Today Penguin launched the public beta of Book Country, a new subsidiary company and website whose aim is to build a writing community and social network centered around genre fiction, especially romance, science fiction & fantasy, and mysteries & thrillers. Membership is free and allows writers to post unpublished manuscripts and receive detailed feedback–ranging from genre categorization to more focused comments on specific craft aspects–from community members, essentially acting as an ongoing online workshop. Starting this summer Book Country intends to generate revenue by having members to self-publish print and e-book editions of their work for a fee, and in […]
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Comprehensive Nook Color Update Includes Email, Apps, and Social Networking, Plus New Ad Campaign
This morning Barnes & Noble confirmed what had been rumored over the weekend a major firmware update to Nook Color (now on Android’s 2.2/Froyo OS) that makes the device a lot more like a proper tablet, with new apps, additional illustrated and enhanced ebooks, the ability to check email, more magazines for sale, and social networking. Nook Email allows users to check a variety of accounts, while social networking service Nook Friends allows for book-swapping and targeted library lending, “liking” titles and viewing other customer recommendations. “Frankly most of the things they have asked us about are very popular tablet […]
Bookselling: The Future of Davis-Kidd; Waterstone’s Rumors; Store Closings; and More
The results of last week’s auction of remaining Joseph-Beth stores seemed to spell an uncertain future for its Davis-Kidd location in Memphis. Liquidation firm Gordon Brothers was the top bidder, and will start to wind down operations (pending court approval on Wednesday) unless a workaround can be found. That workaround, according to the Commercial Appeal, is if landlord Laurelwood Shopping Center and its president Tom Prewitt decides to help. “We tried to reach out to the mall (Laurelwood) ownership prior to the closing of the auction and work out a deal, but were rebuffed,” said Joseph-Beth ceo Mark Wilson. Bookseller […]
With Revised Bonus Plan Approved, Borders Seeks $50M More in Financing
If only Borders could bring the same energy and focus to their business plan that they’ve brought to incentivizing their leadership, they might have a chance for survival. After additional revisions and negotiations, a Federal bankruptcy court approved Borders’ executive bonus plan on Friday. The disbursement of up to $6.6 million in management bonuses for ten executives (40% of their base salary) and five senior executive bonuses (55% of base salary) is contingent on Borders reducing its annual rent by $10 million for each of 2011 and 2012, and the court approving a sale or reorganization plan by November 16. […]
Mehta Honored at LBF
At a lunchless lunchtime presentation at the London Book Fair today, longtime Knopf Publishing Group chairman and editor-in-chief Sonny Mehta was honored with the LBF’s Lifetime Achievement Award in International Publishing. In accepting the honor, Mehta said: “My own view is that awards should be given to writers, not publishers, so today I want to celebrate the writers I’ve had a hand in publishing, recognize the agents who brought their works to me, and trumpet the heroic efforts of my colleagues, first at Pan and Picador, and now at Knopf and Doubleday.” More broadly, Mehta suggested that “the universality and […]
Coming May 3: $114 Kindle With Ads on Home Page, Screen Savers
Amazon announced Monday that it will issue a “new” edition of its wi-fi Kindle priced at $114, $25 less than the going rate for the current wireless edition. The catch–or hook, depending on your vantage point–is that this edition, which ships starting on May 3, will feature Special Offers, the retailer’s preferred name for ads that will run on the e-reader’s home page and screen savers. Among the deals on offer for the first few weeks include discounted Amazon gift cards, discounts on other Amazon products like jeans and swimsuits, and free gifts for signing up for an Amazon Rewards […]