| Here’s a list of ten free Kindle ebooks to get your Sunday started off on the right foot. Amazon is also running a big sale on select Kindle ebooks today only that includes over 70 top-rated books across a variety of genres up to 80% off. All of the ebooks are marked down to $1.99. […] |
Sunday, August 9, 2015
10 Free Kindle eBooks & 80% Off Kindle Book Deals – 8/9/15
Harlequin Audiobooks Now Available for Libraries
| Harlequin developed an audiobook imprint back in May and the fruits of their labor have come to fruition. Libraries can now stock up audiobooks from Harlequin starting today. The Harlequin Audio titles will be available through all major library distributors in digital and physical formats," says Sean McManus, "Our partners, Midwest Tape and Blackstone Audio, will handle the distribution for physical CDs into libraries and Harlequin Audio works directly with all digital distributors." McManus adds that the audiobooks will also be available via streaming services such as Overdrive and the majority of digital library distributors. This is good news for libraries, but whats the deal with Harlequin even getting involved in audiobook production? For that information, we have to look back in recent history. News Corp announced the purchase of Canadian based Harlequin from Torstar on May 2nd, 2014. The entire deal was a cash purchase of $455 million dollars and the romance publisher has become a division of HarperCollins. One of the ways to make the romance publisher profitable was to expand their offerings and to get involved in the billion dollar audiobook industry. In 2015 Harlquin audio launched and the current plan is to have 200 audio editions by the end of the year. Since Audio is so new to Harlequin, they are going to have to change the way author contracts work. In the past, authors negotiated their audio rights separately, allowing audio versions of their books to be released by different publishers. Harlequin is going to start pushing for audio rights, since they can now has a solid distribution agreement for libraries. |
Should Amazon Release a Large Screen e-Reader?
| Amazon has an extensive track record for developing six inch e-readers and has done it consistently since 2007. These devices may be pocket friendly, but some people have been lamenting a wider array of screen choices. Should Amazon develop a large screen e-reader? In 2009 Amazon made a departure from the six inch screen and developed the Kindle DX. This e-reader failed to make an impact in the marketplace because it did not have a touchscreen and users complained about the full QWERTY keyboard and a primitive D-Pad. In 2015 touchscreen e-readers are the absolute norm and Amazon is in the perfect position to make a larger screen device that would appeal to readers of all shapes and forms. First of all, students would find something like this appealing. Amazon does have a digital textbook program where diligent young scholars could save up to 60% off the print price, also Amazon rents textbooks out too. Elderly people with vision programs, would likely pay the extra cost to have more screen real estate. Finally, the average reader simply wants something bigger to read digital comics, manga, e-books, newspapers and magazines. All July we ran a poll on Good e-Reader, asking people if Amazon should make a larger screen e-ink device. 389 people took part in the vote and 42% of the respondents wanted something large than six inches. 24.16% said they like the six inch size the way it is, while 19.02% said they wanted a true next generation Kindle DX. |
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