Archive for the ‘Publishing’ Category

The Number of Library E-book Downloads Soared in 2009

Thursday, January 14th, 2010

Okay, hands up those of you who insisted that your local library was going the way of the Dodo.

Good, now those of you who said e-books were just a fad, stick up your fists, too.

Now, don’t you look foolish.

Dodo bird

Dodo bird (photo Jeremy Burgin)



Today, soaring numbers of ebook (and audio downloads) have been reported by OverDrive, the world’s leader in ebook and audio downloads.

Adding to the good news reported in their press release is a 40% increase in new library users and a 53% increase in ebook checkouts.

Yeah, I know that we authors don’t get royalties directly from library downloads but we do receive some for the books purchased by the libraries and exposure to new readers is one key way to for us to increase our paying audience.

So I think this is terrific news.

Oh, and what were the most downloaded fiction and non-fiction ebooks of 2009?

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown and Blink by Malcolm Gladwell.

Congrats, guys.

(And thanks to Jeremy Burgin for his Dodo pic)

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Posted in Ebooks, Electronic / Digital Publishing, Publishing | No Comments »

Does the SI Tablet Mean the End of Publishing?

Saturday, December 12th, 2009

With the crop of new e-readers available and the ever-growing list of ebooks available, there is a lot of rumbling and grumbling about the end of publishing as we know it.

UnnaturalStates: John & Harry Battling

UnnaturalStates: John & Harry Battling

 

As a keen believer in electronic publishing, especially in telling stories in a multimedia platform like our UnnaturalStates, I’m all for evolution in the publishing business.

  

Church Choir Mysteries: The Unsuitable Suitor

Church Choir Mysteries: The Unsuitable Suitor

I’m also up for good old-fashioned printed books, with their lovely heft and smell.

And, most shockingly, I don’t see these two positions as being diametrically opposed.

 

 

Now, Michael Hyatt offers some excellent predictions on the end of publishing as we know it, as well as offering a video introducing an amazing new multimedia reading device by Time Inc. and Wonderfactory called the SI Tablet.

Check it out. Reading is evolving, whether you like it or not.

Oh, and of course, publishing isn’t ending anytime soon.

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Posted in Electronic / Digital Publishing, Multimedia Storytelling, Publishing | No Comments »

Seven Secret Clues to Successful Author Self-Promotion (2)

Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
Don't Be Shy

Don't Be Shy (credit E. Polinsky)

Okay, so you’ve made the gutsy decision to put your work and yourself out there.

Great. A tough but necessary step to finding your market.

Now, what do you do?

Well, over my decade-plus years as a published mystery author, I’ve run the gambit of promotional efforts: book signings, attending conferences, giving speeches and interviews, teaching, writing articles/stories, seeking out reviews, creating and sending promotional bumpf like postcards & bookmarks, maintaining a web site presence and now blogging. And I haven’t finished yet.

Gaining Courage

Gaining Courage (credit E. Polinsky)

It takes time, determination and moxie.

But, it can be done. On your own. Without costing a fortune.

How? Don’t sweat. I’ve got seven secret clues to successful author self-promotion…and you don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to understand them.

CLUE 1:

 
Competition’s Fierce, So You’ve Got To Have F.L.A.R.E.:

• Be Fresh & Original

• Be Loud both in Voice & Appearance

• Be Articulate for Panels & Interviews

• Be Respectful to Audience, Reviewers & Booksellers

• Have the Endurance to Smile & Survive

See…not so hard, is it?

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Smashwords Titles Soon Available on Amazon Kindle

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

Smashwords, the “people’s ebook publisher and distributor”, have announced another coup: a deal to distribute their titles through Amazon.com’s Kindle Store.

Smashwords logo

Smashwords logo

This is really freakin’ amazing given what is required by an author/publisher to get titles into the Kindle Store. See my earlier post for more info.

I worked for weeks, spending hours lurking on Kindle forums, figuring out Amazon’s Digital Text Platform, uploading dummy test titles, reviewing and testing uploaded versions until finally hitting the publishing button for my three titles.

Amazon Kindle E-Reader

Amazon Kindle E-Reader

And now, all you have to do is be an author in the Smashwords Premium Catalogue (not hard; just follow their sensible text format and conversion advice) and you’ll soon have ebooks available to Kindle readers!

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Guideposts Publishes Large Print Version of Church Choir Mysteries

Monday, November 23rd, 2009
Church Choir Mysteries: the Angel's Secret

Church Choir Mysteries: the Angel's Secret

This is terrific news.

Several years ago, I was fortunate enough to work with Elizabeth Kramer Gold and Guideposts as part of their first original fiction continuity series, Church Choir Mysteries.

I loved Guideposts’ idea of publishing entertaining and inspiring fiction and greatly enjoyed creating amusing and mysterious stories for Gracie Parks and her friends.

In the end, I wrote 6 of the 24 volumes; it was my “divine gig”.

Church Choir Mysteries: the Unsuitable Suitor

Church Choir Mysteries: the Unsuitable Suitor

And now, Eizabeth has just announced, on the Guideposts Blog, a relaunch of the entire series in large print. An excellent idea.

I hope you’ll give the CCM series a try; perhaps for yourself or as a gift for someone who would appreciate the larger typeface.

For more info and how to order, click here.

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