Nov 14 2011
Monday Midday News: Kindle Touch and Fire Reviews; Black Friday eReader Deals
The Kindle devices have been released to the media and there are a few reviews. Of the Fire, reviewers say the it is easy to access Amazon content and if all you want to do is consume media rather than create, the Fire is probably the right kind of device for you, particularly at the price point of $199. It does appear to be buggy, however, with some lapses in page turns or the need to be precise when interfacing with the touch screen.
- Engadget - Not a good comparison device on the market.
- Gizmodo - Should have had a home button.
- Pogue at the Times – Cheap and serviceable.
I’ll have my device and the nook tablet (hopefully) this week and I’ll review the devices this weekend. It might take more than one post given that I’ll have two devices and I want to compare them to the iPad as well. Don’t forget to check out our Vox review.
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According to Publishers Marketplace (reg req’d), Kobo has launched the Kobo Touch with Offers:
Within the next two to three weeks, Kobo will match Amazon’s ad-bearing ereaders with their own “Kobo Touch with Offers” with “valuable offers and sponsored screens in discreet places outside of the reading experience.” The ad-driven model will sell for just under $100, a $40 discount over the ad-free model.
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I perused the flyers at BFads.net for ereader deals on Black Friday. A couple of places like Radio Shack and Staples are selling the devices at retail but offering a $10-$20 gift certificate to the stores along with the purchase of the device. There are two actual deals:
- Nook Touch WiFi $79 (regular price $99) – Best Buy
- Kindle Keyboard w SO & 3G $85 (regular price $139) - Target
Wal-mart and Target also have iTunes gift card sales. Wal-mart is buy a $100 GC for $80 and Target’s is buy $25 GC for $20.
Barbara Grier, a founder of one of the most successful publishing houses for books by and about lesbians, including a nonfiction chronicle about lesbian nuns that became a phenomenon after it drew complaints from Roman Catholic officials, died on Thursday in Tallahassee, Fla. She was 78.
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Crain’s New York, a business publication, indicates that the once robust trade paperback market seems to be languishing. Trade paperbacks were immensely profitable for publishers because most of the costs for the book had been absorbed at the hardcover stage. Now, the sales of trade paperback releases for a hardcover have declined dramatically indicating that the cycle of multiple editions of print might be over.
“What I would say is, the mix has changed,” said Morgan Entrekin, publisher of Grove/Atlantic, which hasn’t cut reprints but has expanded its line of original trade paperbacks. “It may be harder to do two [print] editions of the same book.”
Perhaps it will be more trade originals and hardcovers with a simultaneous ebook release and no subsequent print editions. The question will be whether the publishers will reduce the ebook prices. I’m guessing that most will not.
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Maisey Yates is getting some negative feedback on the cover of The Highest Price to Pay sent to her publisher, Mills & Boon. I am guessing it is not because the arm across the hero’s chest is completely disembodied from the body of the heroine behind him. It’s disappointing that Mills & Boon is receiving complaints about this book given that race relations in the UK is much different than it is here in the US (this is not to say that there isn’t racism in the UK, but it is different than in the US).
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HarperCollins may include digital ads in upcoming digital books, particularly those non fiction books.
HarperCollins group digital director and publisher David Roth-Ey spoke with New Media Age about the recent consideration, saying, “Certain kinds of books create immersive reading experiences whereby ads would be too interruptive for readers, and publishers and even advertisers aren’t likely to put a premium on that. But information books, for example a Collins birds guide, could provide very valuable real estate for contextual advertising – in this case potentially a binoculars manufacturer.”
Via Goodreader.
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Stanza might be alive for now, but Amazon has come out and said that this will be the last update for Stanza. IOS5 is it,folks.
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Simon & Schuster is reorganizing its sales force to place more bodies on the digital side and this shift in focus also will result in some layoffs:
As a result of the change, Frank Fochetta, director of field sales, and Lauren Monaco, director of national accounts, are leaving the company along with what are believed to be about eight other sales employees. S&S, however, said it plans to hire about that same number to beef up its marketing programs and to fill selected spots in sales.
Send to Kindle
Nov 14, 2011 @ 12:19:51
I didn’t watch it, but I saw trailers for a recent TV programme here in the UK about race relations. This featured women saying ‘I’m not a racist or anything, but I wouldn’t let my daughter marry one of them.’ So, yeah, I’m not that surprised about the complaints despite the fact that there is a large mixed-race population here.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 12:33:14
I have sort of mixed feelings about ebooks which I won’t bore everyone with, but ads within ebooks would tilt my opinion heavily towards “no”. I don’t mind previews and things at the end of the book where I can simply not look at them if I chose not to, but ads within the book are a whole other thing.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 12:52:36
I’d actually really like the Yates cover if it weren’t for the completely disgusted look on the heroine’s face. Seriously, WTH is up with that?
Nov 14, 2011 @ 12:58:18
I agree, LoriK – even in non-fiction books like informational books like travel guides, ads in the text are a no-no for me.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 13:06:25
Put me down for no ads in books.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 13:13:16
@SuperWendy: Maybe she’s a girl with ‘tude? It looks (from the lower part of the cover) to be about models, no (I can’t access the link from work–filters)? If so, she may have a permanent pout engraved on her face. ;)
Nov 14, 2011 @ 13:13:50
@SuperWendy: I have a feeling she’s supposed to look intense or something, but, you’re right, she does look disgusted. Maybe she’s disgusted that her arm has gone wandering without her?
Nov 14, 2011 @ 13:16:52
Loved that cover. It made me want to read the book, which is more than I can say for a few Mills and Boon covers recently.
Loved the book, too. It’s one of my favorite category romances of the year.
I could totally channel Ozwald Boateng as the hero of the book. He’s been in my top ten sexy men list for a long time now.
http://is.gd/pj3MKE
and his clothes make me wish I was male.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 13:19:39
@LG: Good point. If my arm went wandering off I’d probably have a pretty cheesed off look on my face too ;)
@Christine M.: Yes, that is a runway in the lower portion of the cover. You never see a runway model smiling, so maybe she just got off of work? Ha!
Nov 14, 2011 @ 13:20:05
I vote no ads in ebooks!
Nov 14, 2011 @ 13:46:08
Several librarian lists have been discussing recently whether or not it would be ethical for libraries to circulate ebooks with ads.
On the one hand, we do circulate magazines, which are stuffed with them (literally — I hate those cards!) On the t’other hand, we don’t usually buy those sorts of medical / self-help / etc. books which are thinly disguised product pitches.
On the gripping hand, we (and many other library) will not purchase HarperCollins e-books anyways, because of their ridiculous circulation restrictions. But I’d hate to see other publishers start playing this game.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 14:45:00
Count me as another vote for no ads in e-books. If you want to put a snippet for an upcoming release at the end fine, just don’t make the snippet(s) too long or I feel cheated when my 300 page book is really only 250 pages.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 15:29:54
I wanted to say thank you to everyone who’s been so supportive. (I would love to tell you that the heroine having an extra large arm is part of her conflict, but alas, it’s not)
It’s so wonderful to see the positive comments absolutely burying the negative feedback that I, and M&B, have received.
It’s much more reflective of the world I know, and it’s so nice to hear from people who are reasonable and in touch with the modern world.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 15:52:04
Regarding the UK cover of Maisey Yates’s The Highest Price To Pay, a book I bought after seeing it featured at Teach Me Tonight: I find it an interesting and unusual romance cover. The positioning is bold, with the heroine and hero both calmly facing the viewer. While the hero stands in the foreground, the heroine behind him, it is the heroine’s arm that is possessively/protectively around the hero, not the other way around. These two appear to take care of each other and stand together as they face the world with open eyes. To me it feels particularly striking that this romance couple – a couple that is not depicted as being busy kissing, groping, holding a baby (still too “radical” an image on the cover of an interracial romance?), or in the throes of lustful ecstacy – isn’t actually smiling or laughing. It is unusual, too, on a romance cover displaying a couple, that only the hero is in a state of half-undress, his shirt unbuttoned – and matter-of-factly at that. No showing of cleavage, curve of breast, bare shoulders, bare legs, or bare back for the heroine. This is a sober representation of romance intimacy, something of which I am not really finding that many similar examples, not even in inspirational romance (where sexiness factor is typically replaced by a cuteness or nostalgia factor).
Nov 14, 2011 @ 16:00:17
Maybe it’s the dude who’s the uberhot catwalk model and the chick looks all sullen because everyone is trying to steal her hottie away?
Nov 14, 2011 @ 16:14:00
The cover design of the M&B Moderns were revamped relatively recently, and this is pretty typical of the new style. I can’t recall any of them having babies on the covers. Here’s another, from this month’s lineup, with the couple in a very similar pose (side by side, facing the viewer, not smiling or laughing). One could imagine that the viewer is in the position occupied by the photographer in this cover.
Neither of them are models. The heroine is a fashion designer and the hero acquires the assets of the financial institution which had given her business loans. He therefore becomes involved in helping her business become a success.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 16:40:59
The most disturbing thing is that people are actually NOT ashamed to send M&B negative feedback about that cover ( btw, that guy is totally hot). You would think that they would just “complain” in silence.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 16:55:07
@Junne: You’re right. They’re waving that “I’m not a racist, but” flag loud and proud. And while I defend their right to complain, doing so says more about them than it will ever say about the cover or the book.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 17:01:54
@Junne: Maybe we should also write to M&B? As a general rule black guys aren’t my type (I’m a red-head kind of gal–exception: Old Spice guy), but this guy is really hot!
Nov 14, 2011 @ 17:02:02
@Lynne Connolly: @Danielle: You guys are making me want to read Yates’ book. Is it available in the US? I can’t find it on Amazon… Does it have a Harlequin edition? Because they usually change the title and it’s hard to tell if they are the same book.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 17:14:01
Thank you for mentioning the passing of Barbara Grier. As others have said, the GLBT writing community has lost a giant. Were it not for her efforts, many of the independent GLBT publishers likely would not exist today.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 17:15:27
Wow. I thought the Yates was striking and didn’t even notice the arm issue (probably ‘cuz I was staring at the hot hero). Makes me wonder if there is going to be a similar flack over Kendig’s upcoming book, Firethorn.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 17:18:22
@Brie: according to Yates’ website the novel has only been published in UK and Australian/New Zealand editions so far.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 17:45:19
@Laura Vivanco: @Brie: I think Harlequin Presents always come out as M&B Moderns first. I read Maisie Yate’s Marriage Made on Paper a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it, and I can’t wait for this one to get a preorder button on Amazon.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 17:54:21
I am surprised; I had totally diferent reaction.
No offense to Maisey Yates but I really dislike the dual and perhaps dueling connotations from the cover vs. the title. I thought what people were objecting to was it seemed racist. Suggesting an interracial should have to pay for what they are doing (even perhaps as if its something wrong) is how I reacted to it.
I am maybe not as aware as I should be but I know there are struggles particular to interracial couples. However the title still bothers me. Even calling it A High Price to Pay would be much better than The Highest Price to Pay.The superlative use sounds like Something Very Bad happens to these people.
Also I agree with Danielle these people look like they have no chemistry. Inspy novels often have characters not looking at each other but there are usually warmer colors in the background and softer expressions. I haven’t seen other Mills and Boon covers but compared to other romance novels it looks off.
That girl’s disgusted look doesn’t help. It looks like she’s paying a high price just standing next to the dude (that’s probably just her arm).
I probably am a little overly naive and unrealistic, but I am bothered by the idea that having an interracial relationship leads to Paying the Highest Price. I didn’t realise what the issue was until I read the comments. I understand that the actual story maybe sweet and sensitve and well written. I have no problem with interracial love and am sadden thats the issue people are talking about. Good Luck to Maisey Yates!
Nov 14, 2011 @ 17:58:35
@Courtney Milan: Perhaps that’s because the M&B Moderns/Harlequin Presents are edited in the UK?
Michelle Styles has mentioned that “Harlequin Historical is going to simultaneous publication in the US and the UK” so I wonder if other lines may eventually move towards simultaneous publication too.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 19:26:26
I didn’t think she looked disgusted at all. That look on her face says, “Hands off MY man, bitch.”
And who can blame her, really. He is gorgeous.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 20:00:32
I have no problem with the interracial-ness of the Maisey Yates cover, and the title didn’t really register as having to do with race. I was disturbed that the female model looked like she was sick. At the very least, unhappy. When I clicked on the links to other covers (thanks Laura Vivanco!) I didn’t really like the other serious face covers.
It’s probably just not being used to them – you know how you get to identify genre based on elements on the cover? These new covers are just different enough that I can’t peg them. Still, even if I got used to them, the serious looking faces, and especially the woman looking angry or sick – it’s just not a happy image to me. Then again, I got used to angry half dressed sword swinging men and women on paranormal covers, so I guess it just takes some time for me.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 20:35:36
Check out the Australian release cover! They’ve hidden him as much as possible and the model is no longer Mr In Your Face Hottie McHotness, but a faceless, slender non-threatening creature of non-specific race. If we were going to play a round of Racial Stereotypes: the Guessing Edition, I’d say Pakistani or Indian?
http://www.millsandboon.com.au/product.asp?productid=4640
Nov 14, 2011 @ 20:41:17
“The Highest Price To Pay” is called that because he’s a financier. Nothing to do with his race, which is a non-issue in the story. And because she finds herself in debt to him, and has to take a chance with him, personally and professionally.
The skin problem is hers, not his, (she has scars, and they are not treated lightly in this story).
The title is so much better than their previous ones. In another incarnation, this would have been, “Billionaire financier, feisty miss” or “Mistress to the sexy Billionaire” or some such thing.
It’s for sale here at Amazon:
http://amzn.com/B005AK4P6A
If you’re interested, I reviewed it here:
http://is.gd/2zFe7e
And a snippet of news – at the recent Festival of Romance, some of the editors from Mills and Boon Modern (Presents in the US) did a presentation. In the questions section, I asked them if it was true that they were planning to do a simultaneous submission of all titles every month. They said yes, in the future they’ll be the same in the US and the UK, with the same titles, although they might have different cover art. They said yes, definitely, they were working towards it, though they couldn’t give me a specific date.
About time. I have to check every book to make sure I’m not buying it twice, and I have done it a couple of times.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 20:45:57
Sorry – the editors from Harlequin who confirmed the simultaneous release rumour were Anna Boatman and Megan Haslam.
Nov 14, 2011 @ 21:37:07
Hi! I just wanted to pop in to support Maisey Yates and her book cover – in fact, she was my guest at Romance University on August 8 to discuss biracial relationships in romance. You can find the post at this link if you want to check out what Maisey had to say : http://romanceuniversity.org/2011/08/08/guess-whos-coming-to-dinner-2011-style/
have a great day!
Robin
Nov 14, 2011 @ 22:39:22
I wouldn’t mind one or two ads in e-books (for a decent reduction in price) but I’m worried by the example of TV. I find American TV pretty much unwatchable. You pay premium prices for cable and then nearly half the time is ads. On Russian TV, we get a number of American shows and, in general, an hour-long show lasts 40 minutes — and that’s with as many ads as the channels think Russians will tolerate.
Will we get to a point where books are unreadable? Or the wealthier buy ad-free books and the masses get a massively interrupted reading experience? (And then we’ll wonder why they don’t read)
Nov 14, 2011 @ 23:54:00
I don’t get what the issue is with that cover. It’s terrible because of the bad Photoshopping, but other than that, who cares?! If the guy was white, would there be an issue? It seems that whenever something like this turns up people on both sides want to complain.
There’s a man and there’s a woman on the cover. If someone reads more into it than that, then maybe they’re the people being racist!
Nov 15, 2011 @ 06:47:07
@Lynne Connolly: Thanks for the information about the moves towards more simultaneous publication, Lynne. I imagine it’s a bit tricky because (at least this is what’s happening to some of the historicals) as a result of the changes in the publishing schedule some books end up being e-book only in either the UK or North American markets.
Nov 15, 2011 @ 07:29:32
@Laura Vivanco: @Courtney Milan: Thanks for the info!
Nov 15, 2011 @ 08:12:09
I love the cover of The Highest Price to Pay (well especially the hero, the heroine is a tad sullen looking). I love the fact that the couple is interracial. What I don’t love? The fact that I can’t read the book because it’s not released in the US. I am getting very frustrated by these Modern Mill and Boons that come out overseas, I see so many I want but they aren’t available in the US. Then, months later when they are released in the US they have a different cover and title so I can’t even find the book! What are the publishers thinking? Don’t they realize how connected the romance world is now with the Internet? Why do they make these changes? Seriously it drives me nuts.
Nov 15, 2011 @ 09:59:27
My reaction to the cover was slightly different than I’ve seen mentioned. I studied it for the longest time, scanning up, down, and around, trying to figure out what the problem was. In the process, I peripherally noticed the guy is hot and the heroine has an odd expression, but I kept searching for the inappropriate penis or something. I guess I’ve seen too many of those. ;p I was particularly looking at the legs on the catwalk, checking the positioning below his torso.
It was only when I finished reading the text accompanying the cover that I finally figured it out. It is more than a little disturbing to think race is the issue. WTF, people?! Hopefully the controversy will at least attract more readers than it otherwise might have had; now I want to read it.
Nov 15, 2011 @ 10:01:49
@Lynne Connolly:
Yes. Oswald Boteng should feature prominently in almost anyone’s idea of a romance hero. Not only is he handsome but he will always be superbly dressed.
I have to say that the Maisey Yates cover created quite a sensation in a couple of online book groups. People (who normally would not read romance) are getting the book because of the cover.
Nov 15, 2011 @ 11:12:13
@Laura Vivanco:
Thank you for the links. The positioning in the cover of The Power of Vasilii has some similarity, but to me the picture and configuration looks a lot less elaborate, more like a candid snapshot of a couple relaxing at a table in a night club, for example (at least until the paparazzo showed up!). Also, the woman is showing the typical cleavage, wearing a slight smile, and unlike the Yates cover, the two bodies are not linked together, entwined. The Heiress Behind The Headlines, now, I don’t know what to make of at all, except that it certainly shows the line taking a different approach than the traditional Mills & Boon/Harlequin style! I am almost reminded of 80s glitz and glamour novels.
Nov 15, 2011 @ 11:18:15
@Brie:
As per Lynne Connolly’s link it now appears to be available used in the US via Amazon, but at the time I bought my copy I had to order it from the UK. The title changes can be a pain when hunting for a book, I agree!
Nov 15, 2011 @ 11:38:27
@Danielle: I got intrigued so went off to have a look at more covers. There’s a lot of variety, but here are some which are similar in at least some ways, for comparative purposes. Oh, and I discovered that the new cover designs began to appear in October 2010, so not quite as recently as I thought (obviously time has flown for me this year!)
A possibly grumpy-looking heroine
A heroine who looks like she’s preparing to become a virgin sacrifice (that would fit with the title) and a visibly non-white hero (he’s a sheikh).
Another non-white hero (he’s a maharaja). Both he and the heroine are staring at the reader; she looks happy.
An earlier novel by Maisey Yates. The hero and heroine aren’t touching. The heroine looks as though she could be infuriated by the hero (as described in the blurb) and plotting her revenge.
Heroine facing the viewer backed by headless hero.
Hero facing the viewer backed by headless heroine.
Hero and heroine both facing the reader. The heroine doesn’t exactly look delighted, presumably due to the “stormy Spanish summer” she’s experiencing.
Nov 15, 2011 @ 11:47:15
Is it just me or does that cover model look remarkably similar to Sookie Stackhouse/Anna Paquin? If she’s a model in the story she’s probably hungry thus the sullen expression. That, and the fact that her arm has been dislocated at the shoulder.
Seriously though, it’s a good cover. I like the directness of it. Take it or leave it. Maisey should ignore the negativity as best she can and continue to write great books!
As far as ads in my ebooks go, it’s a waste of time to put them there. I’m only going to skip over them and if I have any reaction it all, it would be ire directed at the advertiser. I hate having stuff shoved down my throat. Movie theaters piss me off for this same reason.
Nov 15, 2011 @ 12:49:20
To be honest, some of the new Mills and Boon covers seem to have chicken-in-the-oven syndrome.
I mean this one:
http://is.gd/0gyoQJ
http://is.gd/kDzTOt
http://is.gd/hmrexY
http://is.gd/gPLeDH
http://is.gd/63v6bg
Half of them are thinking, “Did I turn the oven off before I left the house? Is that chicken still in there?”
The other half are thinking, “Did I lock the car? Is it safe to leave it unlocked in this district, or dare I excuse myself long enough to go and lock it?”
None of them seem interested in their partner.
I blame Joyce Grenfell.
Nov 15, 2011 @ 12:58:50
@Laura Vivanco:
Thank you for the links and the entertaining cover commentary! I was getting all excited about Stephens’s maharaja story when a warning bell suddenly rang in my head: you have found the UK edition of the infamous visually-impaired rally-co-driver book! Still, I am really happy to see that not only is the stereotypical clinch gone but that the international pairings are expanding beyond the traditional Anglo woman-Latin man range (though hoping for reverse pairings is probably too much, and a discussion all its own). Will definitely read one or more of these and keep an eye on the line. Thank you!
By the way, I feel that Jeannie (#43) expressed it well: there seems to be a hint of a challenge in the representation of Blaise and Ella (Yates’s cover couple), a stance suggesting a “take it or leave it” attitude. I’ll take it :-)
Nov 15, 2011 @ 15:05:32
Lynne, you’re probably right about the chicken but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt and assume they’re giving haughty Posh Spice-type looks to demonstrate how annoyed/bored they are with the paparazzi who’re staring at them.
Danielle, have you seen the RIVA covers? The RIVAs are a new line with what seems to me to be a very unusual layout: they have a split-screen effect, and in quite a few the hero is on one half of the cover and the heroine is on the other (e.g. this one).
Anyway, it does seem as though Mills & Boon are busily experimenting with cover art, titles and, as you say, “the international pairings are expanding beyond the traditional Anglo woman-Latin man range” and also the synchronising of publication dates for some of the lines in the UK and US/Canada; I wonder what changes they’ll make next.
Nov 15, 2011 @ 18:56:46
@Laura Vivanco:
I believe I first learned about the RIVA line at your blog, actually, although the ensuing discussion quickly caused me to forget about the books as the comment thread seemed to confirm that promises of fresh and new rarely seem to deliver something truly fresh and new. But now that I am taking a look I do receive the impression that someone is trying. Confessions Of A Girl-Next-Door (a November release), for example, does not sound like the average category romance title. There’s a (young) women’s interest magazine-vibe about the image styling (although the execution see-saws) and the synopses seem to embrace a flirty mood. But several of the authors are established names, and that makes me wonder how much substantial change the actual stories show. Are the voices and narratives of the line matching the age group the covers seem to target? In any case, the experimentation is interesting to watch and makes me curious about how far Mills & Boon are going to take it. Obviously, times roll on and readers evolve with them. It would be nice to see romance publishers lead the way instead of scrambling to try to catch up.
Nov 15, 2011 @ 19:07:59
I think that cover is hot. It’s striking and it’s a cover that would make me pick up the book, read the blurb and look inside. I hope they keep it.
Nov 16, 2011 @ 05:12:54
Hah! How come? Because of this? You may have a point ^^
Nov 16, 2011 @ 07:37:37
Estara, that’s the one.
But bearing the Maisey Yates discussion in mind, there’s a wonderful, incredibly amazing monologue from the early seventies called “Her First Flight”
http://is.gd/tsoRqI
It’s poignant, it says everything and it makes me cry, in a good way.
She wrote and performed her monologues herself. Sadly missed.