“Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very,’” Mark Twain famously said. “Your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.” Well, damn. Yes, back in the day, your editor--often working under strict guidelines from the publisher--would slash a red pen through anything considered outside the acceptable standards for profanity (this … [Read more...] about Profanity in Books: Is It a Good Thing?
Digital Publishing News
Millennials May Be the Salvation of Libraries
While previous studies have shown the majority of Americans cite libraries as a vital public resource in their communities, those same studies cited an alarming fact: Americans simply don't use their libraries. Fortunately, their luck is about to change. New survey results from the Pew Research Center have found that millenials are stepping up in a big way and taking advantage … [Read more...] about Millennials May Be the Salvation of Libraries
New Opportunities in International Indie Book Space
A lot of authors have found new opportunities in the digital publishing and self-publishing revolutions, but it's all too easy to overlook the fact that the US retail book space is not an isolated market. It's not even a market that is limited to Amazon regions. There are thriving digital sites all around the world, and if authors aren't taking full advantage of international … [Read more...] about New Opportunities in International Indie Book Space
Book Sales Remain a Closely Guarded Secret
One of the most frustrating aspects of being an author, publisher, or book retailer is the closely guarded, secretive nature of book sales figures. For some reason, unknown to many even in the industry, retailers and publishers typically do not disclose their sales numbers; at the same time, authors can have their accounts closed and their titles removed from retailers' virtual … [Read more...] about Book Sales Remain a Closely Guarded Secret
Down with eBooks, Up with Print
It's an old song, but it's still ringing out from the global marketplace: ebook sales are down, print sales are up, and we think the kids are to blame. In all seriousness, the very early days of the digital publishing revolution showed us that ebooks could hold their own in the book publishing arena, or at the very least come in a close enough second to not be scorned as a … [Read more...] about Down with eBooks, Up with Print
The State of the European eBook Market
The European e-book market has been growing since 2007 when Amazon started selling the original Kindle. Over the course of the next ten years many companies have started to sell digital books, magazines and newspapers. Have you ever wondered what EU markets have the highest e-book penetration and how much the format is generating in revenue? Welcome to the state of the European … [Read more...] about The State of the European eBook Market
Adult Coloring Books Are No Longer Relevant
A recent fad has meant a huge boom for the book industry, with publishers and booksellers alike sharing the joyous news of record quarterly sales increases. Unfortunately, the adult coloring book craze that gave the industry this much-needed boost may be on its way out, much to the chagrin of those with a stake in it. One phenomenon that happened in young adult lit may also … [Read more...] about Adult Coloring Books Are No Longer Relevant
Spreading Empathy through Children’s Lit
Children across the state of North Carolina have reason to celebrate their reading skills, thanks to a new initiative from the state library system and OverDrive. The program, launched by N.C. Public Library Directors Association, provides nearly four thousand ebooks, audiobooks, and read-along titles for young students, with more than 300 of the titles available for … [Read more...] about Spreading Empathy through Children’s Lit
Are Your Favorite Characters Taking Over Your Life?
To rephrase a line from the really fun comedy The Truth about Cats and Dogs, "You can love books, just don't loooooove books." Unfortunately, a new survey has found that for many fiction readers, their favorite characters are stepping out of the pages and into their daily lives. Before you have to wonder if Christian Grey has invaded more than a few bedrooms, never fear, it's … [Read more...] about Are Your Favorite Characters Taking Over Your Life?
New Author Services Startups Focus on Speed
A day in the life of a traditional publishing deal... According to one author, her manuscript was submitted to various agents between January and April of 2010. There were a few nibbles from people who wanted to see "fulls," or agents who requested the entire manuscript. In August of 2010, it had been greenlighted with a major publisher following its win in a writing … [Read more...] about New Author Services Startups Focus on Speed