We're closing in on nearly a decade since ebooks first moved away from being a niche technology novelty and became a household object. In those early years of the current phase of this digital publishing revolution, ebooks were being hailed as the new frontier of educational publishing. While multiple surveys discovered that kids didn't like reading ebooks for fun, they had no … [Read more...] about Are Digital Textbooks Finally Taking Hold?
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Scholastic Releases Latest Kids’ Reading Report
In celebration of International Literacy Day last week, Scholastic has some great news: kids are reading. Despite the naysayers and gloom and doomers who think the entire juvenile world is too busy with their faces buried in digital devices, the self-response survey indicates that as many as 86% of kids up to age 17 think reading is an important key to their future … [Read more...] about Scholastic Releases Latest Kids’ Reading Report
We Live in a Literary World of Terrible Self-Published Authors
There are a copious number of online self-publishing companies that promise aspiring authors the opportunity to distribute their ebook all over the world. Millions of authors publish with Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Draft2Digital, Kobo Writing Life, Nook Press and Smashwords. Most "authors" who self-publish an ebook never sell more than a handful and over 75% of all … [Read more...] about We Live in a Literary World of Terrible Self-Published Authors
Smashwords Announces New eBook Promotion Tool
In the ongoing debate about whether or not to list your indie book exclusively with one retailer, there are a few things that authors have to consider. Chief among the concerns usually falls back on sales: where are your books selling? If readers only come to your book via Amazon, for example, and you literally post zero sales on other platforms, it would make sense to then go … [Read more...] about Smashwords Announces New eBook Promotion Tool
Profanity in Books: Is It a Good Thing?
“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?
60 Libraries will loan out over 1 million audiobooks and ebooks in 2017
Last week Overdrive disclosed to Good e-Reader that overall circulation has grown 12% year-over-year (through June 30th) to more than 108 million checkouts for all digital media across all OverDrive libraries and schools. eBook circulation has grown 9%, and the popularity of audiobooks keeps accelerating with nearly 23% growth in circulation year over year through the … [Read more...] about 60 Libraries will loan out over 1 million audiobooks and ebooks in 2017
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
Legendary Sportswriter and Novelist Frank Deford Dies, Age 78
Perhaps a lot of the more "literary" readers wouldn't spend much time on the passing of a sportswriter, but that's because the term itself is completely misleading. The job of a sportswriter is to make the reader feel as though he was at the event, too, but without boring those readers who actually were there. No one did that better than iconic and multi-award winning author … [Read more...] about Legendary Sportswriter and Novelist Frank Deford Dies, Age 78
Digital Public Library of America to Pilot eBook Lending in Fall
It's taken nearly four years, but the time has finally come for the Digital Public Library of America--a nonprofit, grassroots organization aimed at better access to ebooks for all readers--to launch its pilot program. Planned for this fall, DPLA will be lending ebooks in what it hopes is a streamlined, non-proprietary and vendorless platform. While ebook lending has grown … [Read more...] about Digital Public Library of America to Pilot eBook Lending in Fall
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