Move over, ebook authors, there's a new bestselling author to watch out for. The fact that he was evil and responsible for the slaughter of millions of people shouldn't matter, right? Hopefully that's not what the consumers who have been snapping up digital editions of Adolf Hitler's Mein Kampf are thinking.An article in Salon by Mary Elizabeth Williams explained an even … [Read more...] about Hitler’s Book Rising in Non-Fiction Charts
Digital Publishing News
eBook Market in Turkey Expected to Expand
The entire publishing sector in Turkey is estimated to be over 2 billion dollars. According to data compiled from the Turkish Publishers Association's website, eBook sales have increased by over 100% from 2011 to 2012 and the dramatic increase is reminiscent to the US market in in 2007.The Turkish eBook market is fairly paltry with total revenue equating to only 0.7% of … [Read more...] about eBook Market in Turkey Expected to Expand
IndieReader, Edelweiss Break Down Last Obstacle for Self-Published Authors
Even as the respect, the recognition, and the royalties are in place for self-published authors to enjoy a rewarding career, there are still barriers in place that prevent them from enjoying all of the opportunities that are open to traditionally published authors. Newspapers--from major name nationally available titles to hometown rags--often still refuse to review a … [Read more...] about IndieReader, Edelweiss Break Down Last Obstacle for Self-Published Authors
Libraries, Gale Partner for Online Accredited High School Diploma Program
According to data gathered by Cengage Learning, one US student drops out of high school every 26 seconds. The end result is is more than one million Americans every year leaving school without a diploma. While sociologists have studied the effects on society of having a significant portion of the population unqualified and incapable of securing employment, companies like … [Read more...] about Libraries, Gale Partner for Online Accredited High School Diploma Program
Sales Down for Barnes and Noble, But How Bad Is Bad?
While consumers might be alarmed by headlines that blare dire warnings about corporate downfalls, it's important to take closer look at what constitutes a "bad" holiday sales season and what the reasons for a decline might be. News has broken of Barnes and Noble's recent drop in sales compared to the previous year, and--coupled with news of stores closings, including its … [Read more...] about Sales Down for Barnes and Noble, But How Bad Is Bad?
Key Genres Underrepresented in Writing Contests
One outlet that authors--both traditionally published and self-published--can turn to for much needed book promotion and publicity is writing contests. While it seems that writing contests have become the newest "cash cow" in the digital and self-publishing industries, there are a number of longstanding and respected events staged annually that offer authors this type of … [Read more...] about Key Genres Underrepresented in Writing Contests
Iconic Barnes and Noble Bookstore Closes in NY
One of the more interesting retail histories in the book industry is that of Barnes and Noble (the history of the stores and the brand can be found HERE), with a number of locations having significant importance both as thriving retail spaces and as icons within the company. Sadly, the flagship 5th Avenue store, bought when Leonard Riggio, founder of the Student Book Exchange … [Read more...] about Iconic Barnes and Noble Bookstore Closes in NY
IndieGoGo Campaign Launches to Save a Brick and Mortar Bookstore
While many consumers bemoan the death of independent, brick and mortar bookstores--sadly, often while scanning their showrooming apps and placing their online book orders--one resident and author decided to take to crowdfunding site IndieGoGo to launch a campaign to save a local bookstore.While Main Street Books in St. Charles, Missouri, isn't shuttering its doors due to a … [Read more...] about IndieGoGo Campaign Launches to Save a Brick and Mortar Bookstore
Amazon Initiates Shipping Incentives in UK
Following the lead of Amazon.com stateside, the online retail giant's customers awoke to the news today that Amazon UK was now going to stop offering free shipping on orders less than £10. Much like the upping of the free shipping minimum in the US from $25 to $35 in 2013, a move that was seen as an incentive for consumers to join Amazon Prime, UK customers will now feel the … [Read more...] about Amazon Initiates Shipping Incentives in UK
It Pays to Be Small: Zola Buys Book Discovery Site Bookish
It's a tough time to be selling ebooks if you're not Amazon. That's why two fairly recent startups, ebook seller and social media platform Zola Books and Big Three book discovery brainchild Bookish.com, have joined forces in the fight against success with Zola's acquisition of the book search engine.Zola, formed by literary agents and funded partly through investments by … [Read more...] about It Pays to Be Small: Zola Buys Book Discovery Site Bookish
Smashwords, Wattpad See Increase in Use
In the past year, open reading platform and forum Wattpad saw an exponential increase in user traffic, evidenced by the more than 41 billion minutes that its members spent reading online in 2013, more than double the use of the year before. Coincidentally, in a year spent collaborating with other platforms to form new connections and new opportunities for authors, ebook … [Read more...] about Smashwords, Wattpad See Increase in Use
Things Looking Up for Lonely Planet
The market for guidebooks has suffered in recent years, with a number of travel publishers feeling the pinch of free online content. When travelers have the power to look up street level maps, book online reservations, and follow blogs with up to date information on where to stay and what to see, printed guidebooks seem pretty irrelevant. Unfortunately, publishers' attempts to … [Read more...] about Things Looking Up for Lonely Planet
Consumers Warned Against “Showrooming”
A name has been given to an evil that plagues independent bookstores, a practice that was blamed largely for the demise of the Borders bookstore chain: showrooming. This practice, which affects mom-and-pop retailers across possibly every industry but especially the bookselling profession, occurs when consumers enter a local physical retail shop in order to find information and … [Read more...] about Consumers Warned Against “Showrooming”
eBook Review: The Poisoned Island by Lloyd Shepherd
Verdict: 3 StarsShepherd's second title, The Poisoned Island (Washington Square Press), had an incredibly intriguing premise, but it dragged. The action got lost in chapter after chapter of descriptive narrative filled with back story, as opposed to dialogue and sequences. On the plus side, and at the risk of a vast spoiler alert, there is a tremendously intelligent … [Read more...] about eBook Review: The Poisoned Island by Lloyd Shepherd