Why The B&N Store Isn’t Competition for Amazon

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Hot on the heels of the Amazon/1984 news came word that Barnes & Noble is entering the ebook retail space. Oh sure, they were already there with their purchase of Fictionwise, but now they’ve planted a giant flag in the sand. They have proclaimed we are here, we are serious, we are formidable. Sort of. While everyone applauds the competition, the truth of the matter is that B&N have just added to the confusion. Several times over the past few days, I’ve read comments from publishing experts, all of whom note that it is very important to keep Amazon from […]

The Business of Publishing

The Daily Square – Walking Song Edition

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Todays links of interest: Music Industry Lures ‘Casual’ Pirates to Legal SitesSpeaking of combating piracy… Blowin’ in the WindIn this modern era, can we please, please, please have a worldwide discussion about copyright (read this all the way through). Copyright Industries Warn Against Piracy ThreatNo really, it’s time to have a long talk about copyright and to listen to all sides.

The Daily Square

Unintentional Pirates, or Listening to Readers

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One reason I focus on the world of digital publishing is because it’s the most exciting thing in the book world today. Oh sure, we might, collectively, raise an eyebrow or two at the humongous advances paid to authors like Yann Martel, especially given the current state of industry and the author’s own admission that he’s not expecting it to find a huge audience. We sigh over embargoed books by politicians who, ultimately, reveal so little in their books, it makes us wonder if the embargoes are a Hail Mary attempt to trick readers into buying a book before word-of-mouth

Square Pegs

Delaying Ebook Releases: A Publisher Weighs In

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I am honored to bring you the following post from Dominique Raccah, Publisher and CEO of Sourcebooks. The other day, I wrote an article in response to Sourcebooks’ decision to delay the ebook release of their upcoming title Bran Hambric. Behind the scenes, there was much debate on this topic, and Dominique offered her thoughts behind this decision. I am so pleased that she chose to make them public here. In this time of change, there is nothing more important than open dialogue between stakeholders: publishers, agents, authors, readers, booksellers, distributors. It’s easy to think one side is right, the

The Future of Publishing

The Daily Square – The Curse of Comfort Edition

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Todays links of interest: Restructuring Results in Smaller DK PublishingNot happy publishing news. Some job losses will happen in US office as well. When to Schedule E-Book Releases – A New Worry for PublishersSigh. Withholding the digital edition doesn’t do anything but cost sales. Stop protecting old business model at expense of getting books to readers.

The Daily Square

‘Tis Better to Lose a Sale Than Sell an eBook?

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This week’s publishing industry debate started when the Wall Street Journal covered Sourcebooks’ release strategy for Bran Hambric: The Fairfield Curse. The article contained some blunt discussion about why the publisher chose to delay the ebook and why others are doing the same. This peek behind the curtain didn’t sit will with readers, exposing tensions that really do need to be exposed. As I write this, I am loading my Kindle in anticipation of a cross-country flight. American Airlines apparently wants to charge me for every bag I check (and, whoo hoo!, I got to use my own ink to

Non-Traditional Publishing

The Daily Square – Robot Chant Edition

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Todays links of interest: Google settlement opponents need to be careful how they winMike Shatzkin looks at the GBS settlement from the perspective of be careful what you ask for. The plural of anecdote is not dataIn response to the mediastorm surrounding a 15-year old Morgan Stanley intern’s analysis of how teens use media. Betting on e-booksGreat profile of the nascent OR Books and business model. Naturally, we applaud them!

The Daily Square

The Daily Square – For Whose Sake Edition

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Todays links of interest: Help Aaron Allston out with his medical bills, please!The Fandom Association of Central Texas has set up a Donation Fund and Auction to help author Aaron Allston cover his medical bills after a massive heart attack and subsequent surgery. Please consider helping!

The Daily Square
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