The Business of Publishing

Commercial Thoughts

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Thanks to the magic of TiVo, I rarely see commercials these days. In fact, I am at the point where a commercial is a wondrous thing: Oh look, I think, someone is trying to sell me something. Serendipity is a great thing. Every now and then I’ll mess up on the fast-forwarding and discover that bands like the Buzzcocks are doing AARP commercials and the Clash are trying to sell me a car (so close, dear Pressure Drop, so close). Last night, as I was fast forwarding through “Buffy” reruns (the commercials, not the programming), what to my wondering eyes […]

Marketing For Introverts

HarperCollins Author Assistant: Publisher Marketing Done Right

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A few months back, HarperCollins launched its “Author Assistant” project (example here. In a nutshell (meaning, yes, I’m going to get into more detail in a few paragraphs), the service allows HC authors to easily build dynamic web presences with a smattering of Web 2.0 features that allow for community building. Authors must be active participants in marketing themselves and their work. HarperCollins is, justifiably, proud of this service. The in-house initiative provides basic content management to notoriously non-technical authors. If you’ve mastered shopping at Amazon, you can work with Author Assistant. I think this is really great for authors.

Marketing For Introverts, Square Pegs

Two Great Ideas For The Kindle

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Last week’s reception for Amazon’s Kindle was, to put it kindly, rough. I admit it: I was expecting something more exciting. Something more egalitarian. Something I could put on my Amazon Wishlist. Good thing I’m an eternal optimist. I really do think a good e-reader is important to the world, and here are two reasons why. Save trees, money, space. All with one device. One of the so-called perks of being a book reviewer are the books. They just keep on coming. Lots and lots of books. More than I can ever read, even though I really want to curl

Non-Traditional Publishing

Joining The Kindle Fray

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I had a choice yesterday: join the Kindle fray or watch the Kindle fray. Went with the latter, and, not surprisingly, the vast majority of the bloggers out there were as underwhelmed as I was when the device was initially announced. It’s unsavory to pay to upload legally-owned content to a legally-owned device. Kirk Biglione has a great analysis of the good and bad of the Kindle (please skip the first paragraph if you hate ugly truths!), making my job easy. Sort of like batting clean-up in a runaway game. I do want to disagree with Kirk on one point:

The Business of Publishing

iPhones, Teenagers, and The Future of Reading

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There is no question that we are undergoing major change in the world of entertainment. The rate of change is both rapid and glacial. What is absolutely certain is that the next generation will consider our ways quaint and overly complex. They are growing up with a new set of expectations — and it is those expectations that publishing companies should start meeting now. How many publishers are working to make sure ebooks can easily be read on the iPhone? I’ve been talking about this for a while, but was reminded yesterday of the importance of planning for the future.

The Future of Publishing

Regnery Authors Sue For Lost Royalties

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Longtime BS BS readers know that one of the dirty little secrets of the publishing industry relates to “club” sales. According to the New York Times, five Regnery authors are suing the publisher for lost royalties due to in-house/related party club sales and other deep discount related party transactions. The book club is a simple, direct sales tools employed by publishers. Let the books come to the customer, the industry reasons, why make the customer do any work? These clubs were also popular in the music biz, you’ll recall from the time you were six and completed a form to

The Business of Publishing

Online Content: The Importance of Ownership

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Some of your are thinking, “Why is she so obsessed with this strike?” Others, I hope, are seeing the appropriate parallels between what is happening with the Hollywood writers and you. Authors are surely noting that these writers are fighting for better compensation. Publishers are seeing that, as with music, creative talent has leverage. It is interesting that, despite being the oldest of entertainment industries, the publishing industry is lagging behind its siblings when it comes to online exploitation. I see this as a chance for publishing professionals to get it right while the music and film businesses engage in

Non-Traditional Publishing

Tip Jars and Serialization: Looking To Music for New Ideas

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Nothing like the first Monday after a lovely vacation to get the creative juices flowing. Hmm, that is so not true. The Monday after a lovely vacation is spent contemplating the possibility of the permanent vacation. Why, oh why, must we work to eat? Shouldn’t life be free? It’s all about the mailing list. Alas, life is not free. Do not see this as sad; see it as opportunity. Yeah, that’s taking it too far. Sorry. Still thinking mai tais and snorkeling. Let’s try again. In today’s world, artists and producers (writers and publishers) need to be creative about their

Non-Traditional Publishing

eBook Customers: Less Testosterone Than You Think

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[BS: The BS team is taking a well-deserved rest cure, but that doesn’t stop the fun around here (nothing stops the fun around here). We asked Malle Valik of Harlequin to discuss her company’s recent decision to release their full frontlist in ebook format. More specifically, we asked her to address the question of “who buys ebooks”? Fullish disclosure here: the question arose at a recent conference where, buoyed by just a drop of wine, we argued quite forcefully with a gentleman who assured us that women — especially women who don’t reside in major coastal cities — don’t read

Non-Traditional Publishing

Barnes and Noble, Blackberries, and Human Nature

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There is nothing like October — the falling leaves, the shorter days, the endless aisles of Christmas ornaments. Around here, October says “Goodbye old year, hello new!” Or, people, it’s nearly time for me to stop staying, “People, it’s 2007.” Publishers and online retailers and content providers have this fascinating love affair with partnerships. Stay tuned for next year’s catch-phrase, “It’s 2008, what are you thinking?*” Today, in my normal reading, I stumbled across a press release from Barnes and Noble. In nearly-2008, “the world’s largest bookseller” has opened a Blackberry-enabled storefront. Yes, you read that right. And I know

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