A number of platforms have offered great content in a short essay, long-form journalism environment, but it has typically been informative, expository non-fiction pieces. But news came out this week about a quiet launch from Amazon that will offer short works of fiction to be consumed in one-sitting, as the site is referring to it. Amazon's Short Reads, which features short … [Read more...] about Amazon’s One-Sitting Short Reads Meets Need for Fast Fiction
Oyster
Simon & Schuster Signs eBook Backlist Deals with Scribd, Oyster
All-you-can-eat unlimited ebook subscription reading has finally come into its own with the launch of a couple of different platforms, namely Oyster and Scribd. Billed as a Netflix-style approach to reading, these platforms charge users one flat-rate monthly fee for unlimited access to their full catalogs of ebook titles. When subscription-based ebook reading was first … [Read more...] about Simon & Schuster Signs eBook Backlist Deals with Scribd, Oyster
Smashwords, OverDrive Brings Indie Titles to Libraries
An agreement announced today between ebook distributor and self-publishing platform Smashwords and OverDrive, the largest provider of digital content to public and school libraries, is going to give self-published authors one of the few remaining pieces in the publishing puzzle, namely the ability for libraries to stock their work. As it stands right now, self-published … [Read more...] about Smashwords, OverDrive Brings Indie Titles to Libraries
Oyster hits 500,000 eBooks
eBook subscription website Oyster has hit 500,000 eBooks, including bestsellers and uber popular books. The milestone comes after an expanded partnership with HarperCollins to add 10,000 new titles from the publisher to the app, in addition to newly inked deals with more than 500 publishers. Oyster now features more than 1,600 publishing partners. Oyster is only available … [Read more...] about Oyster hits 500,000 eBooks
Oyster Trials Speed Reading Technology from Spritz
Oyster is one of the more prominent eBook subscription websites and it is starting to distinguish themselves from a crowded marketplace. The company is trialing new speed reading technology from Spritz. Spritz has been in the news a ton lately, as their speed-reading technology is going to be integrated in the Samsung Galaxy S5. The essence of the platform is to allow users … [Read more...] about Oyster Trials Speed Reading Technology from Spritz
Oyster Aids eBook Discovery with new Explore Feature
Oyster is one of the few companies in the world that has been a subscription based eBook service actually work. Right now you are only able to read the books on iOS and the PC, with a rumored Android app in the works. Today, Oyster has announced an upgrade to their app, that aids eBook discovery. The new 1.3 version is all about design, personalization, and community. Here … [Read more...] about Oyster Aids eBook Discovery with new Explore Feature
Oyster Launches New Kids Section – Signs Deal with Disney
Oyster, better known as the Netflix of eBooks, has just launched a new childrens section today, which should give parents another reason to sign up for the service. The bulk of the titles are stemming from a new relationship with Disney Publishing. The eBook subscription site launched last September and current has a library of 100,000 titles. Oyster charges $9.95 a month … [Read more...] about Oyster Launches New Kids Section – Signs Deal with Disney
DBW Buzzwords, Interview with Tim O’Reilly
Another great DBW digital publishing conference is behind us, and once again the future looks good for books. Digital books, print books, subscribed books, enhanced books...the industry, the authors, and the consumers are on fire for them, regardless of the format they choose to work in. The buzzwords this year were direct-to-consumer book sales, ebook subscriptions, and … [Read more...] about DBW Buzzwords, Interview with Tim O’Reilly
Oyster Raises 14 Million – Investors Bet on Netflix for eBooks Business Model
The Netflix model of paying a low monthly subscription to have access to a copious amount of videos is prompting other companies to adapt the business model in other sectors. Startup Oyster currently serves over 100,000 eBooks and investors are feeling bullish about the future of reading. Today, it was announced that Highland Capital Partners and Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund … [Read more...] about Oyster Raises 14 Million – Investors Bet on Netflix for eBooks Business Model
Oyster eBook Subscription Gets Titles from Perseus
When subscription reading was first introduced several years ago, companies like Spain-based 24Symbols introduced some of the first of a variety of different models. Some companies experimented with Netflix-style unlimited reading for a flat fee, others tried charging per page view, while still others tried freemium models. While any number of pricing and reading options may … [Read more...] about Oyster eBook Subscription Gets Titles from Perseus
Give the Gift of Subscription Reading this Holiday Season
Sometimes, it's not enough to know that Aunt Janet loves to read, and therefore should be given a book for Christmas. Has she read that book already? Does she even like mysteries? Is Aunt Janet going to be offended by the language of explicit nature of this particular book? With the advent of digital publishing and ebooks, even gift cards can be difficult. An Amazon gift … [Read more...] about Give the Gift of Subscription Reading this Holiday Season
ePubDirect Partners with Oyster for eBook Distribution
Publishers using the ePubDirect system can select Oyster as an outlet on their distribution platform, only titles with US rights will be sent to Oyster at the moment as Oyster is a US based subscription service. There are currently more than 200 publishers using the ePubDirect eBook distribution system . In addition to supplying the channel, ePubDirect also provide analytics … [Read more...] about ePubDirect Partners with Oyster for eBook Distribution
Smashwords Illuminates Authors on Oyster eBook Royalties
Oyster is out to win over the reading community with an offer that is hard to resist: a library full of ebooks for just $9.95 a month. No wonder the Oyster offer is being equated to Netflix, which has a similar monthly plan for watching videos. The company has recently released a series of apps for phones and tablets and helps readers tap into an ecosystem of 100,000 ebooks. … [Read more...] about Smashwords Illuminates Authors on Oyster eBook Royalties
Oyster Subscription Reading Goes Live to the Public, Brings an iPad App with It
One of the most elusive arms of digital publishing has been a viable solution for Netflix-style subscription-based reading. With everything from freemium models to all-you-can-eat reading, solutions providers, publishers, and reading consumers have struggled to find a model that works for everyone. In September, New York-based Oyster launched an invitation-only beta period … [Read more...] about Oyster Subscription Reading Goes Live to the Public, Brings an iPad App with It
Oyster Offering All-You-Can-Read eBooks For $9.95/Month
Oyster is out to win over the reading community with an offer that is hard to resist: a library full of ebooks for just $9.95 a month. No wonder the Oyster offer is being equated to Netflix, which has a similar monthly plan for watching videos. At present, there are 100,000 ebooks at Oyster, with none of them being free titles. Oyster has signed up directly with publishers such … [Read more...] about Oyster Offering All-You-Can-Read eBooks For $9.95/Month
Smashwords Announces New Publishing Milestone and New Subscription-Based Distribution Agreement
Digital self-publishing platform Smashwords made two impressive announcements today, and in some ways, they go hand-in-hand. The first announcement focuses on celebrating the 250,000th title being uploaded by an indie author, and the second, seemingly larger announcement is that Smashwords' catalog is now available for subscription-based borrowing through Oyster. "I’ve been … [Read more...] about Smashwords Announces New Publishing Milestone and New Subscription-Based Distribution Agreement