Penguin’s genre community Book Country, which focused on romance, mystery/thriller and science fiction & fantasy upon arrival in April 2011, will formally relaunch on Wednesday with a broader array of categories and services. Book Country’s genre map has expanded to include literary fiction, memoir, narrative nonfiction, New Adult, and several sub-categories within Young Adult. In addition, Book Country, which now has 8300 members as well as eight authors who landed publishing deals, will launch a bookstore that allows community members to sell titles, both through Book Country as well as through all major outlets that Penguin distributes to. Book Country […]
Direct publishing
Nook Looks to Add Some Snap with Commissioned Short Works
Nook Snaps, the company’s brand for short-form content (or “singles”) first introduced in late 2011, has received a relaunch. The company is highlighting a new program of specially-commissioned original works, promising 3 to 5 new titles every two months priced at $1.99. Maris Kreizman is the editor for the line at Nook, and the company is setting up a “submissions box” as well. In contrast to Kindle Singles, works are exclusive to Nook for the first 60 days only. Spokesperson Mary Ellen Keating tells us that during that first 60-day period, “the author receives 100 percent of royalties. Then, it’s […]
eNews: Harper’s Hackathon Twist With BookSmash Challenge
A week after the Perseus-produced Hackathon that concluded at BEA, HarperCollins is launching its own version with BookSmash Challenge, a contest running from today through September 5 that asks developers developers “to create new digital products that ‘break the binding’ and re-imagine the book.” Developers will have access to works by more than a dozen authors, including Eloisa James, Julia Quinn, and C.S. Lewis, from which they can build new products and software from access to the full API for those titles. HarperCollins is working with software competition platform ChallengePost on the contest, and a total of $25,000 in cash […]
People, Etc.: Levesque, Gersh + Diversion, Lehrer Returns?
Jennifer Levesque will join Rodale Books on June 17 as editorial director, reporting to Mary Ann Naples. Previously Levesque was editorial director of adult trade books at Abrams. “Over the past 20 years, Jennifer’s list has included a wide range of Rodale-style books—everything from cooking and lifestyle to gardening and sports/active living titles. Her experience with, and passion for, these subjects—along with her strong management expertise—makes Jennifer an ideal leader for the trade editorial team,” Naples said in the announcement. At Red Wheel/Weiser, Kat Salazar has been promoted to publicist and Jordan Overby moves up to associate production director. The […]
Ingram Announces Broader Printing Program
Ingram has announced what they call “a comprehensive solution for publishers to manage the complete life cycle of print books,” under the banner LifePrint. The program lets publishers manage everything from print-on-demand and digital short-runs up through full offset runs from a master digital file, so they can “manufacture books in any quantity, from a single copy to a high-volume print run.” It pairs Ingram’s own extensive on-demand print centers with “high-volume, offset book printing affiliates to provide a seamless solution with a simple pricing structure.” In another pre-BEA product announced, Rowman & Littlefield has launched an ebookstore as part of […]
With Kindle Worlds, Amazon Turns Fan Fiction Into A Business
A little more than a year ago, EL James spun what originally began life as Twilight fan fiction into one of the most successful book series ever. Now Amazon.com is tapping into the energetic world of fan fiction with the first broad, legally licensed, commercial model. Wednesday morning the company announced Kindle Worlds, a new digital publishing program that allows writers to upload and sell fan fiction based on well-known entertainment properties with characters that inspire fans. The initial properties all come from Alloy Entertainment — PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, GOSSIP GIRL, and THE VAMPIRE DIARIES — and Amazon “plans to […]