Steve Laube

It’s Official – Thomas Nelson is Now Owned by HarperCollins

By Steve Laubeon July 11, 2012

The sale of Thomas Nelson is now official.

From the press release:
“Thomas Nelson will continue to operate as an independent company with its unique editorial focus on inspirational and Christian content. Details, such as how Thomas Nelson will benefit from HarperCollins global print and digital platform, will be forthcoming.”

And if you were not aware, Zondervan Publisher is also owned by HarperCollins (purchased in 1988). This means two of the largest Christian publishers in the world are under the same corporate roof.

Last year I wrote some thoughts on the sale of Thomas Nelson to HarperCollins. Read those again to refresh your memory. www.stevelaube.com/perspective_sale_thomas_nelson_publishers

In other recent news, the parent company of HarperCollins, News Corp., said it was seriously exploring the idea of splitting into two different companies, one an entertainment business (TV, etc.) and the other a publishing business (newspapers, books, etc.).

News You Can Use – July 10, 2012

By Steve Laubeon July 10, 2012

Publishing on the Cloud is the Next Big Thing! – Mike Shatzkin writes yet another brilliant analysis of our industry.

Give Your Work Away for Free – Derek Webb makes an argument that “free” will end up making you money. Seth Godin used the same principle in some of his promotions. The difference is that Webb is talking about music. However, the music business and the book business are not …

Category: News You Can Use, SteveTag: Bookstores, Get Published, Marketing

Can You Plagiarize Yourself?

By Steve Laubeon July 9, 2012

Recently John Lehrer of “The New Yorker” was discovered to have reused past material for his articles and his bestselling book Imagine: How Creativity Works. Here are links to the articles unveiling the controversy. From Jim Romenesko, Jacob Silverman, and Edward Champion. There has been considerable outrage and a genuine apology from John Lehrer. This incident begs the question, “Can you …

Category: Book Business, Book Business, Career, Contracts, Writing CraftTag: plagiarism

Fun Fridays – July 6, 2012

By Steve Laubeon July 6, 2012

Where in the World is Matt - 2012 Edition

This five minute world tour is guaranteed to make you smile. Don't skip to it, but wait for the 4:08 mark for something special.

And if you missed the original, here is the 2008 Edition:

Category: Fun Fridays, Steve

The Most Patriotic Dog in America

By Steve Laubeon July 4, 2012

HT: Take Your Vitamin Z

Category: HumorTag: Humor

News You Can Use – July 3, 2012

By Steve Laubeon July 3, 2012

What Retailers Know that Publishers Need to Know - Mike Shatzkin analyzes the importance of data in what is truly the "Science of Bookselling."

Your Hotel Bible is now a Kindle - This is a new one. Kindles in the nightstand in your hotel room with the Bible pre-loaded. Fascinating.

Using Evernote for Screenwriting - Brilliant adaptation of the Evernote software by Héctor Cabello …

Category: News You Can Use, SteveTag: Agents, Bookselling, Copyright, evernote, Humor

A Little Less Shade, A Little More Light

By Steve Laubeon July 2, 2012

by Steve Laube

There could not be a better argument for the need for good Christian romantic fiction than the recent sales phenomenon of the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy. In case you aren't aware, this trilogy has sold ten million copies in the last three months. Ten million copies. The content of these novels should be x-rated and yet sit atop every bestseller list in the country. The …

Category: Craft, Creativity, Genre, Get Published, Romance, Steve, Writing CraftTag: Christian, Creativity, Genre, Romance

Fun Fridays – June 29, 2012

By Steve Laubeon June 29, 2012

Over 1,000 heat records set this week across the U.S. It can be kind of hot in Phoenix this time of year (112 degrees today), but this weather forecast for Baltimore takes the prize for hottest day EVER!

Category: Fun Fridays, SteveTag: Humor