At the latest Apple summit yesterday, CEO Steve Jobs took time out from
the hoopla surrounding new product launches to share some updated iTunes
sales numbers, noting that customers have downloaded 35 million books,
11.7 billion songs, more than 4.3 million TV episodes and 100 million movies.
Here is a link to a fabulous, positive blog by sf/f author Kristine Kathryn Rusch about her publishing odyssey over the past year from bemoaning out of print titles to finding them all in eBook format. I like the upbeat nature of her commentary.
http://www.grantvillegazette.com/articles/Changing_Times
Read More >>In June, net book sales reported by 87 publishers to the Association of American Publishers rose 10.6%, to $1.1 billion, and are up 11.4%, to $4.2 billion, for the year to date. Children's books showed notable strength, particularly the Children's/YA hardcover category, which jumped 19.6% in June.
Read More >>Indie resurgence stories seem to be a media trend recently. In a piece headlined "U.S. neighborhood bookstores thrive in digital age," Reuters noted that indies "are discovering how to flourish despite the growth of electronic books with some even looking to form an alliance with a formidable competitor--Google."
"We often say we're like Mark Twain: that the rumors of our death have been greatly exaggerated," said Oren Teicher, CEO of the American Booksellers Association, which has reached a deal with Google Editions that will allow members to sell Google's e-books through their websites. "Getting into the business of being able to provide digital content to consumers is one way in which to evolve," Teicher added.
"We anticipate Google Editions will be a popular channel for independent bookstores with a web presence," said Jeannie Hornung, spokeswoman for Google Books and News.
Rachel Meier, general manager at the Booksmith, San Francisco, Calif., agreed: "What we hear from our customers is a great deal of enthusiasm for price bundling, so you can read the physical book at home when you're in bed at night and when you're on the subway you can read the same book on your e-reader."
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