Simon Buckingham of Appitalism.com talks about the future of ebooks following the launch of Google eBookstore

This is getting to be a very interesting week in the ebook marketplace, following the launch of Google eBookstore on Monday.

How the new eBookstore will shape the future of ebooks is still unknown, but we (as everyone else) are still very curious about it, so we asked one of the experts in the ebook industry, Simon Buckingham, founder and CEO of Appitalism.com to share with us his thoughts on the new eBookstore and its influence on the market.

Hello Simon. What do you think would be the most significant influence of the new Google eBookstore on the ebook marketplace?
While the Nook, Sony Reader and other e-readers have been moderately successful, Amazon has largely dominated the ebook marketplace. Is Amazon's ebook model the best one for consumers? We don't know because Amazon and the Kindle have not faced stiff competition. If successful, the most significant accomplishment of Google Editions will be that it brought healthy competition to the ebook marketplace.

You mention that "Google Editions, like Appitalism, is platform and device agnostic and that freedom gives consumers access to their e-books from any device with internet connectivity", which is true to all devices except the Kindle - who do you think it hurts more - Amazon or Google?
This is not necessarily an either/or scenario. If you look to the mobile market, both the iPhone and the devices powered by Android are wildly successful. Similarly, I think there is enough space in the future of ebooks for both Amazon and Google to co-exist amidst healthy competition.

What will be the influence of Google eBookstore on online sellers such as Appitalism?
If Google eBookstore is successful, consumers will increasingly feel more comfortable purchasing ebooks from a wide variety of sites, including Appitalism. The ebook marketplace is expanding rapidly and bringing new consumers into the fold is beneficial for all ebook retailers

Do you think the collaboration of Google with the independent bookstores can help them to thrive? Can it help them to transform their brick and mortar bookstores back into an asset?
The independent bookstores certainly feel like in aggregate they can leverage Google's resources to help them compete with larger chain stores and I am inclined to agree. Independent bookstores are closing across the country, so it is wise for them to innovate using Google. They have little to lose and everything to gain. Google eBookstore is not a panacea however, and I'm leery of anyone who thinks Google eBookstore alone will restore the health and viability of local independent bookstores.

What will be considered by Google a success here? How do they plan to achieve it?
The first mark that must be met is sustainability and viability. Google's model is untested and there are plenty of pitfalls, including publishers unwilling to agree to Google's term for example. It doesn't have to be pretty, but if Google can simply keep Google eBookstore functional and even somewhat competitive over the next 12 months, they have the resources to help the venture grow quickly. As with all things Google, they plan to achieve success by employing the smartest people and having a ton of funding.

In all, is last Monday going to be remembered as a milestone in the book marketplace or just as a day when another new online bookstore was launched?
Google Editions was launched without much pump, but if this model proves to be successful then I think it would help revolutionize digital content and truly bring it to the masses. In retrospect this launch could be Google's most important - for revolutionizing the way we acquire and read content.

Will you buy ebooks at the new store?
Of course! As an entrepreneur and CEO of a digital content provider, I would be remiss not to test out Google's new offering. I am interested to see the user interface, the ease of use and plenty of other aspects of the business.

Why would a consumer choose Appitalism for their ebooks?
Just like you don't shop at Costco because you want Coke, you wouldn't shop at Appitalism just because you want ebooks. I want consumers to choose to come to Appitalism for ebooks, music, apps and digital content because they know that across the board we deliver the best possible value and service.

What types of ebooks are available on Appitalism?
Appitalism carries content from all of the major publishers as well as a large number of independent publishers. Our catalog has all the classic books you would expect and the library is regularly updated with the newest releases. Our books are all in ePub format and so can be read on almost any device (excluding the Kindle).

Thank you, Simon!

About Appitalism.com:

Appitalism.com combines a social community with an online store, enabling consumers to discover, discuss and download digital media from a catalog of over ten million premium apps, songs, books, games and videos compatible with a broad range of digital devices including smartphones, tablets, PCs and eBook readers. Simply put, there is no better way to discover and download apps and digital content than on Appitalism.com

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!

Green book of the week: Green Morality by Edward Flattau (including an interview with the author)

This week our green book is "Green Morality: Mankind's Role in Environmental Responsibility" by the renowned environmental columnist Edward Flattau.

This book, with a title that looks more relevant to our life than ever, will be released next month, but was already described as “an easy-to-read must-read for all who love our planet and want to know the truth about what is happening to it." (Alex Shoumatoff, contributing editor and veteran environmental correspondent)

Published by Los Angeles independent social issues press, The Way Things Are Publications, “Green Morality” analyzes manmade global environmental atrocities supporting a theme that environmentalism must become a universal moral imperative to avert long-term environmental destruction. Flattau discusses topics ranging from corporate and industrial environmental immorality to failed public policies, and corrupt or immobilized political leaders. The book advocates a re-alignment of modern society’s value system and economic infrastructure in order to avert environmental destruction and create an environmentally and economically sustainable society.

After reading "Green Morality", I find Shoumatoff's description very accurate and I decided to ask the Flattau, who is the nation’s longest running syndicated environmental newspaper columnist with 40 years in the industry and columns in more than 120 daily newspapers, for an interview to learn more about his thought provoking book. Luckily he agreed and I have the pleasure of sharing it with you.

Hello, Ed. What inspired you to write this book?

Frustration at our failure to learn from the lessons of the past. The environmental problems of today are by and large, not new and solutions were developed decades ago. They were frequently not implemented then and the same holds true now. There is also my frustration at the partisan paralysis that has rendered our politicians virtually incapable of meeting their moral obligation to current as well as future generations. It is appalling to see how we are shortchanging future generations.

In the section about "the good", there seems to be a little about technology and a little about personal commitment and individual success stories. Is there really that little good in the larger environmental movement or the politics of sustainability?
Perhaps the most optimistic environmental development is the increased widespread public awareness of the threats to the planet’s ecology. Whether that translates into effective action across the board in time to avert irreversible harm is yet to be determined. Still, as I mentioned in the book, many corporations have become enlightened about incorporating efficiency and sustainability into their operations.

Biomimicry is far more than a passing fad as more and more people in all walks of life realize that to make nature an adversary rather than accomplice is a losing proposition. A voluntary simplicity lifestyle is sprouting up around the nation and there are an estimated 750,000 households off the grid and self-dependent on solar, wind, and other renewable sources of energy. One of the most hopeful trends of all is the greater environmental sensibility of our younger generations, thanks in large part to new progressive curriculums in our educational institutions.

You focus on consumption as a major barrier to upholding our moral imperative of conserving the earth. Changing consumption patterns is considered to be almost an impossible task in the affluent developed world. What do you see as the most important steps on this issue,and how fast do you think it could change.

A crucial step in changing our pattern of conspicuous consumption is to elevate quality over quantity. Durability and a high level of performance should be valued over volume and rapid turnover of possessions. Recycling should be routine and planned obsolescence totally discredited. Conservation should enjoy more prestige than consumption, and frugality should gain favor with the realization that it is not tantamount to deprivation. We are beginning to see this sea change in American society, but to get it up to proper speed, we need political leaders bold enough to show us the way, and up to now, there have been powerful few of those.

How would you suggest addressing the consumption gap in the developing world? isn't there a parallel moral imperative to enable them to catch up with the rest of us? what are some of the ways we could do that and at the same time protect the environment?

Addressing the consumption gap in the developing world will require us to set an example by adopting a sustainable lifestyle that provides the basic comforts of life without destroying the natural resources on which all living things depend. If we provide that existence as a goal, when the developing nations do approach our standard of living, they will spare the earth in the process. Setting an example for them means our placing an emphasis on conservation, quality over quantity, recycling and reuse over planned obsolescence, and health over profit (not in place of profit, mind you). Those values will provide a comfortable standard of living while leaving the earth’s life support system in tact.

What do you hope that your readers will take away from your book?

I hope readers will embrace the moral values referenced in the book not only in words but in actions. I also hope they will be convinced that we do have the capabilities to meet the formidable environmental challenges of the 21^st Century.

You suggest political inaction on environmental issues is inherent to the long term nature of environmental issues because dealing with these issues doesn't offer any immediate results that can be translated to political gains. Other than building up public support for environmental issues, what could be other incentives for politicians to get more involved?

Our politicians could escape the trap of catering to immediate voter gratification by translating future threats into more compelling terms, namely through references to the pocketbook. Identifying environmental consequences of inaction in huge dollar and cents costs rather than scientific abstractions would win public support faster and in greater numbers. Our leaders could also set an example with their own personal behavior.

Could you share your thoughts on the recent BP oil spill? it seems like many of the themes of your book apply here. There is political inaction (at best), corporate greed, and mixed popular debate. Can we really expect corporations like BP to avoid accidents like this one?

The BP spill is a classic case of where health (both human and environmental) should take precedence over profit, and tragically did not. For this moral precept to prevail, there must be strong regulation that is strictly enforced, and hopefully that will be the case in the post BP world. Gulf Coast residents were caught between a rock and a hard place.

Because of jobs, they were beholden to an oil industry that at the same time was destroying their environment (carving up their wetlands with shipping channels). Moreover, the use of oil and gas is a one time proposition, whereas the fisheries and tourism damaged by the spill are infinite sources of income if the natural resources on which they depend are responsibly managed.

Indeed, as much income as the oil industry generates for the Gulf region, tourism and fishing produce more revenue. The way out of this trap for Gulf coast residents is to gradually phase out oil drilling and replace it with renewable energy industries. Louisiana politicians have historically been derelict in diversifying the energy economy, given the handsome largesse that the oil industry has showered on them.

What was some of the feedback you received on the book and is there another in the works?

So far, the reviews have been extremely favorable. For the moment, I am just continuing with environmental commentaries. As far as future books are concerned, it’s possible I might take a crack at how President Obama met his formidable environmental challenges, assuming a compelling story line develops.

Thank you, Ed.

Edward Flattau blogs on The Huffington Post and posts news and updates on Twitter and on Facebook.

The book will be available next month, but you can already pre-order it at http://waythingsarepublications.com/?page_id=84

Disclosure: We received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting Sustainable Reading!

A new toolkit of Moon Willow Press helps publishers and authors who want to green!

Our mission at Eco-Libris is to green up the book industry and make reading more sustainable. Fortunately, we're not alone in this quest.

One of the new forces that is joined us is Moon Willow Press, a Canadian publisher that not only publish books sustainably, but also works to help other publishers to do the same. Last month we updated you that they started a campaign where 33% of the first 100 sales of their first e-book, The Little Big Town, go toward planting trees with Eco-Libris. Already as a result of their campaign, 200 trees are planted with our planting partners.

But that's not all. On April Moon Willow Press published a comprehensive toolkit that "provides backgrounder information for Moon Willow Press’s publishing philosophy, and offers tools for authors, publishers, printers, and others who want to follow responsible practices when using materials from the planet’s remaining forest resources."

This toolkit is a great tool for any publisher or author who wants to learn more about the environmental impacts of books and how they can reduce it. We wanted to learn more about it and conducted an interview with Mary Woodbury, the owner and publisher of Moon Willow Press.

Hello Mary. Can you please tell us about Moon Willow Press?

Hello Mary. Can you please tell us about Moon Willow Press?
Moon Willow Press is just an idea I have had lingering in my head for a long time. I wrote this in the toolkit, but will repeat it here: When I was little, my favorite past-time was sitting beneath a big tree, reading a book. I loved to soak up the big world around me, both imaginatively and intellectually. This picture leaves juxtaposition behind, however, in that nearly four billion trees worldwide are cut down each year for paper -- the same paper used for those lovely books we read.

I love to read, and love books, and wanted to begin publishing, but was faced with the reality that I didn't want to contribute to non-sustainable forestry practices when publishing. I figured I'd follow some models, such as the Green Press Initiative's model of using only either post-consumer paper or FSC-certified paper that I know is coming from responsibly managed and renewable forests. I also wanted to make good books to read. I'm primarily interested in non-fiction that deals with environmental issues. I think it's important to educate the public about what's going on in our world. I also love fiction and poetry, so that will also be a part of my publishing plan.

What brought you to publish the Moon Willow Press Toolkit?

I started working on it as a resource for myself, and then it turned into a big project that I thought would be helpful for other publishers, authors, and presses. I had a lot of information from organizations such as Eco-Libris and many others, and just wanted to combine it all into one place.

The toolkit includes detailed information on the state of forests, especially in Canada - Were surprised of some of the information you found out?

To be honest, as brutal as some environmental facts and figures are, I wasn't too surprised. I was especially moved by how indigenous people who are so dependent on the forest ecosystems in which they live are treated so badly and have their resources and livelihoods turned upside-down. I've always had a soft spot for nature and preserving it, but social injustice tears at my heart too.

What advice you can give to a publisher who wants to go green but don't know where to start?

Well, a lot of it's common sense. Don't be wasteful, and look for alternatives when publishing or even just making decisions for your office. Remember that cost and quality of paper isn't everything. The real costs of using high-grade, non-sustainable fiber reach far beyond your pocket book.

I'm just starting out myself, and will learn a lot along the way, and hopefully can share more later. But there are so many resources on the web about responsible publishing, and a good start is the toolkit and many of the places I reference in there, such as Green Press Initiative, Eco-Libris, Canopy, and Rainforest Alliance.

Why do you think we don't see more publishers that go green? What are the main obstacles?

I think a lot of publishers don't realize that they can go green, that there are options when making paper choices. There are so many green printers out there. I think smaller-run, digitally produced books, e-books, FSC-certified fiber printing, and printing on demand are the wave of the future. At least I hope they are.

I don't think there are any huge obstacles in going green. The only one I can think of is that for large book production, offset printing may be choice and non-post-consumer or non-FSC paper might be cheaper. But again, I think it's helpful to look at the overall savings in our environment rather than a few cents in our pocketbooks. Profit isn't always wallet-based!






















How real is the option to use non-tree resources for paper?

I would like to see more studies on non-tree resources such as wheat, hemp, sisal, flax, kenaf, or other vegetable fibers. As with any natural resource, we always need to think ahead for the sustainability of large production with those fibers too. I think for now using these alternatives is great at least for office solutions, like business cards and calendars. As for the production of books, more studies and trials need to take place.

Do you think bookstores can also play a role in making books more sustainable?
Yes, book stores can take initiative, along with publishing houses and authors, in extolling the virtues of books printed on recycled/FSC papers and in printing processes that are environmentally cleaner, safer, and use less resources - such as nontoxic toners or vegetable/biodegradable inks, recycled aluminum plates, totally chlorine-free processes, and so on.

I think we just stepped into the age where people will start to "get it" about our environment, with the worst environmental disaster in history having seeped to our Gulf as I write this. Everyone is going to be more conscious about our resources and dependencies. Everything from renewable energy and less dependency on oil to conservation and preservation of our endangered and declining natural resources is going to be a high priority. Once consumers realize this, I think bookstores and other industries will gain respect in the eye of the consumer by having good environmental practices, whether in manufacturing or retail.

What about e-books? When do you think we'll be able to consider e-readers as a greener alternative?

I think we should start to consider e-readers as a greener alternative, though I've only read a few studies (mentioned in the toolkit) that found e-readers less of an impact over books. The Cleantech Group, for instance, predicted that e-readers purchased from 2009 to 2012 could prevent 5.3 billion kg of carbon dioxide in 2012, or 9.9 billion kg during the four-year time period. I think more study is needed, but the e-ink technology is a wonderful one, and at least the e-book I have (Kindle DS) feels very much like a book and I consider it a replacement and buy only e-books at this point.

What's your advice for readers who want to green up their reading? What can they do?

There is so much to do! People can seek out green publishers when making book-buying choices, write to publishers with opinions on paper choices, buy e-books instead of paper books, check books out at the library instead of buying new books (many libraries now offer e-book downloads too), and also join planting programs like yours. There are book recyclers, regular paper recyclers, book donations, and so on. I would say it's important to never buy what you are going to throw away, but also never throw away a book. Donate it to charity or your local library.

After writing this toolkit, are you more optimistic or pessimistic?

I'm more optimistic. I get invigorated when I start talking or thinking about my press. In an odd way, my press is really still in the baby stage, because my first paper book won't be published until later this year, and then in 2011 I have accepted three more books for publication so far too. So I haven't done much with the press as of yet, but am very excited about it. Thanks for giving me this opportunity to talk about it. And thanks for your wonderful tree-planting program!

Thank you, Mary. Moon Willow Press's Publishing Toolkit can be downloaded at no charge at http://www.moonwillowpress.com/MWP%20Toolkit.pdf

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting sustainable reading!

The future of Publishing - a talk with media industry expert Scott R. Singer

Scott R. Singer has spent the past 20 years advising companies on how to adapt to change, to embrace technological advances, and to put the best strategy in place to deal with the next big thing—essentially, teaching them how to hit curveballs. Therefore we thought he is the right person to speak with on the changes that the book publishing industry is going through.

Scott, a noted media industry expert, investment banker, strategy consultant and the author of HOW TO HIT A CURVEBALL: Confront and Overcome the Unexpected in Business, join us for an interesting conversation on the future of publishing. Here it is:


What is the influence of the launch of the iPad on the book industry?
I think the iPad's launch is a game changer. Not only is it a fantastic Internet surfing, photo storing, app powered, movie viewing device, but it's also a powerful iPod with a gorgeous screen, functionality, and e-reading capability. The iPad opens the door for full color books and magazines to jump into the digital reading sphere.

Do you think the trend of transforming from print to digital is currently no more than just a hype when e-books sales are less than 2% of the market?
Clearly, not everyone will want to read books or magazines in a digital format. There is still high demand and great pleasure derived from reading materials in printed form. That said, a large and growing base of consumers are on the go, looking for more convenient ways to consume
the content they enjoy, and like the eco-friendly nature of an e-reading device.

It is important to keep in mind though that for the most part, every child that's born is "digital" and every elderly person that passes away is "analog." As a result, we are experiencing the third
tectonic shift in traditional media - first music, then video, now print. My middle school-aged children don't have printed text books. They are all electronic.

What is your advice to bookstores, both independent and big chains, who look for innovative models that will help them to thrive in the digital age?
Bookstores need to reinvent themselves as centers of learning and brand development for the content industry. They can be the social hub of all types of media, not just print. By realizing that a portion of their retail sales are likely to be disintermediated by digital content, they
should focus on ways to keep customers coming to their establishments and offer them products that can be consumed in such a manner.

Bookstores are still a place to browse, socialize, and share ideas. They're not libraries, so you don't need to keep quiet. You can drink coffee, meet friends, and buy many things. Not just books.

What's the potential of the e-book market in the next 10-15 years?
There are many projections concerning the penetration of tablet devices. It is my view that there is a huge market for a device that can fill the gap between full computing and a PDA. The more content that's available, the greater the potential. And by that I mean magazines,
newspapers, and text books, not just consumer fiction and non-fiction books.

It is clear that newspapers in a printed form are headed the way of the dinosaur. That industry needs to embrace this change and redesign its business model to deliver valuable, hyper local content in a form its consumers want. No one else is better at reporting on high school sports, the goings on at town hall, or issues facing local school boards.

Do you think the publishing industry can actually gain from the cannibalization of physical books market by e-books?
TV was supposed to kill radio, VHS tapes were supposed to kill TV, and the Internet was supposed to kill them all. But that's not what happened. More content is being created on more platforms and consumed to greater degrees than ever before. I think the publishing world will
thrive in this environment, especially if it is able to deliver more quality products at lower costs, not to mention in shorter production times.

Do you think the publishing industry can actually gain from the cannibalization of physical books market by e-books?
TV was supposed to kill radio, VHS tapes were supposed to kill TV, and the Internet was supposed to kill them all. But that's not what happened. More content is being created on more platforms and consumed to greater degrees than ever before. I think the publishing world will
thrive in this environment, especially if it is able to deliver more quality products at lower costs, not to mention in shorter production times.

Do publishers still have the same added value in the age of POD (print on demand) and social media?
The need for the curatorial and editing skills publishers bring are even more important in the digital world when anyone with Internet access can essentially be a published journalist/author. We as consumers will rely to an even greater extent on our media brands to help us sort through
the online clutter.

Finally, we are going to celebrate Earth Day tomorrow - what should be done to make the book industry more eco-friendly?
Well, the e-reader is perhaps the best answer to saving trees and lowering the use of fossil fuels and reducing emissions. Fewer trees will need to be cut to make books, newspapers, and magazines. Fewer chemicals will need to be mixed to create ink. And fewer trucks will
need to roll to deliver these physical products assuming e-reading grows to the levels many expect. A great result for our planet overall.

Thank you, Scott.

Scott R. Singer is the author of the recently published HOW TO HIT A CURVEBALL: Confront and Overcome the Unexpected in Business (Portfolio 2010). A Managing Director and Head of Media & Entertainment at The Bank Street Group, Singer has more than twenty years experience in investment banking and strategy consulting. He previously held positions at BMO Capital Markets, Deloitte, and Bear Stearns. He lives in New York City and Connecticut. For more information on Scott's new book, see http://www.hitacurveball.com.

You can read more updates on the future of publishing on our website at http://www.ecolibris.net/publishing_future.asp

Happy Earth Day!
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading