The Momentum Blog
Podmentum 7: The Bingeing on First World Problems Episode
Posted February 15, 2013 by Anne
On this week’s Podmentum we talk about the idea of reselling used ebooks, bingeing on books and television, and then the Macquarie Dictionary publisher joins us to talk about the Word of the Year.
Topic 1 Amazon second hand ebook patent
Amazon has received a patent for a system for selling “pre-owned” digital files, opening the way for a secondary market in ebooks
“Amazon’s business model has long been dependent on resellers of used books and other merchandise. But a U.S. patent that Amazon Technologies in Reno, Nev., received last week indicates that the mega-retailer has its sights on digital resale, including used e-books and audio downloads. According to the abstract, Amazon will be able to create a secondary market for used digital objects purchased from an original vendor by a user and stored in a user’s personalized data store.
Boston-based ReDigi opened the first marketplace for pre-owned digital music, which it launched in late 2011, redigi.com. Once a lawsuit that Capitol Records filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan over the way it handles music downloads is behind it, ReDigi plans to expand into e-books and other digital items. In a press release issued yesterday, ReDigi commented that “the Amazon patent is further proof that the secondary market is the future of the digital space and that there is no turning back.”
Motherboard article that so angered Joel (tell us why)
Topic 2 Serialisation
With the Netflix series House of Cards being the talk of the entertainment world for the past couple of weeks, we thought we’d take the chance to talk about how the consumption of content is changing. While TV used to be serialized and consumed in episodic chunks, the trend is now to binge-watch whole series. On the other hand, where we used to read a whole novel in a sitting, publishers are now experimenting with serialized novels in the time-honoured tradition of Charles Dickens.
John Scalzi – The Human Division (episodic narrative) 13 episodes
Alison Rushby – The Heiresses (new adult serial with St Martin’s Press)
“‘An e-serial is a series of digital-only discrete dramatic novella-length “episodes” that advance an overall “season” narrative arc through 4-6 installments, published at regular intervals at a low price. We are conceptualizing e-serials as a loose bridge between a full length novel and a TV show. An e-serial episode is analogous to a one hour drama, one installment of a season of dramas.’
In other words, think Downton Abbey, but in serialized digital book form! Yay!”
Mark Z. Danielewski – serial novel The Familiar (beginning in 2014) 27 volumes, first 10 to be published by Pantheon in 3-4 month increments
“’Volume’ speaks to it being a little different from a standard trade paperback book,” Danielewski said by phone Monday. “I can’t write something that takes months and months to read if we’re releasing one every three or four months. It’s possible that [our publishing] schedule could be accelerated. We’re constantly open to new ideas — where will we be in 2014? Maybe digital releases every week, every few months a trade paperback or hardcover. The novel is designed to accommodate, anticipate various platforms.”
Topic 3 Macquarie Dictionary Word of the Year
The Macquarie Dictionary Word of the Year for 2012 was announced last week, and the winner was “Phantom Vibration Syndrome”. We have the Macquarie editor Sue Butler in to have a chat with us about the dictionary and how they go about naming their word of the year.
Recommendations
Anne – Medium, and Connor O’Brien on twitter
Mark – The Magicians by Lev Grossman
Joel – Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
This episode of Podmentum is brought to you by Kylie Scott’s Skin
Tagged: Amazon, consumption, ebook, episodes, ereading, house of cards, John Scalzi, netflix, podcast, podmentum, publishing, second hand, serialisation, volumes
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My Recovery: Eating Disorder Survivors and Experts weigh in
Posted August 28, 2012 by Anne
Testimonials are coming in thick and fast for Julie Parker‘s forthcoming My Recovery: Inspiring Stories, Recovery Tips And Messages Of Hope From Eating Disorder Survivors.
“Recovery from an eating disorder can seem confusing and distant. My Recovery brings you closer. Through the hopeful and from-the-heart stories of individuals who’ve been there, My Recovery reveals what recovery looks like. It features valuable insights and tools for recovering from eating disorders and leading a healthy and fulfilling life. This beautiful book has a powerful message that everyone needs to hear: Eating disorders are devastating, serious illnesses. But recovery, while personal, difficult and far from linear, is absolutely possible for everyone. I highly recommend reading My Recovery. It’s one of those books you’ll keep turning to and want to share with others. ”
- Margarita Tartakovsky, Weightless
“My Recovery is brilliant. It’s beautifully written and clearly articulates how different everyone’s journey through illness and wellness is. Treatment cannot be a one-size approach because just like the illness, recovery comes in all shapes and sizes and what works for one person may not work for someone else. All patients, families and treating professionals should read My Recovery. It’s emotional, hopeful and most importantly, inspiring. For those of us in the thick of the illness, it shed a little light and some hope that there is an end in sight.”
- Ella (in recovery)
“My Recovery will be wonderful resource for people with eating disorders and their loved ones. Hopeful and positive, yet realistic, the powerful message that “Recovery from an eating disorder is possible” comes through in each survivor’s story.”
- Jane Cawley, Maudsley Parents
“As always, Julie’s words are given with kindness, care and compassion. The gift in this book is that it will gently accompany the reader on their own journey of transformation and blossoming. I am sure this book will be of great comfort and empower the many who read it.”
To read more about My Recovery, or to pre-order the book, click here.
Tagged: body image, eating disorder, ebook, mental health, non-fiction, recovery, reviewLeave a comment