The best edition: Meet First Edition Design Publishing #Author #Writer #ebook #publishing RT

Leave a reply

The best edition: Meet First Edition Design Publishing

 examiner.com

By Liz McKeown  Nashville Books Examiner

First Edition Design Publishing is a Print on Demand (POD) and ebook publishing company with clients in over 18 countries. First Edition Design’s scope spans from self-publishing to book distribution to software application development.

Question: Did First Edition Design Publishing get started as a self-publishing First Edition Design Publishingcompany or did it start out with software application development?

Answer: The company dates back almost three decades. Its roots go back to graphic design. That was at the dawn of the internet, web site development and so forth. Early on, we became Apple Developers and Microsoft Solution Providers. With digital technology expertise well in hand, we were well positioned as we grew into the burgeoning ebook industry. Our past experience and relationships enabled us to establish a massive global distribution network. Our background is what moved us into position as publishers, aggregators and Master Distributors.

Question: If someone has an ebook on Amazon already and just wants a distributor and more attention for the book, what does First Edition Design Publishing have to give?

Answer: As Master Distributors, we submit authors’ books to over 100,000 distribution points in over 100 countries including on-line retailers, libraries, schools, colleges and universities. In addition to Amazon, we submit books to Apple, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Google, Kobo, Diesel, 3M, Ingram, Baker and Taylor, Nielsen, EBSCO, and scores of other on-line booksellers. We do provide a comprehensive list, which is constantly growing, at http://www.firsteditiondesignebooks.com/html/distributionchannels.html

Question: What does your company offer that its rivals don’t?

Answer: As mentioned–unequaled distribution. On top of that, we provide awesome customer support and the best cost to value in the industry for services.

Question: I know First Edition Design Publishing offers fiction and non-fiction. Are there any categories of books that you and others in your company are particularly excited about?

Answer: Children’s books is an area we have always served, but we are now experiencing a tremendous surge in that department. Academic books are another growth area for us.

Question: I understand that comic book authors have an easier time publishing their illustrated work as ebooks. Can First Edition Design Publishing accomodate authors with pictures, graphs, etc.?

Answer: Yes and no. If you submit your file with color pictures and the e-reader which many are black and white; the picture will only appear to be black and white to the reader.

The availability of color e-reader devices has greatly improved over the last year or two with the proliferation of the Kindle Fire, Barnes and Noble’s Nook Color, Apple’s iPad, smartphones, and others, all of which support color graphics. You also have to keep in mind an e-reader is smaller than a printed book. Therefore, viewing any details of a picture will be very difficult for the user.

The format of the picture cannot be wrapped around any text. The picture must reside either at the top or under a block of text. If you submit your book with graphics and the picture is not formatted properly, we will move the picture to the top or bottom of the corresponding text area.

One other option is to remove the picture and provide a link as to where the picture resides. You can set up an html page with your pictures, upload the page, right click on the picture and copy picture link. Insert the link instead of submitting the picture. The text of the link should be “picture”. The reader will know to tap on the “picture” link to view.

Question: What’s new in First Edition Design Publishing?

Answer: We had another ebook release, Daria Rose and The Day She Chose by award-winning Children’s Book Author Yvonne Capitelli, hit Amazon’s bestseller list last week. This month, we also further expanded our ebook distribution in Japan, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. We also added MBS Books, Textbooks.com, Feedbooks, OnlineBookPlace, SmartEbook.com, Starland Books and Eguidebooks to our distribution list along with three more Christian book outlets, Mardel, Parable, and Berean. There are a few other dynamic projects in development that we will announce in the upcoming months.

Question: What is the biggest mistake a self-published author can make?

Answer: Since you asked, the biggest mistake would be for an author to not contact us before submitting their manuscript to us. It can save them a lot of unnecessary heartache. With that said, (another big mistake) is not having their work professionally proofread and copy edited. We see so many “rookie errors” in writing style by indie authors in addition to the usual grammar faux pas. It can really kill a book.

From a book marketing standpoint, I see distinct areas for failure. The first is setting unrealistic goals and having expectations for far greater than what the author and book content can generate. With or without high expectations, most authors don’t put nearly enough time or effort into marketing their book. Authors always want marketing advice… but many don’t apply it and follow through. Another area is poor book cover design. We have had some really awful covers submitted. By the time it gets to the submission point—some authors are emotionally attached to their cover. They don’t (or will not) see what a good art editor or designer sees and the author doesn’t want to part with it. It’s just another area where knowing what the market expects, in addition to skill and wisdom, that pays a dividend.

Question: Any advice for people specifically interested in publishing a POD book?

Answer: Be sure your manuscript is error free before submitting it. Typos, misspellings, misused words, etc. can get costly to change later, or disastrous, if you’ve ordered copies and they contain errors. You will have no one to blame but yourself. Don’t worry about interior design. A good self-publishing service will set it up for you and provide a proof to look over for your approval before it goes to the print house.

Question: Would you recommend that a POD author buy about 25-50 copies of the book and sell them at in event, such as a book fair?

Answer: Book fairs, BOR (Back Of Room) sales at author talks, and book signings are all great ways to promote a book. An author should always have some copies on hand, but how many is the question. That’s the beauty of POD (Print On Demand). With First Edition Design Publishing’s service, authors don’t have to order large quantities, unless they want to. A minimum order for print books is only five. Most authors will see that they have the potential to sell many more books on-line. That’s where the value of a Master Distributor comes in.

Question: I have seen a lot of book trailers on You Tube that are nothing more than the author reading from the book in front of a camcorder. What makes an exciting, enticing book trailer, in your opinion?

Answer: Like anything else that’s audio-visual—it needs a hook. You have to grab the viewers’ attention in the first fifteen seconds. It has to have energy.

Question: Is there anything you want to tell me that I haven’t asked?

Answer: The whole ebook publishing industry is in a fluid state. Major announcements are being made on a weekly basis. As a company, we’ve been able to view the evolution from a slightly different angle. As I said, we were on the digital scene well in advance of the ebook arrival around 2007. Authors who shy away from adding an ebook version to their already published print book, or new release, are giving away a big market share. After all, it’s about giving readers what they want and delivering a book in the way they want to read it. And again, it’s about availability through wide distribution.

Amazon has been selling more ebooks than print books by a considerable margin. Border’s Books sat on their corporate hands when ebooks rolled out. They viewed it as a passing fad that would never catch on. The rest is history. What more do you need to know? Ebooks aren’t the future; they’re the present. Authors and publishers have to respond to the market demands.

I was on a flight last night and looked around. I counted seven people reading ebooks on a variety of ereader devices and one person was reading a paperback. Okay—so that’s a small random sampling of the population, but it says a lot. Authors, and future authors, who rail against ebooks, are only kidding themselves. Then again, there were people who couldn’t accept changes in transportation when the automobile started to become popular 100 years ago.

Want to know more about First Edition Design Publishing? Click here: http://www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com/

First Edition Design Publishing

, Nashville Books Examiner

Liz has a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from Michigan State University. She worked as a writer and actress for Shockwave, a science fiction comedy radio show from 1993-1995 on KFAI, Minneapolis-St.Paul. She has more than 1000 followers on Twitter who are indie romance, Vampire, mystery or Chick Lit writers. Liz has over 10 years experience as a secretary for two world-famous research scientists; the late Professor Karl Folkers co-discoverer of Vitamin B12; and Professor Lee Wattenberg, founder of Cancer Prevention Research. Her duties included typing up, proofreading and submitting medical research articles for publication in such periodicals as Cancer Research, Science and AACR (American Association for Cancer Research). In addition to book reviews, Liz wants to interview indie authors, especially those who write romance novels, mysteries, Vampire books, time travel, paranormal romance, New Age and paranormal books. 


Target to stop selling Amazon Kindles #ebooks #Author #Writer #FED_ebooks

Leave a reply
First Edition Design Publishing

Target to stop selling Amazon Kindles in its stores

Even if it loses offline Kindle sales elsewhere, impact on Amazon is minimal, analysts say

By Matt Hamblen

Computerworld – Target plans to stop selling Kindle e-readers in its brick-and-mortar stores after seeing buyers test the devices in its showrooms only to later buy them online from Amazon.

Target’s decision was reported this week in The New York Times, after analysts reported in January that the company wasn’t willing to let online-only retailers use its 1,800 stores to showcase their products while undercutting Target’s prices.

Target’s decision could influence other retailers that sell Kindles, including

Wal-Mart, Staples and Best Buy, analysts said. Amazon and the other physical retailers didn’t respond to a request for comment.

“Target’s problem is a common problem for brick-and-mortar companies,” said Rob Enderle, an analyst at Enderle Group. “Customers will find what they want at the store, then leave and shop for the best price online.”

Smartphone apps now available allow customers to scan a barcode on a product in a store and instantly look for better prices at other stores in the area and online, Enderle noted.

First Edition Design Publishing

Amazon’s Kindle Fire

What has made matters worse at Target is that Amazon’s Kindle Fire tablet also serves as Amazon’s online storefront to everything Amazon sells, Enderle added. “So that’s like Target is promoting all of Amazon, and Target’s not a fan of doing that,” Enderle said.

Enderle said if other brick-and-mortar retailers stopped selling Kindles, Amazon’s physical shelf space could dry up and Amazon would have to find shelf space by opening stores in malls or kiosks. Barnes & Noble has one advantage in selling Nook e-readers and tablets because it can offer a place for users to test out the devices before buying them, analysts said.

Jack Gold, an analyst at J. Gold Associates, said he would not be surprised to see Best Buy or Staples, among others, “push back on selling Amazon Kindles as a result of this frustration with Amazon.”

However, even if large retailers stop selling Kindles in their stores, Gold sees a “minimal effect on Amazon and Kindle sales” simply because most of their devices are sold directly.

Also, offline retailers wouldn’t see much material impact if they stopped selling the devices, since there was probably only a small mark-up for them, Gold added.

Amazon has sold its Kindles at a loss, primarily to encourage purchases of books and other merchandise with the device where it can make a profit, Gold noted. “It’s not a real penalty to Amazon to only have direct sales of the device,” he said.

 covers mobile and wireless, smartphones and other handhelds, and wireless networking for Computerworld. Follow Matt on Twitter at Twitter @matthamblen or subscribe to Hamblen RSSMatt’s RSS feed. His email address is mhamblen@computerworld.com.

First Edition Design Publishing

First Edition Design Publishing http:www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com, based in Sarasota, Florida, USA leads the industry in eBook distribution. They convert, format and submit eBooks to Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Google, Kobo, Diesel, 3M, Ingram, Baker and Taylor, Nielsen, EBSCO, scores of additional on-line retailers and libraries, schools, colleges and universities. The company also has a POD (Print On Demand) division, which creates printed books and makes them available worldwide through their distribution network.

First Edition Design eBook Publishing

Quality Books Take Time #FED_ebooks #Author #Writer #Indieauthor

Leave a reply
Quality Books Take Time

Source: www.rachellegardner.com

By: Rachelle Gardner

Back in the early ’80s there was an ad campaign for Paul Masson wine where Orson Welles famously uttered, “We will sell no wine before its time.”

The message was powerful; it conveyed, “We care so much about producing the highest quality wine that we refuse to rush the process. We won’t try to bring it out faster to increase profit. We won’t skimp on the craftsmanship that makes our wine so good. It takes time, and we will give our wine the time it needs.”

I couldn’t help thinking about that as I considered what I wanted to say today about the time and craftsmanship it takes to write a high quality book. I’m not talking about a book that everyone has to love. I’m talking about a book that has the basics: a solid story, well-developed characters, conflict that engages the reader, a satisfying resolution, well-crafted sentences and paragraphs, literate use of words, and a lack of typos and other egregious, noticeable errors. Even if it’s non-fiction, the basics apply except instead of characters, we need well-developed ideas.

With the proliferation of self-pub, online retailers are flooded with books that contain almost none of those basics. Books that scream “vanity” and “I just wanted to get rich quick.” Books that say, “I was too impatient, or too arrogant, or too ignorant, to either learn the very most basic writing techniques, or to get an editor’s eyes on this before it went public.”

I’ve said many times — I’m in favor of self-pub and e-pub and all the various ways writers now have to get their words out there.

But here’s the truth:

If you don’t pay attention to the quality control of your work, you’ll kill your writing career before it even starts.

Readers are not stupid. They may be downloading 99¢ e-books like crazy right now. But they’re already starting to figure out that something’s not right. Many of these books are poorly written and desperately need editing. (Even Amanda Hocking’s Trylle series, originally self-published, went through extensive editing at St. Martin’s before they re-released it.)

So why should you care? It seems many have the attitude of, “Why should I spend all that extra time and money on editing when people are going to buy it anyway?” Here’s why I think you should care:

If you self-publish a book that sucks, you may permanently lose potential readers.They pick up the book, it’s poorly crafted, they don’t like it — and they cross your name off their mental list of good authors. Down the road, perhaps you’ve become a better writer, perhaps you’ve finally decided to work with an editor, but unfortunately it’s too late for all those readers who are already convinced your books aren’t worth buying. Why risk that? Why not take the time to make sure your work is ready?

This idea of taking the time to properly craft a book applies to those in traditional publishing as well. Many of my clients become frustrated with me because I push them to make their proposals better and better; I may push them to write more chapters of their non-fiction books, I may push them to do a complete revision on a novel before submission. They’re anxious. They just want to get it out there. But I don’t work that way. I will sell no wine before its time.

I believe we need to keep holding books to a high standard. I want us all to keep insisting on quality reading material, not settling for whatever someone could slap together and impatiently upload to Kindle with barely a lick and a promise.

One of the main arguments writers use for self-publishing is the speed at which they can get their books up for sale. They’re proud of themselves for circumventing the laborious publishing system that — yes — takes forever. But many of them have nothing to be proud of. I’ve bought and read numerous self-pubbed books now, and in general the quality isnoticeably inferior to what most traditional publishers are putting out. (And all of those self-pubbers who are doing it poorly are giving a very bad name to the handful who are doing it well.) Many are sacrificing craftsmanship for speed.

It’s a trade-off that diminishes us all.

I say, let’s commit to selling no books before their time. Are you with me?

Update: Since so many people are mentioning in the comments that it’s hard to know how to find an editor, I wanted to give you a couple of resources. The latest post by Victoria Strauss on Writer Beware is about how to vet an independent editor. Also, I have a list of freelance editors here on my site.

© 2012 Rachelle Gardner, Literary Agent

First Edition Design Publishing http:www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com, based in Sarasota, Florida, USA leads the industry in eBook distribution. They convert, format and submit eBooks to Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Google, Kobo, Diesel, 3M, Ingram, Baker and Taylor, Nielsen, EBSCO, scores of additional on-line retailers and libraries, schools, colleges and universities. The company also has a POD (Print On Demand) division, which creates printed books and makes them available worldwide through their distribution network.

First Edition Design Publishing


Microsoft Squares Off Against Amazon & Apple in #eBooks #FED_ebooks #Author #Writer

Leave a reply

Source: Forbes.com

Microsoft Squares Off Against Amazon & Apple in eBooks

Microsoft has invested $300 million in a new subsidiary floated by Barnes & Noble, which will include its Nook business and its educational College business.  Microsoft’s cash infusion will get it a 17.6% equity stake, valuing the subsidiary at $1.7 billion. With this move, Microsoft is jumping into the e-books business, in which it will compete with the likes of Amazon, Apple and Google.

Barnes & Noble is the second largest player in the e-book space, but much smaller than Amazon, which completely dominates the market. Apple has been trying to get a foothold in the space and recently found itself in the middle of an antitrust investigation by the DoJ against major book publishers.

#     #     #

First Edition Design Publishing http:www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com, based in Sarasota, Florida, USA leads the industry in eBook distribution. They convert, format and submit eBooks to Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Google, Kobo, Diesel, 3M, Ingram, Baker and Taylor, Nielsen, EBSCO, scores of additional on-line retailers and libraries, schools, colleges and universities. The company also has a POD (Print On Demand) division, which creates printed books and makes them available worldwide through their distribution network.

More…

First Edition Design eBook Publishing

Digital Assets Help eBook Distributor Become Global Leader #FED_ebooks #ebook #Author

Leave a reply

Digital Assets Help eBook Distributor Become Global Leader

First Edition Design Publishing continues expansion of their worldwide distribution list.

Sarasota, FL, USA                                                             May 1, 2012

“First Edition Design Publishing’s background as licensed Apple Developers and Microsoft Solution Providers, as well as our extensive technical digital assets, puts us in a perfect position as the leading Master Distributors for eBooks.  We are unequaled in the number of distribution points that we submit books to and the speed in which we can do it.  We are at well over 100,000 distribution points reaching over 100 countries,” First Edition Design Publishing’s CEO, Deborah E. Gordon said. “Efficiency is crucial and that is just one of our strong points.”

This week Ms. Gordon’s company added MBS Books, Textbooks.com, Feedbooks, OnlineBookPlace, SmartEbook.com, Starland Books and Eguidebooks to their distribution list along with three more Christian book outlets, Mardel, Parable, and Berean. They also further expanded eBook distribution in, Japan, Australia, Canada, Germany, France, Italy and Spain through Google Play.

First Edition Design Publishing

First Edition Design Publishing

First Edition Design Publishing http:www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com, based in Sarasota, Florida, USA leads the industry in eBook distribution. They convert, format and submit eBooks to Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Google, Kobo, Diesel, 3M, Ingram, Baker and Taylor, Nielsen, EBSCO, scores of additional on-line retailers and libraries, schools, colleges and universities. The company also has a POD (Print On Demand) division, which creates printed books and makes them available worldwide through their distribution network.

First Edition Design Publishing

Barnes & Noble, #Microsoft Do #eReader Deal #FED_ebooks #ebook #BN #Nook #Author

Leave a reply

 First Edition Design Publishing

First Edition Design Publishing

Publishers – Aggregators – Master Distributors

Barnes & Noble, Microsoft ink $300M deal on e-reading

The software giant will invest $300 million in a new Barnes & Noble subsidiary, giving it a 17.6 percent equity stake in the company. The Nook digital bookstore will be bundled with Windows 8.

Source: news.cnet.com

by 

Barnes & Noble and Microsoft at one time couldn’t get along. Now, they’re partners.

The companies announced today that Microsoft has invested $300 million into a new Barnes & Noble subsidiary, known as Newco until the company can come up with a name. The $300 million investment will give Microsoft a 17.6 percent equity stake in the firm. Barnes & Noble, which assumed a $1.7 billion valuation on the subsidiary, will retain 82.4 percent ownership.

Newco will combine Barnes & Noble’s digital and college businesses, meaning the retailer’s Nook operations and its Nook Study software for students and educators will be a part of the undertaking.

As part of this deal, Barnes & Noble will include its Nook digital bookstore with Windows 8, the next generation of Microsoft’s operating system, which launches later this year. In addition, the companies have settled all of their patent litigation related to use of Android on the Nook tablet, and have formed a “royalty-bearing license under Microsoft’s patents for its Nook e-reader and Tablet products.”

The partnership between Microsoft and Barnes & Noble is a rather surprising one. For over a year, the companies have been battling in the courts, with the software giant accusing Barnes & Noble of patent infringement. Barnes & Noble has responded with venom, saying that Microsoft was misusing patent law for its gain, and last year went as far as asking the Justice Department to investigate the Windows maker.

“Microsoft is attempting to raise its rivals’ costs in order to drive out competition and deter innovation in mobile devices,” Barnes & Noble lawyer Peter T. Barbur wrote in an October 17 letter to Gene I. Kimmelman, the chief counsel for competition policy in the Justice Department’s antitrust division. “Microsoft’s conduct poses serious antitrust concerns and warrants further exploration by the Department of Justice.”

Barnes & Noble is among a host of companies that have been targeted by Microsoft for their use of Android. The software company argues that Android violates patents it holds, and has inked a slew of licensing deals with vendors. Barnes & Noble had been one of the few companies attempting to battle it out.

Although the Microsoft-B&N deal is surprising, the bookseller’s decision to spin off its Nook unit isn’t. Back in January, the company released a statement saying it was exploring the possibility of spinning off the operation so it could “unlock” the value of the Nook unit. In today’s statement, Barnes & Noble said that Newco is still a work in progress, adding that it can provide “no assurance that the review will result in a strategic separation or the creation of a standalone public company.”

Regardless, Barnes & Noble investors couldn’t be more pleased. The company’s shares are up a whopping 83 percent to $25 in pre-market trading.

#     #     #

First Edition Design Publishing First Edition Design Publishingwww.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com, based in Sarasota, Florida, USA leads the industry in eBook distribution. They convert, format and submit eBooks to Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Google, Kobo, Diesel, 3M, Ingram, Baker and Taylor, Nielsen, EBSCO, scores of additional on-line retailers and libraries, schools, colleges and universities. The company also has a POD (Print On Demand) division that creates softcover and hardcover printed books and makes them available worldwide through their distribution network.

First Edition Design PublishingAbout:   is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, posting at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET.

Daria Rose and The Day She Chose by Award Winning #Author Yvonne Capitelli Available in #eBook #FED_ebooks

Leave a reply

 

Daria Rose and The Day She Chose by Yvonne Capitelli now available in eBook.

First Edition Design Publishing

Daria Rose and The Day She Chose by Yvonne Capitelli now available worldwide in eBook

Daria Rose And The Day She Chose teaches children invaluable life tools in a child friendly way. It is imperative to start building confidence and good values in children while they are still young. This fun story about a young girl teaches self-empowerment and fosters: making good choices, positive behaviors, good self-esteem, confidence, kindness, courage, strength, determination, friendship, good values, and the importance of being thoughtful and thankful. This beautifully illustrated picture book is a fun and engaging way to teach young minds about the power they have within to create a life of happiness through the choices they make.  It is a timely and valuable resource.  Award winning author Yvonne Capitelli uses the book in conjunction with her character building program in schools.

Readers join Daria Rose on a seven day adventure as she encounters difficult social and personal situations regarding bullies, school work, self-image, peer-pressure, losing faith in herself and being overwhelmed. Daria Rose learns that life is all about choices and it is up to her to make the right ones. Children will learn that no matter how young you are, you can be in control of your own happiness. A child will benefit from the invaluable information expressed in this colorful and entertaining story. You and your child will enjoy reading this story over and over, using it as a tool to open dialog and help them realize how they act and react to different situations can give them the outcome they are looking for. Whether your child is 4 or 14 they will be inspired to take control of their own life and realize the power they have within.

First Edition Design Publishing

Yvonne Capitelli, Author

As a young girl author Yvonne Capitelli envisioned writing children’s books in the future. She achieved her dream after growing up on Long Island, NY and became an authoritative children’s author and children’s motivational speaker. Yvonne Capitelli has five awards to her credit for her debut children’s book Daria Rose and The Day She Chose. They include:  2012 Nominated Best Author of Long Island, 2011 Children’s Literary Classics Gold Award and KART Kids Book List, 2010 National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist, and 2009 Moonbeam Children’s Book Bronze Award Mind-BodySpirit/Self Esteem and Preferred Choice Award Creative Child Magazine.

Ms. Capitelli has always had a love of children and a love of books.  She was inspired by her daughter to start writing positive character building books that motivate children to make good choices, be determined and take control of their own happiness. Her books are fun, educational, beautifully illustrated and all center around imparting important life lessons. Children and adults alike will enjoy and benefit from her fun and engaging stories that make you realize the amazing power we all have within.

The author’s children’s book, I Get It! I Get It! How John Figures it Out, released January 2012, is about one boy’s journey and triumph with Auditory Processing Disorder. Ms. Capitelli’s second book of her Daria Rose Making Good Choices Series is due for release later this year.

Daria Rose and the Day She Chose by Yvonne Capitelli, was published April 25, 2012 in eBook format (ISBN 9781937520953) by First Edition Design Publishing.  It is available at Amazon’s Kindle store, Barnes & Noble and other on-line retailers. In addition to those outlets, Daria Rose and the Day She Chose was distributed worldwide in eBook format by First Edition Design Publishing to over 100,000 locations in more than 100 countries.

First Edition Design Publishing www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com, based in Sarasota, Florida, USA leads the industry in eBook distribution. They convert, format and submit eBooks to Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Google, Kobo, Diesel, 3M, Ingram, Baker and Taylor, Nielsen, EBSCO, scores of additional on-line retailers and libraries, schools, colleges and universities. The company also has a POD (Print On Demand) division that creates softcover and hardcover printed books and makes them available worldwide through their distribution network.

First Edition Design Publishing

Don’t Believe the eBook Monopoly Ploy #FED_ebooks #ebook #author RT

Leave a reply

Don’t Believe the eBook Monopoly Ploy

SOURCE: Huffingtonpost.com

By: Warren Adler

Don’t believe all that hype about government interference that is designed to foster an Amazon monopoly of the ebook business. What the six major publishers were alleged to have done was collude in fixing prices that, if true, was a desperate act that they must have known would fall afoul of anti-trust laws.

The new ploy by book publishers is to characterize Amazon as a monopoly poised to take over and dictate terms and run rampant over those who create ebook content. That is like saying Starbucks is a monopoly because it currently dominates the coffee retail business.

As an author who introduced the SONY reader, the very first reading device at the 2007 Las Vegas Consumer Electronics show to what was then an indifferent audience, I felt certain that one day e-readers would dominate the marketplace. I thought SONY was really on to something and would one day be the imaginative leader of the ebook industry.

Soon after the SONY launch, Amazon introduced the Kindle and followed through with verve and imagination to become, as we speak, the dominant force in ebook content and sales. I was an evangelist for these devices largely because of the ease of purchase, clarity and wide variety of available content and, above all, convenience, especially for those of us to whom reading is an important part of our lives.

Barnes and Noble, a super successful big-box book chain, apparently saw the advantages of getting into the ebook business early on, created an infrastructure and then, in an act of counter-productive bean cutting, abandoned its ebook business entirely. I remember meeting Steve Riggio, Barnes and Noble’s chief honcho, at the home of the late Bill Riley, one of his board members, and politely chastising him for getting out of that business.

Sure, it was light cocktail chatter, but I could tell that he was contemplating getting back into ebooks. It must have soon become apparent that in order to survive, Riggio had to get into that business, and Barnes and Noble did indeed with its excellent reader, the Nook. Unfortunately, they were late and are now playing catch-up. But to dismiss the Nook as a competitor to the Kindle is to sell Barnes and Noble short. Early on, they revolutionized the book business with their big-box stores and merchandising techniques and will undoubtedly ratchet up the ebook competition.

Then there is Kobo, a Canadian company trying to earn its bones in the business. They have to be counted as a future factor in the competition. There are others, as well, trying to crack into the coming e-reader bonanza.

The introduction of Apple’s iPad gave the publishers, as they might have seen it, leverage to fix their ebook prices. You couldn’t blame them since the challenges posed by ebooks are a very real threat to the profitable print publishing business. I have a feeling they believed that Apple would, like everything they touched, eventually dominate the e-book business as well, hence their alleged collusion.

Although I am an Apple guy and a great admirer and loyal user of their products, I did not think that the iPad would dominate the book business. It doesn’t and, in my opinion, will not. My opinion is based on the fact that the tablet concept is too distractive for the customer, to whom reading is a centerpiece of their leisure activities.

Marketers use a cute term called “immersive reading.” It is redundant. All book reading is immersive and requires from its devotees time and, above all, mental concentration.

Somewhere I read that the great Steve Jobs thought that reading, meaning the content that is defined as “books,” would decline against the onslaught of other cyber activities, which he seemed to deem more important. Indeed, he must have fashioned his foray into the book business with that in mind. With a million distractions now available on the iPad, the so-called “immersive reader” is relegated to be merely one of the pack, with “book” content hardly in the same exclusive domain of a solo device.

I am well aware that Amazon is having great success with its “Fire” tablet. My sense is that it will have exceptional value to Apps Aficionados but might not to book content readers. In my view, those who are repetitive “immersive” readers of all ages will stick with the solo reading device.

What could be a worry for Amazon, Nook, and Kobo would be if Apple decides to come out with its own solo reading device.

I have not dealt with the plight of the author, the creator of the content without which the traditional publishing business would have to close its doors. What could happen is that authors might find it more advantageous to create their own self-publishing business models, which has been my choice, join together to create cooperative ventures, or throw their oar in with numerous enterprises serving authors who have the means to self-publish with all the bells and whistles of traditional publishers.

As it stands now, the publishers are busy scratching their heads and trying to come up with measures to assure their future viability. Someone, perhaps far outside the publishing box or an enterprising author might come up with a business plan that will make economic sense. We shall see.

Fear not. Readers must read. Writers must write. It has always been thus. And creative minds will prevail to eventually figure out ways to bring the two together in ways profitable to each.

Warren Adler is the author of 32 novels and short story collections. His books are published in 25 languages worldwide and several have been adapted to movies, including “The War of the Roses” and “Random Hearts.”

Download a free copy of Warren Adler’s The Children of the Roses.

First Edition Design Publishing, the industry’s largest distributor of eBooks, submits eBook titles to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, SONY, Kobo and to over 100,000 distribution points and booksellers in more than 100 countries. They format eBooks for every type of ereader device on the market.

www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com

Kobo Will Offer Books and eReaders in Brazil #FED_ebooks #ebooks #Kobo #Author #Brazil

2 Replies

 

Kobo Intends on Offering Books and eReaders in Brazil Q2 2012

SOURCE: goodereader.com

By Michael Kozlowski

 Amazon is not the only company focusing on the the largest market in South America to distribute e-readers and eBooks. During a Rakuten Super Expo yesterday Todd Humphrey, EVP, Business Development at Kobo said that his company will be launching in Brazil in the second quarter.

Kobo intends on forming partnerships with bookstores in Brazil to sell their devices to the end user. It is rumored that the company is in negotiations with Culture or Scott, two of the largest bookstores. The company intends on actively marketing their Kobo Vox Android Tablet and their Kobo Touch eReader.

Kobo is no stranger to international expansion and has pushed hard into Europe. You can find localized versions of the books in Spain, France, Germany and the UK. The company always courts publishing partners to offer books by home grown authors and bestsellers that orientated in those countries. Since Rakuten aqquired Kobo last year, at the top of the priority list is international expansion. “We are working with Brazilian publishers and closing sales agreements with retailers, as well as a large chain of bookstores to distribute the eBook readers,” said Humphrey, which was excited about the digital book market in Brazil, “In over 5 years, 50% of digital books will be in Brazil “bet.

It looks like the next battle ground for e-Readers and Books will be in Brazil. Amazon will be marketing their own closed ecosystem that has audiobooks, self-publishing and many more devices. Kobo rides on the premise of supporting a widely adopted ePUB format that allows customers to easily load in their own books.

Michael Kozlowski is the Editor in Chief of Good e-Reader. He has been writing about electronic readers and technology for the last four years. His articles have been picked up by major and local news sources and websites such as the Huffington Post, CNET and more. Michael frequently travels to international events such as IFA, Computex, CES, Book Expo and a myriad of others.

 

About First Edition Design Publishing:

Ebook Publishing Design Edition First Graphic Aggregators Ebooks Publishers Distribution POD Designing Approved Aggregator How Services Academic Distributor Chapter Submission Professional Firsteditiondesignpublishing.com published book market First Edition Design Publishing is the world’s largest eBook and POD (Print On Demand) book distributor. Ranked first in the industry, First Edition Design Publishing converts and formats manuscripts for every type of platform (e-reader). They submit Fiction, Non-Fiction, Academic and Children’s Books to Amazon, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Sony, Google, Kobo, Diesel, 3M, Ingram, Baker and Taylor, Nielsen, EBSCO, and over 100,000 additional on-line locations including retailers, libraries, schools, colleges and universities. The company’s POD division creates printed books and makes them available worldwide through their distribution network. First Edition Design Publishing is a licensed and approved Aggregator and holds licenses with Apple and Microsoft.

Visit: www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com

Ebook Publishing Design Edition First Graphic Aggregators Ebooks Publishers Distribution POD Designing Approved Aggregator How Services Academic Distributor Chapter Submission Professional Firsteditiondesignpublishing.com published book market

First Edition Design eBook Publisher Aggregator Master Distrbutor

3M Cloud Library Unveiled for Patrons #FED_ebooks #3M #ebooks #Author RT

Leave a reply

3M Cloud Library to Be Unveiled for Patrons

Flexible eBook lending service offers hardware, digital content and apps for borrowing and reading

First Edition Design eBook PublishingST. PAUL, Minn., Apr 25, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The 3M Cloud Library eBook Lending Service will be introduced to the public today in an open house event from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Sun Ray location of the Saint Paul Public Library. The library is one of a number of beta sites where library staff members have undergone training and are now ready to unveil the system to patrons.

The 3M Cloud Library offers a turnkey system of digital content, in-library hardware, and apps for borrowing and reading, and promises to revolutionize how library patrons discover, borrow and read eBooks. At today’s open house, attendees will be able to test drive the system, which uses several components to allow them to browse the electronic catalog and read on the device of their choice:

— 3M Discovery Terminals: Patrons at the library can browse the catalog on these electronic kiosks with an intuitive touch-based interface.

— 3M eReaders: Content from the Cloud Library can be synced with easy-to-use 3M eReaders that can be checked out like any other lendable materials. eReaders can be checked out at three Saint Paul Public Library locations including Central, Sun Ray and Arlington Hills Libraries.

— Mobile device compatibility: The service’s eBooks are compatible with PCs, Macs, iPads, Nooks, and Androids. Using their personal devices, patrons can browse, check out and read eBooks all without leaving the 3M Cloud Library app.

“Saint Paul is proud to be one of the first library sites to provide this service,” said Mayor Chris Coleman, who will be on hand at today’s event. “The fact that the system allows eReaders to be checked out along with digital content is a great way to ensure eReading is available to all. For people who have their own eReading devices, the 3M Cloud Library gives them access to thousands of titles. This system has something for all Saint Paul library patrons.”

The Sun Ray location of the Saint Paul Public Library is in close proximity to 3M’s campus, making it an ideal “living lab” for new technologies from 3M Library Systems.

“3M has been an outstanding partner to us, and we are proud to work with them to serve as a leader for other libraries across the country,” said Kit Hadley, director of the Saint Paul Public Library. “With this technology, we are able to offer cutting-edge technology to all our patrons, whether they own their own e-reader or not.”

Along with the Saint Paul Public Library, a number of other libraries across the country have now made the 3M Cloud Library available to patrons, including the Bergen County Cooperative Library System, N.J.; Maricopa County Library District, Ariz.; Douglas County Libraries, Colo.; Darien Library, Conn.; Richland County Public Library, S.C.; and the State Library of Kansas on behalf of the Kansas Digital Library Consortium. 3M will seek feedback from both patrons and staff at these locations on the service’s ease of use and functionality, using their input to continue to refine the system.

For more information about the 3M Cloud Library eLending system, visit 3M.com/Cloud.

3M is a trademark of 3M. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

SOURCE: 3M

First Edition Design Publishing, the industry’s largest distributor of eBooks, submits eBook titles to 3M and to over 100,000 other distribution points and booksellers in more than 100 countries.

First Edition Design Publishing