================================================================ This is a monthly e-mail update for subscribers only, sent from U-Publish.com, the web site named for the revolutionary guide to new methods for publishing and promoting books by Dan Poynter and Danny O. Snow. Get the paperback, now available to order from all major bookstores and online booksellers, or order direct from us at http://www.u-publish.com/order.htm with free shipping. ================================================================ *** Random House Reduces e-Book Royalties *** NEW YORK -- The trade division of Random House has decreased the royalty rate given to authors of e-Books from 50 percent to 30 percent for book contracts signed after May 31, according to a report by the Authors Guild. The new e-Book royalty rate may be an indication that the largest trade book publisher sees e-book sales as a significant source of future revenue. In a related story from BEA, a major e-Book player, Overdrive founder Steve Potash, reported that more than 400 libraries have now established e-book collections. Poynter and Snow have long held that in spite of limited use by individual readers, e-books are perfect for libraries. Following the short-lived e-Book craze that followed Stephen King's release of "Riding the Bullet" in March 2000, many publishing industry observers expressed disappointment that e-Books did not gain widespread acceptance with the reading public. Poynter and Snow maintain that the fundamental economics of e-publishing virtually insure that e-Books will someday play a significant role in the book world... the question is more WHEN, than IF. The reports above suggest that the market for e-Books is starting to mature, however gradually. Once revolutionary and largely the domain of smaller, independent publishers, e-Books are slowly and steadily entering mainstream pub- lishing industry channels. ================================================================ *** Snow to Appear on "Ask Heloise" *** Co-Author Dan Snow has been invited as a guest on the popular "Ask Heloise" radio show in August. The program reaches more than three million listeners each week, in all 50 states and overseas. Snow will discuss rapid changes in the world of books since 2000, and where the publishing industry is headed in the new millennium. He was interviewed on related topics in a webcast for VoiceAmerica (see http://www.u-publish.com/samepage.htm for talking points) in January 2004. It covered POD, Poynter's New Book Model, e-books and the future of publishing. Details on the August broadcast will follow in the next issue of this newsletter. Please tune in to your local Liberty Broadcasting radio affiliate or listen to the program online at http://www.heloise.com/radioshow.html from overseas locations. ================================================================ Please feel free to forward copies of this bulletin to your fellow authors and publishers. This is a free service that is available to anyone in the book world upon request. We don't endorse specific products or services, and we do not accept advertising. You may subscribe or un-subscribe at any time. ================================================================ *** Dylan Thomas Prize *** The Dylan Thomas Literary Prize will be simultaneously launched in Swansea (Wales) and New York City, on October 27th 2004. Preliminary announcements from the promoters state that a prize of 50,000 British Pounds (almost $100,000 USD) will be awarded to the most outstanding literary talent, under age 30 at the launch date, writing a published work in the English language. Writers are advised to check later this year for confirmation: http://www.TheDylanThomasPrize.com ================================================================ *** Reminder: Mona Schreiber Prize *** Writers of comedic essays, articles, short stories, poetry, shopping lists and other forms are invited to submit. Works up to 750 words in length should be typed, double-spaced, accompanied by a money order or check for $5 to cover admin costs, payable to "The Mona Schreiber Prize." Multiple entries permitted but each must pay a separate fee. Put contact info on the first page. No SASE needed. Include e-mail for notification of winners. All entries must be postmarked by December 1 for a December 24 announcement of three winners: 1st: $500. 2nd: $250. 3rd: $100. All receive copies of What Are You Laughing At?: How to Write Funny Screenplays, Stories and More by Brad Schreiber. Entries are not returned and must be unpublished. Humor is subjective. Uniqueness is suggested. Weirdness is encouraged. The Mona Schreiber Prize for Humorous Fiction and Non-Fiction 11362 Homedale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90049. ================================================================ *** Quotation(s) of the Month *** From a literary "feud" between two great writers came this classic exchange of barbs: "He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary." -- William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway) "Poor Faulkner. Does he really think big emotions come from big words?" -- Ernest Hemingway (about William Faulkner) ================================================================ Inside tip from Poynter and Snow: ALWAYS READ THE FINE PRINT! Here's ours: This is a free e-mail bulletin from U-Publish.com, the Web site named for the book by Dan Poynter and Danny O. Snow. Bulletins are sent by subscription only. You may subscribe or unsubscribe at any time. Simply e-mail newsdesk@u-publish.com with requests. We do not endorse specific products or services, and we do not accept advertising. We will not sell your name, address or other personal information to others for any reason at any time. Our goal is to serve as advocates for the self-publisher or independent publisher, large or small. We welcome your participation, feedback, criticism, and suggestions. We learn from our readers, and value your input. Please visit http://www.u-publish.com at least once each month, for periodic updates of interest to writers and publishers. Please feel free to forward copies of this message to fellow writers and publishers. This is a free service, available to to anyone in the book world upon request. ================================================================...please check your e-mail settings and consider changing them from "HTML" output to "Text Only" settings instead. Some e-mail software such as Microsoft Outlook may send messages in the same format (HTML) as a web page, which can cause problems for recipients who use other software. File attachments (especially large ones) also cause problems for some recipients and should be avoided unless they are specifically requested by the recipient. Put pictures on your Web site and include the location (but NOT the picture) in your e-mail messages. For example, if you want to see a photo of Poynter and Snow, click the link below: http://www.u-publish.com/images/poynter4.jpg Finally, when you type messages, we *strongly* suggest ending each line by pressing the Enter key after typing about 60-80 characters, as we are doing here. This allows recipients to forward your e-mail to others with fewer formatting problems. If you are sending e-mail to the public, you want all of your messages to arrive simple and problem-free. 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