Happy Halloween! To celebrate, here are 5 great Halloween-themed books. Sure, most of them are scary, but who can resist Charlie Brown? So here they are, in no particular order. The Shining by Stephen King: "Danny was only five years old but in the words of old Mr Halloran he was a 'shiner', aglow with psychic voltage. When his father became caretaker of the Overlook Hotel … [Read more...] about 5 Classic Books That Are Perfect for Halloween
Publishing
Women in Publishing
There have been a lot of interesting articles about women in publishing lately. According to Publisher's Weekly, "women represented 74% of the publishing workforce in both 2015 and 2016." However, there's a wage gap between men and women in the industry. In response, a number of women have started their own businesses. The article offers a lot more information, including how … [Read more...] about Women in Publishing
Tips and Tricks and the Latest Updates in Audiobooks and Podcasting
Audio content (audiobooks and podcasts) is growing in popularity. Below are some tips and tricks, and news to get you up to speed on this aspect of the publishing industry. Making and Marketing Audiobooks "Understanding Audiobook Production: An Interview with Rich Miller" on Jane Friedman "5 Ways to Market Your Audiobook Without Ads" on Jane Friedman "ACXU Presents: … [Read more...] about Tips and Tricks and the Latest Updates in Audiobooks and Podcasting
Interactive Stories
With digital storytelling, there are new, interactive, immersive ways to share stories. Here are a few cool examples: StoryNexus: Access hundreds of interactive worlds, from science fiction to romance to historical adventure. You can choose how the story flows, and there are also options for creators. The Cornwall a-book: An Augmented Travel Guide Using Next Generation … [Read more...] about Interactive Stories
Guest Post: The Impact of Cloud Technology on The Publishing Industry
By Joe Peters Many of the changes in the publishing industry have been evident over the years. We’ve seen a significant shift from print to digital, where people are just as likely to read from a smartphone or computer screen as they are to buy a book from their local store. Digital Transformation Makes Publishing Easier The digital transformation of the industry has … [Read more...] about Guest Post: The Impact of Cloud Technology on The Publishing Industry
A Roundup of Publishing News
A lot has been happening in the publishing and writing world. Here is a quick roundup. Publishers and Companies "Microsoft has closed its e-bookstore, and everything you purchased will vanish in July" on PC World: "Microsoft will offer refunds, plus a bonus if you've marked up an ebook." "Epic Launches Original Content Program" on Publisher's Weekly: "Redwood, Calif.-based … [Read more...] about A Roundup of Publishing News
An Interview With Katie (M.K.) Rainey, Editor-in-Chief of Dead Rabbits
I often hear about really cool publishing projects, and one of the recent ones is the launch of Animal Riot Press, a new press that started as a reading series and now aims to provide a creative community and support for authors. Read on for an interview with Animal Riot Press's Editor-in-Chief, Katie (M.K.) Rainey. Editor's Note: Animal Riot Press was formerly known as Dead … [Read more...] about An Interview With Katie (M.K.) Rainey, Editor-in-Chief of Dead Rabbits
13 Apps for Reading and Creating Your Own Content
Apps are great. They're convenient, and there are many that make it easy to create your own content, and of course read a lot of content. Below are a few I've found interesting: Authors: "You get your own custom Authors App. Your App appears in the major Android tablet app stores - Amazon, NOOK, Google Play - with your own custom icon. Plus, when your readers and fans … [Read more...] about 13 Apps for Reading and Creating Your Own Content
Guest Post: 5 Ways Reading Can Change Your Life (And Best Practices)
By Anna Kucirkova This article was originally published on Cornerstone University's blog. You’ve probably heard that reading can be good for you. You may have heard it your whole life. But maybe reading just isn’t your thing. Maybe you enjoy reading, but you have trouble comprehending difficult material from your classes or your workplace. Good news—this article can … [Read more...] about Guest Post: 5 Ways Reading Can Change Your Life (And Best Practices)
Learning New Skills (Courses and Platforms)
As an indie author, there's always something new to learn. It's exciting, but sometimes it's hard to know where to go to pick up new skills. Here are a few platforms and courses I've found useful. Some are more about coding, which can also be useful (for building an author website, or a cool app, or scripting something to help you with your writer's block): Absolute Write: … [Read more...] about Learning New Skills (Courses and Platforms)
Associations and Websites for Writers
Being part of a community can be empowering and important as an indie author or publisher. Here are some associations and websites that can help: Publishers Global: "An information marketplace for the global publishing industry - publishers, authors, literary agents and all kinds of publishing service providers." Indie Write Net: The indie writer's network. Community … [Read more...] about Associations and Websites for Writers
Book Events and Festivals
Going to book events and festivals is a great way to meet people and get inspired. Since I've mostly lived near two coastal cities, most of the events and places (which include some pretty cool bookstores) I've found are either in New York or San Francisco. Still, a good start! Feel free to add more suggestions in the comments. New York NY Literary Events Calendar … [Read more...] about Book Events and Festivals
A Look at Data and Metadata
Data is fascinating. It can inform and tell stories, and it can be fun to share information. Mashable created an infographic to display how much information is generated every minute (it's a lot). So it also doesn't surprise me that many people say they're addicted to the internet. It's not necessarily a bad thing. There are a lot of resources and projects online with really … [Read more...] about A Look at Data and Metadata
Job Boards and Resources for Writers and the Publishing Industry
When it comes to books and jobs, there are a few routes you can go: the writing route and the publishing industry route. For people interested in getting involved with book publishing, and being in the industry, there are a number of job listing sites. Some of the ones I've found helpful over the years include: Publisher's Weekly Jobzone Publishers Lunch Job Board … [Read more...] about Job Boards and Resources for Writers and the Publishing Industry
Guest Post: How Indie Authors Can Establish a Strong Digital Presence
By Josh Wardini In an era heavily dominated by technology, it is not so surprising to find the publishing world gradually moving into online selling, whether it is print, ebook, or audio books. As an integral part of independent publishing, marketing is even more imperative in the digital era. Readers tend to do their research online, from new releases to the authors they … [Read more...] about Guest Post: How Indie Authors Can Establish a Strong Digital Presence