As we previewed on Tuesday, today is the official launch day for Walmart ebooks (including digital audiobooks as well), in partnership with Rakuten Kobo. In separate news, Kobo has added “one-touch public library lending” to all of their ereading devices, for libraries that use Rakuten’s OverDrive. Kobo ceo Michael Tamblyn says in the announcement, “The insights and feedback gleaned from readers on our most premium device showed that those who borrowed ebooks directly from their public library on average read 30 percent more than those who did not use the library feature. Avid readers clearly appreciate the easy access to more […]
Web marketing/promotion
Next, Macmillan to Close Romance Community Site
Macmillan is closing another digital property, announcing the end of their six-year-old romance community website, Heroes and Heartbreakers. (Earlier this week, the company announced the closing of self-publishing platform Pronoun.) In a statement, Macmillan said: “As the digital habits of readers and consumers evolve, our strategic direction for reaching them evolves as well. Macmillan will be saying goodbye to the Heroes and Heartbreakers website by the end of 2017 and going forward will focus on engaging romance fans via our e-newsletter – which has a robust, growing circulation – and on social media.” Four staff members who work on H&H […]
Corporate: Ingram Pairs with Optiqly; BISG On Rights
Marketing technology and services startup Optiqly — still in private beta and launching shortly — will provide a version of their tools through Ingram’s CoreSource as a subscription service, adapted to focus on servicing the company’s distribution clients. The deal provides Ingram an exclusive among a limited set of large distributors and wholesalers. Ingram Content Group Ventures was the investor in Optiqly’s first seed funding, and they are leading the second seed funding round, underway now. Director of data services at ICG Margaret Harrison says in the announcement, “Publishers understand the importance of metadata and online marketing to access consumer […]
HarperCollins Celebrates 200 Years
HarperCollins announced a campaign to commemorate its 200th anniversary — beginning with the creation of J. & J. Harper, Printers in 1817 — focused around a new website. Anniversary events will include a campaign to support literacy and reading, charity projects, and an exhibition of historical items at the Columbia University Rare Book and Manuscript Library in New York City. The site is organized into five sections, including: The HarperCollins 200 is a collection of Harper titles curated by booksellers and librarians from around the world; Inside the Archives, presenting images of story notes from authors, correspondence, photographs, original manuscripts, and more; […]
HarperCollins Launches Book Recommendation Bots
HarperCollins has announced the launch of BookGenie and Epic Reads, two bot-powered book recommendation engines available through Facebook Messenger. Both provide book recommendations through one-on-one chatting. With Bookgenie, readers request a recommendation based on a book they enjoyed, or select from curated recommendations. Epic Reads, related to the publisher’s YA-focused site, allows readers to specify what kind of mood they’re in, as well as what books and authors they enjoy. HarperCollins vice president of marketing Carrie Bloxson said in the announcement, “We’re always looking for ways to help readers discover new books and authors. The BookGenie bot combines the power of […]
People, Etc.
Soumeya Bendimerad Roberts has joined Hannigan Salky Getzler Agency as agent and rights director. She will be focusing on her literary fiction, narrative non-fiction list, and young adult list. Roberts was most recently an agent at Writers House. In addition, Leigh Eisenman and Tanusri Prasanna have both been promoted to agent. Eisenman will be growing her practical non-fiction and literary/upmarket fiction list, and Prasanna will focus on picture books, middle grade, and young adult titles. At Holloway Literary, Kortney Price has been promoted to associate agent. Susan Rella recently joined Melville House as managing editor. Previously she was managing editor at Gallery. […]