidi Johnson, heidi.johnson@virtualprdirector.com
LibreDigital CEO Russell P. Reeder to Host Discussion with Executives from Barnes & Noble, Entourage Systems, Hachette L... Continue reading ...
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About Me
| John R. Austin |
| Pueblo, Colorado |
Writer, Old-Warrior-Adventurer, Blogger... I was born in Key West, Florida. A rather famous hangout for some past famous writers: Hemingway and Tennessee Williams to name two. I just hope that I possess a glimmer of their talent. I have a bachelors degree in architecture/construction and a master's degree in industrial engineering. I have been writing for fifty plus years. Most of my writing has been in the technical, instructional and business areas. I am working on my first book: "Havana Harvest---When Cuba Was Naughty" which details my coming of age experiences in 1958 Havana, Cuba, at the age of 15. Please visit my other blog "Writers Welcome Blog" at http://alturl.com/4z88.
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"authors will take distribution into their own hands and sidestep publishers altogether, using platforms such as the ones offered by Apple and Google to go directly to readers"