Push Comes to Shove, E-publishing And Book Blogs Keep It Moving

For some time now, reports have been trickling in saying that e-publishing and social media sites have been turning the publishing industry on its ear. Random House publishers recently compiled and published a report outlining the reading and book-buying habits of Americans – and the results are startling (at least, they startled us!). Among other findings, the report states that “Democrats (56 percent) and independents (50 percent) are more likely than are Republicans (41 percent) to shop at independent bookstores.” Of course, most readers buy their books online, reports Zogby.

Wired.com offers an interesting list of eighteen challenges in contemporary literature. Some of the comments below the article offer a particularly intriguing discussion of the nature of “literature” in a current-day context. Is literature limited to traditional formats (e.g., poetry, drama, novel) alone, or can the term be applied more broadly to accommodate innovations of the digital age?

Regardless of how literature is defined, it seems that publishers are experimenting with new ways to disseminate that literature. Concord Free Press has chosen an innovative tactic for publicizing their newest book:

We just published our second novel, Push Comes to Shove by acclaimed writer Wesley Brown. We’re giving away all 2,000 copies via this website and our network of independent bookstores. All we ask of readers is that they make a voluntary donation to a charity or someone in need. And pass their book along so others can give. It’s a new kind of publishing based on generosity.

Visit the website to request your free copy!

Yen at the Book Publicity Blog indicates that the book blogging community has changed as well to accommodate these innovations – both in the nature of literature and in means of publication and sales. A recent post discusses the differences between old and new “waves” of book blogging, and what other members of the book blogging community should know about both, according to Yodian.

--Rachel Frier

Photo courtesy Concord Free Press