A critical element of the consumer publishing value chain that has never worked satisfactorily is the supply chain from the publisher, sometimes via the wholesaler, through the retailer, and then to the consumer. The distribution-by-negotiation ... Read More »

Wasn’t it wonderful when our governments were rich? Free education was meaningful then, since government had enough money to pay for all the services needed and to maintain equal opportunities for all children.But what's the ... Read More »

Am I a bad retailer? Is there something wrong with my money? Am I a pain in the ass to deal with? Am I too small to bother with?This is the impression I sometimes get ... Read More »

It was my first time as a judge for a literary awards contest and I approached the job with trepidation. I'm not much of a fan of book awards in the first place, as it ... Read More »

Welcome to the marketing department of a university press, where the ivory tower keeps its cash register, that grey area between the ideals of the academy and the practicalities of commerce. Those who find themselves ... Read More »

You’re the books editor at a news, arts, and entertainment newspaper (292,000 weekly readers) in a big city. Not as big as the city with The World’s Biggest Bookstore, not that big, but a city ... Read More »

The future of publishing fits in the palm of your hand. It has batteries. It makes obnoxious noises. It says, “this sucks, change it,” and “shuddup, ass-munch.” The future of publishing is a cartoon featuring ... Read More »

As part of my job [as a children’s book editor], I have read thousands of unsolicited manuscripts. In the slush pile, certain kinds of manuscripts predominate – here’s a list of some of the kinds ... Read More »

In the wake of recent media coverage of the threats posed to the Canadian publishing industry by U.S. retailers, I’ve found myself perturbed by fear-inspiring articles focusing on the problems that would arise should Borders ... Read More »