John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has signed a multiple-book deal with John C. Bogle, founder of The Vanguard Group, author, and one of the most respected and influential leaders in investing. Considered by many to be the "Father of Index Investing," Mr. Bogle has long been praised for his work by financial luminaries including Warren Buffett, Charles T. Munger, Paul Samuelson, Bill Gross, and Burton Malkiel, among many others. He's considered one of the investment industry's greatest visionaries and a champion for the individual investor. In accordance with his custom, Mr. Bogle will donate all of his book royalties to charity.
The first book is scheduled to be published in November 2008. Titled Enough., it is inspired by a 2007 Georgetown University commencement address by Mr. Bogle which examined the attributes of a life well-lived and warned about the risks presented by a financial system that is subtracting value from our society. As the credit crisis has wrought havoc through much of the economy in 2007 and into 2008, Mr. Bogle's warnings proved to be prophetic. In the book, he expands on this theme reminding us of what is or should be "enough" in money, in business, and in life. The message is compelling, yet ultimately optimistic.
The second book is titled Jack Bogle Speaks, and it is currently scheduled for publication in the fall of 2009.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Sales Gravy Press Authors Say: "It's All in the Timing!"
Sales Gravy Press, The Sales Book Publisher, has signed Craig Elias and Brandon Toropov to a publishing contract for a revolutionary new sales book, "Shift! Seven Ways to Outsell Your Competition by Leveraging Trigger Events." The book's message is simple: Timing is everything in sales -- and it's easier to control than you think.
According to the authors, salespeople have been conditioned for years to believe that there is no such thing as a "silver bullet" in selling; no single factor that can transform an individual salesperson's career. In Shift!, Elias and Toropov demonstrate that the silver bullet that makes sales success possible is identifying and capitalizing on Trigger Events to get in front of the right person at EXACTLY the right time.
According to Elias, the creator of Trigger Event Selling, "When you have the right timing, the sale almost closes itself. You have fewer challenges getting to the prospect, understanding their dissatisfaction, presenting a solution, or selling at a much higher price. Every single day, decision makers experience Trigger Events that rapidly move them into the ideal buying mode. Research shows that the average sales person is five times more likely to make a sale when they have the right timing and get to these recently motivated buyers before their competition."
"This book will forever change how sales professionals operate. In Shift! readers gain insights and resources that shatter seven of the most common myths of selling and learn how to leverage Trigger Events to get in front of highly motivated buyers before the competition does," said Jeb Blount, Sales Gravy Press Editor and founder of the popular sales portal, SalesGravy.com. "We are absolutely thrilled to have Craig and Brandon join our family of sales authors."
When Elias is not writing he runs his unique sales effectiveness firm and website ShiftSelling.com, which helps entrepreneurs, business leaders, and sales and marketing professionals leverage Trigger Events to outsell the competition. Brandon Toropov, his coauthor, is the CEO of iWordSmith.com, a leading content development company.
Shift! Seven Ways to Outsell Your Competition by Leveraging Trigger Events is the first book in a series that will explore how to leverage Trigger Events to capture and keep new customers. It will be released in April of 2009.
For more information visit:
http://www.SalesGravyPress.com
http://www.ShiftSelling.com
http://www.TriggerEventBook.com
According to the authors, salespeople have been conditioned for years to believe that there is no such thing as a "silver bullet" in selling; no single factor that can transform an individual salesperson's career. In Shift!, Elias and Toropov demonstrate that the silver bullet that makes sales success possible is identifying and capitalizing on Trigger Events to get in front of the right person at EXACTLY the right time.
According to Elias, the creator of Trigger Event Selling, "When you have the right timing, the sale almost closes itself. You have fewer challenges getting to the prospect, understanding their dissatisfaction, presenting a solution, or selling at a much higher price. Every single day, decision makers experience Trigger Events that rapidly move them into the ideal buying mode. Research shows that the average sales person is five times more likely to make a sale when they have the right timing and get to these recently motivated buyers before their competition."
"This book will forever change how sales professionals operate. In Shift! readers gain insights and resources that shatter seven of the most common myths of selling and learn how to leverage Trigger Events to get in front of highly motivated buyers before the competition does," said Jeb Blount, Sales Gravy Press Editor and founder of the popular sales portal, SalesGravy.com. "We are absolutely thrilled to have Craig and Brandon join our family of sales authors."
When Elias is not writing he runs his unique sales effectiveness firm and website ShiftSelling.com, which helps entrepreneurs, business leaders, and sales and marketing professionals leverage Trigger Events to outsell the competition. Brandon Toropov, his coauthor, is the CEO of iWordSmith.com, a leading content development company.
Shift! Seven Ways to Outsell Your Competition by Leveraging Trigger Events is the first book in a series that will explore how to leverage Trigger Events to capture and keep new customers. It will be released in April of 2009.
For more information visit:
http://www.SalesGravyPress.com
http://www.ShiftSelling.com
http://www.TriggerEventBook.com
Sunday, August 24, 2008
New Imprint, "AUDIBLE IndieFirst"
AUDIBLE IndieFirst, a new imprint developed by Audible and the Center for Independent Publishing (CIP) will publish fresh, original works from independent publishers and deliver them in digital audio before the print edition is available.
Audible and the CIP issued a call for manuscripts from the top tier of independent publishers, asking them to identify their best and most promising upcoming titles for consideration in the Audible IndieFirst program. From these submissions, Audible has selected a number of upcoming titles to publish in audio. To create a listening experience on par with the tremendous quality of these writers, Audible will pair each book with a superb narrator chosen specifically to bring that book to life in a unique and compelling manner. The goal is to introduce innovative writers on the verge of popular renown to the large world of book lovers and audiobook listeners.
As part of an exclusive pre-release program, Audible will publish the digital audiobook one month prior to its print release. The audiobooks will be available at both Audible.com and iTunes.
The inaugural IndieFirst selection is Joe Meno's Demons in the Spring. The print edition of Meno's short story collection, being published by New York-based Akashic Books in September, has been called a "stellar collection" in a starred Publishers Weekly review. Audible has selected Victor Bevine to narrate. The versatile Bevine has appeared on television in shows including C.S.I. and Dark Angel, and has narrated many audiobooks including Kurt Vonnegut's Mother Night and the recent blog-turned-book Stuff White People Like.
In the coming weeks, Audible will produce and publish titles that range across genres to showcase the breadth and talent of brilliant writers otherwise unavailable in audio. Upcoming titles include the first English translation of A Child of All Nations, by Irmgard Keun, from Overlook Press; the memoir Girl Boy Girl: How I Became J.T. LeRoy, by Savannah Knoop, from Seven Stories Press; and the literary espionage novel Stray Dog Winter, by David Francis, from MacAdam Cage. Narrators for these books have yet to be announced.
Audible and the CIP issued a call for manuscripts from the top tier of independent publishers, asking them to identify their best and most promising upcoming titles for consideration in the Audible IndieFirst program. From these submissions, Audible has selected a number of upcoming titles to publish in audio. To create a listening experience on par with the tremendous quality of these writers, Audible will pair each book with a superb narrator chosen specifically to bring that book to life in a unique and compelling manner. The goal is to introduce innovative writers on the verge of popular renown to the large world of book lovers and audiobook listeners.
As part of an exclusive pre-release program, Audible will publish the digital audiobook one month prior to its print release. The audiobooks will be available at both Audible.com and iTunes.
The inaugural IndieFirst selection is Joe Meno's Demons in the Spring. The print edition of Meno's short story collection, being published by New York-based Akashic Books in September, has been called a "stellar collection" in a starred Publishers Weekly review. Audible has selected Victor Bevine to narrate. The versatile Bevine has appeared on television in shows including C.S.I. and Dark Angel, and has narrated many audiobooks including Kurt Vonnegut's Mother Night and the recent blog-turned-book Stuff White People Like.
In the coming weeks, Audible will produce and publish titles that range across genres to showcase the breadth and talent of brilliant writers otherwise unavailable in audio. Upcoming titles include the first English translation of A Child of All Nations, by Irmgard Keun, from Overlook Press; the memoir Girl Boy Girl: How I Became J.T. LeRoy, by Savannah Knoop, from Seven Stories Press; and the literary espionage novel Stray Dog Winter, by David Francis, from MacAdam Cage. Narrators for these books have yet to be announced.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Borders Publishes Tom Avitabile's 'The Eighth Day'
Borders will release "The Eighth Day," a thriller by first-time author Tom Avitabile, about a normally behind-the-scenes government official who is catapulted into the limelight while desperately trying to stop a series of bizarre and deadly terrorist attacks. "The Eighth Day" is the second novel Borders has published under its State Street Press imprint and will be sold exclusively at Borders and Waldenbooks stores and on Borders.com beginning Tuesday, Aug. 26.
As "The Eighth Day" opens, a series of bizarre and seemingly unrelated homegrown terrorist attacks are plaguing the nation -- a chemical engineer sets in motion a horrendous explosion killing hundreds of commuters and himself. Hollywood's hottest sex symbol assassinates a sitting Senator. A grandmother stages a sophisticated attack on a train causing massive damage. An airplane full of Silicon Valley's brightest is blown up while refueling. A series of random, deadly events or the unlikely start of an insidious new terror wave? Add to that the suspected tampering with a Presidential election, the use of the Navy's nuclear tipped rockets against California, the collapse of the stock market from within, and the ultimate "merging" of Hollywood and politics and you've got an incendiary mix that explodes across the pages. From the moment Science Advisor to the President William "Wild Bill" Hiccock sticks his foot in his mouth and is tasked with identifying and stopping the threat, he becomes the target of the "established" law enforcement agencies. While watching his back and watching out for the bad guys, he assembles a ragtag group of "out-of-the-box" thinkers-a famous novelist, a retired Navy Admiral, a wise-guy computer hacker sprung from federal prison, and his ex-wife, a leading behavioral psychologist-who must identify and destroy their elusive adversary who always seems to be a step ahead.
"The book's theme of a diabolical terrorist threat coupled with a compelling hero in 'Wild Bill' Hiccock, whom we expect to see more of in upcoming books from Tom Avitabile, makes 'The Eighth Day' a book that readers will find impossible to put down," said Borders Group's Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing Rob Gruen. "This story features non-stop action and is so gripping that Borders has acquired the options for the film rights. That's how much we believe in it."
Author Tom Avitabile, a senior creative director at a New York City advertising firm, is a writer, director and producer with numerous film and television credits. He has an extensive background in engineering and computers, including work on projects for the House Committee on Science and Technology, which helped lay the foundation for "The Eighth Day," his first novel. In his spare time, Avitabile is a professional musician and an amateur woodworker. He is currently at work on his next novel featuring William "Wild Bill" Hiccock.
Borders will host Avitabile for book readings and signings of "The Eighth Day" at the following store locations:
Thursday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m.
Borders
10 Columbus Circle
New York, NY 10019
(212) 823-9775
Saturday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m.
Borders
290 Commons Way
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 231-0111
Thursday, Sept. 18 at 1 p.m.
Borders
100 Broadway
New York, NY 10005
(212) 964-1988
Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m.
Borders
1600 South East Road
Farmington, CT 06032
(860) 674-8110
As "The Eighth Day" opens, a series of bizarre and seemingly unrelated homegrown terrorist attacks are plaguing the nation -- a chemical engineer sets in motion a horrendous explosion killing hundreds of commuters and himself. Hollywood's hottest sex symbol assassinates a sitting Senator. A grandmother stages a sophisticated attack on a train causing massive damage. An airplane full of Silicon Valley's brightest is blown up while refueling. A series of random, deadly events or the unlikely start of an insidious new terror wave? Add to that the suspected tampering with a Presidential election, the use of the Navy's nuclear tipped rockets against California, the collapse of the stock market from within, and the ultimate "merging" of Hollywood and politics and you've got an incendiary mix that explodes across the pages. From the moment Science Advisor to the President William "Wild Bill" Hiccock sticks his foot in his mouth and is tasked with identifying and stopping the threat, he becomes the target of the "established" law enforcement agencies. While watching his back and watching out for the bad guys, he assembles a ragtag group of "out-of-the-box" thinkers-a famous novelist, a retired Navy Admiral, a wise-guy computer hacker sprung from federal prison, and his ex-wife, a leading behavioral psychologist-who must identify and destroy their elusive adversary who always seems to be a step ahead.
"The book's theme of a diabolical terrorist threat coupled with a compelling hero in 'Wild Bill' Hiccock, whom we expect to see more of in upcoming books from Tom Avitabile, makes 'The Eighth Day' a book that readers will find impossible to put down," said Borders Group's Executive Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing Rob Gruen. "This story features non-stop action and is so gripping that Borders has acquired the options for the film rights. That's how much we believe in it."
Author Tom Avitabile, a senior creative director at a New York City advertising firm, is a writer, director and producer with numerous film and television credits. He has an extensive background in engineering and computers, including work on projects for the House Committee on Science and Technology, which helped lay the foundation for "The Eighth Day," his first novel. In his spare time, Avitabile is a professional musician and an amateur woodworker. He is currently at work on his next novel featuring William "Wild Bill" Hiccock.
Borders will host Avitabile for book readings and signings of "The Eighth Day" at the following store locations:
Thursday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m.
Borders
10 Columbus Circle
New York, NY 10019
(212) 823-9775
Saturday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m.
Borders
290 Commons Way
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
(908) 231-0111
Thursday, Sept. 18 at 1 p.m.
Borders
100 Broadway
New York, NY 10005
(212) 964-1988
Sunday, Sept. 21 at 2 p.m.
Borders
1600 South East Road
Farmington, CT 06032
(860) 674-8110
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Sales Gravy Press Signs Best-Selling Author Paul McCord
Author and internationally recognized sales trainer Paul McCord has signed with Sales Gravy Press to publish his newest book, a follow-up work to his best-selling book on referrals, "Creating a Million Dollar a Year Sales Income: Sales Success through Client Referrals" (Wiley 2006). The new book leads the reader through specific application strategies of the groundbreaking referral generation process laid out in Creating a Million Dollar a Year Sales Income.
"The initial book laid the groundwork for a disciplined, predictable, effective process for generating a large number of high quality referrals from each client," McCord said, "and now I show salespeople how to apply those principles to specific situations. The first book demonstrated why the training they received hasn't worked and walked them through a process that not only generates referrals, but generates a large number of high quality referrals. The new book goes even further and shows salespeople how to mine their database, turn cold calls into referred calls, and how to make giving referrals so easy they can generate 10, 15, 20 or more quality referrals from every one of their clients."
With almost three decades under his belt as a salesperson, manager, business owner, and consultant, McCord's experience and knowledge is both wide and deep. And like most of us, his life's journey has taken some strange turns. "I thought I was going to be an academic, teaching Philosophy in a university," he admits. "But as a doctoral student, it became clear that I didn't have the personality for the academic life. I was more attracted to the real than the theoretical. I left the program and went into sales -- and what's more real than selling? Now, almost thirty years later, I'm back where I started--teaching, combining my love of working with and training salespeople and managers with the hard lessons I've learned over the years in the sales business."
"Getting Paul on board is a huge win for Sales Gravy Press," said Publisher, Jeb Blount. "Paul's large following and proven success as an author are cornerstones in our mission to build a foundation of the brightest authors, speakers, thought leaders, and experts in the sales profession. We are just ecstatic that Paul has joined the Sales Gravy family."
The new book will be released in the spring of 2009.
"The initial book laid the groundwork for a disciplined, predictable, effective process for generating a large number of high quality referrals from each client," McCord said, "and now I show salespeople how to apply those principles to specific situations. The first book demonstrated why the training they received hasn't worked and walked them through a process that not only generates referrals, but generates a large number of high quality referrals. The new book goes even further and shows salespeople how to mine their database, turn cold calls into referred calls, and how to make giving referrals so easy they can generate 10, 15, 20 or more quality referrals from every one of their clients."
With almost three decades under his belt as a salesperson, manager, business owner, and consultant, McCord's experience and knowledge is both wide and deep. And like most of us, his life's journey has taken some strange turns. "I thought I was going to be an academic, teaching Philosophy in a university," he admits. "But as a doctoral student, it became clear that I didn't have the personality for the academic life. I was more attracted to the real than the theoretical. I left the program and went into sales -- and what's more real than selling? Now, almost thirty years later, I'm back where I started--teaching, combining my love of working with and training salespeople and managers with the hard lessons I've learned over the years in the sales business."
"Getting Paul on board is a huge win for Sales Gravy Press," said Publisher, Jeb Blount. "Paul's large following and proven success as an author are cornerstones in our mission to build a foundation of the brightest authors, speakers, thought leaders, and experts in the sales profession. We are just ecstatic that Paul has joined the Sales Gravy family."
The new book will be released in the spring of 2009.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Amazon.com to Acquire AbeBooks
Amazon.com, Inc. has reached an agreement to acquire AbeBooks. AbeBooks is an online marketplace for books, with over 110 million primarily used, rare and out-of-print books listed for sale by thousands of independent booksellers from around the world.
The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close before the end of the fourth quarter of 2008.
AbeBooks will continue to function as a stand-alone operation based in Victoria, British Columbia. AbeBooks will maintain all of its websites, including its Canadian website with Canada-specific content, such as reviews of Canadian-authored books and interviews of Canadian writers.
The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close before the end of the fourth quarter of 2008.
AbeBooks will continue to function as a stand-alone operation based in Victoria, British Columbia. AbeBooks will maintain all of its websites, including its Canadian website with Canada-specific content, such as reviews of Canadian-authored books and interviews of Canadian writers.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Writer, Susan Wingate Signs 2nd Novel, "Bobby's Diner"
Susan Wingate's second novel, "Bobby's Diner" will be available through publisher, ebooksonthe.net. This July, Wingate signed a contract sealing the deal.
"Bobby's Diner" - a novel in the women's fiction category - is said to be released this fall 2008.
"Bobby's Diner" is a story of a woman trying to find herself in a town where nobody wants her. Georgette Carlisle, twenty-five when she saunters into the rustic town of Sunnydale, Arizona, snags husband, Bobby, away from another woman, Vanessa Carlisle. After he dies - fifteen years later when the story begins - he leaves his restaurant called Bobby's Diner to both women. But, that's not the only problem. Bobby's Diner, situated on an attractive highway corridor property, is slated as the next boutique tourist site and sits smack in way of Zach Pinzer's dreams and future with Chariot International Incorporated, a large developer headquartered in Phoenix. Even after Zach arranges to destroy their property and fatally wounds their beloved busboy and gardener, he nearly kills Roberta, Vanessa's daughter. Georgette and Vanessa hold fast to the only thing they have, each other, and they fight. Georgette's story tells a tale of life, love, death, grief, pain, loneliness, and redemption. And, she finds her true family with the most unexpected people.
When asked how she felt about the deal, Wingate replied, "I'm giddy."
You can find out more about Wingate's latest release on her blog at http://www.susanwingate.blogspot.com/.
"Bobby's Diner" - a novel in the women's fiction category - is said to be released this fall 2008.
"Bobby's Diner" is a story of a woman trying to find herself in a town where nobody wants her. Georgette Carlisle, twenty-five when she saunters into the rustic town of Sunnydale, Arizona, snags husband, Bobby, away from another woman, Vanessa Carlisle. After he dies - fifteen years later when the story begins - he leaves his restaurant called Bobby's Diner to both women. But, that's not the only problem. Bobby's Diner, situated on an attractive highway corridor property, is slated as the next boutique tourist site and sits smack in way of Zach Pinzer's dreams and future with Chariot International Incorporated, a large developer headquartered in Phoenix. Even after Zach arranges to destroy their property and fatally wounds their beloved busboy and gardener, he nearly kills Roberta, Vanessa's daughter. Georgette and Vanessa hold fast to the only thing they have, each other, and they fight. Georgette's story tells a tale of life, love, death, grief, pain, loneliness, and redemption. And, she finds her true family with the most unexpected people.
When asked how she felt about the deal, Wingate replied, "I'm giddy."
You can find out more about Wingate's latest release on her blog at http://www.susanwingate.blogspot.com/.
National Geographic Books Creates New Imprint Dedicated to Fine Photography
National Geographic Books' Focal Point imprint, the Society's newest venture, will draw on National Geographic's legendary photographic archive -- encompassing 16 name collections and more than 10 million images -- as well as the work of distinguished photographers around the world. The imprint, debuting this fall, will present the finest in documentary photography past and present, and monographs will celebrate individual photographers' unique style, vision and skill.
Leah Bendavid-Val, director of photography publishing for National Geographic Books, explains, "Focal Point books are carefully chosen to showcase photography's pioneers and its modern masters and will appeal to connoisseurs, professionals, collectors, serious students of photojournalism and all lovers of photography."
A natural extension of National Geographic's photography publishing, from best-selling photography field guides to mass-market photography gift books, Focal Point sets apart titles that represent the most outstanding work of elite photographers. The imprint begins with an inherent advantage — the wealth of never-before-published material contained in National Geographic's vast historical archive and decades of work created on assignment for National Geographic's magazines.
Four inaugural Focal Point titles demonstrate the wide range and world-class quality that will distinguish this imprint. These books and those that follow will combine the timely and the timeless, illuminating both subject and context.
Leah Bendavid-Val, director of photography publishing for National Geographic Books, explains, "Focal Point books are carefully chosen to showcase photography's pioneers and its modern masters and will appeal to connoisseurs, professionals, collectors, serious students of photojournalism and all lovers of photography."
A natural extension of National Geographic's photography publishing, from best-selling photography field guides to mass-market photography gift books, Focal Point sets apart titles that represent the most outstanding work of elite photographers. The imprint begins with an inherent advantage — the wealth of never-before-published material contained in National Geographic's vast historical archive and decades of work created on assignment for National Geographic's magazines.
Four inaugural Focal Point titles demonstrate the wide range and world-class quality that will distinguish this imprint. These books and those that follow will combine the timely and the timeless, illuminating both subject and context.
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Stephenie Meyer Publisher Pulls Plug On New eBook's August 2nd Release
Stephenie Meyer's publisher has officially delayed the eBook release of Breaking Dawn, her much-anticipated latest novel in the Twilight series, by 24 hours. The hard copy release still goes forward August 2nd. This lag in release time has eBook readers crying foul.
In response, BooksOnBoard (www.booksonboard.com) is now offering 100% Rewards on Breaking Dawn pre-orders, for a net cost of Zero dollars. This applies to all orders placed by 11:59 pm on August 2, including those already placed.
"Even though the release date change is the publisher's decision, BooksOnBoard wants eBook readers to know how important they are," explained LiVolsi when asked about the decision to give away the Breaking Dawn eBook for free. "We want to demonstrate our support of loyal customers, and give new eBook readers a popular eBook at effectively no cost."
Many Twilight saga eBook customers are not quite as conciliatory.
"I think delaying the release date for e-books is just plain petty," writes a long-time member of the popular eBook forum MobileRead. "I'm sorry it's an advantage of the technology that you can get the content delivered to you quicker. They don't have to handicap to get an even playing field."
Other contributors to the discussion expressed concern that publishers lack respect for eBook readers.
"Why are we treated like we don't matter?" writes another MobileRead member. "We do matter and publishers need to realize this."
eBook retailers were first informed by Meyer's publisher that the eBook release may be delayed a day on August 3rd in an email sent at 5:20 pm EST on July 29th. The publisher, Hachette Book Group, cited concerns that eBooks, available globally on the internet, may reach eBook customers in certain time zones before the hard copy book is available.
"We understand the business aspects of the Meyer decision, but as a champion of eBook readers, we're not happy about this outcome and its possible implications," says Bob LiVolsi, CEO of BooksOnBoard. "EBooks represent what is probably the most rapidly growing segment of the industry, and we will be working with major publishers to facilitate future releases. Industry-wide, eBook sales have increased by over 25% in the past year alone. They offer several significant advantages to customers, publishers, and the earth, such as accessibility to the vision and mobility-impaired, convenience, low cost of production, and diminished environmental impact."
BooksOnBoard has invested heavily in promotions planned around Breaking Dawn's original August 2nd release date. The company has announced it will continue with its Twilight Rewards Quest, where the popular Cybook e-ink Reader is the grand prize. The Quest consists of a series of clues embedded in BooksOnBoard's website, RSS Feed, and the "Countdown to Breaking Dawn" Podcasts sponsored by the company.
Meyer's novels have a large online fan base. Fans of the Twilight series congregate online, creating scores of Twilight fan sites such as Twilight Lexicon (www.twilightlexicon.com), Twilight Moms (www.twilightmoms.com), and bellaandedward.com (www.bellaandedward.com). Meyer's eBooks have consistently remained on BooksOnBoard's bestseller lists for months at a time.
"In the 5 days that we have had Breaking Dawn available for pre-order, it has climbed to the top of the bestseller lists," adds LiVolsi. "We have tremendous respect for Meyer's success and her audience, and want to help ensure she values her customers who read eBooks."
The Grand Prize in BooksOnBoard's Twilights Rewards Quest, which will continue as planned, is a Cybook eBook reader with a BooksOnBoard price of $379. Other prizes include hardcover first editions of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh novel in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, and varying amounts of Rewards Dollars applicable to any eBook or downloadable Audio Book at BooksOnBoard.
In response, BooksOnBoard (www.booksonboard.com) is now offering 100% Rewards on Breaking Dawn pre-orders, for a net cost of Zero dollars. This applies to all orders placed by 11:59 pm on August 2, including those already placed.
"Even though the release date change is the publisher's decision, BooksOnBoard wants eBook readers to know how important they are," explained LiVolsi when asked about the decision to give away the Breaking Dawn eBook for free. "We want to demonstrate our support of loyal customers, and give new eBook readers a popular eBook at effectively no cost."
Many Twilight saga eBook customers are not quite as conciliatory.
"I think delaying the release date for e-books is just plain petty," writes a long-time member of the popular eBook forum MobileRead. "I'm sorry it's an advantage of the technology that you can get the content delivered to you quicker. They don't have to handicap to get an even playing field."
Other contributors to the discussion expressed concern that publishers lack respect for eBook readers.
"Why are we treated like we don't matter?" writes another MobileRead member. "We do matter and publishers need to realize this."
eBook retailers were first informed by Meyer's publisher that the eBook release may be delayed a day on August 3rd in an email sent at 5:20 pm EST on July 29th. The publisher, Hachette Book Group, cited concerns that eBooks, available globally on the internet, may reach eBook customers in certain time zones before the hard copy book is available.
"We understand the business aspects of the Meyer decision, but as a champion of eBook readers, we're not happy about this outcome and its possible implications," says Bob LiVolsi, CEO of BooksOnBoard. "EBooks represent what is probably the most rapidly growing segment of the industry, and we will be working with major publishers to facilitate future releases. Industry-wide, eBook sales have increased by over 25% in the past year alone. They offer several significant advantages to customers, publishers, and the earth, such as accessibility to the vision and mobility-impaired, convenience, low cost of production, and diminished environmental impact."
BooksOnBoard has invested heavily in promotions planned around Breaking Dawn's original August 2nd release date. The company has announced it will continue with its Twilight Rewards Quest, where the popular Cybook e-ink Reader is the grand prize. The Quest consists of a series of clues embedded in BooksOnBoard's website, RSS Feed, and the "Countdown to Breaking Dawn" Podcasts sponsored by the company.
Meyer's novels have a large online fan base. Fans of the Twilight series congregate online, creating scores of Twilight fan sites such as Twilight Lexicon (www.twilightlexicon.com), Twilight Moms (www.twilightmoms.com), and bellaandedward.com (www.bellaandedward.com). Meyer's eBooks have consistently remained on BooksOnBoard's bestseller lists for months at a time.
"In the 5 days that we have had Breaking Dawn available for pre-order, it has climbed to the top of the bestseller lists," adds LiVolsi. "We have tremendous respect for Meyer's success and her audience, and want to help ensure she values her customers who read eBooks."
The Grand Prize in BooksOnBoard's Twilights Rewards Quest, which will continue as planned, is a Cybook eBook reader with a BooksOnBoard price of $379. Other prizes include hardcover first editions of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh novel in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, and varying amounts of Rewards Dollars applicable to any eBook or downloadable Audio Book at BooksOnBoard.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
