“You don’t understand,” the three-time, big-six published author told me. “Books aren’t designed for you, the customer. Today, non-fiction books are business cards--for speaking, consulting, and deals.” I was meeting this friend for dinner in New York City and had mentioned a trend I had noticed in nearly every book I’d seen in the last year: They never say what they’re about. Almost as a rule, hardcover books (and increasingly ebooks) favor laudatory “blurbs” over descriptions--opting for short quotes from important authors, CEOs, celebrities, or media outlets to make their case. At the time, I was in the middle of designing the back cover of my own book, and being somewhat new to the game, I could not understand the benefits of doing this. Wouldn’t it be better to use that space to describe the contents of the book? Isn’t that what “customers” would want? Why bury the content on the inside? I was missing a fundamental change that has occurred in the publishing business, particularly for authors. Faced with declining sales and the disappearance of book retailers like Borders, authors have diversified their income streams, and many make substantially more money through new business generated by a book, rather than from it. Today, authors are in the idea-making business, not the book business. In short, this means that publishing a book is less about sales and much more about creating a brand. The real customers of books are no longer just readers but now include... Continue reading at 'Fast Company'
[ Fast Company | 2012-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tethered to our smartphones, over-scheduled, spiritually and physically fatigued--all symptoms of a society gone crazy busy. Is running from work to school to church to practice to home and back again really the best way to live? A crop of new books says no. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Editors and literary agents on the mechanics—and the emotions—behind the publishing business, what makes a bestseller, and how book bidding wars can cloud expectations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Amid some 250 events in August's hybrid edition of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, a group of programs welcomes industry players. The post In-Person, Online: Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Business of Books appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-07-09 18:10:26 UTC ]
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PW talks to Fernando Esteves, Managing Director of Ediciones SM in Mexico, about the state of the Mexican book business, and what lies ahead in 2019. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A decade after the first Kindle, Amazon looks toward disrupting books themselves. Continue reading at Wired
[ Wired | 2017-12-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House CEO Markus Dohle praised the slow, but continuous growth of the book business around the world and noted the “healthy co-existence" of the print and digital markets. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-10-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Small business owners are getting a new feature tailored just for them in Microsoft Office 365—a full-service system for scheduling appointments for their services over the internet. Microsoft Bookings is a new service that makes it possible for business owners to create their own scheduling... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2016-07-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The 11th edition of the China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair has opened its busy weekend run. The post Shanghai’s Book Fair: Bright Stands, Busy Meetings appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-11-15 18:47:39 UTC ]
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Never shy about expressing his opinions, Shatzkin was a favorite of the publishing media, and on his long-running blog, the 'Shatzkin Files,' he regularly offered his opinions on the state of publishing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-11-08 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The 20th edition of the Financial Times Business Book Competition is in the second year of its partnership with Schroders. The post London: FT and Schroders Business Book of the Year Shortlist appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-09-24 21:19:23 UTC ]
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A new survey conducted by the Green Book Alliance found that a reduction in business travel has gained popularity as a way for publishing companies to reduce their carbon footprint, while the use of carbon offsets and recycled paper has declined. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-05-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
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All you need is an internet connection, a library card, and a good ebook reader to dive into your next page-turner. Continue reading at Wired
[ Wired | 2024-04-28 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Independent publisher Zando's highest-visibility imprints are its collabs with celebrities, which are part of its mission to change the institutional racism that has plagued American publishing from its start. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2024-04-24 18:02:25 UTC ]
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This spring's 2024 YA releases have something for everyone, including compelling nonfiction, immersive fantasy, sweet romances, and so much more. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2024-04-02 11:30:00 UTC ]
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The 2024 industry-facing London Book Fair opened on March 12 with busy, boisterous trade-meeting energy and a new emphasis on programming. The post At London Book Fair: A Busy, Upbeat Opening Day appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2024-03-13 05:38:26 UTC ]
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British publishers discuss how transatlantic collaboration can boost books’ performance and the work it takes to maintain mutually beneficial relationships. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-23 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The journalist spoke to the 951 booksellers attending Winter Institute about the Race Card Project, which she launched 14 years ago, and how it has evolved into a much-needed dialogue about both race and identity in the U.S.—and a new book, 'Our Hidden Conversations.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-14 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Stephen Blake Mettee died from a heart attack while snorkeling in the Galapagos Islands on November 18. A serial entrepreneur across many sectors, Mettee founded independent publisher Quill Driver Books in 1994 and Hummingbird Digital Media, a hybrid e-book distributing/retailing company, in 2015. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-02-05 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Our new Google calendar, to be updated throughout the year and to which readers can subscribe, keeps track of the dates of select trade shows, book fairs, and awards and prizes in 2024. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2024-01-02 05:00:00 UTC ]
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