Clarifying a formatting rule for the SLPA Publishing Contest

Our apologies that this was not spelled out clearly from the beginning, but it’s been determined that the manuscripts need to be double-spaced with a five-space indent and no extra line of space after paragraphs. Thanks for your patience. I hope I did not cause too much confusion in my haste to get a reply to you.

Question on Manuscript Formatting for the Contest

FYI, a question was asked about the contest as a comment on the Google Book Settlement post. That question has been answered there. Thanks!

Update and commentary on Google settlement

Authors and publishers, hope you’re keeping abreast of the Google case.  Lewis Hyde wrote a great essay about it in this week’s NY Times book review: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/books/review/Hyde-t.html

Other good articles:

The New York Times
www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/09/22/
business/AP-US-TEC-Google-Book-Battle.html

The Atlantic
correspondents.theatlantic.com/peter_osnos/2009/09/judgment_day_for_the_google_book_pact.php

CNET News
news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10359071-265.html

Bloomberg
www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087 &sid=aT9GLSa4bWD4

Publishers Weekly
www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6698299.html

The September Newsletter is now available on our site

There’s a lot going on at SLPA. Visit http://www.stlouispublishers.org and read all about it. Download the new issue today.

You’ll find information on the September 9 meeting, plus the latest SLPA opportunities to get your books into the public eye. There’s information on contests to enter, a refresher on how members may take advantage of online display on the SLPA site and much more. It’s time to think about participating in the SLPA Co-op booth at Big Read, too.

This is also the time of year to consider volunteering for service on the SLPA Board. There’s an article on that, too. Drop by the site now while you’re online and check it out!

Booklocker leads small publishers in battle against Amazon

Here’s a link to a Publishers Weekly article stating that Booklocker’s suit against Amazon is a go. This year Amazon decided to remove Buy buttons from indie and small pub books that didn’t go through their BookSurge program. This means LuLu and Booklocker books and any other publish-on-demand company as well as smaller publishers using Lightning Source. So far, Amazon has targeted the larger of these companies and left the small indies alone, but all small publishers are in danger. Unfortunately BookSurge’s reputation for quality is iffy, otherwise publishers might not be so upset. The other problem is that BookSurge books are not automatically in the Ingram system as are Lightning Source books. Angela Hoy of Booklocker has taken the flag and charged forward.

http://tinyurl.com/ljnkcc

Thanks, @moonbridgebooks for the info.

Tracking labels required for children’s books

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has recently decided that permanent tracking labels must be placed on all books for children ages 12 and under. This pertains to all books printed on or after August 14, 2009.

Publisher’s Weekly article:
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6672574.html?nid=2286&rid=#CustomerId&source=title

CPSIA website
http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/sect103.html#103q8

Ligaya Figueras, SLPA Communications manager

Social media tips

Here is a great site for learning all about Twitter: http://mashable.com/guidebook/twitter/

You can find Pete Cashmore of Mashable on Twitter as @mashable

Also, you may want to subscribe to Twitip at http://www.twitip.com. Then follow Darren Rouse of Twitip on Twitter, @problogger.

Here’s a good Twitip post for beginners: http://www.twitip.com/13-twitter-tips-and-tutorials-for-beginners/

Posted by Ligaya Figueras, SLPA Communications manager

SLPA July Newsletter Now Available

Download the July newsletter now at our site for information about the July meeting, our Get Ready, Get Published! Contest and informative articles.

Click http://www.stlouispublishers.org and go to Newsletter for the current download page.

SLPA June Newsletter is now available

The June edition of News & Views is now available on our web site for download, along with information about our June meeting on Online Social Networking and much more. Check it out today!

http://www.stlouispublishers.org

Publishing offers you don’t want to miss!

For those of you with a manuscript ready to go, Lightning Source if offering free setup with the purchase of a minimum of 50 books of your new title. This offer is good until the end of June and includes color, black & white, paperback or hardcover. See their website for details. http://www.lightningsource.com/

Remember, though, SLPA is announcing its FIRST-EVER BOOK PUBLISHING CONTEST at the June meeting, and if you win, SLPA will provide a cover and arrange for your manuscript to be published as a paperback (black & white interior) through Lightning Source. Maybe you want to take your chances with us instead! Find out more at the June 10 meeting.

Ligaya Figueras, SLPA Communications manager