The general consensus with most major bookstore chains, is that the book buying and reading experience is, to say the least, irritating and exhausting. Between the long lines, the less than exemplar service staff and the prices, most bibliophiles find themselves skipping out and going elsewhere. In Raleigh, North Carolina, elsewhere just happens to be Quail Ridge Books and Music.

Quail Ridge Books and Music is a quaint, independent shop located in the heart of North Carolina. It was founded in 1984, and currently provides not only a wide selection of books and music, but is the holding place of different events, discussion groups and even town hall meetings.

In a time where everything from basic human interaction to reading has been monopolized by the internet, places like Quail Ridge Books and Music offer a place filled with warmth, love and a true appreciation of a good book.

This independent shop is filled with friendly, caring and knowledgeable staff dedicated to providing the best that customer service has to offer. Shopping at Quail Ridge Books and other independent shops offers the chance to give back and support the community; Quail Ridge Books uses a portion of their profits to support many of the local charities including Books for Kids and Hospice.

In support of a community filled with book and music lovers, Quail Ridge Books and Music offers hundreds of events for musicians and authors year round, and Linda Watson (founder, cook, and researcher of Cook for Good) is a prime example of that. A great author who definitely knows her way around great organic produce and recipes, Linda Watson is coming to Quail Ridge Books and Music on Friday, June 21, at 7:30 p.m. to participate in the Fifty Weeks of Green: A CSA Romance with Recipes.

Not only does Quail Ridge Books and Music have to love and support of the community, but they’ve also been recognized and won the Publishers’ Weekly Bookseller of the Year, the Pannell Award for Excellence in Children’s Bookselling, and the Haslam Award for Excellence in Bookselling; three honored and prestigious awards.

So all this begs the question: what are you waiting for? Quail Ridge Books and Music has it all, and for great prices. Go out to the heart of North Carolina and support the local independent book and music store that has just as much passion and soul as they do inventory.

Chelsea A. Reid is currently a senior at Delaware State University majoring in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations/Marketing & Advertising and a minor in Studio Art. She is currently a Marketing intern for Author’s Boutique and is working towards become a successful Public Relations and Marketing Practitioner. 

The publishing world is changing and that’s a fact. Gone are the days of piles of rejection letters and agents; being replaced instead by on demand eBooks and indie author sensations.

Okay well, that’s not entirely true. Traditional publishing is still going strong. Where would we be without Penguin, Harper Collins and authors who have made their mark with other traditional houses? But when asked where does the advantage lie? The answer across the board is quickly becoming independent publishing.

The digital age is changing things and it’s showing us that it’s here to stay. It’s easier than ever to write a book to build upon your business model and expand your brand. People who have always found themselves with a passion for the written word are able to become authors through independent publishing. Chefs write cookbooks, CEOs write about business; it just makes sense. My cat (appropriately named Mac after the computer) could even write a book, considering how much time he spends pounding on my keyboard. That’s a slight exaggeration but I wouldn’t put it passed him.

And there is more than one avenue for potential indie authors. Kindle Direct Publishing, PubSmart, Createspace, and Lulu, among others, each provide their own benefits and services to experienced authors looking to take a different path as well as those that are up and coming. Blog tours, radio features, book cover design and eBook formatting are a small portion of the packages that PubSmart offers to authors to help promote their writing projects. Industry experts can now act as publishing liaisons, keeping authors on the independent track while also providing necessary insight into the competitive industry. This isn’t to say that independent publishing is easy; a vast amount of work is required by the author in order to succeed amongst the crowd.

When asked about her thoughts on self-publishing versus traditional publishing, author of the popular children’s series The Adventures of A.R. Achnid, Sandi Smith conceded, “I think either way is great. The important thing is to get them out there for people to read and enjoy.”

But getting “out there” is changing too. Social media and online networking is improving the reach of writers and would be authors every day. Twitter is among the top contender for indie authors to promote their books. If they market themselves in the right way and are able to build a substantial fan base in the way of “followers,” their book sales have a strong potential to soar. Interaction with readers and fellow authors is key here and can create an impact. Free eBook giveaways on Amazon, such as those promoted on Freebooksy, could even land your book the #1 spot on Kindle or in its genre. This type of exposure is huge for authors both indie and traditional alike. Becoming a Kindle bestseller is extremely noteworthy and the digital times are making that evident to everyone involved in the expanding e-reader industry.

So when faced with the decision of which path you will take on your journey as an author, consider the changing times of the 21st century. Research other authors in a similar situation as your own and reach out to them for advice if you feel comfortable. Consult with an industry expert to get their opinion on what your next move should be. And finally, consider your familiarity with social networking and determine your reasoning behind becoming published; are you fulfilling a lifelong dream or driven to create book sales…or both? Times are a changing…how will you make your mark?

Happy Writing!

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Gillian Nicol is a publishing assistant and aspiring writer. She launched her publishing career at Pressque Publishing and is Publishing Services Manager at PubSmart. She was born in Toronto, Ontario and grew up in Connecticut and Florida. She holds a Bachelors degree in English with a concentration in creative writing from the College of Charleston in South Carolina. The beach is her favorite place to crack open a book and enjoy a good read.

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Image courtesy of reviews.cnet.com

“We’re thrilled to have the second book in the Salem Witch Trilogy, “Chain of Souls” out in the market. The first book “Salem VI: Rebecca’s Rising” was a huge success as a Kindle bestseller. The fans have been anxiously awaiting the release and from what we’ve heard so far, Book II, is more than anticipated,” Author Jack Heath.

Book lovers can download the free eBook exclusively through Amazon.com today. Don’t have a Kindle eReader? Enjoy the book through Adobe Digital Editions.

Book Synopsis:

Weeks after Salem newspaper editor John Andrews avenges his wife’s four-year-old cold case murder, he’s thrust into the mayhem of another mystery. The Coven, who’s kept tight their secrets of power and blood-lust for centuries, is bent on silencing Andrews. Though his nightmares tell him otherwise, he’s willing to keep things under wraps until there’s proof—he’s a newsman after all. But when the Coven kidnaps his daughter, Andrews must further reveal Salem’s murky past—his daughter’s life depends on it. As the Coven’s onslaught continues and the body’s pile up, good souls and bad, Andrews learns that Salem isn’t the only place controlled by the Coven. It’s an international organization on a dark mission with an even darker past. And so begins the witch-hunt.

Happy Reading!

In the wide-wild-world of social media, Twitter can make or break your online presence. Despite being limited to just one hundred and forty characters to spread your message, it’s quite easy to find yourself falling into the “annoying zone” in the twitter-sphere (and I know…I am guilty of this).

Utilize Twitter to your advantage by following these five simple do’s and don’ts for authors just like you.

Don’t Over-Tweet.
There is nothing more off-putting than a follower that tweets every second of the day and it’s a great way to get “unfollowed.” Make your messages meaningful and reach out to those with similar interests. This doesn’t mean, however, that you should retweet everything that comes your way. Be selective and note popular times for tweeting in order to getting your message seen. Tweeting about trending topics is a great way to get your name out to a vast audience.

Don’t Shamelessly Self-Promote.
Oftentimes I see authors putting their accounts in cruise control; every single tweet that leaves their keyboard and enters into Twitter is automated. Most author-automated tweets are solely to promote their newest novel, encouraging others to purchase and read it. This can be tiring for followers and shouldn’t define your entire presence. Programs like Hootsuite are a great tool but shouldn’t be used as a sole means for communication. A better way to spread the word about your work is to promote a giveaway or upcoming media appearance or author interview.

Be Informative.
There is nothing better than a creative and thought provoking Tweeter (Twitterer, etc). Get creative with the messages you write. You can expand your social network by promoting your author website, Facebook page or Goodreads blog. Connect with other authors in your genre by reviewing books or passing along interesting quotes about writing. The sky’s the limit when it comes to exposing your thoughts to readers on Twitter.

Build a Brand.
Thinking about Twitter as an extension of your growing book brand is great way to grab the attention of new readers. Use your book’s cover as your avatar and create a witty and informative bio, complete with a link to the most engaging and user-friendly part of your author website. Follow the trends by using hashtags (#), commenting on current events and even taking part in the ever-popular “Throw Back Thursday.” Twitter tours are also a fantastic way to grow your reach by having others tweet about you.

Interact with Peers.
This is the fun part! Now is the time to tweet your followers and find out what books are on their bedside table. Reach out to new people and use the handy search feature to find others that write or read your genre. I guarantee that every person you decide to follow will be more than likely to follow you right back.

Book lovers are always tweeting about authors and you can connect with them based on books that are similar to yours. Twitter is a dynamic environment that allows you to interact with people from all over the world; don’t be afraid to reach out and embrace that.

Whether you’re a technology newbie or a seasoned Internet pro, Twitter is a vast and exciting environment to connect and share. Take it one step of the time and remember to have fun; you never know, I might just “follow” you!

Have something to add? Comment in the section below and share your experience with Twitter.

Happy Tweeting!

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Gillian Nicol is a publishing assistant and aspiring writer. She launched her publishing career at Pressque Publishing and currently works with PubSmart. She was born in Toronto, Ontario and grew up in Connecticut and Florida. She holds a Bachelors degree in English with a concentration in creative writing from the College of Charleston in South Carolina. The beach is her favorite place to crack open a book and enjoy a good read.

Image courtesy of talentevolution.com.

by Sonja Hegman

Your author platform is the single most important thing you can create for yourself. And I’m not kidding when I write this: You must start promoting at least a year ahead of your book’s release. This might sound ridiculous, but starting the buzz early will give you a better shot of getting onto best seller lists in your opening week.

What is an author platform? It’s that thing you create to generate buzz for you and your awesome book. Much like a brand, it takes time to build up that buzz. Think of yourself as a brand. You can’t expect to sell hundreds of books your first week if no one has an inkling of who you are. I’ve been around as a writer for a long time, but even I didn’t give myself enough of a head start. I thought my first book would sell like hotcakes during its first month because 1) the title was magnificent and 2) any writer worth a damn would care about the subject matter. Not so. The buzz didn’t start until about 6 months after its release.

Once your book is written you must become a full-time marketer and sales person. No one else is going to do this for you, not even your publisher. Sorry to burst anyone’s bubble out there. Traditional publishers might write a press release for you, but other than that you have to be on Twitter and Facebook and Goodreads generating sales for yourself. If you have the money, you can always hire someone (like me) to perform these tasks for you, but when you’re first starting, you’ll most likely be on your own. This is overwhelming. I won’t lie.  I work in social media so translating that knowledge over to my book sales wasn’t too difficult. But when I received my first royalty check, I was anything but impressed. I’d busted my ass for months and felt I had nothing to show for it. So, what did I do? I kept pushing and things finally started to happen.

For Trials of an Entrepreneurial Virgin, I began heavy promotion in July for my book’s October release. Not even close to enough time to generate a real conversation. It took until April (nine months after I first started to promote and six months after my book’s release) for things to finally start happening with sales. So, how does one begin to create their author platform? It’s not as overwhelming as you might think as long as you give yourself the gift of time.

In a perfect world, this is how I should have laid out the promotion for Trials:

• 1 year before: Start a Twitter chat based on the book called #WritersChatStew. Build a tribe of people who will inevitably buy in the first week and write wonderfully awesome reviews. Also, start blogging about principles from the book.
• 9 months before: Start guest posting on as many sites as possible. Continue this up through, and beyond, the release date.
• 6 months before: Press materials: Press kit that includes a press release, author bio/background, author photo, and sample questions. (I created this after my book released.) Book radio/podcast interviews from now up through and beyond the release date.
• 3 months before: Post book trailer to YouTube.

You must have an online presence to succeed as a writer today. A basic online platform includes:

• Social media (Twitter and Facebook)
• Website (this can be yourname.com or the title of your book)
• A blog (this can include excerpts from your book)
• Sales (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc.)

A more advanced platform would include these along with other such as  Google+, Goodreads, LinkedIn, YouTube, advertising, an email newsletter and others.

Your blog is the core

Your blog is going to be your best friend when you start promoting. Why? Well, every time you write a blog post, you can post it  to all of your social media channels. In effect, people will go to your website, read the post and probably look around a bit. On this blog you’ll have links to all of your social media profiles and your book’s link on Amazon along with anywhere else it’s for sale.

Now, your blog and your website can be one in the same. If you can’t afford to hire someone to design a kick-ass website for you, start with a free blog on Blogger or WordPress. This blog can always be integrated into a more formal website later.

Blogger is my platform of choice because it allows the blogger to buy a personalized URL. For example, I created sonjahegman.blogspot.com on Blogger, then bought the URL sonjahegman.com. It’s very easy to setup and is only $10 for one year, which includes hosting on Blogger. It’s a great option when you’re first starting out.

What do you write about in this blog? Anything you want. Because I created a Twitter chat to promote my first book, I opted to create a separate site just for that, which is writerschatstew.com. All topics in this blog relate back to principles from Trials. If you’re writing a how-to book this is fine. What about fiction? Write about your characters. What are their motives? Post excerpts to give readers a taste and to generate buzz. Think about how you can intrigue potential readers/buyers. Write in the voice of your character. One of my clients writes spy novels. On Twitter, I pretend to be the character, writing in the character’s voice and pretending that James Bond is the little brother the character never had nor wanted. Creativity is the key.

Sonja Hegman is the author of Trials of an Entrepreneurial Virgin, published by Open Door Publications in 2012. Her second book, Moving at the Speed of Twitter How Authors Can Build a Social Media Platform to Sell More Books, will be published in 2013. You can find her tweeting on Twitter most days @ChiefWordsmith.

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Image courtesy of mmagallan

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA – As a food scientist who previously worked for three different Fortune 500 food companies, Lisa Barrangou knows first-hand what processed food truly is. When she had her first child, she knew that homemade baby food, made from whole, real foods, with no additives or fillers, would be her baby’s primary food source. She has been making homemade baby food since 2005, for each of her 3 children, her friends’ children, and for clients.

Through her homemade baby food service company, Lisa developed an efficient system to create 3 months worth of baby food within 3 hours, all safely made in her clients’ kitchen, conveniently packaged and compactly stored in their freezer, taking up no more space than a small basket. After realizing how many parents wanted to learn how to use this efficient system for themselves, she integrated the system into a comprehensive baby food plan and resource that became the book, RealSmart Baby Food™.

Freebooksy.com, the go-to website for free eBooks, will be hosting a Mother’s Day weekend promotion in which readers may download the “RealSmart Baby Food” free eBook for Kindle on May 10^th and 11^th.

“The RealSmart Baby Food book is well written and enables parents to gain the confidence and structure required to feed their children appropriately and healthily.” –Mums Baby Magazine.

About the author: Lisa Barrangou, Ph.D. is the creator and author of RealSmart Baby Food™. Lisa is an experienced mother, food professional, food enthusiast, and advocate for healthy living. She previously created and founded The Green Baby Chef™, a homemade baby food company offering personal chef services for infants, as well as private cooking instruction and baby food making workshops. She holds a B.S. in Nutrition, Food and Agriculture from Cornell University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in Food Science from North Carolina State University.

Title: RealSmart Baby Food: How to Make 3-Months Worth of Delicious, Nutritious Baby Food in 3 One-Hour Blocks of Time
Author: Lisa Barrangou Ph.D
Genre: Cookbook
ISBN: 978-0-9885887-0-7 (Paperback)
978-0-9885887-1-4 (eBook)
Publication Date: January 2013
Pages: 186
Price: $34.99 Paperback
$9.99 eBook
Publisher: RealFood Doctor Press

Lisa Barrangou’s new book “RealSmart Baby Food” is available at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and local retailers. To learn more about the author or the book go to www.realsmartbabyfood.com.

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by Angela Scott

Here you are. You’ve just completed your mega manuscript and now it’s all come down to this: the writing of the book blurb.

This is perhaps the BIGGEST selling factor your book will ever have. It’s the part that lets readers know what your mega manuscript is all about. It’s the description, for goodness sake. How hard can it be to write it?

Oh, it’s hard. It’s real hard a’right (There’s a Steve Carell joke to made here, but I won’t stoop that low). Anyhoo…

A good cover is nice. Great editing is awesome. But if you can’t even explain what your book is about in 200 words or less, you’re pretty much screwed. Yep, 200 words. Sometimes even less than that (depending on the guidelines of certain online retailers). You have to take that 100K novel and condense it into a brief (and I mean brief) overview of what your story is about. And you have to make it compelling, hooking the reader and getting them interested without divulging everything. You have to give them a taste, entice them into reading more. Good freakin’ luck, right?

Writing the book description is a crucial element of selling your book and yet it is the most difficult. Ask any author and they’ll tell you about all their hair pulling, their banging of heads on desks, and binge eating (or drinking, whatever the case may be). It’s a frustrating process for sure.

So I’m going to give you a couple of basic tips to get you started. Here we go:

1) This is a biggie. Go look at book blurbs on the backs of books. Simple, yet effective. Go to your local book store or library and pick books off the shelf, specifically in your genre. Look at examples and see which descriptions grab your attention. When I first started out, I did this exact thing. I was at a thrift store, thumbing through the used books when I happened upon the novel DEARLY DEVOTED DEXTER. Click that link and take a look at that book blurb. Seriously, it’s good. I bought the book, took it home, and it sits on my shelf as a reminder of what a book blurb should be.

2) Think of a movie promo. Movie promos are like less than a minute long. They have to grab the viewer’s attention and make them want to stand in line to see the new release. Did they tell you everything about the movie? Nope. Did they set the scene? Yep. Did they tell you who the main character or characters were? Yep. Did they tell you the outcome? Nope. You’ll have to watch the movie to find that out. Keep that in mind when writing your book blurb.

3) Remember the main arc or plot of your story. Remember the main character. Stick to that in your description. Forget subplots or minor chracters. You don’t have time or enough words to include all that.

4) Run it past your beta readers, your friends, your online author buddies, run it by someone, anyone! Ask them this question: Does reading this make you want to run out and buy this book? Why or why not?

5) And last, but not least, edit it! Oh my gosh! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve picked up a book or looked online at book descriptions to see misspellings and grammar errors. That’s the worst. Yikes! Make sure that thing is as polished as ever or you’ll be turning readers away left and right.

Good luck writing that book blurb. Believe me, I completely understand what you’re going through. I’m in the process of writing my 5th book blurb for my upcoming novel and the process doesn’t get any easier. Maybe it’s not supposed to

Leave a comment and let me know about your book blurb writing process. Pass on some tips and tricks of your own. Let’s help each other out, because boy, we can use all the help we can get.

I hear voices. Tiny fictional people sit on my shoulders and whisper their stories in my ear. Instead of medicating myself, I decided to pick up a pen, write down everything those voices tell me, and turn it into a book. I’m not crazy. I’m an author. For the most part, I write contemporary Young Adult novels. However, through a writing exercise that spiraled out of control, I found myself writing about zombies terrorizing the Wild Wild West—and loving it. My zombies don’t sparkle, and they definitely don’t cuddle. At least, I wouldn’t suggest it.

I live on the benches of the beautiful Wasatch Mountains with two lovely children, one teenager, and a very patient husband. I graduated from Utah State University with a B.A. degree in English, not because of my love for the written word, but because it was the only major that didn’t require math. I can’t spell, and grammar is my arch nemesis. But they gave me the degree, and there are no take backs.

As a child, I never sucked on a pacifier; I chewed on a pencil. I’ve been writing that long. It has only been the past few years that I’ve pursued it professionally, forged relationships with other like-minded individuals, and determined to make a career out of it.

You can subscribe and follow me on my website, where I blog obsessively about my writing process and post updates on my current works. I’m also on Twitter and Facebook, but be forewarned, I tweet and post more than a normal person.

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Image courtesy of doctor-a

Your author website is one of the best ways to showcase your books and promote your growing brand. It is also a key way to connect with your readers and fans. Keeping this type of technology up to date with the latest marketing tactics will make your website a powerful tool. Follow these easy tips to give your site a facelift that both you and your readers will enjoy.

1. Social Media Connection
Have you created and maintained an author Facebook fanpage or Twitter account? Great! Pinterest and Tumblr? Even better! What is most important is that these accounts are each linked on your main website as social media buttons. Your website will serve as the hub for all of these accounts. This will not only enable your readers to connect with you through their favorite social media outlets but will give you a varied presence on the web.

2. Widgets
Widgets are a fantastic way to have new content constantly streaming on your sites so your viewers will automatically have something new to look at when they visit your page. You’ll often see banners and ads in the sidebars of websites and you too can use them to promote your books and other topics of interest. A favorite is the Daily Literary Quote application that features new quotations by your favorite authors everyday. You can also easily create your own banners for upcoming book releases or events through www.bannersnack.com.

3. Amazon Affiliate Links
Amazon Associates is a fantastic program that authors should use to start monetizing your website and meet different advertising needs. Create your own product links, banners and widgets all while creating Amazon functionality on your website.

4. Reader Discussion Forums
Forums are a fun and interactive way to get readers to discuss your book and characters in a public venue. This is also a great way to start online book clubs that can meet monthly to chat about various aspects of your writing.

5. Active Blog Presence
It is vitally important that authors keep up with blogging. It provides instant feedback of your writing and really connects you with your readers. You can have a lot of fun with this aspect of your website. Feel free to get creative! Design a schedule for yourself so that you have new content going out at least once a week and invite fellow authors and bloggers to post on your site as well. This is a great way to keep yourself writing but also taking a break from your regular projects.

6. Press and Media Appearances
Keep fans up-to-date with recent happenings by maintaining an active press and media calendar. Use this section of your website to your advantage by advertising book signings and events.

7. Book Trailer
Book trailers are a wonderful promotional tool for any author. They bring to life your book in a way that readers can visually connect with and expands your brand beyond print. Similar to a movie trailer, a book trailer is an outstanding way to market your book through video advertising. You will be able to share this on your author website and widen your reach to larger media outlets, such as YouTube and Vimeo.

8. Book Excerpts
Giving readers a sneak peek into upcoming and new releases will be beneficial to book sales and heighten reader anticipation. Amazon.com allows free book previews for Kindle users, but non-eBookers will appreciate featuring a book excerpt on your website.

9. Learn More
Providing a “Learn More” page on your website teaches your readers more about where your story originated. If your story centers on a historical event or a real place, include the research and resources you used to write your book. If your book is a complete work of fiction, create in-depth character biographies that will give fans a deeper insight into the minds of the characters they have come to love.

10. Book Giveaways & Contests
Giveaways are a great way to engage readers while expanding your fan base to those who may not have picked up your book at first glance. Not sure where to start? There are many tools that authors can utilize to connect with their current and future readers.

Improving your author website doesn’t have to be a chore. Pick and choose the tips that work best for your book brand, get started and enjoy being creative!

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Gillian Nicol is a publishing assistant and aspiring writer. She launched her publishing career at Pressque Publishing and currently works with PubSmart. She was born in Toronto, Ontario and grew up in Connecticut and Florida. She holds a Bachelors degree in English with a concentration in creative writing from the College of Charleston in South Carolina. The beach is her favorite place to crack open a book and enjoy a good read.

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Image courtesy of OeilDeNuit

My dad passed along this video to me through e-mail and I thought it was quite clever. Being an up and comer in the publishing industry it also got me thinking about the digital industry’s affect on books and authors. The question remains…is paper dead? In my opinion and from what we see in this short commercial, I don’t think so.

I have always been an avid reader. My childhood bedroom has a bookcase filled with stories from my past: the entire Harry Potter series, A Series of Unfortunate Events and almost every Sarah Dessen novel…just to name a few. Our guest bedroom has a built in bookcase housing more stories and my dad’s den displays every book he has ever read, the pages yellowed emitting that well known “book smell.” Despite our love of a good paperback both my dad and I are the proud owners of Amazon Kindles, which begs the questions: where will that leave our bookcases?

In this time of growing and ever changing “On Demand” technologies, the e-reader has become an extremely popular electronic device to own and enjoy. The Amazon Kindle, Barnes and Noble Nook and Apple’s iPad are among the top tablet competitors that consumers have to choose from, each with their own set of pros and cons. I have two Kindles; one of them is the original and my newest is the Kindle Fire, equipped with Internet but not great for reading on the beach like the digital ink e-readers before it. From time to time I also read from the Kindle app on my iPhone; yes it is small but usually within arms reach.

Being a true techie, I am continually running into the strange situation of loving a book that I have read and will recommend it to my fellow bookworm friends. Sure Amazon has the lending program where Kindle books can be loaned to another reader for a period of 14 days. However not all books are eligible for lending nor do many of my friends own a Kindle (despite my encouragement and Amazon guaranteeing you can still read from your phone or iPad if you have one equipped for Amazon reading). Plus, 14 days might be considered a time crunch for some readers. At the end of the day, even though I may read on a Kindle my friends will more than likely be buying the paperback.

My father on the other hand takes a different approach. He loved the Bruce Springsteen biography by Peter A. Carlin so much after reading it on his eReader that he also purchased a hardcover copy. He says that one of his colleagues at work does the same thing which I suppose solves the problem of whether or not your physical bookshelf will stop growing. Me on the other hand? I’m the iPad wielding man in the video clip. I have 26 electronic books and counting. I can’t remember the last time I was in a bricks and mortar bookstore.  In the “pre-ereader age” my mum would have to pry me out of the book store aisles while also bargaining with me on how many books I could buy on that visit. Now, I can sit at home and have a book download into the palm of hands within seconds. But is one a better experience than the other?

It will be interesting to see how the electronic publishing industry changes over the next 5, 10, even 15 years.  In order to keep print alive will we one day get a free print copy with every eBook purchase? Will we see independently owned bookstores completely fade out or will there be resurgence for the “printed word?” Despite my love for books (both electronic and printed) my hope is that paper will not die. I’m not sure that I would ever get used to a world where school libraries consist of e-readers to borrow and not aisles of Dewey Decimal system sorted books. It is truly a fascinating time in the publishing world and I’m excited to be along for the ride. Paper’s not dead yet!

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Gillian Nicol is a publishing assistant and aspiring writer. She launched her publishing career at Pressque Publishing and currently works with PubSmart. She was born in Toronto, Ontario and grew up in Connecticut and Florida. She holds a Bachelors degree in English with a concentration in creative writing from the College of Charleston in South Carolina. The beach is her favorite place to crack open a book and enjoy a good read.

Image courtesy of cornerma01

Radio Interview on Big Blend Magazine

It’s official, I’m a workaholic. With that being said, you can imagine that I don’t have, or should I say, I don’t make much time to indulge in things like watching TV. With my busy work schedule, it isn’t at the top of my “to do” list. It’s usually late in the evening before I turn it on. At that point, I prefer binge viewing one show via Netflix on my Apple TV and default to reruns of Law & Order. During a bout of insomnia, I decided to branch off and look for something new. I stumbled on to Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares, the original UK series. It was love at first sight. Not with Mr. Ramsay, but with his passion for food, for his work and his no nonsense attitude. We are kindred spirits of sorts. I feel equally passionate about publishing and working with authors to help them publish their books. In the wee hours of the morning, it seemed so clear; Gordon Ramsay would make an incredible book editor.