Amazon Signs Up Authors, Writing Publishers Out of Deal - somersault

Amazon Signs Up Authors, Writing Publishers Out of Deal

This article in The New York Times (@nytimes) says, “Amazon.com (@amazon), the online retailer, has long competed with bookstores; now it's starting to make deals with authors, bypassing the traditional publisher.”

Amazon will publish 122 books this fall in an array of genres, in both physical and ebook form. It is a striking acceleration of the retailer’s fledging publishing program that will place Amazon squarely in competition with the New York houses that are also its most prominent suppliers….

“Everyone’s afraid of Amazon,” said Richard Curtis, a longtime agent who is also an ebook publisher. “If you’re a bookstore, Amazon has been in competition with you for some time. If you’re a publisher, one day you wake up and Amazon is competing with you too. And if you’re an agent, Amazon may be stealing your lunch because it is offering authors the opportunity to publish directly and cut you out."

Read the full article.

Also see International Business Times (@ibtimesnews), “5 Reasons Kindle Fire Tablet May Kill Barnes & Noble.”

Somersault Group

Announcing Somersault Group, doing business as Somersault. We believe the unprecedented changes occurring in the publishing world aren’t a crisis; they’re a playground of possibilities. We're here to help clients embrace change and leverage it to fulfill their mission. We're flipping the publishing world right-side up! Due to rapidly churning communication technology and seismic shifts in the book market distribution landscape – from the Internet to eReaders and the iPad to individual book print-on-demand capability – publishers expect authors to take more responsibility for the development, promotion, and sales of their books. Somersault helps publishers, agents, ministry partners, and Christian authors adapt to these changes with dexterity. We combine the experience and vision of Somersault publishing executives with the integrated marketing and technology expertise of digital natives. We honor good ideas and the creative people who embody them. We believe in the power of books to change lives, and are committed to help authors tell their stories and actively engage their readers. We want to be known for our nimbleness and responsiveness. Anticipating and embracing the future, being attentive to consumer behavior, inviting collaboration, and encouraging entrepreneurship are our core values, as we operate within the framework of having fun and reflecting the kingdom of God. We’re seeking ‘blue water’ opportunities, be they pond, lake, or ocean. We provide authors with brand counseling, editorial direction, research capabilities, marketing strategy, Internet and social media presence, and a comprehensive portfolio of publishing assistance. Our mission is to change lives by connecting inspirational content creators with readers using exceptional creativity, right-now technology, and old-fashioned personal care. See all our social networks on our Google profile. Contact us at hello@somersaultgroup.com, 1.616.551.1539, 131 Division Ave. S., Suite 300, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-4215.

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