Famed Canadian author Margaret Atwood visited Odense, Denmark, this past week to receive the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award. This award honours the renowned Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, born in Odense. Margaret Atwood is best known for her novel, adapted into the television series "The Handmaid's Tale." She was awarded for using myths, fairy tales, and … [Read more...] about Canada makes it mark in Literature in Denmark with Margaret Atwood
Business News and Statistics
Exciting news for NoteTakers, InkSight can read your handwriting
Google's developers have introduced a groundbreaking AI system called InkSight, which utilizes a process known as DeRendering to bridge the gap between online and offline note-taking. This technology can convert handwritten documents into digital format, and it has the potential to revolutionize the writing industry. Imagine discovering a love note penned by a distant … [Read more...] about Exciting news for NoteTakers, InkSight can read your handwriting
Scribd is discontinuing its unlimited subscription model
Scribd has announced that it is pivoting away from the unlimited subscription model and moving to a credit-based system for their Everand reading platform in the United States. International expansion is slated for early 2025. This change will provide users with access to bestselling titles found on the New York Times bestseller list, and the Big 5 Publishers will … [Read more...] about Scribd is discontinuing its unlimited subscription model
Penguin Random House puts the kibosh on AI Training
Penguin Random House is the largest book publisher in the world. They recently updated their copyright page to prohibit AI training on any of their print or e-books. This will now gain legal protection against new search engines and anyone who wants to harvest all the books and protect authors. The Bookseller reports that Penguin Random House Publishing changed the copyright … [Read more...] about Penguin Random House puts the kibosh on AI Training
Audiobook sales have finally surpassed e-books
Digital book sales in the United States have been strong since the summer. In August 2024, e-book revenues were up 6.1%, generating 90.4 million dollars. Year-to-date e-book revenues were up 3.5% compared to the first eight months of 2023, for $687.4 million. It is good to know that people are reading digitally again, whether on their Kindle, Kobo, Nook e-readers or through … [Read more...] about Audiobook sales have finally surpassed e-books
E-Book revenues were up 5.4% for June 2024
Digital book revenues increased by 5.4% in the United States in June 2024—the format generated 84.8 million dollars. Year-to-date e-book revenues were up 2.8% compared to the first six months of 2023, for $507.3 million. E-book revenue is finally increasing, as it has declined for the past few years. Digital audiobook sales were up 6.2% in June, reaching $79.7 million in … [Read more...] about E-Book revenues were up 5.4% for June 2024
Short Stories are a Treasure Trove of Good Reads
Image by Pexels from Pixabay I've realized there are two types of readers: those who can't stop reading until they finish a book, and those who take breaks and feel satisfied with reading a few chapters. I used to be in the first category, but I found it to be extremely unhealthy. I sacrificed sleep just to finish long novels by authors like Dan Brown and Stephen King. Have … [Read more...] about Short Stories are a Treasure Trove of Good Reads
The Process and Challenges of Diversity in Children’s Books
In recent years, children’s books have made a lot of progress in becoming more varied. The number of books featuring diverse authors, illustrators, and characters has grown- giving children a chance to see themselves reflected in the stories they read. In 2018, a report from the Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) revealed that 50% of children's books featured white … [Read more...] about The Process and Challenges of Diversity in Children’s Books
Three Ways to Free Yourself from Reading Rules
George R.R. Martin said, “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . . The man who never reads lives only one.” Books, in whatever form, are the ultimate do-it-your-own-way escape. But if that's the case, why are there still so many rules around the "right" way to read? At Everand, our team has seen a swath of these arbitrary reading rules catch on and puzzle us. … [Read more...] about Three Ways to Free Yourself from Reading Rules
UK Booksellers Urge Labour: Reform Unfair Business Rates
Booksellers in the UK are urging the new Labour government to address what they perceive as unjust business rates that severely impact small businesses, as reported by The Bookseller.com. Kate Skipper, COO of Waterstones, stated, "We call on the new government to prioritize reforming the outdated and inequitable business rates system, which currently stifles town and city … [Read more...] about UK Booksellers Urge Labour: Reform Unfair Business Rates
Goodreads Founder Launches Smashing – AI and Human Recommendations
Goodreads‘ co-founder Otis Chandler is back to build the next big app community. But this time, his focus isn’t on books; it’s on the content you can find online, including news articles, blog posts, social media posts, podcasts and more. With Smashing, an AI and community-powered content recommendation app, now launching into an invite-only beta, the goal is to help connect … [Read more...] about Goodreads Founder Launches Smashing – AI and Human Recommendations
US Audiobook Sales surpassed $2 billion in 2023
Audiobooks are quickly becoming more mainstream, and more than half of the population in the United States have listened to at least one. Audiobook revenue grew 9% in 2023 to $2 billion, continuing the year-on-year growth trend according to the Audio Publishers Association’s Sales Survey conducted by Toluna Harris Interactive. However, piracy is becoming a real problem for the … [Read more...] about US Audiobook Sales surpassed $2 billion in 2023
ebook sales soared 16.8% in April 2024
For the first time this year, digital book sales increased in the United States by 16.8% in April. The format generated $83.1 million in sales. Digital Audiobook sales were up 54.6%, reaching $100.0 million in revenue. Physical Audio was down 15.0%, coming in at $800 thousand. Looking at the overall trend, e-book revenues for the year-to-date period were up by a modest 2.3% … [Read more...] about ebook sales soared 16.8% in April 2024
Indigo Goes Private: Sweetened Deal Accepted
Indigo Books & Music Inc. has agreed to a privatization deal, accepting a revised offer from a holding company linked to its largest shareholder. Under the terms of the agreement, Trilogy Retail Holdings Inc. and Trilogy Investments L.P. will pay $2.50 per share in cash for the remaining stake in Indigo. This comes after Trilogy initially proposed $2.25 per share … [Read more...] about Indigo Goes Private: Sweetened Deal Accepted