The week in publishing (August 29 to September 4)
Posted By Sue Collier on September 4, 2011
Here’s some of the latest in industry news and views:
From Nathan Bransford: By the Time A Self-Published Author Hits it Big, Do They Really Need a Publisher?
This post title has been sitting in my Draft file for months, well before the news broke that self-publishing star John Locke inked a print-only deal with Simon & Schuster, choosing to continue to self-publish his own e-books.
From Publisher’s Lunch: Profits Up Sharply On Random House On Slight Sales Decline
Bertelsmann reported sales for the first half of the year, and Random House’s results followed the pattern of other big houses in recent months: sales were basically flat (down 4 million euros) but profits rebounded significantly, up over 70 percent. Sales for the period were 787 million euros, with operating EBIT of 69 million euros. The sales slide was blamed on “unfavorable exchange-rate effects.” While sales are still below levels reached in 2007 (832 million euros) and 2006 (859 million euros), this year’s operating EBIT is the best first-half result in years.
From The Savvy Book Marketer: Experimenting with Ebook Pricing
The Innocent was priced at .99 and was ranked #10 in the Kindle store at the end of April. We wanted to see if we could raise the price and ride the wave, maybe make some good money and so we jacked up the price to $4.99 and most of the month it sat at $3.99. So here is what happened.
From EContent: Advertising in Ebooks: Heresy or Genius?
According to a recent survey of 600 publishers across the trade, professional, and educational markets, the biggest struggle publishers face is maximizing ebook profits as the industry struggles to go digital. Part of the profit problem will be solved as publishers reduce production expenses by moving to scalable digital workflows, rather than retrofitting existing, outdated and inefficient publishing processes. While saving money by increasing productivity and reducing expenses is an important part of gaining a positive return on investment from ebooks and apps, maximizing profits also requires publishers to find innovative ways of earning revenue and turning those dollars into profit.
From a Newbie’s Guide to Publishing: How To Succeed
I get pummeled with email, often from people either thanking me or asking me things. Here’s a quick encapsulation of the questions I get, and how I’d reply if I had the time.
From FutureBook: Sony on the comeback trail with its new wi-fi Reader
Sony has finally launched its “next generation” e-reader with a touch-screen wireless device and an international ReaderStore. As rumoured there is also a Pottermore link-up – not any exclusive material, but a specially-created limited edition of Reader Wi-Fi, which includes a voucher that enables Harry Potter fans to download the first Harry Potter e-book title, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, from Pottermore. Wizard.
From terribleminds: Will Entrekin Interview
This has been a week focusing on self-publishing talk, and so it seems only fitting that today’s interview is with an author whose work is out there in the DIY self-published space. Do I always agree with Will? No. Do I always find him respectful? Indeed. He’s a smart guy with lots to say on the subject, so I’ll let him get right to it.
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