Hugh Howey and Friends (that really should be a trademarked superhero team name, as you'll see in a moment) has launched the sixth quarterly Author Earnings report, a seemingly flawless look at how ebooks are actually selling on Amazon. The reports have always served to try to get a better picture of how self-published authors are actually faring in the bookselling landscape, … [Read more...] about How Agency Pricing Has Affected the Bestseller Lists
digital publishing news
Amazon’s Whispercast Update Meets the Needs of K12 Classrooms
FULL DISCLOSURE: I was a classroom teacher for almost twenty years, the last seven of which were spent using a classroom set of Kindle e-readers. My classroom had more than 200 ebooks for the students to choose from, and it was a nightmare trying to make that innovation work. But nightmares no more! Amazon has released an update for its Whispercast feature that will make … [Read more...] about Amazon’s Whispercast Update Meets the Needs of K12 Classrooms
Want to Win an Election? Write an eBook
When President Obama defeated Mitt Romney to win the 2012 election, ebook innovator Vook had two books standing at the ready. One was entitled Why Obama Lost, and the other was Why Romney Lost. Not very imaginative titles, to be sure, but that wasn't the point. The purpose of the books was to have a product to distribute to readers the moment the election results were in. It … [Read more...] about Want to Win an Election? Write an eBook
Gillian Anderson to Pen New Title, WE
Fans of the old X-Files television show got a much-needed surprise when Fox announced it was bringing back the series. Not only that, instead of a reboot or some futuristic attempt at relaunching the series with younger, hipper actors, the original stars are back and by all accounts, the show will simply pick up where it left off. In the meantime, actress Gillian Anderson, … [Read more...] about Gillian Anderson to Pen New Title, WE
Off the Page: Age-Appropriate eBooks for Readers with Obstacles
Having been a teacher of at-risk high school students, I'm going to go out on a limb and declare a recent innovation by two teachers from New Zealand to be the most game-changing application of publishing in 2015, if not in the entire age of digital publishing. What's so astounding about their project, Off the Page? Have you ever looked at an illiterate twenty-year-old with … [Read more...] about Off the Page: Age-Appropriate eBooks for Readers with Obstacles
What Rook Can Teach the Industry about Bookselling
There's a new app coming, and on the surface, it looks a whole lot like piracy meets FourSquare. Of course, the fact that a few smaller publishers have come on board and the nomination for a publishing industry innovation award lends a lot of credibility to the concept behind Rook, the free ebook reading app that lets users read any book they want for free, as long as they … [Read more...] about What Rook Can Teach the Industry about Bookselling
What Nielsen Can Tell Indie Authors
The kind people at Nielsen BookScan do a fairly decent job at uncovering consumer behaviors towards books, then compare that data year over year to highlight the trends in this ever-evolving market. But a lot of self-published authors--especially ones who limit their work to Amazon or who think they're not selling enough copies to even register as a blip on Nielsen's … [Read more...] about What Nielsen Can Tell Indie Authors
Magzter Digital Magazine App Adds New Titles to Unlimited Subscription Plan
Just as ebook distributors competed for readers by offering the best in content, pricing, devices, and compatibility, digital magazine providers are also upping the ante when it comes to vying for consumer loyalty. That's why one of the relative newcomers in the digital magazine space, Magzter, has already signed more than 25 million customers since launching Magzter GOLD in … [Read more...] about Magzter Digital Magazine App Adds New Titles to Unlimited Subscription Plan
Digital Magazine Haqiqah Spreads Message of Islamic Beliefs
Religious leaders across practically every belief structure and faith can expound on the woes of trying to reach new generations of believers as the societies we live in change at rapid-fire pace. For decades younger generations have complained that their parents' religions are outdated, don't "get it," or are just obsolete. But one new digital magazine has launched with the … [Read more...] about Digital Magazine Haqiqah Spreads Message of Islamic Beliefs
EU Looks to Dissolve Geo-Blocking for Netflix, Similar Sites
A new look into film and television rights and a new observation on how exactly the European Union is supposed to function as a single marketplace may lead to big changes for companies that offer streaming services like Netflix and Amazon. One EU commissioner has demanded some answers for why certain markets in the EU are open to international entertainment content, and others … [Read more...] about EU Looks to Dissolve Geo-Blocking for Netflix, Similar Sites