I’m delighted to again be a guest on Joanna Penn’s podcast, where this time we discuss digital publishing trends and what authors need to know as they head into 2016. The discussion was partly guided by my earlier post on 2016 trends.
Here’s what we cover. You can listen to the podcast, watch the YouTube video, or read the transcript.
- The rise of mobile reading: How authors can get their books for sale on mobile devices, and also discoverability possibilities on mobile devices. We also discuss Google’s role in the market.
- Why traditional media and publishers are ignoring the shadow industry of self-published books—and continuing to report dipping ebook sales and rise in print.
- Whether authors more empowered than before, and if the power dynamic has shifted along with the indie movement.
- Audiobooks and growth of in-car streaming internet through Apple Carplay and Google Auto.
- How big data and AI + natural language processing and more will help discoverability as more and more books and content continue to be produced.
- Changes in social media usage, pay to play and whether Facebook will get into publishing
To see my earlier discussions with Joanna Penn:
Jane Friedman has spent nearly 25 years working in the book publishing industry, with a focus on author education and trend reporting. She is the editor of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World in 2023. Her latest book is The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press), which received a starred review from Library Journal. In addition to serving on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund, she works with organizations such as The Authors Guild to bring transparency to the business of publishing.
[…] In conversation with Joanna Penn, I discuss digital publishing trends and what authors need to know as they head into 2016. […]
Joanna/Jane, a nice summation of the outlined trends. I think what needs to be also considered is the fact that publishers need to focus on a agnostic publication approach (content distribution strategy) and not focusing on tinkering one platform or another platform. That way, publishers are constantly intouch with their audience.
Please keep me updated on the next report