Amazon Chronicles: Tim Carmody’s Newsletter on the “Elephant”
Carmody’s new Amazon Chronicles provides that wider perspective on Amazon not often discussed in publishing-industry circles.
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Hot Sheet Index: February 6, 2019
The Hot Sheet Index reviewed the growth of worldwide digital library checkouts in 2018– Toronto Public Library with highest digital lending.
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Overdrive listed the top ten most popular ebooks circulating in libraries for 2018. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng topped the list.
Going Traditional after Self-Publishing
We were curious if recent dealmaking for self-published work would reveal helpful criteria for generating interest from agents and editors.
Pre-Publication Book Reviews Mistakenly Appear at Amazon
When customer reviews at Amazon started showing up on book product pages prior to release dates, we asked if there was a change in policy.
Traditional Publishers Emphasize Nonfiction and Children’s
Traditional publishers wrapped up 2018 with a slight gain in print unit sales, with adult nonfiction leading the way.
Smart Speakers: Cranking the Volume on Authors’ Audio
One reason smart speakers hold potential for authors’ audio is that they don’t require authors to produce an audiobook.
Hot Sheet Index: January 23, 2019
The Hot Sheet Index reviewed print book sales as reported by BookScan for 2013, 2017 and 2018. Print unit sales rose 1.3 percent in 2018.
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BookNet Canada has released a study on the romance category, highlighting five subgenres that they found most interesting.
An Explanation of Public Lending Right for Authors
The Authors Guild’s effort to rekindle the idea of a public lending right in the US has prompted quick reactions.
If Author Incomes Are Indeed Declining, Who or What Is to Blame?
New research—complemented by a series of panels hosted by the Authors Guild—looks at the financial fortunes of writers in the digital age.
Is It Possible for Authors to Have Too Much Copyright Protection?
Life plus 70 years became the new term of copyright. It’s considered excessive by just about everyone except corporate attorneys at Disney.
One Year Later: Goodreads on Its Paid Giveaways Program
A year after Amazon’s Goodreads platform started charging for book giveaways i, the company reports that giveaway use is up—and effective.
What’s Ahead for 2019? The Industry Muses
Catch up on insider predictions—and concerns—for 2019. Here’s what publishing community is planning and anticipating.
Blockchain Sales Test Reveals Weak Link in Rights Attribution
Blockchain technology is talked about as a potential vehicle not only for peer-to-peer sales and payment but also for copyright protection.
Hot Sheet Index: January 9, 2019
The Hot Sheet Index reviewed the best selling books for 2018. Number-one among those in the US is Becoming by Michelle Obama.
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The above chart illustrates the expansion of US copyright terms over the past 200+ years. Read an analysis.
The Article Where We Look Back on 2018: Can You Guess the Bright Spot?
Each year, Hot Sheet brings you 130+ publishing-industry stories. We pause at year end to reflect on the issues we covered.
What Everyone Else Thought about 2018—and What’s Ahead
We reached out to people we think have unique insights into the publishing business and aren’t afraid to share direct and frank observations.
How Indies Can Get Books on Shelves in Independent Bookstores
For literary authors, the bookstore market can be a meaningful part of long-term marketing plans and word-of-mouth sales, enter DartFrog.
Turbulent Transitions from CreateSpace to KDP
When Amazon decided to shutter CreateSpace and migrate customers to Amazon KDP, it created a headache for some and a nightmare for others.
Hot Sheet Index: December 26, 2018
The Hot Sheet Index reviewed percentage of Amazon customers who are also Prime members and looked at Amazon’s subscription revenue growth.
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The More Canada Report brings together 40 years of Canadian research documents on the Canadian publishing industry.
Storytel Now Accessible to Authors via Findaway Voices
The term, audiobook sounds almost as good as Christmas to publishers these days, as the format leads all others in sales gains.
Eye on the Prize: How Effective Are Awards for Indie Authors?
Launch of Selfies in London prompts us to consider awards programs for indie authors—and the impact they might have on sales and marketing.
Takeaways on Audio from London’s FutureBook Live Conference
In its October 2018 StatShot report, the Association of American Publishers noted downloaded audio revenue in US jumped 37.7 percent year on year.
An Entrepreneur’s Tough Take on Publishing
Penguin Random House UK CEO Tom Weldon asked for Conniff Allende’s observations as an entrepreneur becoming an author with PRH.
WordPress 5.0 Rolls Out: Should You Upgrade Now?
Known as Gutenberg, the new WordPress editor offers more functionality, but it may not play well with every theme and plugin.
Hot Sheet Index: December 12, 2018
The Hot Sheet Index reviewed the number of global podcast listeners in 2013 and 2017 and advertising spends for podcasts versus radio.
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According to PwC’s Global Entertainment & Media Outlook, podcasting advertising revenue is expected to grow significantly in next five years.
Digital Content in Libraries: Shifting Terms and Increasing Demand
Publishers’ concerns over lost revenue inspire multiple models for digital acquisitions in libraries. There’s not much hard data to build on.
Anna Todd on Marketing Indie Books: “Crazy How Hard It Is”
Novelist Anna Todd is the original Wattpad Star, first to have Wattpad writings take off as bestsellers when published by a Big Five house.
Traditional Publishers Enjoy Gains During the Third Quarter
Since the start of 2018, the publishing industry has enjoyed gains from new nonfiction, especially from titles in the political category.
Amazon’s Support for Canadian Literature Challenged by Authors
In French-speaking Québec, criticism of prize funding from Amazon raises difficult questions about the company’s place in literary culture.
Hot Sheet Index: November 28, 2018
The Hot Sheet Index reviewed revenue of traditional publishers for the first three quarters of the year for 2016, 2017 and 2018.
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The Association of American Publishers recently released their trade publishing figures for the first three quarters of 2018.
Wattpad Next in the States: Writing for Revenue
Less than two months after its introduction, the Wattpad Next beta has opened in US market. A majority split of its income to go to writers.
What’s the Matter with Fiction Sales? Part 1: Amazon
As we’ve often reported in Hot Sheet, fiction sales for traditional publishers have been declining in recent years.
What’s the Matter with Fiction Sales? Part 2: Modern Trends
Competing forms of storytelling may be taking attention away from books—but might also be spurring some book sales.
WHSmith: The Mystery Barnes & Noble Buyer
WHSmith’s annual sales are less than half Barnes & Noble’s. But, it’s in a better position profit-wise, making $213 million last fiscal year.
Debating Publishing’s Two A-Words: Amazon and Antitrust
Under scrutiny in the age of Amazon is whether consumer-welfare standard traditionally underlying US antitrust law remains correct standard.
Kobo Partners with Language+ Literary Translations
Working with a reputable translation company, Kobo Writing Life is bringing new structure to translation for its self-publishing authors.