Book Marketing Blogs

If you thought 500 books published a day was a daunting number, try 800 books published a day. Bowker has just updated there numbers (and counting system) and found that there were 120,000 books unaccounted for.

On a lighter note, Publisher’s Weekly recently asked readers whose bio they would prefer: the one by tennis legend Andre Agassi or Rolling Stones wild man Keith Richards (who hasn’t inked a deal yet). Keith won, hands down, with one poster noting of Keith’s much rumored tome: “I’d like to smoke it.”

Posted by Paula Krapf of Author Marketing Experts, Inc.

Continuing the theme of decreasing book reviews at newspapers, the National Book Critics Circle has launched a blog, Critical Mass, as part of its campaign to save book reviewing. Its blog series includes “features, posts by concerned writers, op-eds, Q and As, and tips about how you can get involved to make sure those same owners and editors know that book sections and book culture matter.”

Posted by Paula Krapf of Author Marketing Experts, Inc.

The Chicago Tribune joins the ranks of prominent daily newspapers that have eliminated its standalone Books section. The reviews will appear in the Saturday paper, which has much lower circulation, but will now include expanded features and the new Lit Life column, which will be supplemented by a book blog to be launched this month. Read the article

here.

Posted by Paula Krapf of Author Marketing Experts, Inc.

Book-loving citizens are not going gently into that good night, at least not in Atlanta, where the Journal-Constitution is facing the ire of thousands of readers who do not want to lose their book editor (and the fate of the book page at AJC remains uncertain). Bloggers have also taken up the cause. The highlight: a read-in outside the offices of the AJC – see the CNN.com

article.

Posted by Paula Krapf of Author Marketing Experts, Inc.

Drumroll: Announcing the magazine launch of the year – Relish Magazine – according to Mr. Magazine, aka Samir Husni. Not only did Relish have the largest launch of the year, at 6 million, but he calls the magazine “a reliable and accurate source to find whatever you’re looking for in the kitchen…” Relish is a monthly insert for daily and community newspapers nationwide.

Posted by Paula Krapf of Author Marketing Experts, Inc.

Gather.com’s version of the hit TV reality show American Idol is a writing contest that attracted 2,600+ entrants. That group has been whittled down to 20 semifinalists (at firstchapters.gather.com) who will compete for a publishing contract with Simon & Shuster’s Touchstone imprint, $5,000 and promotion by Borders. The winner will be announced May 31. No word on which judge will impersonate the irascible Simon Cowell of the TV show. But you can read – and rate – the entrants yourself.

Posted by Paula Krapf of Author Marketing Experts, Inc.

Cocktail Weekly is set to debut in September. Aimed at young women, the Bauer publication will target the 18 to 34 crowd with news that is “fast and digestible,” as reported in Wooden Horse Magazine. And we’ll order a round of cosmos for the house – bottom’s up!

Posted by Paula Krapf of Author Marketing Experts, Inc.

According to the powers that be at the Los Angeles Times, the reason they are doing away with a standalone book section is to meet the evolving needs of readers, users and advertisers. At least that’s what they told Publisher’s Weekly. Among the changes: As PW noted, fewer words to clutter up the stories. Because we all know readers hate too many words.

Posted by Paula Krapf of Author Marketing Experts, Inc.

Perhaps the Oprah seal of approval has the competition sharpening its claws. Rebuttals to Rhonda Byrne’s bestselling bonanza “The Secret” are on the way, says PW’s Religion BookLine. Next month brings ‘There Is More to “The Secret” ‘ by Ed Gungor, followed by ‘The Secret Revealed: Exposing the Truth About the “Law of Attraction” ‘ by Jim Garlow and Rick Marschall. Our Secret suspicion? This is just the beginning of cashing in on the craze…

Posted by Paula Krapf of Author Marketing Experts, Inc.