Baby steps toward publishing future

Neither over-optimistic nor fatalistic, Jason Epstein's "Publishing: the Revolutionary Future" has given us a lot to think about. Here, he lays out a detailed vision of the digital future of books, and I walk away feeling...mixed. I think about his idea that, one day, when all books are digital, libraries and bookstores will not be needed, technically neither will books. We will go to websites for our digital libraries and retailers and instantly download our selections from a infinite backlist, some server out there somewhere that contains all the books ever written. A digital Library of Babel.

Maybe I'm just old-school, but I have trouble imaging not being able to wander around a bookstore or waiting at the counter of its cafe for the appearance of some kid whose sobriety I question. But Jason goes on and points out what many others have said. Bookstores aren't really what they used to be. With the onslaught of corporate retail presence combined with a thirst for high-risk, typically low-quality, bestsellers, the diversity inside bookstores has greatly diminished. When we browse there, we find less good, quirky, new and more okay, predictable, same. Perhaps, without the high cost of physical presentation in a storefront, we book-shoppers will find more to browse through, books we never knew existed because, previously, we could only view the tip of the iceberg.

Blogger to Publisher: The Daily Beast will print...eventually

This weekend Galley Cat has noted that The Daily Beast is in the midst of its first publication. For over a year, this comprehensive emag/blog has been covering current events, arts, politics and entertainment. (They even have weekly crossword puzzles). Partnered with Perseus Books, the Beast is launching their first book "Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America" authored by John Avlon.

Without even broaching political issues, the Daily Beast is ruffling the publishing industry's feathers, again. In the current, infant stage of literary digitization, most publishers stick to hard copy books first, and then, maybe, they will later release an ebook version. Not so with the Beast. Jumping right into ebook form, the Daily Beast promises a paperback to come.

While established publishers are upset at the Daily Beast's strategy, the move makes sense. Shaped from Avlon's blog posting, the book itself evolved in an untraditional manner; why should the publication be any different? The digital world is the Daily Beast's native environment. Here it has readership, presence and support, so extending its ventures first in cyberspace, where it is at its strongest, just make sense. For ink-and-paper publishers, digital moves are the ventures and experiments they must contend with; it is their last frontier. For a blogger gone publisher, the process is, more or less, reversed. Holding the book in their hands is the last unknown, the leap of faith, and the final proof the they have arrived.

In case you have never heard of a Vook before...

I had never heard of a Vook before today, and I really don't know what to think, but neither does my spell check, which is comforting. As a combination of a book, or better still an e-book, and video with a "Share" widget, Vooks seem to be a little like Kindle 2.0. This article explained fairly clearly how Vooks operate. I'm not certain I will be reading any dense literature on a Vook any time soon, but these could turn out well for nonfiction books: "The Elegant Universe" with PBS excerpts, "I am America and you so can you" with Colbert Report interviews, "Lidia's Italy" with cooking clips....I can see it.

Two Ravens blog delivers

I am happy to report I've started finding quality publishers' blogs, ones temper their desire to sell with discussions of their everyday lives in the publishing world. The standout example is Two Ravens Press, a small, dynamic press that defines themselves as "the publishers at the end of the world." (They located in the Scottish Highlands.) Don't let their love of the quiet life fool you; Two Ravens has won numerous national and international awards, have a wide selection of fiction and poetry available in print and e-book form and, best of all, have an obsession with experimental, finely-crafted literature.

Their passion for the written word spills over into their blog. With a mix of discussions on daily events, the writing process and their take on the changes in publishing, their blog is personal and thought-provoking. Their latest posts including their massive Abode crash, their move even more remote place on the edge of the world and a response to the Guardian's blog post on "The theft of intellect."

Whether a reader is a fellow small publisher, a fan of their authors or a literary enthusiast, Two Ravens blog is one you can cozy up to, sift through and take with you throughout the day.

Looking for the person in the blog

So far I must say that I have been sorely disappointed with many small publishers' blogs. Many small presses are using blogs as an advertising opportunity. Their posts are filled with marketing copy announcing their latest releases and events. Company updates are fine, along with other content, but that balance is often missing.

I am not certain if some publishers are using blogs this way because news updates are their driving purpose behind the blog or if they are uncertain as to how use the medium. Although Laura Hazard Owen is focused on twitter in her article "Twitter isn't stupid-but publishers need to be smart about using it", her advise on successful micro-blogging easily spills over into the use of company blogs. Asserting that twitter is not an advertising tool, Owen points out that social media are an opportunity to get personal and connect with the audience.

I have to agree with her. Publishers, yes, tell us about your releases. Yes, tell us what products you are excited about. But tell us also your concerns about the future of publishing; tell us who you will be reading on the couch this weekend. We've met the product, now we'd like to meet the person.