Future of Publishing

Mark Coker of Smashwords got me thinking about the future of publishing. Many people have written about the end of the year, end of the decade, predictions for the future, but Mark’s prediction kindled a flame of thought. I try to hold on to these moments because my work schedule has become so crazy I [...]

Book Model Variant 1

Sometimes an author has a great idea for a book, but can’t get a nibble from a publisher. What’s he supposed to do? The first step involves risk. Either the author invests a great deal of time looking for an agent to sell the idea to a publisher, which cuts into any future royalties the [...]

Doom and Gloom or New Beginning?

Everyday I receive an article talking about the demise of this publisher or that book store chain. This morning The Independent out of the UK lamented the Borders UK non-agreement-that-would-save-the-day. The managers’ buyout does not seem to be happening, or they are too little too late – Borders UK is not taking online orders. It [...]

First Books Published

My first ever publishing experience was in grade school. I learned how to make paper. Then I learned how to bind it into a book using thread and glue. Only after the book insides were ready was I allowed to draw, color, paste, and print my story. It was kind of backwards, creating the book [...]

Information Brokers

Chris Brogan in his three hour talk at the Tools of Change 2009 Conference made several thought provoking statements. Aside from being a very funny guy Chris pointed out the obvious. It is so obvious that it escaped my attention. And if he had to remind everyone in the room of the same fact, it [...]

Women (Publishers) Can Be Heroes Too

As a girl growing up I didn’t have many female role models to choose from. Either the woman was the Florence Nightingale type, or a teacher. My sister, whom I worshipped desperately, was interesting because she was at least in science, even if it was nutrition, and she a terrible cook. I knew no female [...]