Oct 8 2008
On the one hand, publishers argue that the book industry is recession proof. On the other hand, publishers say that book buying is dying. Publisher's Weekly let features editor, Dick Donahue, go but plans to produce a web site called Book Life which will host "eight to 10 book-oriented sites." Basically it sounds like hosting(…)
Oct 1 2008
It doesn’t surprise you that JK Rowling is at the top of the list, does it? According to Forbes, Rowling has made over $300 million in the last year. Forbes says that the Potter series has sold 375 million+ copies worldwide. James Patterson comes in a distant but respectable second with a $50 million earning(…)
Sep 24 2008
Dear Mr. Capella, Whereas “The Wedding Officer” was a mix of historical and romance, “The Various Flavors of Coffee” is more historical with some romance and that not very satisfying to me. Yes, yes I should be reviewing what’s actually there and not what I wanted to be there but…. Robert Wallis changes as he(…)
Sep 4 2008
I heard that things at Grand Central Publishing wasn’t so good. Authors have left the Warner Forever line (Julie Ann Long, Michelle Rowen to name a couple), there was the big Stephenie Meyer leak, and now it’s COO is leaving to be a “senior executive at the consumer goods packager International Flavors and Fragrances.” Random House’s(…)
Aug 11 2008
I read this on an agent blog today and light of the events that have happened to Sidney Somers at New Concepts Publishing, so I had to ask whether this is normal because it sounds strange to me. Apparently the agent has two clients who have started their own erotic epress. The agent is editing(…)
Aug 6 2008
Marvel’s sales are down due to rising operational costs and digital initiatives. Since 2008, earnings were down 17.5% to $21.6 million and revenue was down $3.6% to $58.3 million. Still, Marvel has excellent margins at 37%-40% for the year 2008 but that is down from its 42% operating margin in 2007. Via Publishers Weekly. Send(…)
Jul 22 2008
more cat pictures 1. Label the books in a series either on the spine or on the front or both (preferably the spine if that is the only place). I.e., Kresley Cole’s Hunger Like No Other is Book 2 in the Immortals After Dark Series so it should have #2 on the spine or on(…)
Jul 21 2008
Jonathan Karp’s* piece in the Dallas Morning News on Sunday confirms many of the feelings I have about the state of publishing today. It’s overcrowded and publishers are driven to almost gimmick like lengths to make money. (No. 5 on his list of ways to produce growth was “Cut costs, pray to the gods of(…)
Jul 19 2008
Simon & Schuster has sent out an amendment to authors which purports to add a provision setting the standard royalty rate at 15% of the catalog retail price for e-books. The Author’s Guild sent out an alert to instruct authors of three things: members should discuss the amendment with their attorney or agent; warns that,(…)
Jul 10 2008
According to an Amazon insider, of the books that are available in eform, 12% of those sales at Amazon are Kindle sales. On an industry wide scale, ebook sales make up only a single digit market share so Amazon would be exceeding the industry scale if the insider’s tip is true. It’s difficult to know(…)
Jul 1 2008
more cat I’ve heard some lamenting by readers of late that they wished authors would take more time crafting their works. I’ve actually heard the same lament from some industry folks as well. I’m not sure who first started the two books a year release schedule. I think in the 80s a reader waited a(…)
Jun 25 2008
According to a report from the Association of American Publishers, book sales have fallen in April a slight amount (3.5%) to $272.7 million. Year to date sales are flat at $2.183 billion. I’ve decided to start keeping a spreadsheet although I’m not certain how it will look in final form (suggestions from accounting folks welcome).(…)
Jun 12 2008
While yearly sales are still up 1.3%, book sales in March have declined by 11%. Ebook sales were the biggest increases at 58.9% but still only a fraction of the billion dollar book industry at $4.4 million. Trade paperbacks (6.2%), Children’s YA paperbacks (9.1%) and Children’s YA hardcovers were up (2.4%). The trend of increasing(…)
Jun 2 2008
Overstock.com is joining Amazon in suing New York state for its recently implemented tax law which would require online retailers who make sales to NY state residents to collect NY state taxes. Amazon filed suit in late April. Personally, I think tax strategies like this hurt the state more than help it because it penalizes(…)
May 27 2008
Borders had initially partnered with Amazon to serve as its online retail vendor. A year or so ago, Borders severed that relationship and made plans to start its own e-tailing presence. The beta launch is over and customers can now buy from Borders.com direct. Send to Kindle
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