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Statistics, research, popular articles and useful information from the Publishing Perspectives archives.

Publishers Beware! More Creative Destruction on the Way

Martin Levin

The digital transition in publishing could mean unlikely business acquisitions are in store for major publishers by tech giants like Apple.

Also posted in Editorial | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Discoverability and the New World of Book PR

magnifying glass

Tips on how authors can use existing online tools and media outreach to sell more books, from publicity experts Barbara Henricks and Rusty Shelton.

Also posted in Digital | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Literary Broccoli: Why Cliches about Translations Hurt Books

Translations should not be fed to readers like "literary broccoli"

Michael Stein argues that translations shouldn’t be treated as ‘literary broccoli’ or armchair travel, and that doing so is counterproductive.

Also posted in English Language | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Goodreads’ CEO on Winning the Battle of Book Discovery

Otis Chandler

After analyzing 5,750,000 books on Goodreads, Otis Chandler shares his insights on the evolving nature of book discovery. The short version: once isn’t enough.

Also posted in Digital | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

How to Counter Amazon: Create a One World E-Book Alliance

binary digital globe

The aeronautical industry, once dominated by Boeing, managed to develop Airbus. The publishing industry should aspire to create its own ‘cultural Airbus.’

Also posted in Digital | Tagged , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Why James Daunt Feels Waterstones is “Desperately Vulnerable”

Daunt-James-small

In a revealing interview, Waterstones MD James Daunt discusses why Amazon worries him so much, his admiration for Barnes & Noble and the Nook, and much more.

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Why Foreign Bestsellers Often Fail in Japan

Virtual Hayakawa

Rongu seraa, the Japanese equivalent of bestselling backlist, means the odds are heavily stacked against new foreign bestsellers finding readers in Japan.

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Designers on Book Covers of the Future

Chip Kidd's book cover design for Murakami's latest book, 1Q84

Book designers discuss how digital content and different book formats influence the aesthetics and experience of reading.

Also posted in What's the Buzz | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Title Wave: Against Punny and Cliché Titles

An Innocent, A Broad

Why the convention of giving books and book reviews titles that rely on pandering puns, stupid references, and bad wordplay has got to stop.

Also posted in Editorial | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Experimenting With Serials for Fun and Profit

Scanlon-Forecast

Technology has enabled established and self-published authors to experiment serial publishing — making the old form new again — and finding mixed results.

Also posted in English Language | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments