Ebook Trends 2013--The New World of Ebook Publishing

In a second NewsBreak blog entry on what's happening with ebooks, I focused on the changes in publishing, self-publishing and how this is impacting authors, readers and publishers.

For Barnes & Noble, the challenge will be to look beyond the device to position themselves against online vendors, self-publishing models that parallel music distribution and the increasing encroachment of retail titans. I'm a read who longs for spaces where readers can discover serendipitously ideas, authors and good reads - in both libraries and bookstores. However, both libraries and bookstores are in peril, especially as places for discovery, contemplation and learning. And the social web is no replacement.

Publishers face their own issues in terms of redefining their roles in the new publishing ecosystem which allows anyone to master publishing, writing and promotion. And, for authors themselves, taking on these tasks forces them into new relationships with readers but also with their creative works. If you are actively marketing yourself, it can't help but influence the development of your work.

I've mentioned some of my concerns, do you have some of your own to share?

Ebook Trends 2013--The Transformation Accelerates

The role of digital in the publication, access and consumption of information - in whatever format - is no longer in any doubt. I was asked recently to try to look at what I think are some of the key trends for ebooks and publishing in general in the coming year. I've been covering ebooks since the emerging days of what was then called multimedia in the 1980s. The pace of change is quickening due to the snowball effect of standards, platforms, and other issues.

The article is posted at the Information Today Newsbreaks page. Take a look at the first part of this piece and it would be interesting to hear your thoughts on ebooks today!

Enjoy!