Beyond IndieBound update: Local Twitter links, local e-books and POD, and more?
If you’re depending on Amazon to save the book business, fergit it. Jeff Bezos and friends just bought a shoe company. Next a fertilizer business?
The chains are far more committed to books than Amazon is, but like Jeff, they must answer to shareholders. As I can vouch first-hand, the chains won’t stock the typical first novel in their p-stores in a major way unless it has a PR machine behind it.
But how about the independent bookstores, at least if enough can survive? I’m rooting mightily for the IndieBound project to succeed through an iPhone app and a variety of other efforts. The latest version of the app lets you make lists of books to buy for yourself, family or friends. You can synch between your iPhone and the Web on your desktop machine.
But the app could be much more. Imagine a built-in e-reader with which you could preview books, then order POD copies from local stores if you also wanted a paper copy. Or maybe request books? What’s more, I’d love to see the indies team up with local libraries to find promising local fiction and nonfiction, then promote it. Large publishers could pick up, refine and market the best titles. Also, the app should lead to localized twitter streams from individual stores.
Stil, IndieBound has to start somewhere, and it’s good to see friends of independent stores using the Net in at least a small way.
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:20 am
I have a real problem with single platform solutions if you want to take over the world, Pinky.
For example, I’ll never own an iPhone, since it doesn’t meet some of my key requirements. I may never own a dedicated reader, since I think they’re too expensive. OTOH, I go through PDAs and smartphones like a toddler goes through Cheerios, and the two people in my household have 4 PCs.
Multiplatform solutions like the origional Mobi make a lot more sense, IMO. Amazon missed the ball with their silly .azw trick.
Regards,
Jack Tingle
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Hi, Jack, I don’t like single platforms, either, but IndieBound probably has limited sources. What’s more, you can also use your PC. Here’s to Mac and Android possibilities and all that, in time!
Thanks,
David