“The real problem with ebooks is that they’re more “e” than book,” says Art Brodsky, A former chairman of the Montgomery County Library Board, an advisory group that promotes a strong and vibrant library system in the United States.
The collusion of large ebook distributors in pricing has been a public issue for a while, but more importantly we need to look at how they are priced differently to consumers and to libraries. This, says Art, is how ebooks contribute to the ever-growing divide between the literary haves and have-nots. Read more

This is the inaugural event in the international series of programs for writers headed by Gareth Howard and Hayley Radford, who were curators, last year, of London Book Fair’s AuthorLounge. (That program, this year, is called Author HQ, and is being organized by Midas PR as part of LBF’s week-long London Book and Screen Week, April 7-11.) In this in depth review of the event by Porter Anderson on Publishing perspectives, we get a glimpse of the united front that authors are beginning to represent as both self published authors and traditionally published authors find a cohesive spirit. Read the full article here.

There’s nothing more effective in bringing a story to life than your imagination, but it is true that Hollywood does choose good reads to turn into movies. We don’t usually post book reviews but this list I found on Woman and Home last night is too good to pass up.

Labor Day (HarperCollins) by Joyce Maynard
Henry and his mom Adele, a divorcee suffering from agoraphobi and depression, live a lonely life in Holton Mills. Henry’s summer days are spent inside watching TV, entertaining his hamster and thinking about his female classmates. Just before Labor Day, Henry and Adele meet Frank, who openly admits to being a convicted murderer on the run. Despite this, Frank persuades the mother and son to offer him refuge. In turn, he becomes an unlikely father figure to Henry and companion to Adele.
The heartfelt film will be released just in time for Valentine’s Day and stars Kate Winslet as Adele and Josh Brolin as Frank.
In cinemas 7 February.

Read more

A new study conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Global Attitudes Project found that Internet, cell phone and social media use is surging worldwide. And most people to adopt those technologies are becoming avid, rather than occasional, users of them. It is not really ground breaking news, but the level and speed of adoption is pretty impressive.

The internet “still has a limited reach in the emerging and developing world,” the report states. But “once people do gain access to the internet, they quickly begin to integrate it into their lives,” especially through social networking. Majorities of internet users in 21 of 24 nations also use sites like Facebook, Twitter or their local and national analogues.

“For publishers and content developers today, international and mobile markets are two areas of enormous current and future opportunity. The challenge won’t so much be about finding the latest users to go online but competing for their attention once they do,” reports Digital Book World

The team at Open Book, as always resourceful and innovative have produced a South African diary to die for if you run in literary circles. They are flaunting it as the must-have accessory for the year. It is slim, stylish, unique and produced for and by the Open Book Festival. Featuring top tips for what is on in Cape Town this year, plus international literature dates, literary facts to wow your friends with and contributions from 12 of South Africa’s best-loved authors, this will be a stylish companion for any desk or bag for the whole year. Retailing for only R190 and available from the Book Lounge.