News & Notes - 2/09/13

Cover fail: This is just so wrong, I'm still shaking my head in disbelief. So, apparently, are a lot of other folks.  I guess that whoever self-published these three public-domain novels hasn't actually read them.  

On a happier note, Joe Konrath posted an excellent article on "How to sell ebooks" on his blog, A Newbie's Guide to Publishing.  Konrath, who is a well-known thriller writer and a champion of self-publishing, can be pretty abrasive when he rails at traditional publishers, but this post offers straightforward, common-sense advice for writers on marketing and selling your ebooks. 

photo: jessdamon (CC BY-SA 2.0)

 Reselling your unwanted ebooks may someday become a reality.  On January 29th, Amazon received a patent for a digital resale marketplace, sort of like Amazon Marketplace but for digital media like ebooks and mp3s.  Of course, that doesn't mean they're ready to set up such a service, and the legality is questionable.  Book and music publishers are certain to object vigorously in the courts.  In fact, they already have: In a case that is still pending, Capital Records sued a company called ReDigi for creating a secondary marketplace for digital music."* At issue is whether the "first sale" doctrine, which permits the original purchaser to resell something like a car, book or CD, applies to electronic media. Click on the following links to read more:

• "Amazon patents resale marketplace for used e-books, songs and other digital goods" (Caitlin Dewey, Washington Post, 2/06/13)
• "Amazon wins broad patent to create marketplace for used digital content" (Laura Hazard Owen, paidContent, 2/05/13)
• Jane Litte on the ReDigi service (Dear Author, 2/07/13)  

A few more articles about ebooks:

• "Students Still Not Taking to E-Textbooks, New Data Show" (Jeremy Greenfield, DBW)
• "Needing multiple reading apps -- problem or not?" (Juli Monroe, Teleread)
• "Bookish, New Web Site, Provides Information on Books and Authors" (Lesley Kaufman, The New York Times)

And finally, here's an inventive way for a library to broaden its relevance and appeal: become a seed bank!  NPR's Luke Runyon reports on the Basalt, Colorado, public library's seed-lending program.  My first reaction when I saw their headline was "what the...?!", but after reading the article, I think it's actually a pretty good idea for both library and community.

Photo:various eatable seeds, by Petr Kratochvil. Public Domain Image.

  * "Thursday News." Dear Author blog, 02/07/13.