Friday, June 29, 2012

Smashwords Partnering with CA Libraries, the Google Tablet, and Richard Russo Says No To E-books

Some really big news came out yesterday!

This from Paid Content:

The largest network of libraries in California is close to striking an E-book deal with Smashwords. They want to purchase the top 10,000 titles and make them available in their 220 libraries.

“Smashwords and Califa will collaborate to create local library publishing portals that will allow patrons to publish and distribute ebooks through Smashwords for acquisition and listing by their local library.”

While distribution to online bookstores is easy for small publishers and self-publishers, library distribution is not. This would make a huge impact on those companies and individuals. Hopefully other states would follow suit.
This from Economic Times:

Google Inc. will soon unveil a tablet designed to compete with Amazon. It’s been rumored that Google was creating one to compete with the iPad, but an unnamed executive said the device would target the Kindle Fire audience instead. 
And this from BBC:

Author Richard Russo, a Pulitzer Prize winner, refuses to allow his next book to be sold as an E-book. He claims “Interventions” is a tribute to the printed book.

“’Readers can't survive on e-books alone,’ he told the Associated Press.

‘The rapid rise of e-books and online sales of printed books pose threats to bookstores, the book publishing industry and the rise of new authors,’ he continued.”

Some interesting developments!

Will you benefit from the California library deal with Smashwords?

Do you think the Google tablet can compete with the Kindle Fire? (Which currently has 4% of the tablet market share.)

Do you agree with Russo that the rise of E-books poses a threat to the rise of new authors?

And since I forgot an image on Monday, you get two today:

Painted Faerie Moth

Attack of the Butterfly

21 comments:

shelly said...

How can someone say e-books pose a threat to new authors? When that's how a lot of them are discovered.


Shelly
http://secondhandshoesnovel.blogspot.com/

Johanna Garth said...

That's so interesting. The publishing industry is transforming before our eyes...just like your a caterpillar to butterfly.

Karen Jones Gowen said...

I'm surprised Kindle is only 4% of the market. What a battle going on! Thanks for keeping us informed, Diane. Very interesting news.

Anonymous said...

Hi Diane! What interesting news. Is that 4% of the market just for the Kindle Fire or for all the different Kindles manufactured? I think e-books help make it easier for new authors to get published.

Carol Kilgore said...

While Richard Russo may be a wonderful writer and have a finger on the pulse of his corner of the globe, I think he may be a little out of touch with the rest of the publishing world.

I love, love, love my Kindle Fire. I hope I never have to return to reading paper books when I'm reading for pleasure.

LD Masterson said...

Gotta admit it, I'm old school. I use my Nook for books that are released in e-form only, but given the choice, I buy the printed version. Even if it costs more.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Shelly, exactly.

Karen, the Kindle Fire just didn't catch on like they'd hoped.

Susanne, I agree. And that's just for the Fire.

Carol, very out of touch.

Arlee Bird said...

E-readers are where it's at and they're the future at least until the next new technology comes along. Time will tell for Russo. I admire him for standing by his principles.


Lee
A Faraway View

Carolyn Howard-Johnson said...

I agree that most readers can't survive on e-books alone. Especially those who read fiction and poetry.

Having said that, "most" aren't "all." And because of my years owning retail shops, I believe in giving customers what they want, the way they want it. I didn't tell them they could only pay with cash then, even though I preferred not to pay Visa a percentage. Now, I won't tell them they have to read my books printed on paper just because I prefer to do it that way. Sure, I think they're missing something, but they'd miss everything if I didn't allow them to choose.

Best,

Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Excited about the new edition (expanded! updated! even more helpful for writers!) of The Frugal Book Promoter, now a USA Book News award-winner in its own right (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Diane .. interesting times indeed - at least all budding authors can get their e-books published .. and out there ... confidence can grow from there ..

Cheers Hilary

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

I don't own a kindle and others like it. but I suppose writers can get to be known through having their books on them.

Yvonne.

DL Hammons said...

Don't see ebooks as a threat, but there is something to be said about the degradation of overall quality with the rise of self published ebooks that don't go through proper editing.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Does anyone care if the Google tablet competes with the Fire? Until someone comes up with one to compete with the iPad, it doesn't matter.

Ciara said...

I couldn't believe that the Library Journal opened reviews to Smashwords Romance writers. The world is changing.

Stina said...

Interesting. Wonder when school libraries will be open to self published books. That will be an important step for MG and YA authors.

Talli Roland said...

Interesting news. I'd say people are behind the times in the UK - seriously. I can't count the number of articles recently decrying ebooks. So sad.

Denise Covey said...

It's hard to believe that people are still resisting the ebook. Great Smashwords deal.

Denise

Anonymous said...

That is very cool news about CA and Smashwords. I'm all for it!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Carolyn, it is about what customers want.

DL, we did have that problem in print books with subsidy presses though.

Stina, hopefully soon.

Talli, that is sad.

Denise and Liz, the Smashwords deal is great.

Jemi Fraser said...

Those are beautiful pics! I haven't checked out my libraries e-book collection yet- but having a big selection would be great :)

M Pax said...

I heard about google. I hope to benefit from another distribution outlet on Smashwords.

Not going ebook is just burying your head in the sand. So, I think.