Preparing for the Industry’s Future
While Pittis noted the benefi t of authors building communities online, which the Author Assistant portal helps to facilitate, she also urged publishers and their staffs to interact with their communities. “It’s very important for publishers to remain in the conversation,” she said.
John Morse conveyed the message that print and digital can exist side-byside. “Online and print feed off of each other,” he said, citing Merriam-Webster’s decision in 1996 to offer its best-selling product, the “Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary,” online for free. Revenue for the print version of the dictionary has increased each year thereafter. “We learned that [consumers] want print, but they don’t want just print,” said Morse, “[and] electronic use does not necessarily endanger print sales.” Michael Cairns advised traditional publishers to be aware of what services self-publishers such as Lulu.com and AuthorHouse are offering to their authors. “Lulu.com could be considered the germination of a trade/consumer publishing platform,” he said. “Publishers should see what they’re doing.”
- People:
- Aaron Kahlow
- Adam Sherk
- Andrew Weinstein
- Brent Jacobs
- Carolyn Pittis
- Chair John Morse
- Dan Roberts
- Eugene Schwartz
- HarperCollins
- Jan V. White
- Janet Spavlik
- Jim Sturdivant
- Karoline Freudenberger
- Kim Catalano
- Linda Lusk
- Lou Bahin
- Mark Hertzog
- Matt Steinmetz
- Michael Cairns
- Michael Dubb
- Michael Guzzi
- Peter Osnos
- Rick Queary
- Rob Yoegel
- Robin Sherman
- Shatzkin
- Thomas Woll
- Places:
- Chicago
- New York City