Before driving out to
Denver and back last month, I stopped by the local library to borrow
some audio books for the nineteen hour drive. I'd tried some abridged
books on tape a decade or so ago but found myself going back to read
the actual books of the writers that held my interest at that time
(Crichton and Hiaasen as I recall).
But the books that I
borrowed for this trip were unabridged on multiple (think 18 to 20)
CDs and helped the hours spent crossing Nebraska and Iowa pass much
more quickly than constantly scanning for any news or NPR station in
range.
I don't know much about
the audio market but I am curious. Are there high expenses to produce
the titles, do self published and small press titles have a market
with audio books, who distributes audio books, etc? If any of you
have experience in this area please contact me.
Based on my experience, I
suspect audio books can trigger sales of conventional and eBooks. I
listened to The Girl That Played with Fire on the drive home
and then purchased the other two Stieg Larsson, Lisbeth Salander
titles as conventional books.
Book
Printing 2013
Citing
strong sales in children/young adult titles and a rebound in
religious publishing, book
printers are optimistic
about the new year.
10
Surprising 2013 Digital Content Predictions
From
the $0 Kindle to enhanced eBooks, ten
predictions
that remind us that the digital revolution continues to experience
its own (r)evolution,
Kodak
Sells Patents
As
Kodak struggles to reinvent itself, the company that invented the
first digital camera has
sold the patent rights of it's digital imaging divisions
to a consortium of companies including Apple, Google, Microsoft
Amazon and others for $525 million..
The
Rewards of Grey
Random
House announced
a $5,000 bonus
for every employee, editors to janitors, at its Christmas party, a
bonus based on the success of the Fifty
Shades of Grey trilogy.
Conversely
At
the same time, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia announced
it was ceasing publication
of its Whole
Living
magazine and confirmed it was cutting staff by 12%.
Tips
for Submitting Your Book
Media
Bistro offers three
new approaches
for submitting your novel for publication.
Pricing
Your Books
I'm
constantly asked by publishing novices how to set the price of their
book, but all I can pass along are theories explained to me by some
of my hore established publishers who have explained their methods. A
new study suggests that current practices were set before online
book buying changed the industry and perhaps it's time to rethink the
pricing race to the bottom.
The
Future of University Presses
University
presses have a unique business model in the publishing community, but
that doesn't protect them from the myriad changes in marketing and
distribution the digital has wrought, let alone the vagaries of the
economy. The heads of numerous university presses gathered
to consider their futures.
Banned
Words, Happy Words
While
Lake Superior State University has published it's annual list of
words
to be banned
from the English Language (think “spoiler alert”, “fiscal
cliff”) while researchers in Vermont tested words
for positivity,
concluding that the happiest word is “laughter”.
Time
Considers eBooks and eBook Marketing
While
there are some who have established themselves as best-selling
authors by introducing their works as $.99 eBooks, the
road to fame and fortune isn't quite as smooth as eBook apostles
profess.
Our
“Is It Dead Yet Award”
Where
have the editors of Publishing Executive
magazine been the last twelve years? The
Nov./Dec. Cover lead-in? Is Print Dead? They also have a column
in the issue that wonders why no
one imagines the death of digital.
An
Inside Look at Writing Groups
I
have friends who are very good writers but jump at the opportunity to
join just one more writing group. Here's a fun look at
what they are and aren't.
Bookstore
Love
Turns
out it's not just Luddites and the elderly who miss real bookstores
dotting America. Many writers describe the reasons for their
bookstore passions in My
Bookstore: Writers Celebrate Their Favorite Places to Browse, Read
and Shop
including this
piece from Richard Russo.
Do
Free Books Spur Sales?
We've
posted many articles stating this as a fact, but the only way to know
is to try it out. Here
a publisher shares his insights
on how your free books can spark the most interest without breaking
the bank..
Final
Thought
You
may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be -
I had a mother who read to me.
Strickland Gillilan
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be -
I had a mother who read to me.
Strickland Gillilan
