eBook Reading on Smartphones: the Future?

.
.

The publishing world was turned upside down when the first e-books appeared 15 - 20 years ago.  The Kindle e-reader was not the first, but it is until now the most famous e-reader and helped Amazon to built their e-book imperium.  When you check out the 2015 e-book reader rating, one of the many Kindle types that are now on the market, the Voyage, is the “Gold Award Winner #1” for 2015. #2 is the NOOK GlowLight, then the Kobo Aura H20, and then another Kindle, the Paperwhite.  In North America these are the highest regarded ones. In Europe it looks a bit different, at least in Germany, the Tolino is on its way to surpass the Kindle.

.

Contrary to former predictions, not the e-reader - 

but the smartphone will be driving future book sales!

.
Tablets such as the iPad or the Kindle Fire are currently the most popular (41%) platform to read e-books, 11 % more than three years ago, but 3% less than last year.  However it’s not e-readers that will be driving future books sales, it’s the smartphone.  But people who read primarily on phones has risen to 14% in the first quarter of 2015 - from 9% in 2012, according to a Nielsen survey.  And about 54% of e-book buyers said they used smartphones to read their books sometimes.

Meanwhile, those reading mainly on e-readers, such as Kindles and Nooks, decreased over the same period to 32% from 50%.  Wattpad, the serial publishing platform, explains that phones are encouraging people to read more. 90% of their 40 million monthly users read on mobile devices.  Nearly two-thirds of respondents who read on their phones said they do it, because they didn’t have their e-reader or tablet with them.

.
Reasons to Read on the Phone
It might be convenience. If you are standing in line at the grocery store or the bus stop, waiting at the doctors or dentists office or riding home on the subway, you may not have a print book or an e-reader or tablet with you. But chances are, you are carrying a smartphone. And I have even seen people reading on their smartphones while pushing their baby’s strollers or walking their dog in the park - where an audiobook would be much more appropriate. Around 65% of American adults now own a smartphone, and predictions are that in a couple of years it will be over 80%
The size and clarity of new smartphone models, make reading easier - if you have good eyes I might add.  The release of the iPhone 6 series, Apple has seen an increase in the number of people downloading books through its iBooks app.  And among all new Amazon customers using Kindles or the Kindle app, phone readers are by far the fastest-growing segment.

.
Free Reading on SmartPhones at Trains and Airports
Publishers are now experimenting with ways to make the mobile reading experience better. They are designing book jackets with smartphone screens in mind. Simon & Schuster, for example, offers free e-books at hotels and airport lounges in New York, California, Missouri, Florida, Texas and Hawaii.  Users can read as much of each book as they like for free, while they stay within the prescribed geographical area. And Penguin Random House introduced free excerpts of e-books on Amtrak’s Acela Express trains.  Online e-book retailers, such as Amazon, Google, Apple and Barnes&Noble offer smartphone apps for reading books.  They automatically sync all devices linked to the same account, so a reader can open an e-book on her phone and pick up exactly where she left off the night before on her e-reader or tablet.

.
The literary world is divided over whether a phone can deliver the experience of deep, concentrated reading.  Scholars who study the subject note that smartphones are an important part of the effort to improve literacy in developing countries where books and computers are out of reach for many people.  Reading on a phone is better than not reading at all, these experts all agree.

.
Drawbacks of Phone Reading
A neuroscientist who studies the reading brain: “For most people, a phone will make concentrated reading more difficult - if not impossible."  It’s not as easy to share an e-book with friends as you can with print books.  Many people still read in print part of the time.  If deep, concentrated reading is possible despite the ringing, buzzing and alerts that come with phones - I am not sure.  Phones will certainly not replace print books altogether.
.

However, one should stop worrying about how other people are reading, 

and be glad that they are reading at all!

.

Phone Tips for eBook Readers
The blogger at EbookFriendly advises: “The underestimated power of smartphones is that they are great testing devices.  If you want to try ebooks, it doesn’t mean you have to immediately buy a Kindle.  Just get a free Kindle application for you mobile phone and you’ll learn – in no time – about all advantages of ebook reading.  Standard features of book reading applications are:

• customization of font size and typeface,
• themes or backgrounds to choose from (at least day and night mode),
• text highlighting, note taking, bookmarks,
• dictionary and reference,
• instant access to ebooks stored in your cloud library,
• syncing bookmarks and latest read locations,
• ability to add your own books,
  .

Book reading apps usually let you discover new books within the app.  The exception is iOS, where this quite obvious feature is offered only by the Apple’s e-reading app iBooks.  Find more tips on his blog.  Smartphones are multi-purpose devices.  Reading ebooks will never be their primary purpose.  But they are extremely helpful in extending book reading to “not planned” places and circumstances.”  Read more here.
.

What About Audiobooks?
The question is whether the phone is appropriate for long-form reading, if other options are available.  Audiobooks are certainly an even better way of “reading” as you can listen to your favored book - hands-free - even if you are exercising in the gym or when you do intense gardening.  I personally love listening to audiobooks, especially on long road trips, when discerning radio stations are not available and I have listened too many times to the same CD’s.  In many cases, audiobooks have also proven successful in helping students to access literature and enjoy books.

.
The best phone screens are listed in a Cnet.com article
http://www.cnet.com/news/smartphones-with-killer-screens-roundup/

How to conserve your smartphone battery
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/conserve-smartphone-battery-life/

Why digital reading before sleeping is not a good idea
https://www.yahoo.com/health/using-ipads-smartphones-tablet-before-bed-is-105966317362.html

<><><><><>

Writers Residency Joshua Tree Ntl Park, CA

Mark your calendar for next spring to apply for this Writers Residency in Palm Springs, California area and check out their website for details:

Joshua Tree Ntl Park Residency for Writers and Artists

.

photo Joshua Tree Ntl Park

.

HISTORY OF ARTISTS IN NATIONAL PARKS

Artists were among the first to record the visual beauty and the drama of the American West on canvas and in photos. Carleton Watkins, Ansel Adams, Thomas Moran, William Henry Jackson, and others awakened a nation to the magnificent waterfalls, geyser basins, and wildlife found in what would become some of our nation’s most revered national parks. They looked beyond nature as a raw resource; they spoke in defense of disappearing wildlife and vegetation. They saw beauty and virtue in places promised to the future.
.

The Joshua Tree National Park Artist-in-Residence Program offers visual, performing and literary artists a residency from two to six weeks long during the months of March, April, October, and November of each year.
.

The accommodations within the park are located at the Lost Horse Ranger Station, in a rustic and self-sufficient cabin with nearby panoramic views of the park. In exchange for the adventure of living and working in a national park, the resident artist will have the opportunity to create a body of work and to share it with the surrounding regional and Southern California communities.  Deadline for this year July 1.

.

http://www.joshuatree.org/artist-in-residence/about-the-program/

.

In exchange for the adventure of living and working in a national park, the resident artist will have the opportunity to create a body of work and to share it with the surrounding regional and Southern California communities. AIR artists’ proposals are encouraged to address content related to Joshua Tree National Park and build better understanding and dialogue about our national parks, natural resources, and environmental desert issues.

Links to the 2016-2017 residences will be available in 2016 and accepted through June 1, 2016.

<><><><><>

Free Books Not a Viable Marketing Option

.

.

Years ago, advertising on BookBub (for hundreds of dollars) was an insider tip among self-publishing authors, at times when giving your book away for free was a viable marketing option, and ten-thousand of books were "purchased" for free. But much has changed since then: Amazon invented Amazon Prime and Kindle Unlimited, and readers who signed up with these subscriptions get already free books. The number of free book downloads has decreased tremendously and advertising companies such as BookBub got "picky", authors are shocked to learn their books were rejected. 
.
Why Do Ad Companies Reject Books?  
Very easy:  with new books, even if they have several 5-star reviews these advertising companies cannot make enough money through their affiliate program with Amazon. Only books that are already bestsellers are accepted by their “editorial staff” (whoever this might be and whoever their "qualifications" are...).  Maybe not a loss, as we hear from so many writers that the success with them is dwindling rapidly...

During a research of book advertising companies I came over their website, studied it very carefully and read several press releases that they had blasted out. 

As a trained marketing professional, I asked them several questions, e.g.:
1. What are your Nielsen numbers?
2. Are your email lists acquired or genuine through many years of reader contacts obtained?
3. How can you proof the subscriber numbers?
4. Are you belonging to an affiliate program with Amazon or other online retailers 

.
Answer for question 1:
Only through persistence and several emails later, I got half-answers:
No, the amount of advertisers is not confirmed by Nielsen or any other organization. 

I also was wondering about their relatively low number of followers on Social Media and very few tweets to promote their customers, considered what these writers pay for.
With the right platform and lots of followers on all Social Media sites, author interviews, blogs about their book, choosing the right genre, and professional promotional help etc. every writer/book can get into #1 in their books genre. 


Number 2: no comment from them, despite several emails.
.

Number 3: See number 1:  The amount of subscribers can and will not be verified.
Their subscriber forms contains a dozen or more categories / genres that people can choose - and if someone is interested in several (or all genres) they get newsletters for all of them.  Which means in turn, they might be "counted"  as not only one subscriber, but as many as they choose genres.  So much about inflating subscriber numbers... And they don't work with independent analyzing companies, that would rate the amount of advertising / subscribers.  As always Writer Beware!

.
Number 4:  It took three emails with inquisitive questions, til they submitted to work with an affiliate program. Until this spring, advertisers who were enrolled in Amazon's affiliate programs, earned up to 7% for each downloaded book in the KDP Select free book campaigns, now it is only 4%.  These commissions are only paid for books that are at least 99cents - not for free books.

Affiliate Members are obliged by FTC rules to let each customer and advertiser know that they make additional commissions, aside from the advertising fees.   NO, THEY ARE NOT DISCLOSING THIS!  In March, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) updated its guidance for advertising disclosures in a guide called .com Disclosures: How to Make Effective Disclosures in Digital Advertising.

<><><><><>

Thousands of Greek Islands for Sale

.

Roughly 6000 islands belong to Greece.  Several hundreds are developed, many in the hands of wealthy Greek families, inherited over generations.  As part of Greece’s bailout plan, the government will have to sell off €50 billion in assets.  And much of that will likely come from selling off some of their 1,200 to 6,000 islands.  Aside from wealthy celebrities, it’s reported that affluent Russian and Chinese investors are also lining up to pick up Greek properties.
.
If you are thinking about a private getaway in the Mediterranean, check out these websites: http://www.privateislandsonline.com has a directory of islands for sale with prices starting at only €3 million. Another website to find islands for sale is http://www.vladi-private-islands.de/
Business Insider shows images and descriptions of some islands too: 
http://www.businessinsider.com/greek-islands-for-sale-and-price-2015-7
Homes for sale in Greece can be found here: http://www.homegreekhome.com/en/homepage/sale/land
If you just want to buy a plot of land, here is the site for you: http://www.homegreekhome.com/en/homepage/sale/land
.

According to the Athens Macedonian News Agency, Johnny Depp is said to have purchased a piece of uninhabited land in the Aegean Sea spanning about 0.2 km for 4.2 million Euros. It also was reported last month that Brad Pitt and wife Angelina Jolie-Pitt were eying up Gaia Island to possibly add it to their real estate portfolio which already includes a French castle. Did Warren Buffet buy a Greek Island as well? One Greek newspaper claims he did.
.

.

This might be just what the Greek economy needs to get a little push. It would help small businesses outside of Athens and Thessaloniki, as visitors and investors all need gas, food, accommodation, plane and boat rides, household goods, water, electricity and the services of craftsmen, maids, gardeners, translators, lawyers ... the list goes on and on.
.
Download a Buyers Guide for Islands, and be aware that ALL beaches in Greece, even those on private islands are free to use for the public...  
Happy island shopping : )

<><><><><>

Explore Vancouver Island: Westwood Lake Chronicles

Twenty-five years ago Lawrence Winkler and his wife Robin bought a homestead, in the middle of Vancouver Island, on the water’s edge. There are still reflections of the small lake at the foot of Mount Benson – of gardens and vineyards and woodland encounters.

.
Westwood Lake Chronicles is a “dreamscape” diary, a backyard inventory of life and death in paradise, and the desperate pressures that threaten its existence.  Lawrence Winkler has written an anthem to living deliberately with nature, and the virtues of simplicity, self-sufficiency, solitude, and silence. Find refuge...
.

Follow Lawrence Winkler throughout the year, experience with him the beauty of nature and the lessons we are given.  A fantastic read not only for nature lovers, but also a must-read for everyone traveling and exploring the stunning beauty of Vancouver Island on Canada's famous West Coast. 
.
Paperback
$19.95 - Free for Prime members

Kindle Edition

$5.40 - Free for Prime members


.
From Reviewers:

"A delicious, rich, fascinating melange of descriptive natural history, science, lore and romance by an intellectual who struggles with 'whither Mother Earth?'.  Not a gulpable book - should be savored in sips."
"He describes beautifully his passion for his environment with facts and humor! A thoroughly enjoyable read!"
.

Author Bio:
Westwood Lake Chronicles is one of eight books by Lawrence Winkler, an ancient physician and a traveler, a phenomenologist, a mushroom forager, and an amateur naturalist.  As a young man, he hitchhiked around the world, for five trans-formative years.

Lawrence Winkler's middle age is morphing from medicine to manuscript. He has a passion for habitat protection, including the (hopefully) final repairs on a leaky roof. Westwood Lake Chronicles was his first book.

He lives on Vancouver Island with Robyn and Shiva, tending their garden and vineyard, and dreams.  See Lawrence Winkler’s author page and all his books on Amazon.

<><><><><>

7.000 Suicides in Greece Last Year

.

.

7.000 suicides in Greece by people who could not support themselves and their families ... these shocking statistics are a result of the financial crises.  One Austrian, Erwin Schrumpf, took things in his own hands and helps the poor people and children in Greece with donations, and delivers free medication to hospitals and orphanages.  

Erwin Schrumpf is a doer and has succeeded in almost everything he has set his mind on.  He managed to get donations from many businesses and asks everyone to pitch in with a PayPal donation to be able to deliver medication and other goods DIRECTLY to the Greek facilities that need it most urgently.

SOS Children’s Villages are one of the main recipients of Help for Greece aid.  Schrumpf himself grew up in such a facility, spending 15 years of his childhood at an SOS Village on the outskirts of Salzburg.  Most of his career was spent selling office supplies but a report on Austrian television about the plight of crisis-hit Greeks had a huge impact on him.

http://www.griechenlandhilfe.at

http://www.griechenlandhilfe.at/index.php/fotos

http://waywire.com/video/Austrian-Provides-Greeks-with-M

http://on.aol.com/video/austrian-provides-greeks-with-medical-supplies-518738654

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tghYSdNshJE

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/8g2x5u9oz0yaoz2/AADfWyB0nR9zBYH9wmx28Sica/Athen/Elpis%20Hospital?dl=0

.

<><><><><>

Be Ahead of Your Competitors via Great Content

.

.

Your competitors might not often publishing fresh content. And even if they are, stay ahead of them!  Use your website, blog, guest blogs, newspaper/magazine articles, posts on LinkedIn or Google+ and even short videos on YouTube or slides on SlideShare.com “to tell a story”, giving free advice and tips for your existing or potential customers.  You will be rewarded eventually with people’s attention and lots of web traffic.  Provide valuable content for your customers, share it and people will come!
.
Authority and Trust via Content.
The longer and more regularly you publish content, the more authority you build in search engines - and in your audience’s eyes because they see a person or business that knows their stuff and is helping them. People you consider yourself to be influential and have authority – are publishing new content all the time.

.
How Do You Market your Content?
.
1. Share on Your Social Networks.
When you publish something new, share it to Google Plus first - this way it gets immediately and automatically on Google’s search engines, then on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, Tsu, Tumblr, Scoop.it and other places.  Share it on as many places as you can.  Make it easy for your readers to share your content as well.  Sharing buttons on your blog and website are a MUST.  Join as many GooglePlus communities in your field as you can and post your content there too.  Don’t forget: if you have a notable event, post it for free under events on GooglePlus.
.
2. Ask Your Friends and Employees to Share.
Having an employee network that is active and shares, is a goldmine for your business.  If your employees are vested in your business, ask them if they would share the business’ content on their social networks and sites.  Empowering them to take an active role in promoting the business will help to ignite your content.  You will see an increase in traffic when your staff members or friends share.

3. Join Blogger Groups
Content syndication is an easy way to get your articles out in front of more than just your own audience.  Take advantage of sites such as Triberr.com or Socialbuzzclub.com.  More possibilities to join groups for the benefit of pinging your content can be found in this article:  Hottest Tools for Content Promotion.
.
4. Influencer’s Help
Build a relationship with them – tweet them, mention them in an article (and tag them), send them an email. Befriending influencers and sharing their content FIRST will help your own content. In return they most likely will share your content on their social networks, and maybe even allow you to guest post on their site.  Building an authentic relationship with those in your industry will pay off – not immediately, as these things take time.
.

Have a Content Strategy.
Plan where and what you are going to publish and how to promote your content.  The days of ‘just’ posting on Facebook or Twitter are over.  Your content strategy is NOT hard selling, it is about delivering value for free to your existent and future customers, and a great way to proof authority and image your brand/business in favorable light. 

.
<><><><><>

Freelance Writing for Pink&Blue Parenting Magazine

.

.

Freelance Writer
Pink&Blue  is one of the fastest growing on-line parenting forums in Canada. We are committed to creating a space where parents can go for advice and information on the latest issues and hot topics. We are looking for content to be contributed at least TWICE a month.

Pink&Blue is also most importantly an open space where parents are invited to share and create a dialog with a growing community of peers.  Our forum reaches over 15 000 members!  We are currently looking for freelance writers to keep our content fresh and relevant.  We have many categories that writers can contribute in including:

Family and Life
-DIY
-Crafts
-Education
-Finance
-Travel
-Child related (all age levels)

Style
-beauty
-decor
-fashion trends
-makeup trends

Wellness
-Recipe
-nutrition
-health
-fitness

Our ideal candidates will need to be reliable, creative, social, well written and exceptionally strong communicators. We are looking for content to be contributed at least TWICE a month.  Specify the area you are interested in writing for in your cover letter. 
Deadline July 18, 2015

Category:  Freelance

Pink and Blue Magazine
18 Stafford Street
Toronto, ON, CA
M5V3W4
.

<><><><><>

111 Tips to Create Your Book Trailer

.
 . 

Book trailers are one of the best ways to introduce your book to millions of readers worldwide. Learn how to plan, create - and most important: market your video is step for step explained in this valuable guide book.  
.
Readers will explore which audience your trailer will attract for the genre of your book, you will learn how to find design ideas for your book trailer, how to set the mood for your book, which music fits the style of your book, video software available, where to publicize your book trailer, just to name a few benefits.
.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008Y15YYO Only $2.99 

.

.
From Reviewers: "I found this book will inspire you to use video / book trailers for (book) promotions, whether you're new to video or a seasoned pro, as it shows you how easy it is to promote your book trailer."
.
 "This comprehensive guide breaks down the video creating process into manageable bites so it doesn't feel so overwhelming - even so the sheer number of links to tutorials and websites could give you the impression. Planning your video, gathering the necessary software, getting free music and images as well as the complete video-creating process are explained. Links to tutorials were extremely helpful for me as was the important video-marketing process." 

.
"It gives not only authors, but every small business valuable tips how video can be used to market products and services, and answers such important questions as:

• Where do I get started with video?
• How can I produce a video that delivers compelling reasons to buy my book?
• Which software and hardware tools will work best for me?
• Where are all these free video sharing sites to submit my video to, in order for it to go viral?"
  .

Another reviewer wrote: "Stop! Just hit click and buy.  The reference section alone is worth the $3. I doubt there is a better book out there for the average author/warrior.  Just get it!"

 .

<><><><><>

.

If you would like to get a mentor and our support in all things publishing, have your book intensively promoted and learn how to navigate social media sites - or learn how you can make yourself a name as an author through content writing: We offer for three months all this and more for only $179 - or less than $2 per day!  Learn more about this customized Online Seminar / Consulting / Book Marketing for your success: http://www.111Publishing.com/Seminars 
.

 To learn more about professional book marketing and publishing, please read also
 “Book Marketing on a Shoestring” 

 http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UAVL3LE 

 Our email newsletters with free insider tips are sent out once a month. To sign up, just go to the form on the right site of each blog post.