eBook retailer and distributor Smashwords announced a deal today that will distribute its entire catalog to the digital reading market of India via its own Flipkart platform. Right now, India is the fifth largest market for ebook purchases from Smashwords, so a partnership of this kind will enable a more streamlined shopping experience for Indian readers and worldwide … [Read more...] about Smashwords to Distribute to India’s Largest eBook Retailer Flipkart
Indie Author News
What’s Wrong with a Little Healthy Book Discussion?
All we keep hearing from the world of successful, bestselling indie authors is that they owe their success to their fans who are active on social media. Readers have embraced the access they have to their favorite authors, relishing in the Facebook interactions, Twitter chats, live Google Hangouts, and more.So what's wrong with an author responding to a book review, much as … [Read more...] about What’s Wrong with a Little Healthy Book Discussion?
Authors, Readers Band Together to Stop Goodreads “Bullying”
Who knew the book industry was filled with such venom, such mayhem, such...death threats?Book discovery and discussion site Goodreads has been the battlefield recently for a game that is causing concern among both authors and readers alike. According to some reports from actual users, there are roving bands of "bullies" on the site, some of them actual moderators approved … [Read more...] about Authors, Readers Band Together to Stop Goodreads “Bullying”
KDP Select Launches Lending in Japan, What That Means for Authors
Amazon announced this week that it has now extended its Kindle ebook lending in a new market, Amazon.co.jp. The Japanese Kindle store will now let its users borrow ebooks that have been placed in Amazon's exclusive KDP Select program.Indie authors have often confused KDP Select with Amazon's typical ebook publishing platform, Kindle Direct Publishing. eBooks uploaded … [Read more...] about KDP Select Launches Lending in Japan, What That Means for Authors
Indie Authors Still Ignored by the Industry
With every self-publishing success story, the door opens a tiny bit wider for the acceptance of indie authors. For every Amanda Hocking, Abbie Glines, David Gaughran, Bella Andre, or Hugh Howey (the list goes on and on), industry watchers and consumers alike begin to show a small measure of greater respect for the choices authors are making.But there are still a few facets … [Read more...] about Indie Authors Still Ignored by the Industry
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
Smashwords Beta Tests Pre-Order Status of Titles in Retail Outlets
One of the original advantages of the self-publishing digital book industry was to level the playing field for self-published authors by offering them the same quality books and considerations that traditionally published authors have always enjoyed. Inexpensive access to print-on-demand uploading has allowed authors to have a bookstore-quality edition of their titles in print, … [Read more...] about Smashwords Beta Tests Pre-Order Status of Titles in Retail Outlets
As Publishing Evolves, So Are the Readers
By now, news of George R.R. Martin’s onstage rant at ComiCon has spread, as well as Neil Gaiman’s defense of the author’s guitar-smashing antics. Whether a genuine display of anger over the band Paul & Storm’s parody song “Write Like the Wind,” which pokes fun at the long wait between books in Martin’s Game of Thrones series, or just a fun contribution to the event staged … [Read more...] about As Publishing Evolves, So Are the Readers
Taking Book Discovery to New Lows, New Highs
Authors go to some pretty dire lengths to get their books “out there” and into the hands of a reading audience. From giveaways and blog tours to high priced website ads and NetGalley offers, the business side of being an author means investing in marketing one’s work. But two new forms of book discovery are bringing authors to places they may have never been before.Hollie … [Read more...] about Taking Book Discovery to New Lows, New Highs
How Book Covers Have to Evolve in the Digital Age
As publishing adapts to changes in the technology of books, one area that still remains to adapt is the all-important cover art. Two unrelated articles today highlighted the serious considerations that authors and publishers need to make when designing the face that will ultimately help or hinder consumer purchases.The first post, a piece for The New Yorker by Tim Kreider, … [Read more...] about How Book Covers Have to Evolve in the Digital Age
Change.org Petition Seeks to Offer Bookstore Access to Self-Published Authors
When Frank Bennett, self-published author of Quit School! The Only Lessons You’ll Need to Learn, returned to his childhood home of Bay Shore, Long Island recently for a visit with family, it seemed like the perfect time to arrange for some local book signing and speaking events. There are a small number of bookstores, including a major retail bookseller situated on heavily … [Read more...] about Change.org Petition Seeks to Offer Bookstore Access to Self-Published Authors
JK Rowling: The Importance of Brand and What’s Wrong with the Industry
First, I want to say that I have absolutely no gripe with JK Rowling. In fact, I even support and applaud her decision to publish a book that she wanted to write without all of the fanfare and hype. Remember Rowling’s first foray into expanding her reach as a writer? By 9:00am Eastern on the morning that her title A Casual Vacancy hit stores, it already had over 300 reviews on … [Read more...] about JK Rowling: The Importance of Brand and What’s Wrong with the Industry
Autography, HarperCollins Partner on Digital Book Signing
As the technology behind publishing continues to expand, so does the technology behind being a reader. There is no shortage of companies who offer similar digital experiences, but truly unique and innovative contributions to reading technology are not as plentiful. One technology, Autography’s ebook signing software, offers not only a new twist on the traditional book signing, … [Read more...] about Autography, HarperCollins Partner on Digital Book Signing
“The Crisis of Publishing Persists Mostly at a Pedestrian Level”: Anis Shavani on What’s Wrong with Publishing
The Daily Beast posted an article today that would have been tired and overstated if it weren’t so well-written and downright true. Author Anis Shavani expounded at length on what’s wrong with the publishing industry, breaking it down into five key issues that hinder the genuine creation of readable books.“Publishers would become profitable in short order if entrenched … [Read more...] about “The Crisis of Publishing Persists Mostly at a Pedestrian Level”: Anis Shavani on What’s Wrong with Publishing