There's a new app coming, and on the surface, it looks a whole lot like piracy meets FourSquare. Of course, the fact that a few smaller publishers have come on board and the nomination for a publishing industry innovation award lends a lot of credibility to the concept behind Rook, the free ebook reading app that lets users read any book they want for free, as long as they … [Read more...] about What Rook Can Teach the Industry about Bookselling
Bookselling News
Amazon Can Move Forward with US Drone Delivery Testing
It's been a long time since Jeff Bezos looked into a camera and promised me that my stuff was going to arrive by drone. The road to launch of the Amazon Prime Air drone delivery service--one that could deliver packages of up to roughly five pounds, which is around 86% of Amazon's business--has been filled with road blocks, and it's hard to believe that it's all in the country's … [Read more...] about Amazon Can Move Forward with US Drone Delivery Testing
The Newest Indie Author Tool: Video Interviews
With so many positive aspects to self-publishing--complete creative and business control, lack of a gatekeeper, full retention of royalties--it can be easy to overlook the difficulties. While the overwhelming majority of traditionally published authors are still responsible for much of the legwork involved in reaching out to readers and generating book sales, all of that effort … [Read more...] about The Newest Indie Author Tool: Video Interviews
State of Alabama Declares Harper Lee Competent to Publish
When a state government is asked to step in and evaluate the mental capacity of an elderly citizen, it's usually over things like his ability to drive a car, or live on his own, or keep control over his finances. As our aging population lives longer and longer, their physical bodies are still running but their mental abilities get called into question, especially when a bizarre … [Read more...] about State of Alabama Declares Harper Lee Competent to Publish
Does Agency Pricing Hurt Reading Consumers?
The publishing world is still rebounding from the effects of the DoJ suit against Apple and five of the then-Big Six publishers, and the effects of the judgement against the parties involved is still resolving itself. One of the current resolutions involves the expiration of key prohibitions against the publishers in how they deal with retailers. Following the Hachette dispute … [Read more...] about Does Agency Pricing Hurt Reading Consumers?
Oyster Launches New e-Book Store
Oyster is well known in the US as being one of the few companies that participate in the Netflix for e-books space. The company has the support of a number of notable publishers and currently competes heavily against their arch-rival Scribd. Today, in a big to differentiate itself for the competition, Oyster has just launched a new digital bookstore.Publishers have been … [Read more...] about Oyster Launches New e-Book Store
Latest Bestselling Trend Is Coloring Books…for Adults
There is no disputing the fact that the publishing industry looks nothing like it did even ten years ago, let alone a hundred years ago. As a result of these swift and all-encompassing changes, bookselling has changed dramatically, too. One of the first major shifts was in the large numbers of adult readers who were voraciously consuming young adult literature, largely because … [Read more...] about Latest Bestselling Trend Is Coloring Books…for Adults
How Do Amazon-Publisher Disputes Affect Authors and Readers?
It was only a year ago that the publishing industry sat riveted as it waited to see how the storm between Amazon and publisher Hachette was going to play out. Hachette wanted new terms in light of the DOJ price fixing investigation, and Amazon wasn't about to budge. And with a 95% control of the ebook market, it's easy to see why Amazon didn't think freezing its sales of … [Read more...] about How Do Amazon-Publisher Disputes Affect Authors and Readers?
Goodreads Unveils Newly Redesigned Android App
Book discovery is crucial to not only the business side of selling books, but also in establishing a dedicated reader base of long-term fans. The more tools at readers' disposal for finding great books, the more likely they are to take a risk on an author they've never read before.That's why Goodreads, the online community based on reader-centric book interaction, has … [Read more...] about Goodreads Unveils Newly Redesigned Android App
Clean Reader Controversy: Censorship, or Right to Read?
"Substitute 'damn' every time you're inclined to write 'very;' your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” --Mark TwainOne of the recent controversies in publishing involves the creation of an app called Clean Reader that has authors of every level crying censorship. Built by two parents who claim their daughter was upset by the amount and … [Read more...] about Clean Reader Controversy: Censorship, or Right to Read?
Will Publishers Start Adopting 3D Printed Book Covers as a Marketing Tool?
Publishers and retailers are always looking for new ways for a book to stand out in the crowd. Sometimes they employ well known designers and artists to something visually compelling with an anniversary edition or bookstores will sometimes employ small motifs for bestsellers such as 50 Shades of Grey. This is all going to change with the advent of 3D printing technology.In … [Read more...] about Will Publishers Start Adopting 3D Printed Book Covers as a Marketing Tool?
Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter to be Released this October
Scholastic has just released the exclusive cover image of the fully illustrated edition of J.K. Rowling’s bestselling Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. It will be available to purchase in major bookstores October 6th 2015.The illustrated version of the first Harry Potter book will not be the last, Scholastic plans to publish fully illustrated editions—one per year—of … [Read more...] about Illustrated Edition of Harry Potter to be Released this October
More Amazon Drone Delivery Woes, FAA Too Slow to Keep Up
Amazon's CEO Jeff Bezos initially unveiled the plans for Amazon's Prime Air drone delivery service as a way to keep up with the speed of business. Unfortunately, as with all government agencies, the Federal Aviation Administration moves at the speed of the proverbial turtle wading through peanut butter.The crux of the problem seems to be that the design and proposal Amazon … [Read more...] about More Amazon Drone Delivery Woes, FAA Too Slow to Keep Up
Barnes and Noble Releases New Plastic Bags Featuring Classic Books
Barnes and Noble has been consistently lambasted by the media for losing ground in the e-reader wars and seeing diminished e-book sales due to Amazon. The Nations largest bookseller has closed many stores in the last few years as it tries to regain profitability. In order to help drive up sales the company has just released fancy new plastic bags.Barnes and Noble has … [Read more...] about Barnes and Noble Releases New Plastic Bags Featuring Classic Books