From Podcast to Book Deal: What Agents and Editors Want
Podcasters who can elevate or transform their podcast concept or content into a unique book are best positioned to secure a publishing deal
Book sales update: June 23, 2021
Fiction continues to perform well in 2021 across all categories, including adult, YA, and graphic novels, while adult nonfiction sales are soft.
A new conservative publisher has launched, drawing big headlines
The new effort, All Seasons Press, comes from two former Big Five editors—one from Simon & Schuster, the other from Hachette.
Library distributor OverDrive acquires Kanopy
OverDrive, the leading digital reading platform for libraries, acquired Kanopy, a video streaming service, which includes 30.000 films.
Another state, New York, passes library ebook bill
Not even a month after Maryland passed a library ebook bill, New York passed one of its own; (which Governor Andrew Cuomo still needs to sign
Post-Brexit, UK publishers worry about the resale of printed books across borders
Publisher and author trade associations in UK are raising alarm over potential effects of Brexit on book market due to “copyright exhaustion.”
Could Amazon get broken up?
After a year of investigation, the US House Judiciary committee has introduced multiple bills that would potentially break up tech giants Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google.
Kindle Vella loosens restrictions on authors prior to launch
When Kindle Vella, a platform for serialized fiction, was first announced in the spring, Amazon’s content guidelines stipulated that serial work published through Vella could not be published.
HarperCollins is being “very aggressive” in buying new titles
The CEO of HarperCollins, Brian Murray, recently spoke at an investor conference, where he said the publisher has seen the “book pie grow” by about 15 percent.
How to Develop a Marketing and Promotion Plan as an Indie Author
Self-publishing offers so many paths and options that it can seem intimidating. One debut novelist shares her journey, with valuable tips.
Starting Your Novel With Character: 3 Strengths and 3 Challenges
Fiction writers who start with character, as opposed to plot or theme, have certain advantages—and certain challenges.
How to Be a Great Podcast Guest: A Guide for Authors
Learning these basic skills will help you relax, enjoy the conversation, and hopefully turn a podcast’s audience into yours as well.
Closing Image: June 9, 2021
The AAP released sales figures for March 2021, allowing for a year-on-year comparison between Q1 2020 and Q1 2021.
Links of Interest: June 9, 2021
Amazon Does Amazon know what it sells? The short answer is no. Of Amazon’s top 50 sellers in the category
A New Crowdfunding Platform for Comics
Zoop will offer the usual crowdfunding services but also offer separate support services to help people succeed with their campaigns.
Bookwire Launches in The US
Bookwire currently offers ebook and audiobook distribution services in Germany, Brazil, Mexico, and the UK—with a catalog of a half million ebooks
Chicago’s Seminary Co-op Bookstore Launches Two Imprints
The first imprint, Offsets, is in partnership with Northwestern University Press and will focus on new translations, out-of-print titles
A Podcast About Writing With Scrivener
Journalist Kirk McElhearn interviews writers about how they use Scrivener, a popular app for book writing.
Canelo Launches Canelo History
UK-based fiction publisher Canelo is launching a new nonfiction imprint, Canelo History. The program will start with three books a month
Clarification: Curious Fictions
However, with most platforms, creators have to shoulder the payment processing fees. That isn’t true, however, of Curious Fictions.
Audiobooks Increase Their Market Share of Listening Hours, Even as Sales Growth Has Slowed
As exponential growth in audio inevitably slows, publishers will have to vie for market share with other content providers and services
The Anatomy of a USA Today Bestseller Launch Campaign
Self-published authors can make their way onto the USA Today bestseller list through a strategic campaign of pre-orders, newsletter marketing, and advertising
Political Books Have Been a Financial Boon for Publishers—but for How Much Longer?
Last year was the biggest year for political book sales since BookScan began tracking the category in 2004, in no small part due to the Trump administration
Book Sales Update: June 9, 2021
author organizations conduct surveys that inevitably show authors’ incomes in decline, while publishers continue to report their strongest sales ever.
IMHO: Questions raised by the recent AAP annual meeting
The CEO of PRH said just last month, quite logically, that if the revenue pool grows for them, it also grows for authors and agents.