Highlights From the Digital Book World Conference

According to PGW Constellation, changes in book marketing was the main point driven home at this year's Digital Book World Conference (January 23-25, 2012). Multiple panelists stated that the traditional lines between the marketing, publicity and sales departments are quickly falling away, especially when it comes to the use of social media.

"Marketing, sales and publicity serve the same function and should be more closely aligned"—Ellen Archer, Hyperion

The biggest draw of social media is the interactive component. Authors can stay in touch with readers, contests can be held and Open Road is finding that creating new video content is the most efficient marketing investment a publisher can make.

Are E-Books Taking Over?

It's common knowledge that society hungers for increased technology in the world of publishing. Many writers and presses are beginning to put more emphasis on e-books. Why? Well, if you consider what writer and marketing guru, Seth Godin, says, then it's quite obvious: "Paper books aren’t a particularly elegant way to spread an idea in the age of blogs, e-readers and social media."

These days, it's typical to get a glimpse of a new book electronically first. Yet true book lovers will always carry their paperbacks and hardcovers around. The feel of the pages between your fingers and the smell of ink on paper can't be replaced by LCD screens and scrolling pages. At Scarletta we aren't giving up on the process--we think it's still worth the effort to connect with our readers through traditional publishing.

But with that in mind, we do understand the perks of offering our books in electronic formats. That's why we are now utilizing PGW's Constellation services so as to offer many of our books on the Apple iPad, Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, eBrary, OverDrive, Sony Reader, Google Books and many more.

Check out these Scarletta books in their electronic formats: Our Jewish Robot Future, Yankee Invasion: A Novel of Mexico City, Israeli and Palestinian Voices, Tragedy in South Lebanon, A Beirut Heart, The Once and Future Celt, Written on the Knee, Willow in a Storm, Ultimate Breakthrough Planning, and soon The Litigators.

We also recently gained the rights to two books by Bill Watkins. We'll be putting those back into circulation through P.O.D and electronic formats. More details to come!