I haven’t tried it yet… but Penguin is now offering (what they call) ‘ebook tasters’. These are files are from upcoming or newly released books, in a digital download form. It seems they are only available in ePub format which means you’ll need an ereader or Adobe Digital Editions installed on your computer. I’m sure all of this is a DRM move, which I’m not sure is a wise thing, if you’re only giving away samples. Wouldn’t you want to make that as hassle free as possible?
Tag Archives: books
Print must be a zombie
I just started reading Jeff Gomez’s Print is Dead. It’s a strong title, but I haven’t even made it half way through the introduction and he’s already opened a paragraph with “While print is not yet dead…”.
It’s going to be hard to argue with someone who gets to have it both ways.
Merging Media
The creator of CSI and Dutton are teaming up to produce a new three-book series of “digital novels”. Let me preface this move with a quote from the CSI guy, Anthony Zuiker…
“I personally don’t have the attention economy to read a 250-page crime novel from start to finish.”
So that’s where he is coming from, on this. Zuiker goes on to say that these suspense-thillers will “reward” readers with rich media and video to enhance the reading experience. Basically, Zuiker will write an outline, then a ghost-writer will crank out 100 chapters and then Zuiker will back in and write 20 “cyber-bridges” (how lame-o is that phrase? Is this 1980? -ed.) for people to watch, before continuing on to the next chapter.
Of course, the example they give is a reading up to a crime, then log-on to watch a sex snuff film, and then go back to the book. I do have to concede this to the Hollywood folks… you’ll probably sell more books if you are including websites to watch sex videos.
To be fair, I am all for this type of convergence. It’s interesting how all these media formats merge and play off each other. I just think that this one pitch misses the mark on just about all of it. They really should have planned to do more and dig deeper.
(from Variety)
Homewood Library Booksale
The sale runs this weekend August 15-18.
For first pick through this year’s books, show up at the library at 6:30pm, on Friday, Aug. 15th and pay $2. That gets you in to bag the books and includes wine and snacks.
There is no cover charge for the rest of the sale (though you do miss out on the choicest picks)…
Saturday, August 16 the books will be on sale from 9 a.m.– 5:30 p.m.
Sunday, August 17 the books will be on sale from 2 p.m.– 5:30 p.m.
Monday, August 18 the books will be on sale from 9 a.m.– 8:30 p.m.
Happy hunting!