A significant number of startups have tried--and for the most part, failed--to entice readers and publishers with a Netflix-style subscription model for reading. Users would pay a monthly fee or adhere to the freemium model of ads within the texts in order to get to read; the publishers would then receive compensation for the books that were consumed during that month, either … [Read more...] about Chegg Offers Subscription-Based Textbook Rentals to College Students
Digital Publishing News
BookRix Offers Higher Royalties, Cover Art for Authors
Good eReader first met ebook developer and retailer at BookExpo America several years ago, and in that time the German ebook retailer has been quietly growing its brand and its user base. BookRix emerged at a time when ebooks were still not catching on among German readers, largely in part due to the odd tax laws that made ebooks fall under an almost punitive taxation rate as … [Read more...] about BookRix Offers Higher Royalties, Cover Art for Authors
Penguin Goes Digital with Value Added Content
One thing digital publishing has done on a widespread basis for the industry as a whole is give content providers--from the newest writer venturing into self-publishing to the largest, oldest publishing houses--the flexibility and freedom to provide additional incentive for readers to pick up their books. Authors and publishers alike have experimented with bonus content in … [Read more...] about Penguin Goes Digital with Value Added Content
Dutch eBook Sellers Mandated to Provide Customer Data to Anti-Piracy Agency
The Dutch eBook scene has grown up in the past few years and many companies have embraced the digital watermark. 62% of all digital publishers who produce digital books use this technology, while 24% use conventional DRM. Customers rights are coming under fire with a new agreement reached with anti-piracy group BREIN.The agreement signed last week will affect any publisher … [Read more...] about Dutch eBook Sellers Mandated to Provide Customer Data to Anti-Piracy Agency
Indie Publishers Leverage Social Media Participation for Book Discovery
One of the greatest changes to the publishing arena that has come about as part of the recent digital revolution is the access that readers have to authors through social media. It's considered commonplace now for authors to have an online presence that includes fan interaction. Even for self-published authors, the going mentality is that an online presence and a fan base built … [Read more...] about Indie Publishers Leverage Social Media Participation for Book Discovery
School Libraries to Get eBook Boost with Follett, Hachette Deal
As teachers, librarians, and administrators prepare to start a new school year, many school professionals are probably thinking very seriously about budgets, especially where their technology dollars are concerned. One of the many frustrations that schools have felt in regard to technology has been the availability of e-readers and tablet computers, but a lack of lending … [Read more...] about School Libraries to Get eBook Boost with Follett, Hachette Deal
Wattpad Launches New Fan Funding Platform
When writers want to get funding to write their next book, they often have to deal with Kickstarter or get a publishing deal. Wattpad is bucking this trend with a new project called Fan Funding. Wattpad is currently the world's largest community for reading and sharing stories. They have just announced a new fan funding pilot project with six writers. This experiment gives … [Read more...] about Wattpad Launches New Fan Funding Platform
Newspaper Companies Can Learn from The Guardian Digital Archive
Newspapers often do not have a long shelf life at your local library and often disintegrate over a long period of time. The Guardian and Observer newspapers have been documenting worldwide news since 1791. If a reader wanted to peruse an old issue and read about life on the battlefields of the Napoleonic Wars or the first Wimbledon, suffice to say it would be very hard to … [Read more...] about Newspaper Companies Can Learn from The Guardian Digital Archive
Macmillan Offers More eBooks to Libraries under their Entangled Publishing Imprint
Macmillan warmed up to the idea about having their digital books available for loan in public libraries back in March. They currently have over 1200 books up for grabs via their Minotaur imprint. The publishing company is obviously pleased with the pilot project and has just committed hundreds of new titles from another one of their imprints, Entangled Publishing.Overdrive, … [Read more...] about Macmillan Offers More eBooks to Libraries under their Entangled Publishing Imprint
eBook Review: Feral Youth by Polly Courtney
Verdict: 5 StarsPolly Courtney first made news on this site earlier this year for abandoning traditional publishing after her self-published titles gained some well-deserved attention from the industry; at the time, Courtney had some strong words for her feelings about the experience, including her embarrassment over her book titles and the way traditional publishing lumped … [Read more...] about eBook Review: Feral Youth by Polly Courtney
Baen Books now Available at the Sony Reader Store
eBook pioneer Baen Books has ironed out a new agreement with Sony to have their digital titles on the Reader Store. Starting today, you will be able to purchase titles by authors such as David Weber, David Drake, and Larry Correia.Baen Books built a tremendous following by offering their eBooks in a fully unlocked format. This meant that they did not contact DRM and could … [Read more...] about Baen Books now Available at the Sony Reader Store
Publishers Once Again Accused of Colluding to Oppose DOJ Apple Settlement
The Justice Department of the US has been on a crusade against Apple and the major publishers on eBook prices. Basically, the parties were accused of banding together to implement a common eBook payment standard. Every one of the publishers settled, for varying amounts of financial costs. The DOJ presented a number of settlement terms to Apple recently and the publishers are … [Read more...] about Publishers Once Again Accused of Colluding to Oppose DOJ Apple Settlement
What is the Best Methodology for eBook Production?
Publishers are at a crossroads when it comes to digitizing their books and marketing them through various sales channels. There is no shortage of companies out there begging for business and passing themselves off as a one stop shop for eBook creation services.  What are the current best practices for developing an eBook creation pipeline? Is it better to develop your own … [Read more...] about What is the Best Methodology for eBook Production?