The Italian publishing market has experienced a 21% increase in e-book sales in the first six months of 2016. One of the big reasons why the number of units sold is so high, is primarily due to the sheer number of titles that have been digitized. 65,000 print books were released and of those, 63,000 were converted into e-books.The e-book market in Italy has been growing … [Read more...] about The Italian e-book market is on the rise
Digital Publishing News
Scholastic Top Trends in Children’s Books for 2017
Every year Scholastic projects key trends in the publishing industry and what books are likely to become bestsellers. Last year the company predicted Harry Potter and the wizard universe to grow in a large way in 2016. Now we know Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts One and Two was the number one selling book according to many retail sellers. In addition, Fantastic Beasts … [Read more...] about Scholastic Top Trends in Children’s Books for 2017
Global Audiobook Trends and Statistics for 2017
Publishers have experienced an utterly deplorable year for e-book sales and most of them have seen declines by around 12%, things have gotten so bad that most of them do not even report how many units were sold. They speak in broad generalities, which does not bode well for the future of the format.Over the course of the past three years the highest growing segment of … [Read more...] about Global Audiobook Trends and Statistics for 2017
Kobo Writing Life Shutdown Notice
Kobo Writing Life manually vets the e-books submitted to their service to ensure that quality content is being submitted to their online store and sold worldwide. In a recent email to authors, Kobo has disclosed that over the upcoming Christmas season they are not going to be publishing anything, until the staff have returned. "Just a reminder that as the holiday season … [Read more...] about Kobo Writing Life Shutdown Notice
Germany Boycotts Elsevier journals
60 major German research institutions are boycotting Elsevier journals and will no longer be paying the company for access starting January 1st 2017. Göttingen University and many other top schools will unable to access most archived issues of journals, and individual e-packages for the economic sciences in particular.The schools and research institutions have cancelled … [Read more...] about Germany Boycotts Elsevier journals
European Publishers Say E-Books Account for 6% of Total Sales in 2015
The European publishing industry generated significant revenue last year, but it took a very long time to tabulate all of the data. 575,000 new books were published and they generated over €22.3 billion worth sales from 28 member countries.The report also noted that four million titles are available in digital formats, a number which the report said “has been spiked by the … [Read more...] about European Publishers Say E-Books Account for 6% of Total Sales in 2015
Facebook is going to hire an experienced news executive
Facebook has been getting a ton of negative publicity for the past five months due to the influx of fake news on their platform. Some 82% of middle-schoolers couldn’t distinguish between an ad labeled “sponsored content” and a real news story. Mark Zuckerberg and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg have repeatedly addressed those claims. Yet, the two have little … [Read more...] about Facebook is going to hire an experienced news executive
Bowker Releases Findings from Digital Publishing Survey
Bowker and Data Conversion Laboratory have just released their findings from their digital publishing survey. This is the third joint survey for DCL and Bowker, and this year’s attracted 698 participants, up from 579 in 2015 and 215 in 2014. The survey probes digital publishers and self-publishing authors to find trend lines across a wide swath of important topics. Question … [Read more...] about Bowker Releases Findings from Digital Publishing Survey
Wattpad talks about the future of digital publishing
WattPad is one of the most popular online self-publishing platforms and they have over 45 million monthly users, with over 2.3 million writers who’ve shared 15 million chapters in the last 30 days alone. The company has experienced explosive growth since they first opened up their virtual doors in 2006 and the CEO of Wattpad talked with Good e-Reader to reflect upon the past … [Read more...] about Wattpad talks about the future of digital publishing
Goodreads Choice Awards Winners Announced
Some book awards are determined by panels of expert judges who seem to be fairly out of touch with the interests of the typical reader. Still others are the domain of the "inner sanctum" club where publishers and powers that be proclaim which books are worthy. For my part--and that of many avid book fans--those awards pale in comparison to being chosen by a vast sea of actual … [Read more...] about Goodreads Choice Awards Winners Announced
Book Mate is expanding into Scandinavia
Book Mate launched their unlimited e-book subscription service in 2013 and their primary markets are Russia, Turkey, Nigeria, Pakistan, India and the Philippines. Over the years the company has since expanded into North America via their apps for Android and iOS. In order to foster further growth, Book Mate will soon be expanding into Europe and they will particularly be … [Read more...] about Book Mate is expanding into Scandinavia
Amazon India now offers Kindle e-books in 5 regional languages
Amazon is focusing on India and has populated their Kindle bookstore with thousands of e-books in five regional languages. Users can now purchase bestsellers and download free samples in Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Gujarati and Malayalam.“We are excited to offer readers the largest digital selection of best sellers in five Indian languages. All you need is an Android or iOS … [Read more...] about Amazon India now offers Kindle e-books in 5 regional languages
The VAT on E-Books will be lowered in the EU by 2017
The European Union has announced that starting in 2017 e-books, digital magazines and digital newspapers will have the same VAT as print. Member countries will have the freedom to change the VAT as they see fit, which will drastically lower the cost of going digital.Current rules allow Member States to tax printed publications such as books and newspapers at reduced rates … [Read more...] about The VAT on E-Books will be lowered in the EU by 2017
Pottermore Will Be Profitable in 2017
J.K. Rowling has a digital website called Pottermore where the entire Harry Potter audiobook and e-book collection is sold. The company was initially launched in 2011 and spearheaded by Charlie Redmayne who left in 2013 to become the CEO of HarperCollins UK. Since his departure Pottermore has pivoted from being a gaming website to an e-commerce company. They begun to iron out … [Read more...] about Pottermore Will Be Profitable in 2017