Harlequin

16 Tips for Digital-Printing Success
December 1, 2008

“There’s nothing like a hot book to make things happen,” observes Peter Osnos, founder and editor-at-large of New York-based publisher PublicAffairs, a member of the Perseus Book Group. When Scott McClellan’s “What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception,” got consumers fired up last spring, Osnos responded by utilizing digital print-on-demand (POD) technology. Here, Osnos provides eight tips for digital-printing success by recounting PublicAffairs’ experience with this overnight best-seller:

The Perfect Storm
December 1, 2008

Two events occurred recently that some have called the biggest news to hit the industry in decades. First was the announcement of the settlement between Google, the Association of American Publishers (AAP) and the Authors Guild, regarding Google’s controversial Book Search tool. The settlement allows Google to make millions of books available for consumers to read or buy through Google Book Search; but the big news is that Google will provide compensation to publishers and authors for their works. The settlement also established a Books Rights Registry (supported by the $125 million settlement paid by Google), which will monitor such compensation as well as work to resolve any additional disputes.

Creative Cost-Cutting Strategies
August 1, 2008

With the rising costs of fuel and raw materials, it has become essential for most publishers to find ways to save money in book production and manufacturing—a task that can be quite challenging without sacrificing too much in terms of quality. However, with changing circumstances have come new strategies, some of which are riffs on past ideas, while others would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago. “Right now, it’s hard to realize really big savings on manufacturing costs because paper keeps going up,” notes Marie Butler-Knight, longtime publisher of Penguin’s “Complete Idiot’s Guide” series. “At the same time,

The Corner Office: Publishing Outside the Box
August 1, 2008

Many would consider Harlequin Enterprises Publisher and CEO Donna Hayes an innovator. Not only is she the first woman to head the Canadian-based company, a position she has held for the past five years, but under Hayes’ leadership, Harlequin has consistently made industry headlines for its willingness to experiment in all areas of the book-publishing business—from joining forces with Nascar in 2006 for a series of stock car-themed novels to signing an exclusive deal to partner with Audible.com for digital audiobook distribution of its titles. Harlequin also was the first major publisher to offer its entire front list in e-book format, and has further

Harlequin Launches Enriched Edition eBooks
July 25, 2008

Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. has launched Enriched Edition eBooks, which feature interactive buttons that hyperlink to Web sites containing relevant information such as photos, commentaries, maps and articles related to the book. With this launch, Harlequin becomes the first publisher to offer entire e-books with hyperlinks. The launch title, “Unmasked,” by Nicola Cornick, is a period book. The Enriched Edition eBook includes links to period details and terms. Enriched Edition eBooks are available at www.ebooks.eharlequin.com, and are being sold at the same price as regular e-books.

Gene Therapy
June 1, 2008

“Today the book business stands at the edge of a vast transformation, one that promises much opportunity for innovation: much trial, much error, much improvement.” —Jason Epstein (“Book Business: Publishing Past, Present and Future,” Norton 2001) That was seven years ago, and today, innovation and experimentation—trial and error—is the theme of the Book Industry Study Group (BISG) report “From Experimentation to Innovation in the Digital Age.” The report contains the results of a survey on the industry’s attitudes and actions pertaining to experimentation (more on page 7). It also contains case studies—based on interviews conducted by Mike Shatzkin, founder/CEO of The Idea Logical Co.,

Distribution in the Digital Age
June 1, 2008

Observed from 30,000 feet, the modern system for delivering manufactured goods appears little changed from what it was 30, 40, 50 years ago—trucks roll, trains rumble, ships ply the harbors and canals. Only a closer view reveals the logistical revolution made possible by rolling stock, just-in-time ordering and outsourced production. Similarly, the average consumer picking up the latest best-seller at their local bookstore is unaware of how book distribution models are changing. While the book they hold in their hands may adhere to the old “print-and-deliver” model, for instance, the one next to it may have been “deliver and print,” as in large distributors

Harlequin Readers Find New Ways for Romance with Technology from LibreDigital
April 25, 2008

AUSTIN, Texas– April 23, 2008 – Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. has selected the LibreDigital Internet Digital Warehouse solution to provide readers with new ways to access Harlequin titles across digital channels, including online and mobile. Beginning April 2008, Harlequin will make some of its most popular series—such as Harlequin Presents and books by New York Times bestselling authors like Debbie Macomber, Heather Graham and Mercedes Lackey— available for browsing online. “Romance readers are having a love affair with digital,” said Brent Lewis, Vice President Internet & Digital, Harlequin. “With technology from LibreDigital, we can give readers an experience similar to walking into a bookstore and

eHarlequin.com Issues Reading Challenge to Its Members
February 15, 2008

eHarlequin.com, the online community for Harlequin Enterprises Limited, has challenged its members to collectively read 100,000 books in one year. The 2008 eHarlequin.com 100,000 Book Challenge will end Dec. 31, 2008, at which time Harlequin will donate the number of books read to the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL). To date, more than 350 members have accepted the 2008 Book Challenge and, in one week, they had already read more than 1,000 books. “Recent studies show that people are reading literature less and less,” says Sharon Darling, NCFL president and founder. “This reading challenge not only will provide an important incentive for

The Evolution of Electronic Publishing: Michael Smith on his new role as executive director of the IDPF
December 7, 2007

Last month, the International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF), a trade and standards organization for the digital publishing industry, announced Michael Smith as its new executive director. Smith, who replaces Nick Bogaty, is charged with directing the IDPF’s efforts to promote the newly adopted Open Publication Structure 2.0 and .epub file format, which the organization approved as the official digital publishing industry standard in September. In October, Hachette Book Group USA was the first publisher to announce that it had adopted the new standard. Smith, who previously managed e-book and book production for Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. for its North American, U.K. and Australian