At last, back after more than two weeks of internet trouble. Telmex, some times its really a pain. But as they say the rich are rich because they do not spend much money. Think thats why, Carlos Slim, the richest man of the world and owner of Telmex is so dam rich. The internet service is moderate. But I am back.
This week I have read several news that have left me thinking so much. News regarding Amanda Hocking, the USAToday news paper just said that she have sold, just in the month of january the thrilling amount of 450k books of a total of 9 titles. A self-publish author that has gain the attention of the major paper at the USA, this has to tell us something regarding the way this business is done. I wonder if the Big 6 publishing companies and all the people that do not believe that this way of business is a good business, still think of the old fashioned way of doing business. I know that the price of her books range between 99 cts and 2.99 dollars, but let us think how many books she had sold with the prices above 10 dollars that the "big 6" publishers sell. I think that not so much. I will do not do numbers, this have been done in several post at JA Konrath blog. Congratulations Amanda. Here is the link to the news.
Other news I want to refer also is one at NYTimes regarding the amount of eReaders sold the past christmas and how it has been used. Here we see that a good amount of eReaders have been given to Young Adults, and they have boosted the use of it and the numbers of the books sold. Here we see numbers of the Big 6, and they numbers are good. We can also see that a total of 20 million people read a ebook the past year. An other issue is that some schools are starting to allow students to use their ereaders at a specific time, with this some parents realized it would be a good christmas present. So as we read at this news, the YA market is the one that is boosting, at least in January, the sales.
To be fair with this staggering number of sales in January, we have to remember that the awful weather that we saw helped to boost reading time, hence the boost in sales, I do not think that a "normal" month the sales will be as high as their were, but I do think that this this a well stablished trend, and remember, as the financial analyst say, "trend is your friend". Congratulations to all those self-publish writers out there, you are in the right direction, and special congratulations to Amanda Hawking for those numbers.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Mexico and its lack of readers
Today, in the on line magazine of IBBY's Mexican Chapter, L de Lectura, I read about a survey that talks about reading in Mexico and some of the comparisons made ver the world. For example, at the question In the last 12 months have you read at least one book? The answers were UK 82%, France 71%, Spain 59%, and Mexico 27%. From these, only a 13% finished the book. A sad thing to see, but it is not like we did not knew, here in Mexico, that people do not read. It is more sad to see that in Germany they read 12 books per year, in Spain 7.7 books per year, but in Mexico a 2.9 books per year.
I can think of a lot of reason why are these numbers so low in Mexico, a lot of explanations, which could go from the psychology of the Mexican, as we have been conquered and always "dominated" to the simplest reason that we are lazy and prefer TV. All of them, that we could think about are correct. But I also can see a slight change in the trend, being that the Young Reader sector is a glooming industry in Mexico. They do read. We might not like what they read, we could say that it is commercial literature, I do not care, they are reading and really interested in what they are reading.
We have heard, so much that it has turned to a cliche, that if the Parent does not talk to the children and show them the benefits of reading, they will not read. But what about this: the parent is the one that read less, so how is the children or the young adult going to love literature if they do not see they parents or tutors reading. So I am starting to see a change of perspective here. The kids are the ones that are teaching their parents to read.
And there are some examples but I think that the more reliable and current ones are, The Twilight Trilogy and Harry Potter. These two books were written, at first, for a sector between 10 and lets say 18 years old (Twilight a 14-18) but they have been read by every age segment. So this books were intended for kids and the parents read them and started getting interested in reading. An incredible turn of events. A real shocker. At least here in Mexico.
So, I think that the government has to stop thinking about how to teach the young ones to read, and start thinking in how to start teaching the parents to read. They have to stop forcing the kids to read the classics, and start by giving them some reads that could, at first gave them the interest to read, and then when they are hooked, give them the classics.
I can think of a lot of reason why are these numbers so low in Mexico, a lot of explanations, which could go from the psychology of the Mexican, as we have been conquered and always "dominated" to the simplest reason that we are lazy and prefer TV. All of them, that we could think about are correct. But I also can see a slight change in the trend, being that the Young Reader sector is a glooming industry in Mexico. They do read. We might not like what they read, we could say that it is commercial literature, I do not care, they are reading and really interested in what they are reading.
We have heard, so much that it has turned to a cliche, that if the Parent does not talk to the children and show them the benefits of reading, they will not read. But what about this: the parent is the one that read less, so how is the children or the young adult going to love literature if they do not see they parents or tutors reading. So I am starting to see a change of perspective here. The kids are the ones that are teaching their parents to read.
And there are some examples but I think that the more reliable and current ones are, The Twilight Trilogy and Harry Potter. These two books were written, at first, for a sector between 10 and lets say 18 years old (Twilight a 14-18) but they have been read by every age segment. So this books were intended for kids and the parents read them and started getting interested in reading. An incredible turn of events. A real shocker. At least here in Mexico.
So, I think that the government has to stop thinking about how to teach the young ones to read, and start thinking in how to start teaching the parents to read. They have to stop forcing the kids to read the classics, and start by giving them some reads that could, at first gave them the interest to read, and then when they are hooked, give them the classics.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Several Short Stories
Well, in this path to 100, there have been and will be, still, short stories, not only novellas. Picture Books short stories and Novels. This time I like to talk about 4, lets say, short stories, which include: The Adventure of the Flying Chickens by Monica Brozon (La aventura de los pollos voladores), The Enormous Crocodile by Roald Dahl, The diary of a killer cat by Anne Fine, Kiwi by Carmen Posadas. This 4 stories are wonderful stories of animals that teach, indirectly, excellent values to children.
The Adventures of the Flying Chickens (La aventura de los pollos voladores).
by Monica Brozon, Illustrator Cecilia Renora, Publ. Progreso.
This is a story of friendship and teamwork. A short story for early readers that will be read in short time. Here a bird finds out that that the old man that threw to the floor bread crumbs so the birds could eat, worked at a chicken shop and that he has to kill and stuff all chickens for tomorrow party. But they are chicken and do not fly, so he went with his friends for help. And they helped him and in what a way. Do not know if there is an english version, but for those who know spanish, its a good read.
The Enormous Crocodile.
by Roald Dahl
I Think that there is a lot of material written about this excellent writer, for a lot of people he is like the father of the current "Children's Writing", he changed the traditional way it had to be told the stories. The Enormous Crocodile is, as the previous story, for early readers. A story that show us that bad deeds always go punished and that we could find friends every where, even when we are not looking for them. This is a very hungry croc, looking for a good bite, and he thinks that a child will do good, so he goes on an adventure to the city to find a kid and eat him. The original is in english, I read the spanish version, and parts of the english version, alway is better to read in its original language.
The diary of a killer cat.
by Anne Fine, Illustrations by Damián Ortega. Publish by FCE
This story as the previous one, is from an British writer, and the original is in english. But I think that this spanish version is a very good one. In this book there are learnings about the circle of life, as the cat does some trick to eat, but also we find that it is not good to hide things, and at the end the best way is to tell the truth. Day by day, the cat tells us his adventures in the human world. By all means! he has to eat, what is all the fuzz about?
Kiwi
by Carmen Posadas, Illustrations by Miguel Tanco, Publish by Ediciones SM
This story is written in spanish by an spanish writer, so for you out there who reads in spanish buy the book, is an excellent story of love, paternal love. At the farm arrives a box that allegedly was intended to other address. In that box there was an egg, the only one that wants to take care of it is the dog, after it breaks a Kiwi is born, but kiwis are ugly and nobody wants to look after him, again the dog tries to find a family for it. Nothing. So, after a possibility that the animal could be famous, everybody wants him. Fame is not everything in life. An excellent read with beautiful illustrations.
The Adventures of the Flying Chickens (La aventura de los pollos voladores).
by Monica Brozon, Illustrator Cecilia Renora, Publ. Progreso.
This is a story of friendship and teamwork. A short story for early readers that will be read in short time. Here a bird finds out that that the old man that threw to the floor bread crumbs so the birds could eat, worked at a chicken shop and that he has to kill and stuff all chickens for tomorrow party. But they are chicken and do not fly, so he went with his friends for help. And they helped him and in what a way. Do not know if there is an english version, but for those who know spanish, its a good read.
The Enormous Crocodile.
by Roald Dahl
I Think that there is a lot of material written about this excellent writer, for a lot of people he is like the father of the current "Children's Writing", he changed the traditional way it had to be told the stories. The Enormous Crocodile is, as the previous story, for early readers. A story that show us that bad deeds always go punished and that we could find friends every where, even when we are not looking for them. This is a very hungry croc, looking for a good bite, and he thinks that a child will do good, so he goes on an adventure to the city to find a kid and eat him. The original is in english, I read the spanish version, and parts of the english version, alway is better to read in its original language.
The diary of a killer cat.
by Anne Fine, Illustrations by Damián Ortega. Publish by FCE
This story as the previous one, is from an British writer, and the original is in english. But I think that this spanish version is a very good one. In this book there are learnings about the circle of life, as the cat does some trick to eat, but also we find that it is not good to hide things, and at the end the best way is to tell the truth. Day by day, the cat tells us his adventures in the human world. By all means! he has to eat, what is all the fuzz about?
Kiwi
by Carmen Posadas, Illustrations by Miguel Tanco, Publish by Ediciones SM
This story is written in spanish by an spanish writer, so for you out there who reads in spanish buy the book, is an excellent story of love, paternal love. At the farm arrives a box that allegedly was intended to other address. In that box there was an egg, the only one that wants to take care of it is the dog, after it breaks a Kiwi is born, but kiwis are ugly and nobody wants to look after him, again the dog tries to find a family for it. Nothing. So, after a possibility that the animal could be famous, everybody wants him. Fame is not everything in life. An excellent read with beautiful illustrations.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Self-pub or not? that is the question.
There has been a lot of buzz in the last few days (the one I was studying for my MBA's exams, sorry posting late) over the issue that regarding self publishing for authors. This has been a good road to several. And it is growing. This is a hard thing for the publishing industry due to the lack of authors that they could experience. Digital books and self publishing trend has grown so much in the last year that it has become an important issue over the industry. In fact, it has become so important that it is a topic you hear all over the business.
I think that there is a change, a dramatic change in the way the Publishing Industry is and will be conducting its business. It is illogic not to think about it. but it is also understandable the both sides of the story. Right now we are swinging to the other side of the court, a side where all "traditional publishing" is bad, is like AC/DC puts it a "Highway to Hell". All the self-publishing industry is the best way to do business, and to use Led Zeppelins words it is a "Stairway to heaven".
But as I think and as it has been showed all around the world and all through History, the tendency to strive in one side, being away of the center can be a dangerous path, the best way is to be near the center,. So this new tendency will linger, for a while on this side of the court, and it then will go to the other side, but less far from the center as "traditional publishing" is, and this will be the game for a while, until, both sides conceal and find the best way.
I do think that this side of the court, self-pub side, is the best way, but it cannot satanize the publishing world. I think that publishers are needed, but they have to change the way they do business. It was hear all over the industry that a writer does not do a book, it is a Publisher. Right now I think that the one that makes a book is the client, the one who buys the book, the reader. At least that is what it has been showed with self-pub digital books. And if you do not believe me, you could see the numbers that writers like JA Konrath and Amanda Hocking are posting of they sales of eBooks.
I am not a writer, I am an avid reader, I do love reading, I will love to become a writer, this is my path on becoming one. I think that the eReaders have change dramatically the way we see books, and also I do think that it is a good way that the reader, who is the one who spends the money has to have control, not a money full marketing campaign that just makes expensive the book and gives less royalties to the writer.
So go ahead se the numbers posted by JA Konrath and Amanda Hocking in their blogs, and you will see what is the power of the reader. As a hint, see the December numbers of Amanda. WOW. Congrats Amanda. This are two news names that help us look further and do not look the other way, keep up the work. It is possible. And writers starting in this, like Aaron Niz, will prevail. Keep the faith, so I will also.
I think that there is a change, a dramatic change in the way the Publishing Industry is and will be conducting its business. It is illogic not to think about it. but it is also understandable the both sides of the story. Right now we are swinging to the other side of the court, a side where all "traditional publishing" is bad, is like AC/DC puts it a "Highway to Hell". All the self-publishing industry is the best way to do business, and to use Led Zeppelins words it is a "Stairway to heaven".
But as I think and as it has been showed all around the world and all through History, the tendency to strive in one side, being away of the center can be a dangerous path, the best way is to be near the center,. So this new tendency will linger, for a while on this side of the court, and it then will go to the other side, but less far from the center as "traditional publishing" is, and this will be the game for a while, until, both sides conceal and find the best way.
I do think that this side of the court, self-pub side, is the best way, but it cannot satanize the publishing world. I think that publishers are needed, but they have to change the way they do business. It was hear all over the industry that a writer does not do a book, it is a Publisher. Right now I think that the one that makes a book is the client, the one who buys the book, the reader. At least that is what it has been showed with self-pub digital books. And if you do not believe me, you could see the numbers that writers like JA Konrath and Amanda Hocking are posting of they sales of eBooks.
I am not a writer, I am an avid reader, I do love reading, I will love to become a writer, this is my path on becoming one. I think that the eReaders have change dramatically the way we see books, and also I do think that it is a good way that the reader, who is the one who spends the money has to have control, not a money full marketing campaign that just makes expensive the book and gives less royalties to the writer.
So go ahead se the numbers posted by JA Konrath and Amanda Hocking in their blogs, and you will see what is the power of the reader. As a hint, see the December numbers of Amanda. WOW. Congrats Amanda. This are two news names that help us look further and do not look the other way, keep up the work. It is possible. And writers starting in this, like Aaron Niz, will prevail. Keep the faith, so I will also.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Apology and Kindle comment
I want to apologize about my comment about the 13 million kindle devices sold on Black Friday, I have to say that I heard the news, but today I read it and did misunderstood the issue. Amazon in a whole sold more than 13.7 million products, not 13 million kindle devices. The thing why I got confused is that they say that the kindle have just broke the Harry Potter record and now it has become the most bought product at the web page. Amazon's Kindle will end 2010 with a sold number above 8 million units. Again, Amazon company sold more than 13.7 million product on Black Friday. Still a very interesting news.
In other hand, that number posted by Kindle devices is of utmost importance for the self-publishing industry, and also for, as JA Konrath says, the gatekeepers. Just make some numbers. By the end of 2010 there will be more than 8 million kindle devices and a similar number of iPad. So we could imagine that every gadget owner will buy at least 1 book per month, reaching a conservative number of 16 million monthly. remember these are conservative numbers. But also we have to be realistic that the number sold will be much higher, du to the trend on ebooks, October number of Year-to-date sold, were up 171% from the same period 2009, the American Association of Publishers. This number does not have accounted the self-publishers numbers, so the trend is really important.
We have to be clear that this technology is here to stay, and every writer that wants to self-pub has to do it right now. As for me, in my way to becoming a writer, I will continue my search and read, read, and read, so I will be, eventually,one of those buying at least 1 book a month on my gadget (there will be more than 1 in my case). I also will keep an eye on the increase of spanish ebooks, because this is the next big step that ebooks have to take. Although Mexico is not a reading country, there are a lot of spanish speaking countries that are readers.
One question to all my fellow writers: Who wants to be one of that book sold to the new eReaders out there? I really would like to be in those numbers. So keep the stakes high, keep the creativity flowing, keep being a professional as your own editor, because (sorry JA Konrath for using your words, but they are right on the target) the new gatekeepers are the readers.
In other hand, that number posted by Kindle devices is of utmost importance for the self-publishing industry, and also for, as JA Konrath says, the gatekeepers. Just make some numbers. By the end of 2010 there will be more than 8 million kindle devices and a similar number of iPad. So we could imagine that every gadget owner will buy at least 1 book per month, reaching a conservative number of 16 million monthly. remember these are conservative numbers. But also we have to be realistic that the number sold will be much higher, du to the trend on ebooks, October number of Year-to-date sold, were up 171% from the same period 2009, the American Association of Publishers. This number does not have accounted the self-publishers numbers, so the trend is really important.
We have to be clear that this technology is here to stay, and every writer that wants to self-pub has to do it right now. As for me, in my way to becoming a writer, I will continue my search and read, read, and read, so I will be, eventually,one of those buying at least 1 book a month on my gadget (there will be more than 1 in my case). I also will keep an eye on the increase of spanish ebooks, because this is the next big step that ebooks have to take. Although Mexico is not a reading country, there are a lot of spanish speaking countries that are readers.
One question to all my fellow writers: Who wants to be one of that book sold to the new eReaders out there? I really would like to be in those numbers. So keep the stakes high, keep the creativity flowing, keep being a professional as your own editor, because (sorry JA Konrath for using your words, but they are right on the target) the new gatekeepers are the readers.
Related Articles
- Amazon Kindle lending lets you share e-books (downloadsquad.switched.com)
Monday, December 27, 2010
Prince Caspian. The Chronicles of Narnia
We have arrived to the second installment of CS Lewis' Narnia Chronicles, Prince Caspian. If you remember that at the previous book review I said that the White Narnia was a Narnia that was pure and only when it melted blood was spilled and war started? In this second book we see a colorful place where we smell, since its beginning, trouble, war, betray and that some blood is going to be spilled. So we are still in line on what the real world is living. WWII.
In Prince Caspian we understand 100% the differences in time that the two worlds have. In the real world only one year has come by, but in Narnia hundreds of years have passed, so much time that the kings of old have been almost forgotten, so our heroes have to fight against incredulity. Also we still se that as more power a person has, more he has the possibility that this person be clouded by that power. Think that was something that CS Lewis wanted us to think about. One person with full power is not a good way to go.
A more dynamic book from its predecessor, looks like, CS Lewis, also wants to grow each book as the readers are growing.
In Prince Caspian we understand 100% the differences in time that the two worlds have. In the real world only one year has come by, but in Narnia hundreds of years have passed, so much time that the kings of old have been almost forgotten, so our heroes have to fight against incredulity. Also we still se that as more power a person has, more he has the possibility that this person be clouded by that power. Think that was something that CS Lewis wanted us to think about. One person with full power is not a good way to go.
A more dynamic book from its predecessor, looks like, CS Lewis, also wants to grow each book as the readers are growing.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
It is very difficult to say something new about this book, about this series. I think that is the most successful series of all time. Harry Potter seven installments have been publish in more than 60 countries and it have been sold over 300 million copies. That is an impressive fact. 300 million copies, not even the bible has been sold that much.
I will try to talk in the must impartial way I can. I first knew about this wizard just by the same time that Frodo was in his way to defeat Mordor, and I am a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings, so for me it has been difficult to believe in Harry and the power of friendship, because this is what its all about, friendship. Long lasting friendship.
This first book introduces us to all the world of Hogwarts and the trouble of being an outcast in your own family. First thing that helps audiences to feel empathy with the poor misunderstood Potter. J.K. Rowling is a master with this, throughout all the book she gave us all what we need to feel for Harry.
We see here a very young Harry Potter fighting his first not-so-difficult fight. He show us that as he will be growing with every book, so the fight he has to fight in order to gain his self and left his past behind. If you are going to give this to your kids, let them grow with the books, at least read one every 6 months. I think this will help them understand and enjoy better the fantasy.
I think that every people has to read this great series, and find the power of friendship agains all the worst thing in the universe. It is a great read, even if you are a Mogul.
I will try to talk in the must impartial way I can. I first knew about this wizard just by the same time that Frodo was in his way to defeat Mordor, and I am a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings, so for me it has been difficult to believe in Harry and the power of friendship, because this is what its all about, friendship. Long lasting friendship.
This first book introduces us to all the world of Hogwarts and the trouble of being an outcast in your own family. First thing that helps audiences to feel empathy with the poor misunderstood Potter. J.K. Rowling is a master with this, throughout all the book she gave us all what we need to feel for Harry.
We see here a very young Harry Potter fighting his first not-so-difficult fight. He show us that as he will be growing with every book, so the fight he has to fight in order to gain his self and left his past behind. If you are going to give this to your kids, let them grow with the books, at least read one every 6 months. I think this will help them understand and enjoy better the fantasy.
I think that every people has to read this great series, and find the power of friendship agains all the worst thing in the universe. It is a great read, even if you are a Mogul.
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