It's been a while since I've posted about Amazon, but as usual, I've been collecting links. Here are some items that explain what Amazon has been up to (you may notice it covers a wide range of topics, which is fitting, since Amazon covers so many industries now): How to Help Readers Find Your Book "Adventures in Amazon keyword padding" on Sheer Hubris "Advertising: … [Read more...] about A Look at Amazon: Timeline and Indie Author News
Publishing
10 Companies with Multiple Channels to Control Their Branding
![By Marco Verch (World of Warcraft Warlords of Draenor @ Gamescom) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://i2.wp.com/digitalpubbing.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/World_of_Warcraft_Warlords_of_Draenor_@_Gamescom_14954482072_2.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
I've been hearing a lot about branding lately. Strong branding can make people loyal to you (like Apple), and the more control you have over your branding, the easier it is to make sure your audience sees the message you are trying to send. Take Disney, for example. Disney owns a multitude of assets, ranging from production studios (Disney, Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel, etc.) to … [Read more...] about 10 Companies with Multiple Channels to Control Their Branding
A Quick Look at Coloring Books
![By Jenn Gaylor (Southeast Steuben County Library) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://i1.wp.com/digitalpubbing.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Adult_Coloring_program.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Valentine's Day is coming up, and you know what could make a nice gift? A coloring book! Seriously, I know it was a huge fad last year (and the year before), but there is something really relaxing about taking colored pencil to paper. In that spirit, here are some resources I've found about coloring books (in case you want to make and sell your own, or just color your … [Read more...] about A Quick Look at Coloring Books
Legal Considerations for Authors
![By Sachinwarankar (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://i0.wp.com/digitalpubbing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Article-37.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
For writers and publishers, there are a lot of interesting things to consider when it comes to the law. For writers looking to go the traditionally published route, there's a lot to keep in mind contract-wise, including, according to Kristine Kathryn Rusch, control, fairness, and clout. She explains that you want as much control over your project as possible, though some … [Read more...] about Legal Considerations for Authors
Chickadee Prince, a Small Press and Pop-up Bookstore
Pop-up stores are fun. Sometimes they're themed, sometimes they sell unique things, and they often have an urgent, fun atmosphere, since they only plan to stick around for a set amount of time. Chickadee Prince, a small press based in Brooklyn, is planning on opening up a pop-up bookstore, in addition to publishing new titles. Read on for a great Q&A with founder Steven S. … [Read more...] about Chickadee Prince, a Small Press and Pop-up Bookstore
The Growth of Audiobooks
![By Dieaxtimwald (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://i2.wp.com/digitalpubbing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/BajuWah.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
A few weeks back, I wrote an essay for LARB about reading in the multimedia age. A big part of the essay focused on audiobooks, which are growing in popularity each year. According to QZ, audiobooks are growing more than ebooks. MarketWatch wrote that some audiobooks are selling more copies than their print counterparts, and according to The Digital Reader, "audio can … [Read more...] about The Growth of Audiobooks
Music and Sound Effects in Books
![By Tiffany Bailey from New Orleans, USA (Abandoned Art School 81) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://i0.wp.com/digitalpubbing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Abandoned_Art_School_81_6342558785.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Audiobooks are gaining popularity, but sounds are making their way into ebooks as well. Back in 2013, Google submitted a patent to trigger sounds in ebooks. According to GoodeReader, "The sounds would be triggered by events within the book, such as lapping waves, an ominous crescendo, or maybe an outdoor market. The new application would have the sounds stored on a … [Read more...] about Music and Sound Effects in Books
Technology Trends in Publishing
![By Arturo Pardavila III from Hoboken, NJ, USA (Lucas Giolito tries out virtual reality) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://i0.wp.com/digitalpubbing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Lucas_Giolito_tries_out_virtual_reality_25296401696.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
It seems like as we progress, all digital technologies are slowly converging, and it's really cool to witness. Joe Wikert wrote on DBW about 2016 trends, which included bots and automation, augmented reality, and vying for attention. Last month, The Bookseller reported on the first deal for a YA trilogy in virtual reality. The Fallow Trilogy by Amy Lankester-Owen is the … [Read more...] about Technology Trends in Publishing
8 Fun Trends in Reading and Publishing
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Our culture is changing, and it's exciting and fascinating to watch. In literature, what used to be taboo is now trending. According to Broadly, gay characters are gaining popularity in teen fiction. According to Broadly, it started in 2003 with David Levithan's Boy Meets Boy novel, though in the beginning it was still considered controversial. Now, according to author Simon … [Read more...] about 8 Fun Trends in Reading and Publishing
The Fate of Reading in a Multimedia Age on LA Review of Books
Recently, I had a great opportunity to write a piece for the LA Review of Books about what constitutes reading and literature. Here is an excerpt (click here for the full article). IN MID-OCTOBER, the Nobel Committee for Literature awarded the Nobel Prize to Bob Dylan, “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” The announcement came … [Read more...] about The Fate of Reading in a Multimedia Age on LA Review of Books
An Interview with Richard Billings, Founder of Leafless
The publishing industry is full of opportunity. Today, publishing startup Leafless, a digital distribution platform and publisher, is launching (after rebranding). Leafless aims to solve the problem of authors paying for reviews and honest reviews disappearing from sites like Amazon. Through Leafless, authors can give copies of ebooks to readers for reviews, and popular books … [Read more...] about An Interview with Richard Billings, Founder of Leafless
5 Classic Books That Are Perfect for Halloween
![By Copyleft (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons](https://i2.wp.com/digitalpubbing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/2014_Courge_Halloween_passive-agressive.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
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
Guest Post: Mobile Traffic Statistics Inspire To Create New Businesses
By Calvina Singh Day after day, the same boring tasks look like they’ve been duplicated into your life by some kind of cruel tyrant. Get up early, go to the office, work hard in that tiny cubicle, return home late and exhausted. That’s hardly a life one can dream of. The problem is that it’s not just boring: it literally kills your creative potential. The alternative is … [Read more...] about Guest Post: Mobile Traffic Statistics Inspire To Create New Businesses
Publishing in VR
![By Manus VR (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons](https://i2.wp.com/digitalpubbing.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/ManusVR_Glove_2016.png?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)
Virtual reality (VR) isn't only for games. More traditional publishers are also incorporating the new medium into their content, and it's exciting to see it all unfold and think about how stories may exist in the not-too-distant future. According to Digital Book World, "VR could be the next frontier for publishers as a new revenue source." One example of a publisher using … [Read more...] about Publishing in VR
Pokémon Go and Book Publishing
Last week for work, I was at SIGGRAPH 2016, a conference and exhibition on computer graphics and interactive techniques. In addition to companies sharing their products via booths, there were a lot of panels and presentations of peer-reviewed research in graphics and techniques. Not surprisingly, a big chunk of the conference was dedicated to virtual reality (VR). One whole … [Read more...] about Pokémon Go and Book Publishing
