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Jim Cox Report: April 2012
Dear Publisher Folk, Friends & Family:
First of all I must announce a correction for an error that I made in the March 2012 "Jim Cox Report". The author of "What Color Is Your Parachute? 2012: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers" is Richard N. Bolles. Dan Poynter is the author of "Dan Poynter's Self-Publishing Manual: How to Write, Print and Sell Your Own Book" Just another one of those inexplicable "senior moments"! My apologies to both Richard and Dan.
Continuing on the subject of digital publishing, one of the areas that ebooks are making tremendous inroads is with community libraries. Digital downloads of ebooks is expanding in this specialized area of the local public library.
To illustrate I will use data from my own local public library here in the Village of Oregon, Wisconsin. The Oregon Public Library and the South Central Library System (Dane County, Wisconsin) are actively participating in a Wisconsin statewide program to purchase one million dollars in ebook purchases in 2012 for the Digital Download Center sponsored by the Wisconsin Public Library Consortium. Available to all Wisconsin library card holders, the Digital Download Center now offers ebooks, audio books, videos, and music that library patrons can download into their iPods, MP3 players, Kindles, Sony eReaders, Nooks, and iPads. My own local Oregon Public Library has dedicated $1,444 from its donation funded acquisition budget to make ebooks available to local Village of Oregon library patrons.
This whole project began in May 2012 when the Division for Libraries, Technology, and Community Learning of Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction sponsored a statewide "eBook Summit" which established the need for a statewide ebook buying pool starting off with an acquisition budget goal of one million dollars for ebook purchases.
This is only the beginning. What is happening in Wisconsin's community libraries is happening in every state of the Union. Even more finances for budgeted acquisitions are expected for 2013 and I expect that the future for ebooks in community libraries will continue to expand as a percentage of local library book acquisition budgets.
I've received an update on the Global Ebook Awards which I'll simply reprint here for the benefit of those who have ebook editions of their publications:
The second annual Global eBook Awards deadline is being extended to April 30, 2012. Dan Poynter, Book Futurist, created the Global E-Book Awards so authors get recognition for embracing this new technology www.GlobalEbookAwards.com .
E-Book sales are exploding. A major problem for authors lacking a big following, as mentioned in a recent Wall St. Journal article, is effectively marketing their eBooks. Poynter believes being involved in the Global eBook Awards will give nominated Authors a boost towards finding their category audience. With 100+categories and 4 new ones just added the 252 judges welcome your eBooks:
Best eBook Cover
Best eBook Trailer
Best Illustration in Adult Fiction/Children Fiction/ Non-Fiction
Best Multimedia in an eBook (Audio/Video/Internet/App/iPad)
Jim Cox, founder and editor-in-chief of Midwest Book Review since 1976 is the 2012 Global eBook Lifetime Achievement Award recipient.
Join us in Santa Barbara on Saturday, August 18, 2012 for an evening of awards and meet the one, the only, Jim Cox.
Now on to reviews of new "how to" books on writing and/or publishing:
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Four By Four
Joyce Armstrong Carroll
Edward E. Wilson
Libraries Unlimited
c/o ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9781598849509, $25.00, www.amazon.com
Most authors begin their writing careers while in school. Indeed, one of the primary purposes of public (and private) education is to teach students how to write effectively from crafting essays to creating reports. "Four by Four: Practical Methods for Writing Persuasively" is a 100-page instructional guide organized into four major sections devoted to historical influences with respect to writing persuasively; the basics of the persuasive essay; practical steps essential to writing effectively; and four cardinal patterns for teaching students to write persuasively. "Four by Four: Practical Methods for Writing Persuasively" should be considered mandatory reading for anyone charged with the responsibility of teaching students writing skills at any and all grade levels, as well as instructive value for anyone seeking to craft effective presentations utilizing the written word.
Writing Books For Fun, Fame, & Fortune
Rik Feeney
Richardson Publishing
PO Box 162115
Altamonte Springs, FL 32716
www.PublishingSuccessOnline.com
9781935683155, $14.95, www.amazon.com
Never before in the history of publishing has it been easier for aspiring authors to turn their manuscripts into finished books. Never before in the history of publishing has it been more difficult for authors to compete for attention in the ever volatile and changing marketplace for their books. That's why Rik Feeney's "Writing Books For Fun, Fame, & Fortune" will be especially welcome reading for aspiring authors regardless of whether they intend to produce fiction or non-fiction. "Writing Books For Fun, Fame, & Fortune" is a concise, succinct, practical, 'real world', 144-page compendium with chapters dedicated writing a nonfiction book; dealing with chapter summaries and introductions; creating book summaries and introductions; 'front matter' and 'back matter'; alternative ways in which to write a book; editing; the critical importance of book titles with respect to marketing successfully; tracking a book's development, and more! Enhanced with a list of publishing options; a glossary; resources and resource links (including Online Publishing), "Writing Books For Fun, Fame, & Fortune" is informed, informative, thoroughly 'user friendly', and highly recommended to the attention of anyone seeking to launch their career as an author of books whether for a general or a specialized readership.
Something Startling Happens
Todd Klick
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
9781615930593, $24.95, www.mwp.com
The art of writing is filled with plenty of pitfalls. "Something Startling Happens: The 120 Story Beats Every Writer needs to Know" is a guide for writers on how to create a more gripping and enticing story that won't be easy to put away. These tips are applicable to any medium, as Todd Klick presents the events that evolve the story well and keep readers glued to the story. "Something Startling Happens" is filled cover to cover with examples from award winning films, and how to adapt their essence to one's own story.
Women on Poetry
Caroll Smallwood, Colleen S. Harris & Cynthia Brackett-Vincent, editors
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611
Jefferson NC 28640
9780786463923, $45.00, www.mcfarlandpub.com
Being a poet is easy, being a professional is not so much. "Women on Poetry: Writing, Revising, Publishing, and Teaching" is a collection of advice and wisdom for aspiring lady poets, who are pursuing the medium to express themselves, and pursuing their own dreams. From getting published, teaching the history of women's poetry, and just general knowledge on the craft. The essays and pieces come a wide assortment of established female poets who share their own experiences on the way. "Women on Poetry" is a strongly recommended pick for any poetry hopeful.
An Eerdmans Century 1911-2011
Larry ten Harmsel & Render Van Til
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
www.eerdmans.com
9780802866585, $20.00, www.amazon.com
The Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company is one of the most prolific and respect Christian publishing firms operating today. In 2011 they justifiable celebrated their 100th year of producing Christian literature for a Protestant readership. "An Eerdmans Century 1911-2011" is 214-page history of their publishing efforts beginning with 10 cent specials for Dutch farmers, to their present day catalog of more than one thousand published titles. "An Eerdmans Century 1911-2011" is also a history drawn from interviews, historical documents, and original research by Larry ten Harmsel of the publishers, editors and authors whose contributions established Eerdmans as an outstanding publisher of Christian books for adults and for children. Informed, informative, and thoroughly 'reader friendly', "An Eerdmans Century 1911-2011" is highly recommended reading for anyone who has read and been benefited by their books. Additionally, it will prove to be of immense relevance to anyone with an interest in the American publishing industry in general, and Christian publishing history in particular.
Vintage Type and Graphics
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Allworth Press
307 W. 36th St., 11th Floor, New York NY 10018
9781581158922, $17.95, www.allworth.com
VINTAGE TYPE AND GRAPHICS: AN ECLECTIC COLLECTION OF TYPOGRAPHY, ORNAMENT, LETTERHEADS, AND TRADEMARKS FROM 1896-1936 provides graphic designers with fine artifacts from type and typography books dating from 1896 to 1936. This could have been featured in our 'arts' section but is reviewed here for its broader appeal to design professionals and any with an interest in rare, never-before-reprinted type specimens and vintage logos and decorations. It's packed with inspiring graphic design resources and is a treasure trove for any who would use antique type images. As a further 'bonus', a CD of all images accompanies the book.
Finally we have "The Midwest Book Review Postage Stamp Hall Of Fame & Appreciation" roster of well-wishers and supporters. These are the generous folk who decided to say 'thank you' and 'support the cause' that is the Midwest Book Review by donating postage stamps this past month:
Anonymous -- Santa Barbara, California
Oswald Sobrino
Melissa McNeese
Robert & Annelie Collie
Luke Benoit -- "All Storms Pass"
Steven Sadleir -- "Self Realization"
Bill Toole -- "The Dancing Masters"
Shelia Bolt Rudesill -- "Transmutare"
William Jackson -- "Diving For Carlos"
Dorothy Jasnoch -- "Frankie The Bunny"
Louis Sauvain -- "Collegium Socerorum"
Mary Lloyd -- "Supercharged Retirement"
Frank W. Lewis -- "The Gold Rush: 1847-1849"
Jerry Campagna -- "Timeout! To Retreat, Review & Renew"
Joyce Shelleman -- "The Introvert's Guide To Professional Success"
Home Sellers
Bjelkier Press
Penfield Books
TM Books & Video
Grace Note Productions
Endicott & Hugh Books
Buddha's Light Publishing
Owl About Books Publisher
K. P. Taylor -- Doulos Books
Peter Berec -- BNI Publications
Art Ayris -- Kingstone Media Group
Sandra Green -- Penumbra Publishing
Diane J. Reed -- Bandits Ranch Books
Nora Thompson -- Hairy Eyeballs Press
Eileen Ziesler -- Toad House Publishing
Gary Hardwick -- HardBooks Publishing
Lin Conklin -- Amethyst Moon Publishing
Fredericka A. Jacks -- Editions Bibliotekos
Glen Hepker -- Mason City Wellness Center
Danielle Bastarache -- Centrifugal Publishing
Marina Dutzmann Kirsch -- Kirschtone Books
Rachel Semlyen -- Royal Fireworks Publishing Company
Elizabeth Waldman Frazier -- Waldmania!
If you have postage to donate, or if you have a book you'd like considered for review, then send those stamps (always appreciated, never required), or a published copy of that book (no galleys, uncorrected proofs, or Advance Reading Copies), accompanied by a cover letter and some form of publicity release to my attention at the address below.
All of the previous issues of the "Jim Cox Report" are archived on the Midwest Book Review website. If you'd like to receive the "Jim Cox Report" directly (and for free), just send me an email asking to be signed up for it.
So until next time -- goodbye, good luck, and good reading!
Jim Cox
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI, 53575
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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