Editor's Note: Navigating the New Frontier

Currently, e-books are one of the only growth areas across the industry. And while the numbers are still small, Association of American Publishers’ figures indicate that e-book sales grew 166.7 percent in the first five months of this year compared to the same time period in 2008. In May, e-book sales were up almost 200 percent.

Last year, an analyst at technology investment banking company Pacific Crest Securities predicted that global e-book sales at Amazon could reach $2.5 billion by 2012, as reported by PaidContent.org. (As a frame of reference, Amazon’s total sales for 2008 were approximately $19.2 billion.)

Regardless whether publishers are already offering e-books or not, digital content is a new frontier, and it presents publishers with many questions—about formats, distribution, digital rights management (check out Andrew Brenneman’s column), pricing, business models for e-book publishing, and many others.

To help you navigate this unfamiliar terrain, Book Business is holding a special event, called “Digital Content Day @ Your Desk”—its first-ever virtual event. (As the name suggests, you don’t have to leave your desk to “attend”—and it’s free.) We’re bringing in industry experts and thought-leaders to share their insights and opinions on the quickly evolving e-marketplace, and all of its accompanying issues. Please take advantage of this event. You’ll not only hear from experts, but you’ll be able to ask questions and chat with other attendees. (You can find out more at PublishingBusiness.com/links/PBV.) I’ll see you … at your desk!