Check out the web site for all the partners participating in Read an E Book Week and you might even see my name half way down the page.
If you want to become involved in Read An E Book Week, please visit their web site.
Monday, 8 February 2010
Read an E Book Week 7-13 March 2010
Check out the web site for all the partners participating in Read an E Book Week and you might even see my name half way down the page.
If you want to become involved in Read An E Book Week, please visit their web site.
Friday, 5 February 2010
The Poole Literary Festival 29-31 October 2010
The Poole Literary Festival plays host to a wealth of literary talent - writers, poets, performers and artists along with a few surprises. Plus, the launch of Britain’s first New Media Writing Prize, in partnership with Bournemouth University. So, if you’re ‘hooked on books’, this could be the place for you.
Check the web site for further details. http://www.poolelitfest.com/
Check the web site for further details. http://www.poolelitfest.com/
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award
Amazon.com and Penguin Group (USA) announced the third annual Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award (ABNA), an international competition seeking fresh new writing voices. One of the great new aspects of the contest is that self-published novels are now eligible to be submitted. There will also be two categories this year, Young Adult Fiction, and General Fiction. One Grand Prize winner from each category will receive a full publishing contract with Penguin including a $15,000 advance. Contest details are listed below, and further information and official rules can be found at www.amazon.com/abna
To get tips on how to enter or sign up, visit www.createspace.com/abna
What is the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award?
The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award is an opportunity for emerging fiction writers to join a community of authors on Amazon.com, showcase their work, and compete for a chance to get published. Sponsored in partnership with Penguin Group (USA) and CreateSpace, the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award first launched in October 2007 and received more than 5,000 initial entries. In the inaugural contest, Amazon customers voted and named Bill Loehfelm the winner with his novel, Fresh Kills. Several of the other Top 10 finalists also received publishing deals with Penguin.
The 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award started out even bigger than the first contest, with over 6,500 authors signing up. After narrowing the field, the top 500 excerpts were available to Amazon customer to read and review while Publishers Weekly reviewed the full manuscripts. From that information, Penguin selected 100 semifinalists that which were then reviewed by a group of Penguin editors who the three finalists. Excerpts from Ian Gibson (Stuff of Legends), James King (Bill Warrington's Last Chance), and Brandi-Lynn Ryder (In Malice, Quite Close) were voted on by Amazon customers, and in a ceremony in New York, James King was announced as the 2009 winner.
What are the grand prizes?
The grand prize winner in each category will receive a full publishing contract with Penguin to market and distribute the Grand Prize winner's winning manuscript as a published book, including promotion for the published book on Amazon.com and a $15,000 advance.
How do interested authors enter?
The Submission period is now open, and will stay open until February 7th, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. (U.S. Eastern Standard Time), or when the first 5,000 entries have been received in each category, whichever is earlier. There is no entry fee.
To get tips on how to enter or sign up, visit www.createspace.com/abna
What is the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award?
The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award is an opportunity for emerging fiction writers to join a community of authors on Amazon.com, showcase their work, and compete for a chance to get published. Sponsored in partnership with Penguin Group (USA) and CreateSpace, the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award first launched in October 2007 and received more than 5,000 initial entries. In the inaugural contest, Amazon customers voted and named Bill Loehfelm the winner with his novel, Fresh Kills. Several of the other Top 10 finalists also received publishing deals with Penguin.
The 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award started out even bigger than the first contest, with over 6,500 authors signing up. After narrowing the field, the top 500 excerpts were available to Amazon customer to read and review while Publishers Weekly reviewed the full manuscripts. From that information, Penguin selected 100 semifinalists that which were then reviewed by a group of Penguin editors who the three finalists. Excerpts from Ian Gibson (Stuff of Legends), James King (Bill Warrington's Last Chance), and Brandi-Lynn Ryder (In Malice, Quite Close) were voted on by Amazon customers, and in a ceremony in New York, James King was announced as the 2009 winner.
What are the grand prizes?
The grand prize winner in each category will receive a full publishing contract with Penguin to market and distribute the Grand Prize winner's winning manuscript as a published book, including promotion for the published book on Amazon.com and a $15,000 advance.
How do interested authors enter?
The Submission period is now open, and will stay open until February 7th, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. (U.S. Eastern Standard Time), or when the first 5,000 entries have been received in each category, whichever is earlier. There is no entry fee.
Monday, 1 February 2010
The battle between Amazon and Macmillan
Courtesy of http://therapsheet.blogspot.com
A Sign of Reason: "Well, it looks as if Amazon has blinked first in its big e-book battle against mega-publisher Macmillan. An announcement posted this evening by the “Amazon Kindle team” reads:
A Sign of Reason: "Well, it looks as if Amazon has blinked first in its big e-book battle against mega-publisher Macmillan. An announcement posted this evening by the “Amazon Kindle team” reads:
Dear Customers:
Macmillan, one of the “big six” publishers, has clearly communicated to us that, regardless of our viewpoint, they are committed to switching to an agency model and charging $12.99 to $14.99 for e-book versions of bestsellers and most hardcover releases.
We have expressed our strong disagreement and the seriousness of our disagreement by temporarily ceasing the sale of all Macmillan titles. We want you to know that ultimately, however, we will have to capitulate and accept Macmillan’s terms because Macmillan has a monopoly over their own titles, and we will want to offer them to you even at prices we believe are needlessly high for e-books. Amazon customers will at that point decide for themselves whether they believe it’s reasonable to pay $14.99 for a bestselling e-book. We don’t believe that all of the major publishers will take the same route as Macmillan. And we know for sure that many independent presses and self-published authors will see this as an opportunity to provide attractively priced e-books as an alternative.
Kindle is a business for Amazon, and it is also a mission. We never expected it to be easy!
Thank you for being a customer.
Friday, 29 January 2010
Christian authors can find publishers through web site
A new avenue for aspiring Christian authors has opened up with the possibility of getting a publisher through a new Christian version of authonomy.com, the Web site that allows readers and publishing professionals to view unpublished manuscripts.
Zondervan and Baker Publishing Group said they would urge authors who sent them unsolicited manuscripts to post them at www.authonomy.com/Christian
Launched by HarperCollins UK in 2008, authonomy.com allows readers to support the work they like best. Zondervan and Baker said they would track the most popular manuscripts and provide feedback to the authors; the site is also open to other publishing houses and to agents.
Christian Publishers Back Online Slush Pile:
Zondervan and Baker Publishing Group said they would urge authors who sent them unsolicited manuscripts to post them at www.authonomy.com/Christian
Launched by HarperCollins UK in 2008, authonomy.com allows readers to support the work they like best. Zondervan and Baker said they would track the most popular manuscripts and provide feedback to the authors; the site is also open to other publishing houses and to agents.
Christian Publishers Back Online Slush Pile:
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Digital Book World: Piracy, Avid Readers and New Business Models
Digital Book World: Piracy, Avid Readers and New Business Models: "Macmillan president Brian Napack’s call for publishers to fight digital book piracy with a coordinated program of lawsuits, takedown pressure and anti-piracy legislation seemed to energize the crowd and generate buzz (and a barrage of response on Twitter) both pro and con at yesterday's opening sessions of Digital Book World."
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Largest number of books published since records began
An article in The Bookseller on line reports that last year saw the largest number of titles published since records began 15 years ago. The figures are compiled by Nielsen and show that more than 133,000 titles were published during 2009 - an increase of 3.2% on the previous 12 months - hitting the highest output for a single year ever.
Nielsen said: "The increases can be accounted for in part by growth in print-on-demand (POD) and digital product, which we expect to continue to increase in the future."
While this is excellent news for book lovers and authors, it also highlights the importance for authors (and publishers) of effective and consistent marketing to make certain titles stand out in an increasingly crowded market place.
To read the full article click on the link below.
UK publishes more books than ever in 2009:
Nielsen said: "The increases can be accounted for in part by growth in print-on-demand (POD) and digital product, which we expect to continue to increase in the future."
While this is excellent news for book lovers and authors, it also highlights the importance for authors (and publishers) of effective and consistent marketing to make certain titles stand out in an increasingly crowded market place.
To read the full article click on the link below.
UK publishes more books than ever in 2009:
Monday, 25 January 2010
Authors and publishers will still need marketing no matter the reading device
Amidst all the furore over e books, and with the announcement from Apple pending this Wednesday on its new tablet device, the Espresso Book Machine that allows the printing of a physical book while-you-wait has almost been forgotten, except for an article in the Independent on 18 January that announced a new partnership with Xerox.
"The Espresso Book Machine, launched in 2009, offers a print-side answer to some of e-books' many advantages. Through a new partnership with Xerox that improves both the technology and its distribution possibilities, it may soon be clear whether or not the concept takes off."
The EBM presents an intriguing alternative to e-reading for those who prefer a physical book. From the reader's prospective, it grants quick access to a wide range of titles. On the author's side, the EBM - and technology like it - could offer competition in the growing area of self-publishing, a field where digital technology is increasingly replacing print-on-demand solutions."
No more expensive stock, storage or distribution problems - sound familiar? It should, it's what they're saying about the e reader, and print on demand (POD). Then there is Amazon's offer to sell the digital version of your book by-passing the publisher altogether and giving authors 70% royalties.
There are interesting times ahead for writers, publishers and all involved in the book trade. And although this may be encouraging news for those who wish to self-publish there is one aspect in all of this that can't be replaced by a machine and that is marketing.
With hundreds of thousands of books already available and a possible explosion of material in the years ahead, the challenge for the author (and publisher) will be how to make the book/s stand out from the crowd and generate sales. It's all very well being published but if people don't know about you, or are not made aware of your work then it won't sell.
When it comes down to it I would rather have a publisher paying a lower royalty but with a full commitment to publishing and marketing my books worldwide, including actively selling rights. This means an allocated marketing budget and plan, and full involvement and consultation with me. This would be renewable on an agreed term. This way at least I would be sure of exposure and therefore sales and an active partnership. Perhaps the argument therefore should not be over royalties but an agreed level of marketing activity. And perhaps the time has come for a new type of contract and partnership between author and publisher.
"The Espresso Book Machine, launched in 2009, offers a print-side answer to some of e-books' many advantages. Through a new partnership with Xerox that improves both the technology and its distribution possibilities, it may soon be clear whether or not the concept takes off."
The EBM presents an intriguing alternative to e-reading for those who prefer a physical book. From the reader's prospective, it grants quick access to a wide range of titles. On the author's side, the EBM - and technology like it - could offer competition in the growing area of self-publishing, a field where digital technology is increasingly replacing print-on-demand solutions."
No more expensive stock, storage or distribution problems - sound familiar? It should, it's what they're saying about the e reader, and print on demand (POD). Then there is Amazon's offer to sell the digital version of your book by-passing the publisher altogether and giving authors 70% royalties.
There are interesting times ahead for writers, publishers and all involved in the book trade. And although this may be encouraging news for those who wish to self-publish there is one aspect in all of this that can't be replaced by a machine and that is marketing.
With hundreds of thousands of books already available and a possible explosion of material in the years ahead, the challenge for the author (and publisher) will be how to make the book/s stand out from the crowd and generate sales. It's all very well being published but if people don't know about you, or are not made aware of your work then it won't sell.
When it comes down to it I would rather have a publisher paying a lower royalty but with a full commitment to publishing and marketing my books worldwide, including actively selling rights. This means an allocated marketing budget and plan, and full involvement and consultation with me. This would be renewable on an agreed term. This way at least I would be sure of exposure and therefore sales and an active partnership. Perhaps the argument therefore should not be over royalties but an agreed level of marketing activity. And perhaps the time has come for a new type of contract and partnership between author and publisher.
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Apple's tablet and e books
This is an interesting article for anyone interested in e books, and their future potential, which should be all writers. Click on the link below to read the full article.
Can Apple's tablet do it again?:
Can Apple's tablet do it again?:
"Apple's latest product is the eagerly awaited 'tablet' electronic reader. But no one knows exactly what it will do, nor whether it can duplicate the runaway success of the earlier iPod or iPhone. So what might we expect?
"What is known is that HarperCollins and other publishers have already been negotiating with Apple to make their e-books, magazines and newspapers immediately available on the new device."
"'With big names like HarperCollins and Time magazine weighing in, the Apple iTablet is going to change digital publishing in a way Amazon's Kindle hasn't yet done,' says Peter Moore, director of specialist publishers PSP Rare. 'With a touch-enabled colour screen and a similar size format to current magazines, the experience should be almost physical – with the added benefit of live content and links through to websites.'
Richard Charkin, executive director of Bloomsbury Publishing, is eager to meet this new entrant in the e-reader market. 'The fact that Apple is coming in is terrific. E-books are already happening with the Kindle – we have been pleasantly surprised by the volume of e-book sales – but this will accelerate it.'
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
The York Festival of Writing 2010
Cornerstones Literary Consultancy has joined forces with The Writers' Workshop to help spread the word about The York Festival of Writing 2010, 9 - 11 April 2010 .
The York Festival of Writing 2010 provides an excellent opportunity for writers to gain industry perspectives from a host of literary consultants, editors and agents as well as take part in courses and workshops taught by bestselling authors including a mini course on, 'How To Get Published' (Friday 9th April), run by Harry Bingham, Helen Corner and David Smith (Annette Green Literary Agency).
Writers can sign up to a "One-to-One" session where they will be able to pitch their book directly to an agent or editor to get professional feedback and can join in the fun with Authonomy Live (hosted by HarperCollins) and Saturday night's Literary Death Match (or just watch!).
The Festival is being held on campus at York University, 9 - 11 April 2010 For more information visit http://www.festivalofwriting.com/
Cornerstones Literary Consultancy are scouts for leading Literary Agents.
The York Festival of Writing 2010 provides an excellent opportunity for writers to gain industry perspectives from a host of literary consultants, editors and agents as well as take part in courses and workshops taught by bestselling authors including a mini course on, 'How To Get Published' (Friday 9th April), run by Harry Bingham, Helen Corner and David Smith (Annette Green Literary Agency).
Writers can sign up to a "One-to-One" session where they will be able to pitch their book directly to an agent or editor to get professional feedback and can join in the fun with Authonomy Live (hosted by HarperCollins) and Saturday night's Literary Death Match (or just watch!).
The Festival is being held on campus at York University, 9 - 11 April 2010 For more information visit http://www.festivalofwriting.com/
Cornerstones Literary Consultancy are scouts for leading Literary Agents.
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