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Dorchester and the eBook Market

Such interesting news in the last week or so.

Last week, mass-market romance publisher Dorchester Publishing announced that it was dropping its mass-market print program in favor of eBooks and Print on Demand (POD). Naturally, economics drove this decision: drastically falling sales for the last two years, as well as difficulty in getting space for moderately priced mass-market format in brick-and-mortar bookstores, which results in, yeah, fewer sales. Even so, eBook sales accounted for 12% of Dorchester’s revenue prior to the decision, though Dorchester’s President John Prebich predicts the better margins for eBooks will make the change worthwhile. He also predicts a doubling of the market share for eBooks in the next year. From his lips…

Seems to me that Dorchester has, by necessity, gotten on the road that those of us in independent ePublishing have been traveling for better than a decade. And the recognized unsustainability of the current print publishing model—printing slews of books that can be returned or stripped and dumped, or as Rowena Cherry told us recently, sold to a paper recycler—must drive other publishers to the same decision in time.

[UPDATE: Dorchester editorial director Leah Hultenschmidt told Publishers Weekly on 11 August that the plan to go all e was "only for the next six months." http://bit.ly/blZovp.]

An excellent article in the New York Times on August 11, 2010 outlined the changes in the publishing world with the growth of eBooks. According to the article, compared to the same period last year, the market share for eBooks nearly tripled, now 8.5% of the total for trade book sales. Awesome!

An interesting intro to the article was a reminder of the movie, “You’ve Got Mail,” where a mega-bookstore owner was driving a small, independent bookstore owner out of business. That movie came out 12 years ago, about the same time that EPIC was getting started. Hmmm. Back then the question was, when would the mega-stores drive the small booksellers out of business? (Notice that it wasn’t “if” this would happen.) Turns out they didn’t. The small booksellers who survived are doing fine, as they are the ones who recognized their strength: serving a loyal customer base, catering to their customers’ reading preferences and offering trusted advice on a new author or book. Now, the big boys are seeing their store traffic dwindle, as more and more readers buy their books on-line, both print and e. And since people are often motivated by instant gratification, that instant download is a great incentive to go e.

In the same way that indie booksellers have survived, I’m pretty confident that the big publishers who are dipping their toes into the eBook pool won’t run the independent eBook publishers out of business. At least not as long as the indie publishers remember who they are and what they offer their customers: great customer service and well-priced books that push the envelope, tell great stories in a compelling way, and are presented professionally.

From where I sit, the future looks pretty bright. I don’t know if any of us will become independently wealthy from the ePublishing business, but I do know the numbers are on our side to at least be able to make a living at it. EPIC welcomes Dorchester authors, editors, and officers to join us on this wild ride.

With the goal of “making a living” in mind, what can EPIC do to fulfill our mission of promoting ePublishing and excellence in the industry? How do we help our members gain new readers who come to the indies directly or through trusted distributors to buy our books? What efforts are needed to build the market, especially for independently published eBooks?

Feel free to comment here or email me privately with your ideas: president@epicauthors.com.

Read the PW article on Dorchester: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/44085-dorchester-drops-mass-market-publishing-for-e-book-pod-model.html).
To read the entire NYT article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/12/business/media/12bookstore.html?_r=2&src=busln

Posted in Digital Publishing, News and Opinion, Print on Demand, eBook Publishing.

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Piracy isn’t the only danger

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO) celebrated World Book and Copyright Day on April 23. According to the website (http://bit.ly/UNESCO_Copyright), “By celebrating this Day throughout the world, UNESCO seeks to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright.”

The selection of April 23 was not accidental, as that date has a strong tie to literature. Many luminaries of classic literature either were born or died on this day: Cervantes, Shakespeare, Nabokov, among many others. One of the main goals is to encourage a “renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity.”

One way of showing respect for the creators of intellectual property, author and publisher, is to respect the ownership of that property. Too often EPICureans are alerted to pirates and piracy sites, for whom our electronically published books are easy prey. I urge you all to add the following to your sig lines to alert all, especially your fans: Report ebook piracy: http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx.

But there is another way our intellectual property is disrespected. These other “disrespecters” are not pirates, because they are in contractual relationships with publishers or self-published authors. They sell the books legally, they report sales, and even pay a cut of the sales to the publisher for distribution to authors. The trouble is that cut is getting smaller and smaller as they fight among themselves for market share. They are Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Fictionwise. This last one is the most troubling, as Fictionwise was a good friend of independent electronic publishing before the sale of the company to Barnes and Noble.

The price wars between the big on-line booksellers of eBooks have hurt our independent publishers and their authors, threatening the economic vitality of our publishers and the opportunity of our authors to earn money from their intellectual property. What can EPIC do in the face of this assault on our members’ deserved earnings? EPIC, after all, is a small group, whose voice is not yet recognized as The Voice of Electronic Publishing in the wider world.

That’s got to change. We have to become bigger, louder, and more influential in our industry. Our first steps are to give us a more professional face by changing our name to focus on our industry, create a Strategic Plan, and update our website to make it more a place for information on industry issues. While we’re getting these things done, we also have to engage the “disrespecters.” The question is how? How vocal should EPIC be? What should be our message? Do we engage each bookseller individually? As an organization? Should our Publisher Coalition be the representative?

We are a Capuchin monkey in a world of 800-lb gorillas. We need to be discreet, but direct. And I’m looking for your input on how EPIC, as an organization, should respond to the price wars and the assault on our right to receive a fair return on our intellectual property.

Betty Kasischke
EPIC President

Posted in Digital Publishing, News and Opinion, Piracy, eBook Publishing.

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Barnes & Noble Up for Sale

Citing part of their reason for selling out as the rise in popularity in digital books, Barnes & Noble is now for sale.

Read the Wall Street Journal article

The shoe now appears to be on the other foot as the once-thriving giant and scourge of independent bookstores nationwide is now in dire straits.

But is blaming their difficulties in whole or in part on digital books really fair especially since they have dipped their toe into the arena? After all, Barnes & Noble did buy eBook retailer Fictionwise just over a year ago. And then there is the Nook E-Reader.

Perhaps a restructuring of their market strategy , as the Wall Street Journal article suggests, will help. But only time will tell if Barnes & Noble goes the way of the indie bookseller they took out all those years ago.

Posted in News and Opinion.

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Shamed Historian Eats Humble Pie for Negative Amazon Reviews

In a follow up to the story earlier this year where an academic gave negative reviews on Amazon of the books written by others in the field has resulted in written apologies and the payment of damages.

Read the article from The Telegraph.co.uk

You can also read the earlier post about the issue here on this blog.

The behavior of Professor Orlando Figes brought into question such issues like academic integrity, the value of literary reviews, libel, the question of anonymity when commenting on public forums, and the rights of people adversely affected.

Modern technology makes it easy to spread news worldwide and almost impossible to stay “hidden” online. With the popularity of “snark” when it comes to expressing opinion (and even news)—where can people turn to for information they can trust?

And is it ever wise for anyone to cast aspersions online “anonymously”?

Posted in News and Opinion.

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EPIC’s 2011 eBook Awards Competition™ is Open for Entries!

[PERMISSION TO FORWARD GRANTED]

[San Antonio, Texas] EPIC – Electronically Published Internet Connection™ announces the start of its international eBook competition and celebrates the award’s 12th consecutive year of operation.

As Competition Chair Debi Sullivan informs, “Others try to claim they are the ‘first’ or ‘only’ eBook competition recognizing excellence in the field. Don’t be fooled. EPIC’s eBook Awards™ (formerly the EPPIES) is the longest-standing ePublishing award still in existence. Our history speaks for itself.”

Over the years, EPIC™ has bestowed more than 350 awards in nearly 40 different categories plus awards for book cover artistry. This year’s competition has over thirty categories in six divisions. Entries come from around the world, and with eBooks gaining more mainstream popularity, this number is expected to rise.

EPIC’s eBook Awards™ is a peer-judged competition with a large percentage of judges coming from within the EPIC™ organization consisting of published authors and industry professionals. Guest judges, all of whom are either published authors or publishing professionals, are sometimes invited to participate.

Brief summary of competition details
:
Qualifying entries must be English-language electronic books released for sale between June 1, 2009 and May 31, 2010. This includes self- and subsidy-published books. Re-released books are eligible provided there is no prior history with the competition; this includes annual books (yearbooks, guides, etc.). A minimum of 10,000 words is required for entries, except for the Poetry and Children categories.

Entries may be either Single Title or Anthology. The editor or publisher must enter multi-author anthologies, while single-author anthologies may be entered by the author, editor, or publisher.

Works containing pedophilia, bestiality (not in respect to paranormal shape shifters), necrophilia, and/or snuff as acceptable sexual practices are not permitted and will be disqualified.

If you have any questions about the content of your entry, please contact Competition Chair Debi Sullivan at epic.competition.chair@gmail.com. All correspondence must include the following in the subject line:
1. The reason for contact (e.g. entry, format. naming, payment, etc.),
2. The entrant’s name,
3. The entry title.
[EXAMPLE: Entry – Jane Doe – The ABC Book]

All other correspondence will be deleted.

Each entry must be “as the product sells.” There are no limits on the number of titles that can be entered by the entrant; however, the same work may NOT be entered in more than one category. A separate entry form is required for each title and all entries and fees must be received before midnight CST (Central Standard Time/GMT -6) August 16th, 2010. The entry form can be found at http://bit.ly/EPICeBookEntry.

All entries must be submitted as an electronic PDF (non-DRM) attachment to epic.competition.entries@gmail.com.

Official rules on how to enter EPIC’s 2011 eBook Awards Competition™ can be found at http://www.epicauthors.com/ebookawardrules2011.html along with a complete Competition Guide and a list of Frequently Asked Questions available for download.

Good luck!

Debi Sullivan, EPIC™ Competition Chair
epic.competition.chair@gmail.com
http://www.epicauthors.com/ebookawardrules2011.html

###
EPIC – Electronically Published Internet Connection™ was established in 1997 as a professional organization for published and contracted eBook and print authors. The goal of EPIC™ is to provide a strong voice for electronic publishing—the major publishing marketplace of the future. EPIC™ is non-profit and tax-exempt under 501(c)6.

Posted in Announcements, Awards, Competitions, Contests, Digital Publishing, Writing, eBook Awards, eBook Publishing.

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EPICon™ 2011 – Instructors, Panellists, and Class Proposals Needed

EPIC™ (Electronically Published Internet Connection) needs classes and panels for EPICon™ 2011.

• Do you have a subject you’re knowledgeable about?
• Have a desire to teach but don’t have time for long-term commitment?
• Do you have an idea for a class that you’d like to see offered?
• Is there a topic that you want more information about but don’t know where to find it?
• Want to learn more about publishing, writing, or just be around interesting people talking about interesting things?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, join us in beautiful Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia on March 10th-13th, 2011 and volunteer to teach a class.

Uncomfortable with teaching a class? Then volunteer to sit on a panel or request a class, and we’ll see what we can do about fulfilling that request.

Submit your suggestions, class proposals, ideas for panel discussions and for potential speakers to Ashley and Elizabeth at epiconclasscoordinator@gmail.com. Be sure to include what you’re interested in (top 3 choices for classes or panels) and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

For more information on the conference, please visit http://www.epicon-conference.com/

Elizabeth Schechter
Ashley Christman
EPICon™ 2011 Class Track Coordinators
epiconclasscoordinator@gmail.com
http://www.epicon-conference.com/

Posted in Announcements, Conventions, EPICon.

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EPICon 2011 Surprise

The Friday night dinner is going to be a theme meal. We’re doing a Colonial dinner that night. It’s going to be very different from what people are used to, but Lisa really likes the unusual for conventions, and those touches make it special. It’s going to be family-style service…a lazy Susan in the middle of the tables, as I understand the set-up. The meal includes…
 
King’s Arms Tavern Peanut Soup with Sippets

Poached fillet of flouder atop a bed of herb-seasoned rice with creole sauce

Southern-style fried chicken

Roasted pork loin with pork au jus lie

Country Style Corn Fritters

Sweet Potato Pudding

Sauteed Zucchini with Snap Beans and Pecans

Salmagundi (an 18th C combination of garden greens, VA ham, roast turkey breast, aged cheddar cheese, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, olives, and herb dressing)

Loaves of Sally Lunn Bread

Sour Cherry Trifle

coffee, decaf, tea

Ale served during the meal (the waiters DO card, so we remind attendees to bring an ID or not expect to drink the ale)
 
There will be special plates served separately to vegans, so we won’t have to worry about milk and egg products for them.

You can register at http://www.epic-conference.com/

Posted in Announcements, Conferences, Digital Publishing, eBook Publishing.


EPICon 2011 Update!

The committee has been working full-out to make this the smoothest presentation yet. We have an excellent group, and you’ll be seeing a lot more from them in the coming weeks.
 
First up will be class/panel calls. So, if you will be attending and want to present, please be ready to submit your ideas when Elizabeth and Ashley call for them.
 
Publishers… Lorna is our publisher liason this year. She has a list of member publishers and is adding non-member publishers to contact. Once she has her welcome letter (complete with information about publisher networking, promo opps, panels, and so forth on it), she will start contacting publishers. If your publisher is not an EPIC member, please send Lorna your publisher’s name, contact person, and email address at  31months(at)cox(dot)net
 
There will be special announcements of what we have planned for this year coming from Lisa and myself over the next few weeks. As always when we do a convention together, we’re putting the special touches on that make an EPICon memorable.
 
We hope to see many of you at EPICon this year. Remember that you can register for EPICon at the main site http://www.epicon-conference.com

NOTE: I’ve been informed that the hotel is charging one day of your stay as a downpayment when you make a reservation, to be refunded if you cancel, of course. If this will be a problem, please wait until just before the deadline in February to make your hotel reservations. We were not aware of this until today ourselves.

Remember that Jim is doing room sharing arrangements for us. For more information, see the travel page on the site.
http://www.epicon-conference.com

Brenna Lyons

EPICon 2011 co-Chair

Posted in Announcements, Conferences, Digital Publishing, eBook Publishing.


Q&A for entering the EPIC eBook Competition!

A Q&A period about entering the EPIC eBook Competition will be held on the eWorkshop group from June 29th through July 10th, 2010. Everyone is welcome (member and not). Just sign onto the list at this link.

The contest will be open for entries from July 15th-August 15th this year, so start thinking about what you want to enter this year.

Posted in Announcements, Awards, Competitions, Digital Publishing, EPPIE, Education, Submissions, Writing, eBook Awards, eBook Publishing.


EPICon 2011 is now open for registrations!

The EPICon site is now 100% up and running, and everyone (member or not) is welcome to register! Please feel free to forward this message…
 
Brenna Lyons
EPICon 2011 co-chair

The 12th Annual EPICon™ Goes Colonial
 
EPICon™, hosted by EPIC – Electronically Published Internet Connection™, has opened registrations for their 12th annual industry convention. The convention will be held March 10th-13th, 2011 at the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel and Convention Center in Colonial Williamsburg, VA.
 
Why should you consider coming to EPICon?
 
* Two days of workshops in everything from genre writing to the business of ePublishing, marketing, and IP law, including a class on writing love scenes by NY Times bestseller Angela Knight and a two-hour class on hostage negotiation by veteran police officer Michael Woodcock.
 
*Affordable pricing! Early EPIC member registrants this year (those who register before October 31st, 2010) will pay $190 for the three-day convention, and non-members will pay just $30 more. The cost includes most meals from the Thursday evening mixer through the Sunday morning breakfast.  In addition, the convention has special rates for family members who are just eating convention meals but not attending classes, middle school through college students, teachers attending the convention, and even a deal for three-day passes into the historic district. The convention hotel rate is $109 per night (single or double occupancy), and a suite is just $129.
 
* A convention that not only offers meal choices at all non-buffet meals but also works with food aversions, allergies, and other concerns.
 
* A full list of promo opportunities for authors, publishers, and agents. Pitch sessions will be arranged with agents and editors interested in giving them, as well as underwriting for meet and greets held at the convention.
 
* Free Wi-Fi in all hotel rooms and convention areas.
 
* All profits from the hotel and historic site passes go to support the Colonial Williamsburg educational efforts.
 
* Convention materials on CD instead of the bulky old 3-ring binder!
 
* Something for everyone, from the unpublished author to the published, from industry members to teachers and students.
 
Registration for the 2011 convention is at http://www.epicon-conference.com EPICon is using technology to its full advantage. For those that don’t want to do everything by phone, the entire process–from registering for the convention and making reservations at the hotel to arranging for the airport shuttle and choosing meals–can be accomplished online this year.
 
Contact: Lisa Brennan-Webb, Convention Chair
Email:
epiconchair2011@yahoo.com
http://www.epicon-conference.com

Posted in Announcements, Conferences, Digital Publishing, Writing, eBook Publishing.