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================================================================ *** MAY - JUNE 2007 NEWSLETTER FOR AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS *** ================================================================ Book Expo America Goes Digital At BEA 2007 (June 1-2 in NYC) publishers large and small focused on e-publishing more than ever before. More and more books are now read on laptops, handheld PDAs, dedicated e-Book readers... even cell phones and iPods! Today's savvy author or publisher can wring extra revenues from a print book by adding digital editions. Get co-author Dan Snow's BEA report (fr*e*) just published by the "New Communications Review" on June 8: http://www.newcommreview.com/?p=745 ================================================================ BookSense Goes Electronic On Tuesday, May 22, BookSense.com began giving consumers the option of purchasing e-Books. Ingram Digital Ventures fulfills e-Book orders in three formats -- Palm OS, Adobe, and Microsoft Reader: http://news.bookweb.org/5306.html BookSense.com is a Web site of the American Booksellers Ass'n, where readers can support their local independent bookstores, yet enjoy the convenience of a national online shopping network. ================================================================ Amazon 'Used and New' Confusion Continues Amazon.com caused widespread protest from authors and publishers when it started selling used books back in 2002, without paying a penny to those who write and publish them. As the Authors Guild summarized it, "Amazon's practice does damage to the publishing industry, decreasing royalty payments to authors and profits to publishers." In subsequent years the situation grew worse, as Amazon combined both 'used' and 'new' book offers from secondary sellers, adding confusion to an already dubious policy. For example, we have seen up to FIFTY offers of a 'used and new' POD book, when only 25 copies were ever sold! (Causing the author to expect twice the actual royalties paid by the publisher.) In fact, many of the so-called 'used and new' books are POD books that DO NOT EXIST at the time a reader orders them. Misleading listings like "In Stock -- Ships in 24 hours" or "Used -- Like New" also frequently refer to POD books that will not even be printed until orders are placed by readers. The good news is that savvy authors and publishers can 'flip the script' and make some of Amazon's policies work to their advantage. Read our book to learn more. ================================================================ God Bless You, Mr. Vonnegut! Hi ho, fellow writers. Kurt Vonnegut, author of Slaughterhouse- Five, Breakfast of Champions and other literary icons of the late 20th century, died in April. He might be called the conscience of America, decrying the firebombing of Dresden in WWII and its echoes in Vietnam. Or dub him a pioneer of "gonzo fiction" in which the author was a character. Most of all, his books gave us good reasons to treat fellow humans with kindness -- in spite of the barbarity of many human institutions, the frequent ignorance and narrow-mindedness of mankind, and a myriad of other human weaknesses that he depicted with cunning accuracy hidden behind a mask of cluelessness. The body of his work formed a profound argument against war, and his unique voice will be misssed. And so it goes... http://www.indianahistory.org/pop_hist/people/kv.html Link above courtesy of Jim Barnes, http://www.bookpublishing.com ================================================================ Fourth Edition Now Available: The new 2007 edition of "U-Publish.com 4.0" is out. For a limited time only, early adopters get a deep discount. A single new tip could save you MANY TIMES the cost of getting the latest edition. Also watch for special customized editions from Independent Publisher Online, Lulu.com and others who serve self-publishers! http://www.unlimitedpublishing.com/direct.htm From a recent review in Writers World: "I would recommend U-Publish.com 4.0 to anyone who even thinks of writing and publishing a book." -- Maryanne Raphael, Writers World http://www.authorsden.com/maryanneraphael ================================================================ Autograph copies of your book anywhere, from home! Margaret Atwood is the president of Unotchit (you no touch it), a company that has invented a remote control pen. She sees it as a cost saving device for publishers and a way for authors to reach more fans and locations than is possible with the traditional book tour: http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6313134.html -- Tip from Shel Horowitz, http://www.frugalmarketing.com ================================================================ Please feel free to forward copies of this bulletin to your fellow authors and publishers. This is a free resource that is available to anyone in the book world upon request. We don't endorse or guarantee products and services, nor accept fees for mentioning them. We do not accept paid advertising. Please visit http://www.u-publish.com to subscribe. ================================================================ Father's Day Poetry Contest Win a pair of diamond cufflinks valued at $1,200. No fee to enter, no purchase required, poem must contain the word 'diamond' to qualify. Deadline June 11: http://www.diamondsafe.com/diamond-poetry.asp ================================================================ Hard Times Writing Contest First Prize $300. Write about a difficult experience in your life, how you overcame this obstacle, and how you were changed by it. Deadline July 30: http://www.twwoa.org or e-mail prez@twwoa.org ================================================================ Reminder: Special Edition to Support SNCR.org: Download a PDF copy of "Steal this e-Book?" or order a paperback to support The Society for New Communications Research: http://www.lulu.com/content/720820 All profits will be donated to SNCR, a nonprofit global think tank dedicated to the advanced study of new communications tools, technologies and emerging modes of communication, and their effect on traditional media, professional communications, business, culture and society. For more information, e-mail info@sncr.org ================================================================
