The future of publishing is in the cupboard under the stairs Kelvin Smith in Bookbrunch on his new book which provides students and others with a comprehensive guide to the publishing business.
Links of the week July 30 2012 (31)
Our new feature links to interesting blogs or articles posted online, which will help keep you up to date with what's going on in the book world:
6 August 2012
A new book provides students and entry-level professionals with a comprehensive guide to the publishing business The future of publishing? You know it's around somewhere. You didn't throw it away or put it in the loft or pack it in a box and give it to Oxfam. It's probably under the stairs.
Why social media isn't the magic bullet for self-epublished authors Ewan Morrison claims that as the project to monetise social media falters the self-epublishing industry's defects will be laid bare.
"Authors - become a success through building an 'internet platform'!". For almost five years we've been subjected to the same message. At the London College of Communication's iGeneration conference this year, I heard that social media was now the only way to sell books, and witnessed glowing examples of the successful use of SM from epub authors such as Joanna Penn (who has her own consultancy and sells $99 multimedia courses on How to Write A Novel). At the Hay festival last month, I heard Scott Pack - self-described "blogger, publisher and author of moderately successful toilet books" - declare that mainstream media, papers and TV "no longer function in selling books"; that the net is now the only way for authors to - you've heard it before - "build a platform". Already every fourth tweet I receive is from an "indie" author trying to self-promote, saying things like "Hoping for a cheeky RT of my last tweet on my book & the 99p offer. B v grateful." And another - "Hope all is well! My dad just published his latest book on Amazon - if possible, I was wondering if you had any tips for him getting his book reviewed by any relevant bloggers. Appreciate any insight." And then there are the hundreds of tweets from social media ebook consultants and so-called specialists offering "the key to online marketing success".
30 July 2012
In this Publishers WeeklyInternational news website of book publishing and bookselling including business news, reviews, bestseller lists, commentaries http://www.publishersweekly.com/ story, booksellers' associations representing over 4,500 stores express their dismay at the Department of Justice's settlement decision.
Both the American Booksellers Association and the National Association of College Stores, which together represent roughly 4,500 booksellers, expressed their concerns and astonishment over the Department of Justice's response to 868 comments regarding the consent decree with settling publishers involved in the DoJ%u2019s suit on the agency model. Of those comments more than 90% opposed the settlement, including 200 from bookstores. "We find it truly astonishing that DoJ has failed to recognize the myriad harmful effects of its proposed remedy," said ABA CEO Oren Teicher in a flash alert to the organization's members Monday afternoon. "But we remain hopeful that the court will take steps to fashion a solution that does not punish indie booksellers and other e-book distributors who are working hard to serve consumers by maintaining diversity and vitality in the world of books." Teicher, who pointed out that e-book prices are in fact lower since the agency model was introduced, went on to say that "the proposed settlement . . . in all likelihood, will create the very conditions likely to foster and strengthen an online retailers monopoly in e-books."
The General Secretary of the Society of Authors in the UK on the threats to authors from the deteriorating situation in the libraries
Authors are getting cross. Generally a polite bunch, authors are alarmed at the ongoing, serious threats to libraries (which they continue to campaign against) and also the knock-on effect for the lowest-earning authors. The Government is encouraging libraries to replace paid staff with volunteers. Such %u201Ccommunity libraries%u201D currently account for less than 1 per cent of British libraries but their numbers are increasing. The concept chimes with the Big Society philosophy and the need to make the most of shrinking budgets. However, there has been little advice or oversight from DCMS as councils rush to increase the use of volunteers. Authors; heavy users of libraries as well as %u2018suppliers%u2019, are concerned that these changes will lead to a worse and piecemeal library service rather than the %u2018comprehensive and efficient%u2019 service that councils are legally obliged to provide. Libraries need a broad, appropriate and balanced range of books, newspapers, magazines and reference works, sufficient funding to update, maintain and augment the stock and adequate staffing by suitably trained staff.
The Search is on for the Greatest American novelist USA Today is surprised to find this coming from the UK paper the Guardian.
I'm kind of surprised to see the U.K.'s Guardian devoting so much ink to American fiction right now. Then again, ask 100 people who their favorite American novelist is, and you might get 100 different answers. In a feature that's partly influenced by readers, writer Matthew Spencer aims to find out which author should be crowned the greatest American novelist.