As an American author and her Russian publisher reveal, literary censorship is ongoing, and reports indicate that Moscow is increasing its efforts.
Germany’s Inkitt: When a Machine Is the Gatekeeper
While algorithmic recommendations are familiar to us from online book retail, a year-old Berlin startup is talking algorithmic selection for publication.
By Sticking with Java, E-Book Publisher Wattpad Exhibits Huge International Growth
• In August, Wattpad published usage analytics for downloads and readers of the company’s ebooks. The report covers desktop usage, as well as some 1,000 different phone models from 600 carriers in 160 countries (excluding China). • While English-language books and readers using smartphones remains the strongest segment, growth among Southeast Asian readers using Java-based feature phones is nearly as …
Do Publishing Stunts Sell Books?
By Edward Nawotka Today’s lead story looks at how Chilean artist collective Casagrande, along with Literaturwerkstatt Berlin, dropped 100,000 poems over Berlin as a protest against war and a statement in favor of forgiveness. This was a case of “literature as protest,” but more often than not, publishing stunts are being used to promote specific titles. Yesterday came the news …
SXSW Digerati: Publishing Assassins or Saviors?
By Edward Nawotka Q: What do Israeli Mossad agents on a not-so-secret mission to Dubai and the digerati at SXSW have in common? A: Both groups are assassins disguised as geeks wearing thick black plastic glasses. SXSW: I think saw the future in Austin: It was wearing black plastic glasses. This year’s SXSWi — short for South-by-Southwest Interactive — gave …