We asked, and we received. We started with the excellent, provocative predictions of a group of invited guests. We’d asked them to give us around 50 words each on what they see ahead in digital publishing. Among some of the strongest commentary we had was Philip Jones’ estimation of the reader’s place in the digital dynamic… Read More
Hugh Howey Calls A Ceasefire
‘No Need To Come Out On Top’ It’s time to back off a bit on the arguments for self-publishing. In a classic example of “burying your lead” — along with a hatchet –the author-activist Hugh Howey quietly has signaled a stand-down to his supporters this week And he’s doing it with the note of generosity… Read More
Independent Author Previews and a 'tide turning'
The Bookseller’s announcement that it will begin next month previewing self-published work from the Nook Press platform prompted our #FutureChat focus on efforts to “open up to indies,” as the Alliance of Independent Authors’ campaign (ALLi) has it. While most of the reception of the news has seemed positive, the new programme’s outlines are still coming… Read More
Torchin' For Books Data
Nobody came forward to say we have too much books data. The fact that we cannot see the size and shape of the publishing industry today, however, strikes some as more problematic than others. And shortly after The FutureBook.net community’s #FutureChat on the problem of missing data, I was reminded once more of how many folks… Read More
Reedsy: Bending into digital self-publishing
In the graphics for Reedsy, you sometimes spot “cattails,” as we call them in the sea islands of South Carolina. Reeds. Thus one can go into an interview here hoping that the cutesy name for this new company isn’t a misspelling of “read.” Big relief: “The name is meant to refer to reeds,” says chief operating officer Ricardo… Read More
#FutureChat recap: How can we ease the summer's debate?
To ease the summer’s publishing debates, just hold a #FutureChat, and the biting and bickering become a spirited but friendly exchange of views and counter-views. One of the things many of us appreciate more each week is how responsibly our FutureBook community moves from issue to issue. Newcomers are welcomed and seem to understand immediately that we… Read More