Wattpad Books has just announced that Penguin Random House UK will be publishing Wattpad Books in the UK. This is a major update for Wattpad Books internationally, since until today, Wattpad Books were only distributed in North America. Wattpad Books had an existing sales and distribution partnership with Macmillan in the US and Raincoast Books in Canada, and with today’s news … [Read more...] about Wattpad books now available in Europe via Penguin Random House
Digital Publishing News
Founder of Waterstones Not Sorry About Loss of Indie Bookstores
A rather biting article appeared in The Guardian in which brick-and-mortar bookstore chain Waterstones' founder Tim Waterstone said he doesn't feel guilty about the role that the megachain played in killing indie bookshops in the UK. At the time comparable to Borders or Barnes and Noble, Waterstones had the same deadly effect: sweep in, undercut the little guy, then close the … [Read more...] about Founder of Waterstones Not Sorry About Loss of Indie Bookstores
Amazon Publishing Nabs Several Top Authors
Amazon Publishing certainly isn't new to the industry anymore, but somehow, people continue to be surprised by the names the company manages to publish under its different imprints. According to Publishing Perspectives, Dean Koontz, horror author of more than 45 titles, is the latest name to sign with Amazon for a five-book deal, the first of which will release … [Read more...] about Amazon Publishing Nabs Several Top Authors
Last year the ebook piracy industry cost American publishers $300 million
Ebook piracy is on the rise and last year in the United States it cost authors and publishers over $300 million in lost sales. Pirated ebooks used to only been downloaded from Torrent websites, but over time they have become more savvy, offering a more service based solution. There are apps that allow people to pay a monthly subscription to download all of the books they want, … [Read more...] about Last year the ebook piracy industry cost American publishers $300 million
A New Indie-Like Day Is Dawning for Barnes and Noble
If you're lucky enough to live in a town with a thriving indie bookstore, be sure to count your blessings. If the only bookstore within driving distance is a Barnes and Noble, you might not be so fortunate. The way B&N has operated for the past few years, you might not even consider it a bookstore, at least not when you look around at the pillows, t-shirts, candles, and … [Read more...] about A New Indie-Like Day Is Dawning for Barnes and Noble
Google News is revising the Desktop Experience
Google News is going to overhaul the Desktop experience with a new design. Instead of text based news stories, most of the new content will be available in a card format and they will be grouped together for greater clarity. News publications will also be more pronounced and their logos will be easier to identify your favorite news outlets with a glance. To be clear, the … [Read more...] about Google News is revising the Desktop Experience
Mozilla is launching an ad-free subscription service
Journalism depends on advertising revenue in order to stay viable. Some users install adblock plugins for their favorite browser to bypass this. Mozilla said earlier this year that a partnership with the news subscription enterprise Scroll would be forthcoming, which is what seems to be coming soon. Mozilla is directing users to a survey that also includes invites to a beta … [Read more...] about Mozilla is launching an ad-free subscription service
ebook sales decrease by 4.5% in the first quarter of 2019
In the first three months of 2019, digital book sales have fallen by 4.5% and generated $244 million dollars, which was $10 million dollars less from the same period last year. The continuous decline in ebook sales has been occurring for the past four years. There are a few causes why ebook sales have fallen off a cliff. One of the leading factors is due to the rise of … [Read more...] about ebook sales decrease by 4.5% in the first quarter of 2019
JK Rowling Blesses Readers with Four New Harry Potter Books
If you're still pining for the excitement of Harry's childhood journey through magic and adventure, there's good news. Author JK Rowling has announced four new books in the Harry Potter world, ones that will delve into the history of magic associated with Hogwarts and the wizarding world. While fans may know Voldemort's origin story or how the houses were formed, this … [Read more...] about JK Rowling Blesses Readers with Four New Harry Potter Books
Simon and Schuster experiences ebook declines
Publishing revenues of $164 million for the first quarter of 2019 increased 3% from $160 million for the same prior-year period, driven by higher print book sales. Bestselling titles for the first quarter of 2019 included Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott and Supermarket by Bobby Hall. Publishing operating income of $17 million for the first quarter of 2019 increased 6% … [Read more...] about Simon and Schuster experiences ebook declines