Joseph L. Persia's Blog, page 4
January 28, 2015
Amazon, Friend or Foe Debate-Intelligence Squared Series
I have been waiting for this debate to go ...
Amazon, Friend or Foe Debate-Intelligence Squared Series
I have been waiting for this debate to go back on line in it's entirety. It is a well reasoned debate from both sides. I thought it would be of interest with this community. The debate boils down to whether Amazon that currently accounts for 41% of all new book and 67% of all e-book sale is doing right by readers and the future of books. It is of interest here because many of us have our books with Amazon. It is of personal interest to me because I find the debate fascinating, entertaining, and very informative.
Two quick things, the debate is skillfully moderated by the ABC news correspondent John Donvan and the debate is said to be "won" by the anti-Amazon side. I disagree because the audience seems to be made up of mainly people who had there minds made up before the debate. Also, the debate is taking place in the heart of the old traditional publishing establishment, New York City, and it seems their supporters may have come out for the debate.
What do you think? Does the debate audience seem a bit stacked on one side?
I have been waiting for this debate to go back on line in it's entirety. It is a well reasoned debate from both sides. I thought it would be of interest with this community. The debate boils down to whether Amazon that currently accounts for 41% of all new book and 67% of all e-book sale is doing right by readers and the future of books. It is of interest here because many of us have our books with Amazon. It is of personal interest to me because I find the debate fascinating, entertaining, and very informative.
Two quick things, the debate is skillfully moderated by the ABC news correspondent John Donvan and the debate is said to be "won" by the anti-Amazon side. I disagree because the audience seems to be made up of mainly people who had there minds made up before the debate. Also, the debate is taking place in the heart of the old traditional publishing establishment, New York City, and it seems their supporters may have come out for the debate.
What do you think? Does the debate audience seem a bit stacked on one side?
January 21, 2015
What do you think is the reason for the lack of sales performance in adult fiction in 2014?
There is...
What do you think is the reason for the lack of sales performance in adult fiction in 2014?
There is data coming out for the 2014 year that indicates sales performance for adult fiction did not hold its own as a category in 2014. Sales were down in adult fiction. Before I ask my question I want you to realize that I am soliciting your opinion not a belief grounded on assurance of its truth. A conclusion thought out yet opens to difference of opinion.
I have a simple opinion that the reason performance for adult fiction sales is declining is that the arrangement and actions of producing a discovery of good adult fiction has failed. I know some of us rely on recommendations from friends, book clubs, awards we feel comfortable trusting, and god bless some of you, the review. All tried and true.
However, reading is a personal and intimate experience like no other. It involves your higher mind. Therefore, it is my opinion that the discovery of a good book is a personal one.
Ultimately, a book has an audience of one. So, I reason, the experience of discovery of a good book must always be in the end, an intimate one. In my opinion, no publisher has discovered the right technology or method to wade through all the adult fiction that is out there today to give the reader that personal discovery. This leaves the reader with too many intercessors and makes the process of discovering a good adult fiction, exhausting. Too many readers are rubbing their wearied eyes either walking to the display in a book store or putting down their devices, all saying, forget it, there are just so many hours in a day, I’ll just read whatever they’re reading.
I believe Amazon was getting close to developing the technology that would provide the reader with an intuitive and personal kind of intimate book discovery, but got sidetracked with a bunch of bulls**t, taking their eye off the ball, taken their eye off their main mission before they secured it. To me their sidetracking into too many unproven venues to see what sticks is turning them into a sidewalk flea-market. It’s a business model, but in my opinion not the one that made them.
However, what do you think is the reason for the lack of sales performance for adult fiction?
There is data coming out for the 2014 year that indicates sales performance for adult fiction did not hold its own as a category in 2014. Sales were down in adult fiction. Before I ask my question I want you to realize that I am soliciting your opinion not a belief grounded on assurance of its truth. A conclusion thought out yet opens to difference of opinion.
I have a simple opinion that the reason performance for adult fiction sales is declining is that the arrangement and actions of producing a discovery of good adult fiction has failed. I know some of us rely on recommendations from friends, book clubs, awards we feel comfortable trusting, and god bless some of you, the review. All tried and true.
However, reading is a personal and intimate experience like no other. It involves your higher mind. Therefore, it is my opinion that the discovery of a good book is a personal one.
Ultimately, a book has an audience of one. So, I reason, the experience of discovery of a good book must always be in the end, an intimate one. In my opinion, no publisher has discovered the right technology or method to wade through all the adult fiction that is out there today to give the reader that personal discovery. This leaves the reader with too many intercessors and makes the process of discovering a good adult fiction, exhausting. Too many readers are rubbing their wearied eyes either walking to the display in a book store or putting down their devices, all saying, forget it, there are just so many hours in a day, I’ll just read whatever they’re reading.
I believe Amazon was getting close to developing the technology that would provide the reader with an intuitive and personal kind of intimate book discovery, but got sidetracked with a bunch of bulls**t, taking their eye off the ball, taken their eye off their main mission before they secured it. To me their sidetracking into too many unproven venues to see what sticks is turning them into a sidewalk flea-market. It’s a business model, but in my opinion not the one that made them.
However, what do you think is the reason for the lack of sales performance for adult fiction?
January 14, 2015
Sky Gazing With Hugh C. Howey
He made some interesting points in his blog.
Sky gazing and trying to...
Sky Gazing With Hugh C. Howey
He made some interesting points in his blog.
Sky gazing and trying to read the reverberations running underneath you is something some writers have in common with Mr. Howey, if not, perhaps, his success as an indie writer of good fortune. Although, I too am hearing the drum beat that says the sun has set on the indie writer movement and agree along with Mr. Howey that the sun also rises on that same movement. I must disagree with him on the opinion that the indie publishing movement is getting old. And indie writers are beginning to share some of the cynicism seen among many traditional old farts. And his assumptions that back then there were no heights to descend from. This may be true of Mr. Howey. However, few among we indie authors have climbed as high as he from which to descend.
I believe what we are experiencing is a natural correction and pause in the book market. The idea that even indie authors would continue to bring about and sustain the implausible numbers of indie publications of the last year or so was a bit of a pipe dream encouraged by the mass media that likes to for some reason elevate technical innovations as the end of the world for the status quo.
As things settle, what should be clear is that traditional or commercial publishing as they liked to be called and indie publishing can peacefully coexist. They can complement each other. They can be comfortable with each other. I believe this will be as evadible as up and down resting on one another.
They can do this because commercial and indie publishing are drawing from two different pools of readers. The traditional publishing reader is more likely the once in awhile reader and the indie publishing readers are the ones that go through books faster than a hot knife through butter. The latter, needs the indie books to keep up with their various reading appetites, hence, the less know indie author’s best shot of a readership must start with them in lieu of prohibitive marketing budget.
So, is it the end or just the end of the beginning for the indie publishing movement.? I strongly believe it’s the latter.
He made some interesting points in his blog.
Sky gazing and trying to read the reverberations running underneath you is something some writers have in common with Mr. Howey, if not, perhaps, his success as an indie writer of good fortune. Although, I too am hearing the drum beat that says the sun has set on the indie writer movement and agree along with Mr. Howey that the sun also rises on that same movement. I must disagree with him on the opinion that the indie publishing movement is getting old. And indie writers are beginning to share some of the cynicism seen among many traditional old farts. And his assumptions that back then there were no heights to descend from. This may be true of Mr. Howey. However, few among we indie authors have climbed as high as he from which to descend.
I believe what we are experiencing is a natural correction and pause in the book market. The idea that even indie authors would continue to bring about and sustain the implausible numbers of indie publications of the last year or so was a bit of a pipe dream encouraged by the mass media that likes to for some reason elevate technical innovations as the end of the world for the status quo.
As things settle, what should be clear is that traditional or commercial publishing as they liked to be called and indie publishing can peacefully coexist. They can complement each other. They can be comfortable with each other. I believe this will be as evadible as up and down resting on one another.
They can do this because commercial and indie publishing are drawing from two different pools of readers. The traditional publishing reader is more likely the once in awhile reader and the indie publishing readers are the ones that go through books faster than a hot knife through butter. The latter, needs the indie books to keep up with their various reading appetites, hence, the less know indie author’s best shot of a readership must start with them in lieu of prohibitive marketing budget.
So, is it the end or just the end of the beginning for the indie publishing movement.? I strongly believe it’s the latter.
January 11, 2015
Some cowards are trying to float the idea that somehow Charlie Hebdo might have gone too far in being...
Some cowards are trying to float the idea that somehow Charlie Hebdo might have gone too far in being free before they were massacred.
Ok, well, let's take a look inside this short documentary film that was made at Charlie Hebdo where cartoonists and editors design a satirical front page image of Muhammad. Let's look in and see for ourselves what it was like inside Charlie Hebdo.
Ok, well, let's take a look inside this short documentary film that was made at Charlie Hebdo where cartoonists and editors design a satirical front page image of Muhammad. Let's look in and see for ourselves what it was like inside Charlie Hebdo.
January 10, 2015
Some cowards are trying to float the idea that somehow Charlie Hebdo might have gone to far in being...
Some cowards are trying to float the idea that somehow Charlie Hebdo might have gone to far in being free before they were massacred.
Ok, well, let's take a look inside this short documentary film that was made at Charlie Hebdo where cartoonists and editors design a satirical front page image of Muhammad. Let's look in and see for ourselves and we will make up our own minds !!
Ok, well, let's take a look inside this short documentary film that was made at Charlie Hebdo where cartoonists and editors design a satirical front page image of Muhammad. Let's look in and see for ourselves and we will make up our own minds !!
December 16, 2014
Anyone care to check their vocabulary size?
What percentile can you reach? Mine was less than 100, ...
Anyone care to check their vocabulary size?
What percentile can you reach? Mine was less than 100, but higher than 98.
What percentile can you reach? Mine was less than 100, but higher than 98.
How many words are in your vocabulary? Take this test to find out.
December 9, 2014
It looks like Kindle Unlimited (KU) is a bust for the self published. You can thank Amazon.
Some months...
It looks like Kindle Unlimited (KU) is a bust for the self published. You can thank Amazon.
Some months back within minutes of Amazon announcing it's own answer to Oyster and Scribd and other ebook subscription schemes with Kindle Unlimited (KU) I brought up many questions. It seems they are being answered.
What's been happening?
"Taking a huge ass pay cut while I'm still working my butt off, well that's not ok. And KU affected my whole list, not just KU titles," states, author, Holly Ward within the article in her charming way. She is not alone, many self published writers have not been seeing red. Except in the very place where they have been kicking themselves. In their collective hugely...well, you know~
Any thoughts on how this is going down?
Some months back within minutes of Amazon announcing it's own answer to Oyster and Scribd and other ebook subscription schemes with Kindle Unlimited (KU) I brought up many questions. It seems they are being answered.
What's been happening?
"Taking a huge ass pay cut while I'm still working my butt off, well that's not ok. And KU affected my whole list, not just KU titles," states, author, Holly Ward within the article in her charming way. She is not alone, many self published writers have not been seeing red. Except in the very place where they have been kicking themselves. In their collective hugely...well, you know~
Any thoughts on how this is going down?
December 1, 2014
Readers of Fiction & Lovers~
I am responding to an earlier posting of a quote by Paul Theroux.
From...
Readers of Fiction & Lovers~
I am responding to an earlier posting of a quote by Paul Theroux.
From the following article headlined, “Why Readers, Scientifically, Are The Best People To Fall In Love With” written by Lauren Martin in the Daily Elite:
“According to both 2006 and 2009 studies published by Raymond Mar, a psychologist at York University in Canada, and Keith Oatley, a professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto, those who read fiction are capable of the most empathy and “theory of mind,” which is the ability to hold opinions, beliefs and interests apart from their own.”
She also says, “Like falling in love with a stranger you will never see again, you ache with the yearning and sadness of an ended affair, but at the same time, feel satisfied. Full from the experience, the connection, the richness that comes after digesting another soul. You feel fed, if only for a little while.”
She attributes this to “deep reading” and says its going extinct now that people are skimming more and reading less. If true, can love be far behind on the endangered “spices” list and do you agree that readers of fiction make the best lovers?
I am responding to an earlier posting of a quote by Paul Theroux.
From the following article headlined, “Why Readers, Scientifically, Are The Best People To Fall In Love With” written by Lauren Martin in the Daily Elite:
“According to both 2006 and 2009 studies published by Raymond Mar, a psychologist at York University in Canada, and Keith Oatley, a professor of cognitive psychology at the University of Toronto, those who read fiction are capable of the most empathy and “theory of mind,” which is the ability to hold opinions, beliefs and interests apart from their own.”
She also says, “Like falling in love with a stranger you will never see again, you ache with the yearning and sadness of an ended affair, but at the same time, feel satisfied. Full from the experience, the connection, the richness that comes after digesting another soul. You feel fed, if only for a little while.”
She attributes this to “deep reading” and says its going extinct now that people are skimming more and reading less. If true, can love be far behind on the endangered “spices” list and do you agree that readers of fiction make the best lovers?
November 18, 2014
A Social Experiment In Review For A Thanksgiving Day
The men in this story set out to see if strangers...
A Social Experiment In Review For A Thanksgiving Day
The men in this story set out to see if strangers would share their food. The results they got were not surprising. Then they decide to share a pizza with a homeless man. What he does in return gives rise to the thought that would make the coldest heart in anyone of us move again weren't we not dead. How true the saying, "Never look down on anybody unless you are helping them up."
The men in this story set out to see if strangers would share their food. The results they got were not surprising. Then they decide to share a pizza with a homeless man. What he does in return gives rise to the thought that would make the coldest heart in anyone of us move again weren't we not dead. How true the saying, "Never look down on anybody unless you are helping them up."
