Each Tuesday, Porter Anderson’s Ether for Authors: Sans Frontières—a new weekly column focused on the news, needs and neurosis of authors—across the globe.
Why Fanfics are Like Startups
Fanfiction is rewriting the narrative of publishing and challenging convention, much like technology startups.
How Can E-Books Revolutionize Literacy and Publishing in Africa?
E-books can reach people in Africa who might otherwise never get books. Some even say the Internet represents “Africa’s Gutenberg Moment.” By Edward Nawotka Today’s editorial by Tolu Ogunlesi looks at a recent literacy campaign in Nigeria to inspire more people to read. The government led campaign is the latest in a long line of similar campaigns, many of which …
Creating Free Content to Sell More Content: A Good Idea or Not?
By Hannah Johnson At the Mediabistro eBook Summit, held yesterday in New York City, book marketing dominated the morning sessions. But nobody was talking about print advertising or book tours. Instead, well-trodden topics like social media, online audience building and reader demographics were discussed in light of the growing e-book sales in the United States. As an e-book publisher, Brendan …
Does Java-based E-Reading Still Have Potential in North America and Europe?
By Edward Nawotka Today’s lead story looks at Wattpad’s global growth, particularly in Southeast Asia, where the majority of users continue to rely on feature phones running Java-based e-readers. This market has been largely abandoned in the North America and Europe in favor of catering to smartphone users demanding advanced features. Wattpad offers free ebooks, which is part of the …
Spanish E-books Go Mobile with Telecom Giant Telefónica
By Emily Williams Spanish telecom giant Telefónica and the Spanish Association of Publishers’ Guilds shook hands on a deal that allows the publishers to avail themselves of Telefónica’s technical expertise. The press release implies help with digitizing content (with a strong emphasis on standards that suggests adherence to the epub format), as well as access to Telefónica’s customer base through …