eBook revenues were up 4.0% for the month compared to September 2023 for $90.5 million. Year-to-date eBook revenues were up 3.6% compared to the first nine months of 2023 for $777.9 million. In prior years, eBook revenue declined almost every month, so it is nice to see digital books becoming popular again. Digital audiobook sales were up 28.1% in September, reaching $89.7 … [Read more...] about eBook revenues were up 4.0% in September 2024
Business News and Statistics
Honoring Excellence: The 2024 National Book Awards
The National Book Awards, established in 1950, celebrate the finest achievements in American literature. Managed by the National Book Foundation, these prestigious awards recognize exceptional works across categories such as Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Young People’s Literature, and Translation. Each year, the winners are chosen by panels of distinguished authors, critics, and … [Read more...] about Honoring Excellence: The 2024 National Book Awards
Book Bans in U.S. Schools are Increasing Exponentially
Book bans are increasingly becoming common in US schools. In the 2022-23 school year, PEN America reported 3,362 book bans, affecting 1,557 unique titles. And its latest data, released Nov. 1, 2024, shows that the number of book bans soared in the 2023-24 school year to more than 10,000, with Florida and Iowa accounting for over 8,000 of them. Thousands of titles are from … [Read more...] about Book Bans in U.S. Schools are Increasing Exponentially
Canada makes it mark in Literature in Denmark with Margaret Atwood
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
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 … [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