eBook distributor Smashwords announced today in a posting from founder Mark Coker that as of today all of their titles are being sold on an agency basis. “Our authors and publishers spoke (and some wrote, screamed, begged and politely asked), and we listened,” Coker writes. Smashwords had been using a hybrid model–selling on an agency basis to the iBookstore and Diesel, and selling wholesale to Barnes & Noble, Sony and Kobo. Those three have all agreed to the new agency pricing, with Coker writing: “I think each retail partner decided on their own that what is best for Smashwords authors […]
Archives for December 2010
Updates of All Kinds
1. Despite the skepticism expressed yesterday by co-author of the self-published success THE INVESTMENT ANSWER Dan Goldie about “whether there could be advantages” to having an established publisher take over, people familiar with the negotiations tell us that agent Laurie Liss at Sterling Lord Literistic is well along the path towards a sale, reportedly with multiple seven-figure bids offered and a deal announcement expected shortly. 2. If you read at least some mild skepticism in Barnes & Noble‘s report yesterday on the status of their investigation of strategic options for the company, then you will find credence in this report […]
Yes Virginia, There Is a Google eBook Service
Google has been saying most recently that they will launch their new ebook service in the US before the end of the year, and last night the WSJ reported that the company is “in the final stages of launching its long-awaited e-book retailing venture”–missing the first night of Hanukkah, but with a good shot at arriving before Christmas. But “publishers cautioned [the service] has been delayed before and could be delayed again.” ABA members have begun executing contracts to participate, and numerous publishers have told us they have signed on, and “several publishers said they were exchanging files with Google–a […]