25 Podcasts for Authors on Writing, Publishing, and Book Marketing
Vignette Books Succeeds in Selling Surprise Vintage Titles
Vignette Books is an online bookstore that offers books like “blind date with a book.” You pick a category, and they pick the book. It only offers used and vintage books, usually titles published at least 20 years ago. It’s like a book grab bag.
Boosting your attention span: Tips to train your brain
Life is hectic; calm and focus your brain. From the Optimist Daily, a nonprofit open-source library of solutions news stories.
One Piece of Advice From 42 Romance Authors in 2023
Last month featured mystery and thriller advice. Now romance, just in time for Valentine’s Day!
OverDrive Reports Another Record Year for Digital Library Circulation
Worldwide, library users borrowed 662 million e-books, digital audiobooks, and digital magazines in 2023, a 19% increase over 2022. Also, 152 library systems reported over a million digital checkouts, an increase from 2022’s 129 library systems. The popular digital reading app, Libby, hit a major milestone early in 2023, with more than one billion total checkouts since it launched. Libby app checkouts in 2023 were up 17%.
Its 662 million total checkouts were as follows:
- E-books borrowed: 370 million (+12%)
- Digital audiobooks borrowed: 235 million (+23%)
- Digital magazines borrowed: 56 million (+75%)
- Digital comics and graphic novels: 37 million (+14%)
- E-book and digital audiobook holds/waitlisted: 253 million (+19%)
Writer’s Digest magazine’s January/February issue has an article by Amy Clark titled “Your Book’s Next Chapter.” If you’re unhappy with your contract, there’s a lack of sales, no promotion, the publisher was sold, or isn’t a good fit after all, there are ways to get out of the contract. When and how you can republish your book after contract termination or rights reversion. (not online yet, print only).
AdventureKEEN Acquires Shelter Publications
The publisher of books about DIY homebuilding and personal fitness becomes AdventureKEEN’s seventh imprint.
Skyhorse to Phase Out Regnery’s Salem Books Imprint
Skyhorse will maintain Regnery’s devotion to religion books but will not acquire new titles for the Christian imprint, Salem Books. Titles already published as Salem Books will still show the name. Any future Christian titles will be published through Skyhorse’s Good Books imprint.
10 Publishing Trends for 2024 from Written Word Media
1. Quality Becomes More Important Than Ever
2. Authors Build Their Brands and Communities
3. Promo Stacking Becomes The Standard
4. Artificial Intelligence Is Embraced for Book Marketing
5. The TikTok Ad Market Matures
6. Copyright and Fraud Protection Become More Important
7. Authors Refocus On the Long Game
8. Subscription Models Gain Popularity
9. Controversy Continues on Social Media
10. Publishing Continues to See Consolidation
32 Book Awards You Should Know About (Trad & Self-Pub!)
For readers who have followed her column on the WPN site here’s a new book, hot off the presses by Penny Sansevieri, The Amazon Author Formula: Insider Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Selling More Books!
From Writer Beware—all the schemes, scams, pitfalls, industry shenanigans, good advice, and weirdness from 2023
REMINDER: Help keep Unite growing!
With 2024 elections approaching, cynical attempts to bring library books into the culture wars and generate fear-based voter engagement will likely continue. We need Writers & Publishers Network’s support more than ever to combat book banning. Please use their tools to support our year-end friendraising efforts.
Judge Blocks Key Provisions of Iowa Book-Banning Law
“Another legal victory for freedom-to-read advocates.”
Fifth Circuit Court Strikes Down Texas Book Ban Law as Unconstitutional
Peak Fake: A Scam Website Impersonating Macmillan Publishers
The New York Times Sues OpenAI and Microsoft for Copyright Infringement
PEN America, Scholastic Partner to Support Banned Authors
It will include emphasis on children’s book authors and illustrators.
Want to talk to kids about book bans but don’t know how? These books will help.
Books for Young Readers Addressing Book Banning
(covers not yet available)
Not Another Banned Book by Dana Alison Levy
Mr. Lemoncello’s Fantabulous Finale by Chris Grabenstein
Lerner Publishing Group acquired the New Zealand–based childrens-book publisher Gecko Press. They specialize in translations. The deal involves approximately 200 titles with plans to publish 18–20 new books this year.
Publishers Weekly’s 2024 Book Business Events Calendar
PW created a Google calendar that will be updated throughout the year, to which readers can subscribe to keep track of select trade shows, book fairs, and awards and prizes throughout the year, starting with the first half of 2024.
