Pelican’s new browser-based reading website takes flight with grace

With subtle interactive features and simple, bold design, Penguin’s resurrected non-fiction imprint places the focus on the reading experienceAfter reading Economics: The User’s Guide by Ha-Joon Chang, published by Pelican Books, I feel confident enough to explain the word “disintermediation”. This catchy term means cutting out the middlemen from a supply chain, and it’s crucial to an understanding of modern publishing. Amazon has been trying to cut out publishers for two decades, in the hope of achieving a more efficient ecosystem. Publishers, once they got wind of this, started thinking of clever ways they could turn the tables: that is, cutting out Amazon and going direct to consumers.A new front in this literary conflict has opened at pelicanbooks.com, although it looks less like a battlefield than a boutique in an online Marylebone High Street. Penguin’s original non-fiction imprint relaunched earlier this year, its predictably covetable paperbacks glowing with turquoise nostalgia for the days when people bettered themselves rather than slumping in front of Gogglebox. Pelican’s digital incarnation is stunning, its flat design bold yet understated, with a studied simplicity reflected in the intuitive user experience. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-11-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #supply chain #modern publishing #started thinking

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Short Takes: Religion Publishing News Briefs, August 13, 2014

A signing with singing; astronomer/priest honored with Carl Sagan Medal; romance writers recognize winners; a book tour in Amish country; Christian fiction conference coming up. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Virtual Book Festivals Run By Major Publishers Take Off in UK

HarperCollins UK's June virtual Romance Festival was a success; this week SF publisher Gollancz is hosting a festival combining online Q&As with real life events. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New York Public Library has book lovers share unusual reading spots

Celebrities like Hillary Clinton have been sharing some of their favorite reading locations. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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iBooks Bestsellers: Adaptations Take the Lead

Just over a week ahead of the release of the film adaptation of 'If I Stay,' Gayle Forman's novel, once again, took the top spot on Apple's iBooks bestseller list. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ibooks bestsellers #week ahead #film adaptation #gayle forman

Amazon vs Hachette: readers and authors take sides in publishing dispute

The tussle between Amazon and the publishing conglomerate has been raging since spring. Heres an update on the fightA corporate boxing match broke from the ring and swelled into all-out rumpus last weekend, as readers and authors took sides in Amazon and Hachettes fight over the publishing... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online retailer #contract negotiations #giant corporations #lower price

Amazon misrepresents Orwell and takes on Disney, as the pricing war intensifies (+video)

In a statement about its dispute with publisher Hachette, Amazon cited '1984' author George Orwell – while failing to understand the author's words, critics charged. Meanwhile, Amazon appears to be entering into a dispute with Disney. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publisher hachette #amazon cited #critics charged #amazon appears

Amazon misrepresents Orwell and takes on Disney, as the pricing war intensifies

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publisher hachette #amazon cited #critics charged #amazon appears

Bestselling authors take out full-page New York Times ad against Amazon

Stephen King and Donna Tartt among those petitioning Amazon to 'stop harming the livelihood of the authors'Readers of the New York Times will have to steel themselves this weekend, as the unseemly brawl between Hachette and Amazon erupts on to the tranquil pages of the Grey Lady. Perhaps the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #latest salvo #james patterson #years ahead

Authors take out full-page NYT ad to criticize Amazon

There's no sign that Amazon and Hachette are close to burying their ebook hatchet, which has prompted the authors caught in the middle to speak up. One of those affected, Douglas Preston, penned an open letter to Jeff Bezos, requesting that he... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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iBooks Bestsellers: 'If I Stay' Takes #1

Gayle Forman's 'If I Stay,' adapted into a film to be released on August 22, landed in the top spot on Apple's iBooks bestseller list for the week ended August 4. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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O’Reilly Takes Full Ownership of Safari Books

O’Reilly Media has acquired the remaining 50% stake in Safari Books, a subscription ebook service offering access to business and tech content, originally launched as a joint venture with the Pearson Technology Group in 2001. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Brodie joins The Reading Agency

Karen Brodie is joining literacy charity The Reading Agency as head of publisher partnerships.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HC launches Killer Reads imprint with open submission

HarperCollins is launching a new digital-first crime and thriller list, which will begin... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-08-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dorset based indie bags 'Book of the Week'

A monograph published by Dorset-based publisher Little Toller Books has scooped a coveted BBC... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Poet Frank Bidart, journalist James Wolcott take PEN Literary Awards

Bidart, Wolcott, and playwright David Rabe are among the recipients of the 2014 PEN Literary Awards. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Did Comics Take Back Comic-Con?

The circus came to town, yet again: this year’s Comic-Con: International ran from Wednesday through Sunday, July 23–27 and brought 130,000 attendees, hundreds of exhibitors, and thousands of professionals to San Diego, Calif. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lavelle to take over from Quadrille's O'Shea

Quadrille has appointed Sarah Lavelle as its new publishing director, replacing Jane O'Shea,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Oyster Now Available Via the Web or Mobile Browser

Subscription ebook service Oyster is expanding its platform, offering subscribers access to the website through any web browser. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #web browser #mobile browser