Comments on: The Death of Publishing as We Know It: Who Holds the Smoking Gun? http://flowerdust.net/2009/01/05/the-death-of-publishing-as-we-know-it-who-holds-the-smoking-gun/ Author, Blogger, Speaker, Bad Driver Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:37:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jennifer B. Gondolfo http://flowerdust.net/2009/01/05/the-death-of-publishing-as-we-know-it-who-holds-the-smoking-gun/#comment-246321 Jennifer B. Gondolfo Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:16:14 +0000 http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=1801#comment-246321 Five months ago, I was told I had a brain tumor. The tumor is small, but it is on the brain stem and pushing up against one of my optic nerves. Consequently, I have double vision. Over the months, I've been doing everything the neurologists have been telling me to do. It has been tremendously challenging, but the hardest part is not being able to read and drive. Well, last month, a friend told me about the new Kindle 2 and how it could enlarge the print. I love to read. Audio books have been good, but I have missed reading terribly. Our brains are quite powerful and mine is trying hard to help me see normally. I purchased the Kindle 2, set the font to the largest setting and the first night I used it, I cried!! With the help of my brain, and the Kindle, I can now read for short periods of time. As I continue to practice, my reading time will increase. I am extremly grateful to the Kindle. Its variety of font sizes, ease to use, lightness and convenience to hold and carry - I am set!! Five months ago, I was told I had a brain tumor. The tumor is small, but it is on the brain stem and pushing up against one of my optic nerves. Consequently, I have double vision. Over the months, I’ve been doing everything the neurologists have been telling me to do. It has been tremendously challenging, but the hardest part is not being able to read and drive. Well, last month, a friend told me about the new Kindle 2 and how it could enlarge the print. I love to read. Audio books have been good, but I have missed reading terribly.
Our brains are quite powerful and mine is trying hard to help me see normally. I purchased the Kindle 2, set the font to the largest setting and the first night I used it, I cried!! With the help of my brain, and the Kindle, I can now read for short periods of time. As I continue to practice, my reading time will increase. I am extremly grateful to the Kindle. Its variety of font sizes, ease to use, lightness and convenience to hold and carry – I am set!!

]]> By: Tom E. Snyder http://flowerdust.net/2009/01/05/the-death-of-publishing-as-we-know-it-who-holds-the-smoking-gun/#comment-220864 Tom E. Snyder Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:07:32 +0000 http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=1801#comment-220864 I'm still not sure why so many people think there are too many books published. Suppose someone was in charge of censoring books and it was your book that wasn't published. Based on the number of commenters who have considered writing books maybe too FEW books are published. Why should someone, even publishers or, God forbid, the government be allowed to decide what is a "quality" book. "Quality" is a subjective term and is in the eye of the beholder. Suppose they decide your book is not quality. Does that mean it should not be written? Does that mean it should not be read? One book I highly recommend is "The Long Tail" by Chris Anderson. This is the direction the world is going and I believe it is a wonderful thing. Change is happening. Embrace it! Grace and peace. I’m still not sure why so many people think there are too many books published. Suppose someone was in charge of censoring books and it was your book that wasn’t published. Based on the number of commenters who have considered writing books maybe too FEW books are published. Why should someone, even publishers or, God forbid, the government be allowed to decide what is a “quality” book. “Quality” is a subjective term and is in the eye of the beholder. Suppose they decide your book is not quality. Does that mean it should not be written? Does that mean it should not be read?

One book I highly recommend is “The Long Tail” by Chris Anderson. This is the direction the world is going and I believe it is a wonderful thing. Change is happening. Embrace it!

Grace and peace.

]]> By: Amy @ My Friend Amy http://flowerdust.net/2009/01/05/the-death-of-publishing-as-we-know-it-who-holds-the-smoking-gun/#comment-220844 Amy @ My Friend Amy Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:25:33 +0000 http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=1801#comment-220844 Houghton Mifflin has gone all over the place after the original story broke about the temporary freeze on acquisitions. The truth is December was a very bleak time in the publishing world. Houghton Mifflin has gone all over the place after the original story broke about the temporary freeze on acquisitions. The truth is December was a very bleak time in the publishing world.

]]> By: Terra http://flowerdust.net/2009/01/05/the-death-of-publishing-as-we-know-it-who-holds-the-smoking-gun/#comment-220841 Terra Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:20:37 +0000 http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=1801#comment-220841 You make some very good points about too many mediocre titles being published. Houghton Mifflin's not acquiring any books in 2009 is mystifying though. Could someone explain their reasoning? I hope paper books will always be published as I do love that format, and my first gorgeous full color book was published this year, in paper format. The whole experience with the publisher and my co-authors is upbeat and good. Writers, be prepared to market a lot, creatively, and participate with your publisher in marketing your book. You make some very good points about too many mediocre titles being published.
Houghton Mifflin’s not acquiring any books in 2009 is mystifying though. Could someone explain their reasoning?
I hope paper books will always be published as I do love that format, and my first gorgeous full color book was published this year, in paper format. The whole experience with the publisher and my co-authors is upbeat and good.
Writers, be prepared to market a lot, creatively, and participate with your publisher in marketing your book.

]]> By: Marla Taviano http://flowerdust.net/2009/01/05/the-death-of-publishing-as-we-know-it-who-holds-the-smoking-gun/#comment-220809 Marla Taviano Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:54:04 +0000 http://www.flowerdust.net/?p=1801#comment-220809 Wow, Anne. This was really good. As a published author of four books (some doing well, some not, verdict still out on one that released today), I'm wondering what the future holds for me. A little frightening, a little depressing, a good opportunity to make "trusting in God" more than a cliche. I'm thinking about my next book right now, and your comment about making sure my words are valuable and timeless are valuable and timeless. Thanks! Wow, Anne. This was really good. As a published author of four books (some doing well, some not, verdict still out on one that released today), I’m wondering what the future holds for me. A little frightening, a little depressing, a good opportunity to make “trusting in God” more than a cliche.

I’m thinking about my next book right now, and your comment about making sure my words are valuable and timeless are valuable and timeless.

Thanks!

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