A number of platforms have offered great content in a short essay, long-form journalism environment, but it has typically been informative, expository non-fiction pieces. But news came out this week about a quiet launch from Amazon that will offer short works of fiction to be consumed in one-sitting, as the site is referring to it. Amazon's Short Reads, which features short … [Read more...] about Amazon’s One-Sitting Short Reads Meets Need for Fast Fiction
E-Book News
Ingram Adds New Publisher Content to MyiLibrary
A number of pertinent announcements were made this week, many of which concerned reader access to lending or subscription-based reading. Smashwords joined up with OverDrive to make indie authors' titles available in libraries around the world, and Simon&Schuster provided access to a massive backlist of ebooks to two of the top subscription-based reading platforms. Now, … [Read more...] about Ingram Adds New Publisher Content to MyiLibrary
Simon & Schuster Signs eBook Backlist Deals with Scribd, Oyster
All-you-can-eat unlimited ebook subscription reading has finally come into its own with the launch of a couple of different platforms, namely Oyster and Scribd. Billed as a Netflix-style approach to reading, these platforms charge users one flat-rate monthly fee for unlimited access to their full catalogs of ebook titles.When subscription-based ebook reading was first … [Read more...] about Simon & Schuster Signs eBook Backlist Deals with Scribd, Oyster
Amazon Compiles Bestsellers, Most Well-Read Cities Lists
As big data works its way into the publishing industry mindset, information gathered from online retailers can provide an insightful peek at what's happening in the world of bookselling. Amazon's editors have once again compiled comprehensive lists based on sales data, figures which have helped translate that information into rankings by not only bestselling titles but also … [Read more...] about Amazon Compiles Bestsellers, Most Well-Read Cities Lists
Summer Reading Programs Kick Off as School Years End
Schools around the country are getting ready to dismiss for the summer months, but parents don't have to let the gains their children made during the year slip away. The dreaded phenomenon known as "summer slide" can be thwarted with just a few minutes a day of focused reading. To help parents offer the students reading content that won't seem like a chore, Barnes and Noble has … [Read more...] about Summer Reading Programs Kick Off as School Years End
Kobo Writing Life Unveils Author Pages and Reviews
Kobo Writing Life is one of the strongest alternatives to Kindle Direct Publishing. Authors who elect to self-publish with Kobo often find themselves able to market their titles in more international markets. Writing Life is working on two new compelling features that are currently in testing and will be unveiled soon.In the near future, Kobo will begin featuring book … [Read more...] about Kobo Writing Life Unveils Author Pages and Reviews
PW Launches BookLife Self-Publishing Platform
While the company website is a little stark right now, make no mistake that the people behind Publisher's Weekly are going to unveil something big. Set to launch during this year's BookExpo event, BookLife will not only help authors with the usual suspects like vetted professionals for cover design, editing, and formatting, but will also work to offer promotional tools that … [Read more...] about PW Launches BookLife Self-Publishing Platform
Smashwords, OverDrive Brings Indie Titles to Libraries
An agreement announced today between ebook distributor and self-publishing platform Smashwords and OverDrive, the largest provider of digital content to public and school libraries, is going to give self-published authors one of the few remaining pieces in the publishing puzzle, namely the ability for libraries to stock their work.As it stands right now, self-published … [Read more...] about Smashwords, OverDrive Brings Indie Titles to Libraries
Smashwords Authors can Now Distribute via Txtr
Indie Authors who self-publish through Smashwords are in for a treat. The company has just signed a new distribution agreement with Txtr. This move will benefit authors to give them the ability internationally distribute all over Europe and the UK.Txtr started their digital bookstore back in 2009 and quickly became one of the largest companies outside North America packing … [Read more...] about Smashwords Authors can Now Distribute via Txtr
UK Rules eBooks Aren’t Books as Far as Taxation Is Concerned
There's no relief in sight for UK readers, as Parliament declared that there was no good reason or means to reduce the outrageous 20% VAT on ebooks. While their print counterparts enjoy a zero-percent tax--like many state and local governments in the US who feel that book purchasing should be supported--ebooks are still treated in much the same way as a software download and … [Read more...] about UK Rules eBooks Aren’t Books as Far as Taxation Is Concerned
Webinar: Digital Textbooks in the K12 Sector
With schools around the US starting to gather materials and stock their costly print textbooks back in the closet until the fall, it begs the question as to why more schools haven't adopted digital textbooks, especially in light of Bring Your Own Device initiatives and the popularity that movement has experienced. With students in even the lower elementary grades now authorized … [Read more...] about Webinar: Digital Textbooks in the K12 Sector
Indie Writers Starting to get Segregated from Professional Authors
There is a stark contrast between professional authors and writers who elect to self-publish. When an author derives their living solely from the process of selling their books, they can be called an author. An author normally enjoys the ability to have physical copies of their books to do signings or giveaways..The segregation of indie writers from professional authors is … [Read more...] about Indie Writers Starting to get Segregated from Professional Authors
eBook Review: Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen
Verdict: 3 StarsWhat does it take to earn a solid, middle-of-the-road three stars in a book? Basically, it involves a book that is single-minded in its goal while being so badly researched and written that you come away feeling mildly dumber for having read it.Mrs. Poe is yet another attempt by a historical novelist to paint a picture of what if. And those novels, when … [Read more...] about eBook Review: Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen