Amazon is always on the lookout for ways to improve both the reading and the publishing experiences, and the introduction of Kindle Scout is no exception. The process, which is aimed at helping uncover worthy books, levels the playing field in a number of ways by allowing reading consumers to have a say in the selection process. “Since we opened our doors we’ve been busy … [Read more...] about First Round of Reader-Selected Kindle Scout Titles Ready for Pre-Order
self publishing
Indie Authors Are to Blame for Lack of Meaningful e-Book Data
Indie authors often find success in the digital publishing arena but how many titles do they actually sell? Unlike the traditional publishing industry the average self-published title does not have an ISBN number. This number serves as your online SIN  and because most e-books do not have this number, it is impossible to quantify meaningful sales data. ISBN numbers are … [Read more...] about Indie Authors Are to Blame for Lack of Meaningful e-Book Data
Being an Author is Sexy but Self-Publishing is Not
The writing profession as a whole, has a captivating allure. Looking at old pictures of Jack Kerouac at his type writer defined a generation. These days the people kids look up to are bloggers who became celebrities and YouTube personalities getting major publishing contracts. Now more than ever, everyone wants to write the next Hunger Games or Harry Potter or 50 Shades of … [Read more...] about Being an Author is Sexy but Self-Publishing is Not
Wattpad Adds Tools for Greater Engagement
One of the sleeping giants in the world of self-publishing is the unassuming platform Wattpad. While the rest of the industry battles it out to be the biggest names with the flashiest systems and lure the most authors or books, Wattpad has quietly been amassing a user base of forty million registered users who actively engage in the site's content and communities. How … [Read more...] about Wattpad Adds Tools for Greater Engagement
Digital Publishing Startup Screwpulp Gets a Facelift, New Name
Despite the adage that you can't judge a book by its cover, you certainly can tell a lot about a company by its brand. Everything from its name to its company logo to even considerations like the office paint scheme and address can tell consumers volumes about the tones and attitudes that the company is working to present. This is a part of the reason that the Memphis, … [Read more...] about Digital Publishing Startup Screwpulp Gets a Facelift, New Name
Hosting an Author Giveaway – Part II
In yesterday's post on Amazon's new giveaway tool, there were some initial steps for ensuring the platform works for you as best it can. Here are some follow up steps to take to make sure you're getting the most from your efforts. 3. Speaking of Winners (and the losers, for that matter) - Make sure you're taking full advantage of the winner and loser messages on your … [Read more...] about Hosting an Author Giveaway – Part II
Tips for Authors Hosting an Amazon Giveaway – Part I
Amazon's new giveaway tool was only launched this week but it has already received more than its fair share of criticism. Complaints about favoriting Twitter followers and automatically receiving notifications every time those people tweet are valid; it didn't have to work that way. But the demands from consumers for a centralized location of all the giveaways so they can just … [Read more...] about Tips for Authors Hosting an Amazon Giveaway – Part I
Amazon Launches Giveaway Tool
In great news for authors--or anyone who want to leverage the scope and power of Amazon's customer base--Amazon unveiled a new tool that allows anyone to host a giveaway through the platform. Under Amazon Giveaways, the order fulfillment--whether it's a self-published ebook or today's hot up-for-grabs items, such as the crowd-pleasing Hutzler Banana Slicer (seriously, the … [Read more...] about Amazon Launches Giveaway Tool
Has Literature Evolved in the Last Decade? Yes and Here’s Why
Has literature evolved in the last decade? You would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between a new title written today and one penned at any time period in the last fifty years. A book written in the last decade fundamentally does not feel more modern than a book written twenty or thirty years ago. Mystery, horror, romance  all sell really well, and it doesn't matter … [Read more...] about Has Literature Evolved in the Last Decade? Yes and Here’s Why
Hybrid Crowdfunding Blends Two Publishing Paths
When author Solomon Inkwell queried agents with his YA vampire novel Vickie Van Helsing, he received an immediate, eager response. The literary agent who called, however, had only just finished praising the sample chapters when he said, "But I can't sell a vampire novel to a publisher. What else ya got?" Inkwell, who had taken almost two years to pen his debut novel, turned … [Read more...] about Hybrid Crowdfunding Blends Two Publishing Paths