People who've made a study of the rise of Amazon's retail empire can attest to the fact that in the early days of introductory meetings, publishers loved Jeff Bezos. He offered them a new opportunity to sell what they thought would only be their print books, at would only be their established prices. But with the growth in product content Amazon was able to sell, the prices … [Read more...] about Is Flipkart Poised to Become the New Amazon?
Bookselling News
Amazon’s One-Sitting Short Reads Meets Need for Fast Fiction
A number of platforms have offered great content in a short essay, long-form journalism environment, but it has typically been informative, expository non-fiction pieces. But news came out this week about a quiet launch from Amazon that will offer short works of fiction to be consumed in one-sitting, as the site is referring to it. Amazon's Short Reads, which features short … [Read more...] about Amazon’s One-Sitting Short Reads Meets Need for Fast Fiction
Amazon Compiles Bestsellers, Most Well-Read Cities Lists
As big data works its way into the publishing industry mindset, information gathered from online retailers can provide an insightful peek at what's happening in the world of bookselling. Amazon's editors have once again compiled comprehensive lists based on sales data, figures which have helped translate that information into rankings by not only bestselling titles but also … [Read more...] about Amazon Compiles Bestsellers, Most Well-Read Cities Lists
PW Launches BookLife Self-Publishing Platform
While the company website is a little stark right now, make no mistake that the people behind Publisher's Weekly are going to unveil something big. Set to launch during this year's BookExpo event, BookLife will not only help authors with the usual suspects like vetted professionals for cover design, editing, and formatting, but will also work to offer promotional tools that … [Read more...] about PW Launches BookLife Self-Publishing Platform
UK Rules eBooks Aren’t Books as Far as Taxation Is Concerned
There's no relief in sight for UK readers, as Parliament declared that there was no good reason or means to reduce the outrageous 20% VAT on ebooks. While their print counterparts enjoy a zero-percent tax--like many state and local governments in the US who feel that book purchasing should be supported--ebooks are still treated in much the same way as a software download and … [Read more...] about UK Rules eBooks Aren’t Books as Far as Taxation Is Concerned
Publisher Terms: Amazon Behaving Badly, or Business As Usual?
News came out last week that Amazon is butting heads with one of the Big Five publishers, Hachette Book Group, over contract terms. In true "I'm bigger than you, so I can" fashion, Amazon has imposed lengthy delays on the shipment of some of Hachette's titles, almost amounting to refusing to sell them at all. In an even more nefarious approach, Amazon is even suggesting … [Read more...] about Publisher Terms: Amazon Behaving Badly, or Business As Usual?
IndieReader Launches First of Its Kind App and eBookstore for Self-Published Works
Self-published authors have a new sales and distribution opportunity, thanks to the pioneers in indie book promotion, IndieReader. The company, long known for its awareness-raising efforts for self-published and small press titles, has added a branded app and ebookstore to its list of services for authors."The IR app has all of the features you would expect in a great … [Read more...] about IndieReader Launches First of Its Kind App and eBookstore for Self-Published Works
Amazon Strong Arm Tactics Result in Delayed Shipping of Hachette Print Titles
Amazon regularly employs strong arm tactics when negotiating better book deals from publishers. This normally occurs when the existing contracts expire and its time to renew it. Amazon is the largest seller of digital and print titles in the world and this gives them tremendous bargaining power. Publishers simply cannot afford to not do business with them and give up heavy … [Read more...] about Amazon Strong Arm Tactics Result in Delayed Shipping of Hachette Print Titles
Gallery Books’ Belles on Wheels Book Tour Crosses US
Gallery Books' seven-city Belles on Wheels book tour kicked off on Friday, and already the romance-branded bus carrying ten of the imprint's bestselling romance authors to bookstores across the Southeast has met up with fans in five different cities, allowing readers to meet as many as ten of their favorite writers for autographs, photos, and questions. Good e-Reader met up … [Read more...] about Gallery Books’ Belles on Wheels Book Tour Crosses US
Smashwords Authors Benefit from B&N eBook Pre-Orders
One of the truths we've been hearing from forward-thinking publishing industry experts, namely where Amazon is concerned, is that we have to stop trying to compete. There are enough readers for every genre and every retailer, but offering an identical product in the same cookie-cutter way will drive consumers to go where the price is cheapest if all other factors are the … [Read more...] about Smashwords Authors Benefit from B&N eBook Pre-Orders
New Look at How Titles Sell Across Genres
The recent furor caused by Hugh Howey and the team at Author Earnings helped publishers and authors rethink the concept of "secret data," but unfortunately, it's been slow to have a lasting impact on how publishers and retailers guard their sales information. But one author, Edward W. Robertson, published his own look at how titles were selling in different genres, not so much … [Read more...] about New Look at How Titles Sell Across Genres
New Attacks Against Amazon’s International Expansion
Amazon bashing is nothing new, and it's certainly a popular topic at events where publishers have an open format to discuss the state of the industry. But what does it say about a company when its current most vocal critic is himself called a string of names in the industry and is at the seat of controversy at every turn?Literary agent Andrew Wylie of the Andrew Wylie … [Read more...] about New Attacks Against Amazon’s International Expansion
Saving Bookstores the Old Fashioned Way
As libraries and brick and mortar bookstores, both retail chain and independently owned, fight to stay relevant in the eyes of the reading public, store owners and stakeholders have had to become more creative and more unified in their efforts to entice customers to check out the local book scene. One initiative which took place last week in California saw not only a surge in … [Read more...] about Saving Bookstores the Old Fashioned Way
Wizeo Book Funding Platform Takes Advantage of Video to Increase Exposure
Crowdfunding is certainly not a new idea, with sites like Kickstarter and IndieGoGo launching new startups and products every day. But when it comes to books, there's definitely a different mindset behind investing in the creation of a book. Pubslush, the crowdfunding platform specifically for books, has revolutionized the concept of supporting an author's writing and … [Read more...] about Wizeo Book Funding Platform Takes Advantage of Video to Increase Exposure