By Roger Tagholm LONDON: There were some choice phrases on offer at the World e-Reading Congress, held in London this week. “Apple is a walled garden; Android is an open garden – but it has a lot of weeds in it,” was one, from Richard Stephenson, CEO of Yudu Media, the free library of digital content, discussing the relative benefits of …
A Bookseller Who Bridges Print and Digital, Day and Night, This World and the Next
Watkin’s Books — the world’s most famous mind-body-spirit bookstore — nearly went under in 2010. A 21st-century business strategy and an American with vision saved it from extinction. By Roger Tagholm LONDON: You wouldn’t expect the owner of London’s –- if not the world’s -– most famous mind-body-spirit bookshop, Watkins, in Cecil Court, a Victorian walkway off Charing Cross Road, …
With UK Print Book Sales Falling, Can E-books Close the Gap?
E-book sales accounted for just 1% of the UK book market in 2010, but are expected to boom in 2011 — growth that might be offset by cheaper prices. By Roger Tagholm British consumers bought fewer books in 2010 than 2008 -– down from 344m to 339m -– and the amount spent fell from £2,341m to £2,183m. E-books accounted for …
Proof that Publishers Know the Public Doesn’t Care About Publisher Branding
By Roger Tagholm Notice anything odd about this illuminated panel advertisement for Sean Rayment’s Bomb Hunters currently adorning the London Underground? No? Try answering this then: who’s the publisher? It’s a real oddity. Think how many times you read about publishers launching new imprints, re-vamping existing ones, re-doing their logos “we’re really pleased with this design, the way x represents …
What Can Schools Do to Inspire More Literary Creativity in Children?
By Edward Nawotka Over the last several years literary entrepreneurs, supported by A-list authors, have opened several imaginative creative writing centers and bookshops aimed a children and teens. Arguably, these institutions — from Dave Egger’s 826 Valencia in San Francisco, Roddy Doyle’s Fighting Words in Dublin, to Nick Hornby’s Ministry of Stories in London (as discussed in today’s lead story) …
Inside The Ministry of Stories, London’s Most Unusual New Literary Institution
By Roger Tagholm LONDON: A little girl grins as the man on the sidewalk wearing the wolf mask stops her and asks: “Have you been to a ‘monster supply shop’ before?” It’s not the sort of question you get asked every day, but it works and, looking a bit sheepish (never a good idea when a wolf is around), the …
Could Online Writing Communities Replace Creative Writing Programs?
• Quillant.com, an online writing community based in the UK launched two months ago • Chris Vannozzi, a co-founder of Quilliant.com discusses the role online communities can play in developing talent for the traditional publishing industry By Chris Vannozzi LONDON: Two months ago we launched Quilliant.com , a new online writing community that aims to recreate the classic writing group …
Do Booksellers Promote Too Many Titles at Once?
By Edward Nawotka Today’s lead story describes some of the bookselling strategies of London’s Daunt Books. One focus of the piece is the fact that the bookstore displays just one or two titles in the windows per week, a move that has led to significant sales of certain titles. A carefully edited and curated selection of titles can be a …
The Bookselling Secrets of London’s Daunt Books
• Independent bookselling is not dead, but it takes close attention to the details — and a carefully edited selection of books — to thrive in the real world. • Selective promotion supported by review coverage and bookseller enthusiasm are the key to moving dozens of books a day out the door. By Edward Nawotka LONDON: One title displayed at …
“Connect, Don’t Network”: Author Blog Award Winners Gaiman, Benet on Blogging
By Edward Nawotka “Use your blog to connect. Use it as you. Don’t ‘network’ or ‘promote.’ Just talk,” says author Neil Gaiman, winner of the Twitter category at the inaugural Author Blog Awards given last month in London. Gaiman is among the most popular authors on Twitter, with 1,467,539 followers as of yesterday, May 3. It should also come as …