Web 2.0 has brought us a flock of APIs and the wonderful new concept of a Web mashup. Thanks to apps like Google Maps,
del.icio.us and Flickr, we have started to think a lot about remixing the web.
I came across this impressive article over at Big Bad Book Blog. I have noticed some extraordinary book covers recently including this children’s book on Pirates. The article by Lisa Woods is full of useful tips for independent publishers and authors. Here is a quote before you head on over and see for yourself:
If you want your book to be a contender, don’t underestimate the importance of your cover—more than any other single factor, it determines whether or not your book sells. The average consumer spends just eight seconds looking at a front cover… Printing technology gives a cover a potent visual punch. Read on to find out how you can use special effects in sharp, non-tacky ways that will make consumers see stars all the way to the cash register.
Couldn’t resist this little gem from the BigbadBookBlog:
Written by Justin Branch: Any statistician will tell you that 50 percent of statistics are incorrect. Of that, 20 percent are pulled from thin air. In the spirit of using random numbers to analyze a complex industry, I’ve compiled a list of important statistics from many different sources. With these little nuggets, you will be able to impress all your friends at the library, just do so quietly.
Here is one from the list: 8,000–11,000 new publishing companies are established each year. —ISBN.org