Depending on how one defines a blog year, starting the fourth year of the Book●ed blog makes me a Toddler, Teen or Senior. I’ve learned a lot about blogging since my first post on January 27th, 2013. For example, choosing “Getting to the Juicy Parts” (about the impact on books from changing habits in reading and writing) resulted in some internet images attached to my name that were (to put it mildly) smarmy, having nothing to do with me or Book●ed. I also received a flurry of unsolicited emails offering me X-rated toys and meds. Oops!
Over the past three years, I’ve become a keen observer of, and participant in, a dramatically changing book industry. I’ve seen many of my predictions about the connections between writers, readers, books and business come true. There have been some good changes, some not so good. It boils down to this: today more than ever, anyone who wants to get published can get published. Whether that statement is good news or not depends on how it affects you. I’ve spent many posts exploring all the angles.
I’ve aimed for a balance in my posts, as reflected in the categories that include: For Authors, For Booklovers, Facts & Statistics and Industry News. Often, I’ve included links to other websites for further information or examples. Covering every stage of conception, writing, design, production, marketing and selling books to promoting authors, books, booksellers, education and libraries, I’ve aimed to keep my posts enjoyable, enlightening and accessible.
The Book●ed blog began as a segment of a larger marketing effort that included video webcast interviews of authors. The posts continued as I shifted from webcasts to editing, publishing and marketing an updated and expanded English language edition of the bestselling Italian memoir, Searching for My Father, Tyrone Power. The posts continued as I developed and launched BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ — events pairing quality wine tastings with book signings.
In year four (as bloddler, teegler or segler), I will continue to report on changes in publishing, connect authors and their books with booklovers and aim to entertain. I invite authors to visit the Book.ed website to read past blog posts (in “Blog Here” click the categories that interest you), view the webcast interviews (in “Archives”) and learn more about BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™.
Bonus for any authors (and agents, publishers or publicists) who read this post to this point: I invite you to contact me if you have a book about to be published or recently published and will be in the Chicago area. Let’s explore the possibility of featuring you and your latest book at a BOOKS ‘n’ BOTTLES™ event!