Former editor-in-chief and creative director of the now-defunct LA Times Sunday magazine Nancie Clare and Rip Georges launch their new Kickstarter-backed Noir Magazine in Apple’s App store today (with additional platforms to follow). It’s an iPad magazine for the mystery, thriller, and true crime genres “in all mediums–a thoroughly modern, multi-media immersion into their books, TV, films, graphic novels, and video games.” Megan Abbott is editor at large and many other well-known authors are on the board of advisors and will contribute. The first issue includes an excerpt of Suspect by Robert Crais; Lee Child on bringing Reacher to the […]
New Business Models
New York Times to “Bookify” Archives and Experiment with Short-Form eBook Journalism
The New York Times announced two ebook publishing programs yesterday. The paper is using Vook’s ebook publishing platform to turn curated selections of previously-published articles into ebooks under the TimesFiles imprint, launching a collection of 25 titles next Monday “with many more expected to come in 2013.” Initial titles include The Fall of the Berlin Wall, George Steinbrenner and the Yankees and The Life and Films of John Hughes. Editor for editorial development of the New York Times Gerald Marzorati tells us the TimesFiles line is focused on “simply bookifying our archives.” The second venture is a “collaboration with” Byliner […]
Unlocking More Titles for Digital
The theme of today’s enews reports is clear: a variety of initiatives to get more material into digital form in a variety of ways: Two multi-volume deals with Audible were announced yesterday. Digital publisher Diversion Books will see “the majority” of their backlist and new titles going forward turned into audiobooks, available on Audible starting this winter. Diversion says they are publishing 100 titles a year. Separately, Audible is also working with UK literary agency AP Watt to produce audiobook versions of the backlists of seven well-known authors: Somerset Maugham, Nevil Shute, Robert Graves, Rafael Sabatini, P M Hubbard, Ronald […]
Under Fire For Business Model Change, Flat World Says “After Analyzing Our Fall Results, It Was Necessary”
Flat World Knowledge vp Michael Boezi posted a letter to customers about their recent decision to abandon free browser-based access to their textbooks. They write: “As we struggled with the decision, we realized the timing would be an issue for instructors who had made their spring book selections based on free access. We understand your disappointment and frustration. But after analyzing our fall results, it was necessary to implement the change effective January 1, 2013.” He says their “business is viable and growing” though the previous statement makes it sound like they are under some stress, and adds “we stubbornly […]
Donnelley Will Take Over All US Warehousing for HarperCollins
HarperCollins is further expanding their supply chain agreement with RR Donnelley to rely on the printer for all warehousing and order shipping in the US as of summer 2013, from a “centrally located Donnelley distribution facility. Harper will close Thomas Nelson’s Nashville, TN warehouse (as they did with Zondervan’s warehouse in June) and will no longer use their Scranton, PA distribution center to ship reorders. As of early 2012, Harper had moved the shipment of all new releases to a Donnelley facility. The publisher will still manage customer service, credit, collection, IT, and freight services from Scranton. They declined to […]
eNews: Google Launches in Korea, and More
Apparently Google launched an ebook venture in Korea earlier this month, with participation from publishers including Woongjin, Ridibooks and Munhakdongne Publishing. An unnamed official told The Korea Herald (found via The Digital Reader), “We picked Korea since the adoption rate of smart devices, including smartphones, are one of the highest among other nations.” Korea Herald Yale University Press announced that they have received a grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation “to launch extensive market research and development of a new electronic model for illustrated books.” The award and subsequent work is intriguing since so far illustrated books have lagged […]