Yet Another Google Print Lawsuit
It was a busy news day for the publishing world. Just weeks after the Authors Guild filed a lawsuit against the Google Print Library Project, the Association of American Publishers has now filed suit as well. The source of problem is that this project is opt-out, not opt-in. The Google Print Library Project aims to scan millions of books from major universities to make them searchable, but not entirely readable, on the internet. Publishers have the right to opt out by November 1st.
It’s important to note that the library project is a variation of the voluntary Google Print program, in which publishers can choose to make their books available for scanning and search online. To see how Google Print works, go to print.google.com, and enter my name (Patrice-Anne Rutledge). You’ll find my book Special Edition Using Microsoft Powerpoint 2002, which my publisher made available for limited search.
Here are some links to news stories on this important issue:
- Google’s Book Battle
- Publishers Sue Google Over Scanning Plans
- Publishers Sue Google To Stop Scanning
- Riches We Must Share …
- … But Not at Writers’ Expense
Opinions on all this? Does a program like Google Print help authors to find an audience for their books and drive sales? Is an opt-out program an infrigement of copyright law and fair use? Feel free to comment.
2005 Frankfurt Book Fair Starts Today
Today is the first day of the Frankfurt Book Fair, which runs through October 23rd. One of the largest book fairs in the world, this year’s fair will present more than 350,000 books from 100 countries. If you write books, or want to write books, check out the fair’s website for the latest news on the book publishing industry. Some interesting news so far:
- Google tells book fair audience that its Google Print Library Project is no threat
- Pearson (publisher of many of my books) announces a joint venture with the BBC
- Korean authors highlighted at this year’s fair
Are You Writing a Blook?
A blook is essentially a book based on a blog or website. It can be an online book serialized on a blog such as the murder mystery Hackoff.com or a print book derived from blog content (see Wikipedia for a more detailed explanation on blooks). The difference between a blook and any other book that has a companion blog or website (such as my book, The Web-Savvy Writer) is that with a blook the blog generates the original content and the print book follows later.
Print-on-demand publisher Lulu just announced that it’s sponsoring the 2006 Lulu Blooker Prize for the best blooks of the year, which has generated varied opinions on the merits of blooks and even some controversy on the definition of a blook itself. (And yes, Lulu also publishes a blook blog that covers the latest contest happenings.)
Do you think blooks are the wave of the future or just a gimmick? Feel free to post your comments.
What a Writer’s Website Can Do For Your Career
The web is where you want to be if you’re serious about promoting your books in the 21st century. More than one billion people worldwide use the Internet and over 200 million of them have bought a book online. From basic techniques such as author websites to emerging technologies like podcasting, RSS, videoblogging, and web multimedia, there’s a way to attract attention and publicity for your book online.
Here are some examples of what a writer’s website can do:
- Drive the sales of your books
- Enable you to sell self-published books and auxiliary products directly to the public
- Develop a community for your readers
- Position yourself as an expert on a specific topic
- Serve as an online portfolio of writing samples for editorial or commercial clients
My own website has opened doors to a number of writing projects that I never would have found on my own. Here’s a sampling of opportunities I’ve been offered by editors, clients, and others who found me through my website, mostly by way of search engines, listings, or other sites linking to mine:
- Contracts to write several books
- Web content writing project for a major corporation
- Numerous magazine assignments
- Newsletter writing project
- Hosting a computer training video
- An on-camera interview to comment on multimedia
- Several interviews for print publications
So get into a marketing mindset and take a look at your site. Is it doing its job to market you and your book?
Podcasting for Book Profits
Are you podcasting yet? Think of a podcast as an internet radio show on demand. By creating your own podcast on a topic related to your books, you can develop an audience that is interested in what you have to offer. In future blog postings, I’ll cover how podcasting can have a direct impact on your book sales. But for now, just explore the world of podcasting to get an idea of what’s already out there and what you can do to target your message to your audience. Some sites to check out:
- Yahoo! Podcasts. A brand new site offering podcast search as well as news and info on getting started in podcasting. Yahoo is the first major player in the search industry to offer podcast search functionality. But according to a report by the washingtonpost.com, industry analysts predict the others won’t be far behind as podcasting moves more into the mainstream.
- Podcast Alley. Lists thousands of podcasts and includes an active podcasting forum.
- iTunes Podcast Directory. Features more than 15,000 free podcasts that you can download and play on your iPod–or listen to on your computer.
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The book called "brilliant ... indispensable ... and a must read" by publishing and publicity experts!
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About the Author
Patrice-Anne Rutledge is a freelance writer and author specializing in business technology.
