Publishing Industry News
Sorry folks--I haven't been posting news articles. There's just too much going on to stay on top with links and comments. I wouldn't get anything else done! But at the moment, it seems as though ebook have settled down to about 25-30% of the market, with print holding on at 70-75%. Self publishing isn't the panacea everyone thought it would be (although it works for some), and the new small publishers have had a very difficult time breaking in and holding on. The large publishers still hold a tremendous advantage--they are willing to pay an advance against royalties. In other words, the more things change...the more they stay the same.
The publishing industry is in a state of transition, brought on by changing technology, new competition to books for readers' time, and the downturn in the economy. For those interested on reading what is going on inside the publishing industry, when I come across a useful bit of information I will post a web link to the article or blog entry that may be insightful and informative. Click on the orange web address to access the articles. And let me know if I should remove the older articles, add new ones, or just scrap this page altogether, as I really haven't been keeping it updated for...too long.
An interesting but ultimately failed attempt to provide data and analytics to publishers from a company called Hiptype.
http://blog.hiptype.com/what-we-learned
Ebooks outsell paperbacks for the first time at Amazon. Wow. People have been giving paperbacks the deathknell for years (pretty much ever since I got into the business), but now it seems that it may actually happen. Do we go to a hardcover/ebook formula, or do hardcovers eventually bite the dust and we go to a paperback/ebook sales balance. Only time will tell.
http://thenextweb.com/insider/2011/01/27/milestone-kindle-books-overtake-paperback-books-on-amazon-com/
I haven't posted an article in quite a long time. But this piece in The Wall Street Journal about ebook sellers gathering and analyzing data about reading habits of book purchasers is very interesting. For too many years I sat in editorial, art, marketing meetings, etc., and felt that we were all bumbling around in the dark. The most troubling were the bosses who regularly proclaimed that they "knew" what would and wouldn't work...without a shred of evidence to back them up. Maybe publishing will finally come out of the dark ages.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304870304577490950051438304.html
Publishers Weekly reports on Amazon's presence at the 2012 London Book Fair.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/london-book-fair/article/51566-london-book-fair-2012-on-busy-show-floor-a-new-publisher-woos-authors-amazon-.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+PW+Daily&utm_campaign=e7715969c5-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email
The first under-$50 ereader!
http://www.mediabistro.com/ebooknewser/kobo-selling-ereaders-for-49_b18641
Thriller authors Barry Eisler and Joe Konrath absolutely eviscerate an internal Hachette memo in one of the most hilarious but true looks at publishing I've ever read. I was Barry's paperback editor on his first two books, and recently spoke with him at the New England Crime Bake.
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=11291165&postID=290129228691929331&page=1&token=1323372984139
NPR reports that Amazon is losing money on every Kindle Fire they sell. No surprise here. Unlike my Gillette razors/blades analysis, the article uses the computer printer/toner cartridge analysis. That works too.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/11/16/142310104/why-amazon-loses-money-on-every-kindle-fire?ft=1&f=1032&sc=tw&utm_source=Publishers%20Weekly%27s%20PW%20Daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cc7efce0d2-UA-15906914-1
Whoa! The Los Angeles Times, as well as a few other major newspapers, are going to be publishing their own ebooks. Makes sense, but I'll admit that I didn't see this coming. More competition for print and ebook publishers.
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-los-angeles-times-starts-publishing-e-books/?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+PW+Daily&utm_campaign=cc7efce0d2-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email
Matthew Ingram at gigaom.com speculates on what will happen when the Kindle is free. I've been predicting low-cost ereaders (under $50) and Kindle's most basic model is now $79, so it's getting close. Again, it's like Gillette--give away the handles and sell the razor blades!
http://gigaom.com/2011/10/05/what-happens-to-books-when-the-kindle-is-free/?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+PW+Daily&utm_campaign=7e9bd9735f-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email
Author Edan Lepucki describes her experience when her first novel went unsold--the sad but true story of trying to sell fiction in today's marketplace.
http://www.themillions.com/2011/08/shutting-the-drawer-what-happens-when-a-book-doesnt-sell.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+PW+Daily&utm_campaign=e1114d4cc0-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email
The New York Times reports that some publishers are no longer waiting the traditional one year after hardcover publication for the release of the paperback edition. Seems that ebooks have upset the apple cart once more...
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/books/e-books-accelerate-paperback-publishers-release-dates.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
The New York Times has an interesting Opinion piece on typos. Sad but true--as publishers continue to skimp on the functions that made them publishers, they seem ever more intent on making themselves irrelevant, or worse...putting themselves out of business.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/the-price-of-typos/?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+PW+Daily&utm_campaign=7a524e78e9-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email
Publishers Marketplace reports that Amazon will be setting up their own book publishing imprint led by former WarnerBooks CEO Larry Kirshbaum. Very interesting to see how this will work. Trident Media CEO Robert Gottlieb writes a good comment after the article. It's a brave new publishing world out there!
http://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2011/05/larry-kirshbaum-to-lead-new-amazon-publishing-line/
Publishers Weekly with a list compiled from publishers on the top selling ebooks of books that had sold over 100,000 copies in print. Very interesting. The future seems to be arriving rather more rapidly than anyone expected!
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/46517-e-books-rock.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+PW+Daily&utm_campaign=f5e2689ef1-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email
Ebooks outsell mass-market paperbacks and hardcovers! Read about this development in Publishers Weekly.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/article/46510-january-e-book-sales-soar-top-hardcover-mass-market-paperback.html
Perigee editor Marianne Lizzi gives her Top Ten Reasons for Rejecting a Manuscript. I used them all when I was an editor. And I've received a number of them as an agent. It was never fun saying "no" all the time, and it sure as heck isn't fun receiving them now!
http://perigeebooks.typepad.com/blog/2011/03/why-we-say-no-thanks-one-editors-top-ten-list.html#tp
BusinessInsider.com reports that Amanda Hocking, the #1 bestselling ebook author on Amazon, doesn't have a traditional publishing deal. She's making a 70% royalty on each sale, selling 100,000 books per month. So does a traditional publishing deal matter any more? Is this the wave of the future, and the death of the big publishing houses? Who knows!
http://www.businessinsider.com/amanda-hocking-2011-2?utm_source=feedburner#ixzz1FMsklkGD
Author Michael Stackpole writes a very informative piece on negotiating an ebook deal for backlist titles that ran on the Sisters in Crime website.
http://sisters-in-crime-sinc.blogspot.com/2011/03/nine-must-have-clauses-for-digital.html
The New York Times details the difficult relationships publishers have with libraries when it comes to electronic books, specifically the decision by HarperCollins to limit a library ebooks to 26 downloads before the license expires.
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/a-limit-on-lending-e-books/?emc=eta1
The New York Times has an interesting article about shorter ebooks for smaller devices. Form follows function, or is it the other way around this time?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/business/13ping.html?scp=4&sq=Electronic%20books&st=cse
A December 2010 article in Publishing Trends gives some insight into the changing ebook marketplace, this time from the agents' point of view. Look for more information along these lines coming from DGLA in 2011!
http://www.publishingtrends.com/2010/12/agents-e-books-exclusive-survey-preview/
Too often we forget in this crazy business that it all starts with the writer. But maybe we're all missing an important point--that it all starts with the reader! In his wonderful New York Times Op-Ed piece, author Michael Cunningham discusses writing for the reader, and that how all books are translations. Go ahead, you'll see what he means.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/opinion/03cunningham.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&emc=eta1
The Wall Street Journal discusses the dilemma authors and agents are facing as ebook sales continue to rise and print sales continue to fall, including the possible disappearance of the mass-market paperback book. It also touches on my first rule to authors: Don't Give Up Your Day Job!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703369704575461542987870022.html?mod=rss_Books
The Wall Street Journal reports on Dorchester Publishing's decision to stop printing mass market books and go to the ebook/print-on-demand model that I've been talking about for years. Let's hope it works!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703309704575413611289773690.html?mod=rss_media_marketing
A publishing lawyer gives good advice in GalleyCat on why it makes sense to have a collaboration agreement in place between co-writers, whether they're best friends or not!
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/publishing/ask_a_lawyer_should_coauthors_have_a_contract_with_each_other_164033.asp
GalleyCat reports on the price drop for ereaders, and the possible beginning of a price war. As predicted here a couple of years ago, the price for the readers will continue to fall and the price for the downloads will continue to rise.
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/ebooks/ereader_price_wars_have_commenced_165311.asp
The New York Times ponders the question of what happens when cover art no longer makes the dramatic impact it does for electronic editions. Anyone want to check out my LPs?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/books/31covers.html?ref=business
A very interesting blog entry on Craig Mod delves into the meaning of the new iPad and the future of books and electronic books. I think the dialogue in the comments section is in some ways more interesting than the entry!
http://craigmod.com/journal/ipad_and_books/
The New York Times tries to deconstruct the actual costs of producing books--both paper and electronic. They more or less get it right.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/business/media/01ebooks.html?emc=eta1
The New York Times reports that publishers are flexing their muscles with Google, which wants to bring ebooks direct to consumers. It seems like publishers are getting the upper hand in controlling pricing for ebooks, which will keep books from being devalued.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/books/09google.html
Wired magazine puts in its two cents in regarding the Amazon/Macmillan feud. I say good for you Macmillan--don't let electronic books get undersold as cheap disposable things--a lot of work goes into creating that content that entertains and informs readers!
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/02/macmillans-amazon-beatdown-proves-content-is-king/
The Los Angeles Times sees the coming of the Apple tablet as the potential Armageddon for traditional publishing, which may or may not be a good thing.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-akst24-2010jan24,0,3445923.story
The Wall Street Journal weighs in on the death of the slush pile and the necessity of agents for books, TV and film. Phew!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703414504575001271351446274.html
Interesting Publishers Weekly article about the crime and mystery genre, and the attitudes of some popular writers within the genre about their work and the ongoing genre fiction vs. literary fiction debate.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6708102.html
Crain's New York reports on a mysterious meeting between top literary agents and Amazon.com executives out in Seattle. Seems to me that the future of books is at stake right here...
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20091109/FREE/911099984
A long but fascinating article on the current state of the mystery/suspense/crime fiction/thriller scene in book publishing from the Huffington Post from thriller writer Jason Pinter.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-pinter/the-state-of-the-crime-no_b_342918.html
When I read this New York Times Business Section article, it was a "holy shit" moment--the Napsterization of electronic books is here and it's going to be a huge problem that could ruin the entire economics of publishing, as lousy as they are. A friend of mine in the music business warned me about this a couple of years ago and I didn't believe him. But now...I fear he's right. See the last paragraph for an especially pungent insight.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/business/04digi.html?_r=1&ref=books
The New York Times talks about the new video/book hybrid awkwardly dubbed the "vook." With comments from publishers Judith Curr at Atria (I worked for her at Ballantine) and Brian Tart at Dutton (I worked with him at Penguin). Is it the future, or a desperate commercial oddity? Who knows? But I agree with Walter Mosley's take at the end of the article.
http:////www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/books/01book.html?_r=1&hpw
A brief video interview with HarperStudio's Bob Miller, who points out that the decreasing revenues in the business will lead to further editorial staffing cuts. I've seen this coming for years, and I believe that ultimately the editors will become independent contractors, saving publishing companies money on salary, health care benefits, and workspace. Editors will be paid on a project-by-project basis. It hasn't come to this yet, but give it five to ten years...
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/publishing/the_editors_future_more_work_for_fewer_people_136719.asp
Business Week takes a look at book publishers that are embracing electronic books, including chapter sales and book rentals(!), hoping to avoid the fate of the newspaper, magazine, and music businesses.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/sep2009/tc20090922_846948.htm
Former Random House editorial director Dan Menaker gives a 100% accurate look at the publishing business today. I would have enjoyed working for him--he gets it. Now you can see why I left the editorial side!
http://bnreview.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Reviews-Essays/Redactor-Agonistes/ba-p/1367
Are electronic books going to mean the end of hardcovers? Could be, according to this article in the Financial Times.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0df31226-958d-11de-90e0-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
This New York Observer piece stresses the importance of authors meeting their deadlines in this economy, as publishers are looking to cut their expenses by jettinsoning late books.
http://www.observer.com/2009/books/note-authors-make-your-deadlines
Sony drops the prices on its ebooks to $9.99 to compete with Amazon/Kindle. Publisher worry that this will become the benchmark price for ebooks and will ask publishers to cut their wholesale prices soon.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/technology/personaltech/05sony.html?_r=1
A thriller writer blogs about his actual sales of books for Kindle downloads. An interesting look into what Kindle does (or doesn't) mean for authors.
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2009/06/amazon-kindle-numbers.html
A new rival to the Kindle 2 and the Sony e-Reader called the COOL-ER. I saw this at Book Expo--unlike the Kindle, it fits in the breast pocket of a men's sport jacket. Much lighter, too, and about $100 less. And better colors than white...
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/web_tech/cooler_ebook_reader_the_future_of_book_publishing_118538.asp
Farrar, Straus & Giroux VP Elisabeth Sifton writes in The Nation an eloquent history of the book publishing industry's troubles. With 22 years at four major corporate publishers, I can vouch that this article is 100% accurate. It's enough to make you cry...
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090608/sifton
The New York Times talks about piracy of digital books--an issue that vexed the music industry and may come to haunt the publishing industry.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/technology/internet/12digital.html?_r=2&ref=business
A thoughtful piece on the value and job of literary agents in the world of publishing from the Guardian (as in the UK newspaper). Gives good insight into how an agent does his or her job.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2009/apr/08/literary-agents-use
An interesting article about print-on-demand technology and the appeal of POD to self-publishing via a vanity press. The sad fact is that not all books that get written (or have representation from an agent) get sold. This is one option.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/04/06/print.on.demand.publishing/index.html?eref=rss_tech
Evan Schnittman, the head of Global Business Development for Oxford University Press, has an interesting and insightful entry entitled "Why EBooks Must Fail" in his blog Black Plastic Glasses. I think he's missing the boat because when the price of e-readers begins to fall, thats when I believe the price of the ebooks must increase, following the Gillette model of "give away the razor and make your money off the blades."
http://www.blackplasticglasses.com/?p=5
The Wall Street Journal talks about the success of Amazon's Kindle e-reader, and the future of the electronic book. Fascinating insight into the manufacture of e-readers, and Amazon's miscalculation in the Kindle's popularity.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123413840248261571.html
Time magazine explains the bold new digital future of the novel--and it's exciting, self-published, very messy, and may bear no relation to today's fiction. Publishing isn't dying, it's changing.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1873122-1,00.html
The Wall Street Journal gives a fairly accurate description of why publishers have a blockbuster mentality, even in these tough times.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123093737793850127.html
This New York Observer story is about the cutbacks in expense accounts for editors at the major New York publishing houses, and the subsequent ban on lunches with agents--which, for better or worse--is the life blood of acquisitions.
http://www.observer.com/2008/media/publishing-bigshots-told-open-canned-tuna-eat-desk
This is a Publishers Weekly story about Houghton Mifflin Harcourt stopping all acquisitions until further notice. Drastic and scary, but perhaps not all that related to their book business, although it certainly impacts authors and agents.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6617241.html?desc=topstory
This Huffington Post article is about Random House digitizing 8,000 more of its backlist titles--the only part of their business that grew last year. Mark my words--this is the future of publishing, and the thing that will save the industry.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/24/random-house-going-digita_n_145952.html
The New York Observer published their "end of the publishing industry" article, the same basic article that crops up every five to ten years. I wrote the comment that gives an "a-f" list of where the article goes off the rails.
http://www.observer.com/2008/media/baby-it-s-going-be-cold-outside-book-publishing
This New York magazine article is their version of the "death of the publishing biz" article.
http://nymag.com/news/media/50279/
This fascinating Newsweek magazine article talks about the Amazon Kindle, the death of the book, and the future of electronic publishing.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/70983/page/1
The publishing industry is in a state of transition, brought on by changing technology, new competition to books for readers' time, and the downturn in the economy. For those interested on reading what is going on inside the publishing industry, when I come across a useful bit of information I will post a web link to the article or blog entry that may be insightful and informative. Click on the orange web address to access the articles. And let me know if I should remove the older articles, add new ones, or just scrap this page altogether, as I really haven't been keeping it updated for...too long.
An interesting but ultimately failed attempt to provide data and analytics to publishers from a company called Hiptype.
http://blog.hiptype.com/what-we-learned
Ebooks outsell paperbacks for the first time at Amazon. Wow. People have been giving paperbacks the deathknell for years (pretty much ever since I got into the business), but now it seems that it may actually happen. Do we go to a hardcover/ebook formula, or do hardcovers eventually bite the dust and we go to a paperback/ebook sales balance. Only time will tell.
http://thenextweb.com/insider/2011/01/27/milestone-kindle-books-overtake-paperback-books-on-amazon-com/
I haven't posted an article in quite a long time. But this piece in The Wall Street Journal about ebook sellers gathering and analyzing data about reading habits of book purchasers is very interesting. For too many years I sat in editorial, art, marketing meetings, etc., and felt that we were all bumbling around in the dark. The most troubling were the bosses who regularly proclaimed that they "knew" what would and wouldn't work...without a shred of evidence to back them up. Maybe publishing will finally come out of the dark ages.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304870304577490950051438304.html
Publishers Weekly reports on Amazon's presence at the 2012 London Book Fair.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/international/london-book-fair/article/51566-london-book-fair-2012-on-busy-show-floor-a-new-publisher-woos-authors-amazon-.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+PW+Daily&utm_campaign=e7715969c5-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email
The first under-$50 ereader!
http://www.mediabistro.com/ebooknewser/kobo-selling-ereaders-for-49_b18641
Thriller authors Barry Eisler and Joe Konrath absolutely eviscerate an internal Hachette memo in one of the most hilarious but true looks at publishing I've ever read. I was Barry's paperback editor on his first two books, and recently spoke with him at the New England Crime Bake.
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=11291165&postID=290129228691929331&page=1&token=1323372984139
NPR reports that Amazon is losing money on every Kindle Fire they sell. No surprise here. Unlike my Gillette razors/blades analysis, the article uses the computer printer/toner cartridge analysis. That works too.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2011/11/16/142310104/why-amazon-loses-money-on-every-kindle-fire?ft=1&f=1032&sc=tw&utm_source=Publishers%20Weekly%27s%20PW%20Daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=cc7efce0d2-UA-15906914-1
Whoa! The Los Angeles Times, as well as a few other major newspapers, are going to be publishing their own ebooks. Makes sense, but I'll admit that I didn't see this coming. More competition for print and ebook publishers.
http://paidcontent.org/article/419-los-angeles-times-starts-publishing-e-books/?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+PW+Daily&utm_campaign=cc7efce0d2-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email
Matthew Ingram at gigaom.com speculates on what will happen when the Kindle is free. I've been predicting low-cost ereaders (under $50) and Kindle's most basic model is now $79, so it's getting close. Again, it's like Gillette--give away the handles and sell the razor blades!
http://gigaom.com/2011/10/05/what-happens-to-books-when-the-kindle-is-free/?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+PW+Daily&utm_campaign=7e9bd9735f-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email
Author Edan Lepucki describes her experience when her first novel went unsold--the sad but true story of trying to sell fiction in today's marketplace.
http://www.themillions.com/2011/08/shutting-the-drawer-what-happens-when-a-book-doesnt-sell.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+PW+Daily&utm_campaign=e1114d4cc0-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email
The New York Times reports that some publishers are no longer waiting the traditional one year after hardcover publication for the release of the paperback edition. Seems that ebooks have upset the apple cart once more...
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/books/e-books-accelerate-paperback-publishers-release-dates.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
The New York Times has an interesting Opinion piece on typos. Sad but true--as publishers continue to skimp on the functions that made them publishers, they seem ever more intent on making themselves irrelevant, or worse...putting themselves out of business.
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/the-price-of-typos/?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+PW+Daily&utm_campaign=7a524e78e9-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email
Publishers Marketplace reports that Amazon will be setting up their own book publishing imprint led by former WarnerBooks CEO Larry Kirshbaum. Very interesting to see how this will work. Trident Media CEO Robert Gottlieb writes a good comment after the article. It's a brave new publishing world out there!
http://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2011/05/larry-kirshbaum-to-lead-new-amazon-publishing-line/
Publishers Weekly with a list compiled from publishers on the top selling ebooks of books that had sold over 100,000 copies in print. Very interesting. The future seems to be arriving rather more rapidly than anyone expected!
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/46517-e-books-rock.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+PW+Daily&utm_campaign=f5e2689ef1-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email
Ebooks outsell mass-market paperbacks and hardcovers! Read about this development in Publishers Weekly.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/article/46510-january-e-book-sales-soar-top-hardcover-mass-market-paperback.html
Perigee editor Marianne Lizzi gives her Top Ten Reasons for Rejecting a Manuscript. I used them all when I was an editor. And I've received a number of them as an agent. It was never fun saying "no" all the time, and it sure as heck isn't fun receiving them now!
http://perigeebooks.typepad.com/blog/2011/03/why-we-say-no-thanks-one-editors-top-ten-list.html#tp
BusinessInsider.com reports that Amanda Hocking, the #1 bestselling ebook author on Amazon, doesn't have a traditional publishing deal. She's making a 70% royalty on each sale, selling 100,000 books per month. So does a traditional publishing deal matter any more? Is this the wave of the future, and the death of the big publishing houses? Who knows!
http://www.businessinsider.com/amanda-hocking-2011-2?utm_source=feedburner#ixzz1FMsklkGD
Author Michael Stackpole writes a very informative piece on negotiating an ebook deal for backlist titles that ran on the Sisters in Crime website.
http://sisters-in-crime-sinc.blogspot.com/2011/03/nine-must-have-clauses-for-digital.html
The New York Times details the difficult relationships publishers have with libraries when it comes to electronic books, specifically the decision by HarperCollins to limit a library ebooks to 26 downloads before the license expires.
http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/a-limit-on-lending-e-books/?emc=eta1
The New York Times has an interesting article about shorter ebooks for smaller devices. Form follows function, or is it the other way around this time?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/business/13ping.html?scp=4&sq=Electronic%20books&st=cse
A December 2010 article in Publishing Trends gives some insight into the changing ebook marketplace, this time from the agents' point of view. Look for more information along these lines coming from DGLA in 2011!
http://www.publishingtrends.com/2010/12/agents-e-books-exclusive-survey-preview/
Too often we forget in this crazy business that it all starts with the writer. But maybe we're all missing an important point--that it all starts with the reader! In his wonderful New York Times Op-Ed piece, author Michael Cunningham discusses writing for the reader, and that how all books are translations. Go ahead, you'll see what he means.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/03/opinion/03cunningham.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&emc=eta1
The Wall Street Journal discusses the dilemma authors and agents are facing as ebook sales continue to rise and print sales continue to fall, including the possible disappearance of the mass-market paperback book. It also touches on my first rule to authors: Don't Give Up Your Day Job!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703369704575461542987870022.html?mod=rss_Books
The Wall Street Journal reports on Dorchester Publishing's decision to stop printing mass market books and go to the ebook/print-on-demand model that I've been talking about for years. Let's hope it works!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703309704575413611289773690.html?mod=rss_media_marketing
A publishing lawyer gives good advice in GalleyCat on why it makes sense to have a collaboration agreement in place between co-writers, whether they're best friends or not!
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/publishing/ask_a_lawyer_should_coauthors_have_a_contract_with_each_other_164033.asp
GalleyCat reports on the price drop for ereaders, and the possible beginning of a price war. As predicted here a couple of years ago, the price for the readers will continue to fall and the price for the downloads will continue to rise.
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/ebooks/ereader_price_wars_have_commenced_165311.asp
The New York Times ponders the question of what happens when cover art no longer makes the dramatic impact it does for electronic editions. Anyone want to check out my LPs?
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/books/31covers.html?ref=business
A very interesting blog entry on Craig Mod delves into the meaning of the new iPad and the future of books and electronic books. I think the dialogue in the comments section is in some ways more interesting than the entry!
http://craigmod.com/journal/ipad_and_books/
The New York Times tries to deconstruct the actual costs of producing books--both paper and electronic. They more or less get it right.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/business/media/01ebooks.html?emc=eta1
The New York Times reports that publishers are flexing their muscles with Google, which wants to bring ebooks direct to consumers. It seems like publishers are getting the upper hand in controlling pricing for ebooks, which will keep books from being devalued.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/09/books/09google.html
Wired magazine puts in its two cents in regarding the Amazon/Macmillan feud. I say good for you Macmillan--don't let electronic books get undersold as cheap disposable things--a lot of work goes into creating that content that entertains and informs readers!
http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2010/02/macmillans-amazon-beatdown-proves-content-is-king/
The Los Angeles Times sees the coming of the Apple tablet as the potential Armageddon for traditional publishing, which may or may not be a good thing.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-akst24-2010jan24,0,3445923.story
The Wall Street Journal weighs in on the death of the slush pile and the necessity of agents for books, TV and film. Phew!
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703414504575001271351446274.html
Interesting Publishers Weekly article about the crime and mystery genre, and the attitudes of some popular writers within the genre about their work and the ongoing genre fiction vs. literary fiction debate.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6708102.html
Crain's New York reports on a mysterious meeting between top literary agents and Amazon.com executives out in Seattle. Seems to me that the future of books is at stake right here...
http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20091109/FREE/911099984
A long but fascinating article on the current state of the mystery/suspense/crime fiction/thriller scene in book publishing from the Huffington Post from thriller writer Jason Pinter.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-pinter/the-state-of-the-crime-no_b_342918.html
When I read this New York Times Business Section article, it was a "holy shit" moment--the Napsterization of electronic books is here and it's going to be a huge problem that could ruin the entire economics of publishing, as lousy as they are. A friend of mine in the music business warned me about this a couple of years ago and I didn't believe him. But now...I fear he's right. See the last paragraph for an especially pungent insight.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/business/04digi.html?_r=1&ref=books
The New York Times talks about the new video/book hybrid awkwardly dubbed the "vook." With comments from publishers Judith Curr at Atria (I worked for her at Ballantine) and Brian Tart at Dutton (I worked with him at Penguin). Is it the future, or a desperate commercial oddity? Who knows? But I agree with Walter Mosley's take at the end of the article.
http:////www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/books/01book.html?_r=1&hpw
A brief video interview with HarperStudio's Bob Miller, who points out that the decreasing revenues in the business will lead to further editorial staffing cuts. I've seen this coming for years, and I believe that ultimately the editors will become independent contractors, saving publishing companies money on salary, health care benefits, and workspace. Editors will be paid on a project-by-project basis. It hasn't come to this yet, but give it five to ten years...
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/publishing/the_editors_future_more_work_for_fewer_people_136719.asp
Business Week takes a look at book publishers that are embracing electronic books, including chapter sales and book rentals(!), hoping to avoid the fate of the newspaper, magazine, and music businesses.
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/sep2009/tc20090922_846948.htm
Former Random House editorial director Dan Menaker gives a 100% accurate look at the publishing business today. I would have enjoyed working for him--he gets it. Now you can see why I left the editorial side!
http://bnreview.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Reviews-Essays/Redactor-Agonistes/ba-p/1367
Are electronic books going to mean the end of hardcovers? Could be, according to this article in the Financial Times.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0df31226-958d-11de-90e0-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1
This New York Observer piece stresses the importance of authors meeting their deadlines in this economy, as publishers are looking to cut their expenses by jettinsoning late books.
http://www.observer.com/2009/books/note-authors-make-your-deadlines
Sony drops the prices on its ebooks to $9.99 to compete with Amazon/Kindle. Publisher worry that this will become the benchmark price for ebooks and will ask publishers to cut their wholesale prices soon.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/technology/personaltech/05sony.html?_r=1
A thriller writer blogs about his actual sales of books for Kindle downloads. An interesting look into what Kindle does (or doesn't) mean for authors.
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2009/06/amazon-kindle-numbers.html
A new rival to the Kindle 2 and the Sony e-Reader called the COOL-ER. I saw this at Book Expo--unlike the Kindle, it fits in the breast pocket of a men's sport jacket. Much lighter, too, and about $100 less. And better colors than white...
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/web_tech/cooler_ebook_reader_the_future_of_book_publishing_118538.asp
Farrar, Straus & Giroux VP Elisabeth Sifton writes in The Nation an eloquent history of the book publishing industry's troubles. With 22 years at four major corporate publishers, I can vouch that this article is 100% accurate. It's enough to make you cry...
http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090608/sifton
The New York Times talks about piracy of digital books--an issue that vexed the music industry and may come to haunt the publishing industry.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/technology/internet/12digital.html?_r=2&ref=business
A thoughtful piece on the value and job of literary agents in the world of publishing from the Guardian (as in the UK newspaper). Gives good insight into how an agent does his or her job.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2009/apr/08/literary-agents-use
An interesting article about print-on-demand technology and the appeal of POD to self-publishing via a vanity press. The sad fact is that not all books that get written (or have representation from an agent) get sold. This is one option.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/04/06/print.on.demand.publishing/index.html?eref=rss_tech
Evan Schnittman, the head of Global Business Development for Oxford University Press, has an interesting and insightful entry entitled "Why EBooks Must Fail" in his blog Black Plastic Glasses. I think he's missing the boat because when the price of e-readers begins to fall, thats when I believe the price of the ebooks must increase, following the Gillette model of "give away the razor and make your money off the blades."
http://www.blackplasticglasses.com/?p=5
The Wall Street Journal talks about the success of Amazon's Kindle e-reader, and the future of the electronic book. Fascinating insight into the manufacture of e-readers, and Amazon's miscalculation in the Kindle's popularity.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123413840248261571.html
Time magazine explains the bold new digital future of the novel--and it's exciting, self-published, very messy, and may bear no relation to today's fiction. Publishing isn't dying, it's changing.
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1873122-1,00.html
The Wall Street Journal gives a fairly accurate description of why publishers have a blockbuster mentality, even in these tough times.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123093737793850127.html
This New York Observer story is about the cutbacks in expense accounts for editors at the major New York publishing houses, and the subsequent ban on lunches with agents--which, for better or worse--is the life blood of acquisitions.
http://www.observer.com/2008/media/publishing-bigshots-told-open-canned-tuna-eat-desk
This is a Publishers Weekly story about Houghton Mifflin Harcourt stopping all acquisitions until further notice. Drastic and scary, but perhaps not all that related to their book business, although it certainly impacts authors and agents.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6617241.html?desc=topstory
This Huffington Post article is about Random House digitizing 8,000 more of its backlist titles--the only part of their business that grew last year. Mark my words--this is the future of publishing, and the thing that will save the industry.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/24/random-house-going-digita_n_145952.html
The New York Observer published their "end of the publishing industry" article, the same basic article that crops up every five to ten years. I wrote the comment that gives an "a-f" list of where the article goes off the rails.
http://www.observer.com/2008/media/baby-it-s-going-be-cold-outside-book-publishing
This New York magazine article is their version of the "death of the publishing biz" article.
http://nymag.com/news/media/50279/
This fascinating Newsweek magazine article talks about the Amazon Kindle, the death of the book, and the future of electronic publishing.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/70983/page/1
