One of the most interesting digital publishing trends of the year has been the reemergence of a number of ideas that appeared well before their time. Startups have come and gone in this space, and others have renewed those models and ideas at what is hopefully a more appropriate time. Yet another "newly new" idea has emerged, one that has its roots in giving authors total sales … [Read more...] about Can Authors Really Be Booksellers?
indie author
Does KDP Paperback Publishing Really Solve Anything?
Never one to be a naysayer, we at GoodEReader ordinarily go fan-girl level crazy over a new startup that innovates anything to do with digital publishing. But a new beta program from Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing seems to solve a problem that no one has. Until now, authors who wished to create an ebook for sale on Amazon went through a fairly straightforward upload … [Read more...] about Does KDP Paperback Publishing Really Solve Anything?
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
One Wattpad Story Has 282 YEARS’ Worth of Reads
Indie authors have long had a phenomenal tool that helped them reach readers and build a following. Wattpad, the free reading and writing platform, has provided both authors and book fans with an abundance of content and an instant audience. As one of the world's largest platforms of its kind, Wattpad has truly changed the game in terms of connecting readers to writers. The … [Read more...] about One Wattpad Story Has 282 YEARS’ Worth of Reads
Is Crowdfunding Your Book Worth It?
There's little doubt that crowdfunding has reshaped the way we function as a society. A study last year from the University of Pennsylvania found the popular site Kickstarter has had economic impact in the billions of dollars, and created more than 300,000 jobs since it launched. Competitor sites like TeeChip and IndieGogo surely have similar functionality, even if the sheer … [Read more...] about Is Crowdfunding Your Book Worth It?
Tate Publishing Company Closes As Others Step In to Fill the Void
It's been a rough patch for the publishing industry, especially where indie authors are concerned. With the sudden boom of the digital publishing revolution, startups appeared across the globe to help authors publish their books. While most of the major retail book platforms offer some kind of dashboard for authors with the know-how and confidence to go it alone, just as many … [Read more...] about Tate Publishing Company Closes As Others Step In to Fill the Void
Authors and Politics Don’t Mix
We've probably all been there. We come across a great book by a new author, and immediately seek out our new favorite writer on social media. After connecting, the truth comes out: this person is not who we thought they were based on their ability to craft a wonderful story. Their Facebook feed may be filled with shared memes that go against our political and religious views, … [Read more...] about Authors and Politics Don’t Mix
Smashwords Pays Out Royalties and It’s NOT the End of the World
A number of authors opened their email inboxes yesterday to a pleasant surprise: the payment of old royalties from ebook publishing and retail site Smashwords. These royalties, typically within the one dollar to nine dollar range, had not been paid (in some cases, for years) because they didn't meet the minimum threshold for payment; it's important to note that a lot of other … [Read more...] about Smashwords Pays Out Royalties and It’s NOT the End of the World
The Industry Finally Acknowledges Indies Are Authors
The gates have finally been thrown open, all are welcome here... Such is the dramatic sentiment now that indie authors have been given their very own day at one of the previously excluding events, Digital Book World. With the laughable and out-of-date self-titled proclamation, "DBW Indie Author: The First Conference For The New Professional Author," industry leaders are once … [Read more...] about The Industry Finally Acknowledges Indies Are Authors
GalleyCat Closes as Industry News and Review Site
In more dark news for the publishing industry, media mainstay GalleyCat has announced that it will be closing its doors. The site, one of several under the umbrella of AdWeek, covered publishing industry news and offered reviews of upcoming books. According to a blog post signed by both Dianna Dilworth and Maryann Yin, "We thank you for your support and readership over the … [Read more...] about GalleyCat Closes as Industry News and Review Site