Booksquare

Today’s links of interest:

• Lexicographical Longing
  Once upon a time, we saved our pennies for our very own Oxford English Dictionary. Now we revel in our annual subscription (so handy for settling those pesky office arguments about words). Will there be another print edition of the OED? Does it make sense in a world where the online offering is so rich and accessible?
• Indiana Sues Book Publisher
  In other news, Airleaf/Bookman has finally stopped spamming us.
• The Fall of Random House’s Peter Olson, Book Publishing?s Last Don
  A cautionary tale. We think.
• Would you like that book in paper or plastic?
  The, uh, environmentally unfriendly side of electronic books.

Read more…

Today’s links of interest:

• Publishers put a lot of thought into designing the covers of books sold at airports
  More on the great cover discussion of May 2008.
• One man’s plan to rescue book reviewing
  Involves reviewing books, just in case you’re wondering.
• How do you get a debut novel published? It helps if your surname is Depp
  Henceforth, we will be known as Booksquare Depp.

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Today’s links of interest:

• Online library gets FBI to back off
  The Internet Archive pushes back against a National Security Letter and prevails. Characteristically, Brewster Kahle had a muted reaction to his success.
• Magic triumphs over realism for Garcia Márquez
  See, when an author "quits" writing, it means "at this moment, in the next, who knows?’
• Which Author Remains Obscure Because of All the Ink Wasted on Barbara Walters?
  Ron Hogan digs into a critical (get it, critical?) question raised by Seth Godin about media saturation of certain topics at the expense of others. Special to MediaBistro: fix your page titles!

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Today’s links of interest:

• Gay Penguin Tale Tops List of ‘Challenged’ Children’s Books
  Yet, the obvious solution eludes the challengers: don’t read the book.
• Touchstone/Fireside Tries Hardcover ARCs
  Then again, there’s always someone willing to buck the trend toward cost-cutting.
• Online reviewing boosts unsung authors
  A look at how reviews sell books, how too few books get reviewed, and how online sources are changing the landscape.

Read more…

Today’s links of interest:

• Touchstone/Fireside Tries Hardcover ARCs
  Then again, there’s always someone willing to buck the trend toward cost-cutting.
• Online reviewing boosts unsung authors
  A look at how reviews sell books, how too few books get reviewed, and how online sources are changing the landscape.
• As Books Fill Dumps, Publishers Target Return Policy
  And as publishers face increased costs (see previous item), they seek ways to lower upfront expenses…and downstream costs.
• As Costs Soar, Will Prices Follow?
  And the current economic crisis hits home.

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Today’s links of interest:

• Harry Potter No Longer a Best Seller
  Does this mean the New York Times can reconsolidate some of its lists?
• What Do Children Read? Hint: Harry Potter’s Not No. 1
  Kids read books. Kids like books. And certain classics remain hot reads because, well, who doesn’t like green eggs and ham?
• Orphan Works 2008: House and Senate Bills Introduced
  While doubting that this legislation will do all that and more, we applaud the Congress’s acknowledgment that this is a problem we need to address.

Today’s links of interest:

• J.K. Rowling, Lexicon and Oz
  Another person who clearly doesn’t have the same level of understanding of this case as our annoying commenter Sandy…luckily, we agree with "Uncle Orson" wholeheartedly!
• Amazon Rekindles the Kindle
  As noted, willing to receive one as a gift…
• ‘All the Sad Young Literary Men’
  Guessing the real authors behind a book’s characters: is this a new kind of literary ARG or just a way of indulging in fun gossip?
• One for the Money, Two for the Show: Gerd Leonhard and Music 2.0
  A serious look at new ideas for compensating artists for their work. Interesting read because it acknowledges that change is required now — not ten years from now.

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Today’s links of interest:

• Singles nights offered at library
  C’mon, even in your skepticism, you’re thinking it’s brilliant.
• Bedtime stories available on children’s iPods, but is that a good thing?
  Isn’t the question really "Is that a bad thing?"
• ?Think Future? Panel Debates What Makes a YA a YA
  Not necessarily what the grown-ups think. But here’s one clue: ?Teen books are like adult books, without all the bullshit.?
• Paso’s last independently-owned new bookstore to close
  Bummer — it’s like the Paso Robles we knew and loved is no more.
• Publishers Fight Oregon Censorship Statute
  Stop, stop, stop trying to legislate morality by pretending that you’re protecting children. You’re not. Responsible adults can simply avoid these materials, and responsible parents need to step up and do their jobs.

Today’s links of interest:

• Publishers Fight Oregon Censorship Statute
  Stop, stop, stop trying to legislate morality by pretending that you’re protecting children. You’re not. Responsible adults can simply avoid these materials, and responsible parents need to step up and do their jobs.
• Audible Announces New Imprint and Exclusive Agreements with Orson Scott Card and Other Top Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers
  Neat! “It’s easy for great novels and novellas to get lost in the bookstore - not everything can get front-of-store display!” Card said. “That’s what I’ll be doing with ‘OSC Selects’ - moving new and classic sci-fi and fantasy right to the front, so fans will have a better chance of noticing terrific stories performed by first-rate readers.”

Read more…

Today’s links of interest:

• HelenKay Dimon Author Talk Interview #6
  Jill Monroe takes on her biggest author interview challenge…
• Bloomsbury authors revolt over Harry Potter
  Or, rather time and effort devoted to one author versus the rest of the gang.