B&N Anticipates Bright Digital Future

Barnes & Noble has super-high hopes for the future of the digital side of its business.

Publishers Weekly reports the retailer expects its sales of ebooks to skyrocket from about $250 million in 2010 to over $2 billion in 2015.

That's according to CEO William Lynch, who spoke at a meeting for investors earlier this month.

And while ebook sales are expected to keep climbing, B&N anticipates print book sales will head in the opposite direction - dropping from about $3.6 billion in 2010 to about $2.8 billion in 2015.

The silver lining in that sober news is that B&N believes its share of the print book market will grow from an estimated 17 percent in 2010 to 20 percent in 2015. That's due to the closing of Borders.

The book retailer also expects to see sales gains when  it comes to its Nook devices and content, such as ebooks, magazines and apps.

Library Journal's Top 10 Romances in 2011

Library Journal has put out its list of the top 10 romance novels for 2011. One of them, Silk is for Seduction by Loretta Chase, also made Amazon's top 10 list. Another of my favorite authors, Mary Balogh, made the LJ top 10. Check out the entire list below.

The Secret Mistress by Mary Balogh
A fun-loving, outrageous heroine and a staid, serious hero find love against all odds. This distinctive story is a prequel to Balogh’s earlier “Mistress” books and a rare delight.

The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne
An assassin’s blade reunites a pair of star-crossed spies in this beautifully written, skillfully plotted suspenseful romance that has links to The Forbidden Rose, answers a number of questions, and will tempt new readers into checking out Bourne’s earlier books.

Silk Is for Seduction by Loretta Chase

A fashion designer sets out to convince a duke that her fledgling establishment should be chosen to dress his future bride. An outrageous, seductive relationship sparks between them in the process. A lush, alluring romance from one of the masters of the genre.

No Proper Lady by Isabel Cooper
A fierce warrior maiden from a violent, demon-plagued future and a Victorian nobleman with an agenda of his own fall unexpectedly in love and save the future in this highly charged, sexy, funny, and infinitely refreshing twist on an old-time travel theme.

A Place Called Home by Jo Goodman
An unlikely pair find they have far more in common than they expected when they become the guardians of their late friends’ three children in this sensual, insightful, heart-tugging story from a writer who is well known for her popular historicals.

When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James
A supposedly pregnant heroine and a seemingly impotent hero are thrown together in this funny, offbeat, deliciously sensual story that takes the famed fairy tale to a new level with its vivid description and exquisite writing.

The Dragon and the Pearl by Jeannie Lin
The beautiful consort of the late Emperor and a powerful warlord are attracted in spite of mutual distrust. This vivid, politically rich romance follows Butterfly Swords and is set during the Tang Dynasty in China.

To Seduce an Angel by Kate Moore
Blackmail, vengeance, and old hatreds keep the action moving in this captivating story that brings an exceptional trilogy to a conclusion and will inspire readers to seek out the previous volumes.

Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
A town’s favorite son and an unconventional, outspoken “screw-up” find unexpected romance in this funny, insightful romance from one of the genre’s best. With links to several of Phillips’s earlier romances. (LJ 12/10)

Nowhere Near Respectable by Mary Jo Putney
A fearless half-Hindi warrior princess and a disreputable bastard gaming club owner thwart a plot against the crown in this realistic, action-packed adventure that charms and challenges readers. Another winner from the always popular Putney.

Interactive Book Cover of the Future

Wow. This is kinda cool. Check out what could very well be the book cover of the future. Only this is happening now.

Drag your mouse over the image above and watch it move with you.

According to GalleyCat, British Publisher Walker Books just unveiled this cover for Daylight Savings, a young adult thriller by Edward Hogan.

GalleyCat reports literary agent Jonny Geller was impressed, tweeting: “Better than a book trailer?”

I'm not sure if this is an example of the cover of the future, but it is creating a buzz for this author and his book. So, at the very least, it seems to be an effective marketing ploy.

This kind of book cover does bring all sorts of opportunities for romance book covers to mind; the hero's muscles could actually ripple. As to heaving bosoms...

UPDATE: I''ve taken the plunge and developed an author website that I actually have to pay for! I hope you'll start visiting me there; that's where I'll be blogging from now on! Come along and have a look! Click here.

Amazon's Top 10 Romances of 2011

The editors at Amazon have selected the Top 10 Romances of 2011. 

Topping the list is one of the books I enjoyed most this year, Loretta Chase's Silk is for Seduction. 

Another of my keepers from 2011, What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long, also made the top 10.

Here's the complete list:

Silk is for Seduction Loretta Chase

Archangel's Blade Nalini Singh

Seduction of a Highland Lass Maya Banks

Dragon Bound Thea Harrison 

What I Did for a Duke Julie Anne Long

Breaking Point Pamela Clare

Dreams of a Dark Warrior Kresley Cole

The Next Always Nora Roberts

Heart of Steel Meljean Brook

Unveiled Courtney Milan

Amazon also has a list of Top 10 Romance Kindle books. The list is exactly the same as its Top 10 Romances of 2011. 

B&N Unveils $249 Tablet, $199 NookColor

Barnes & Noble is releasing its own tablet, a 7-inch reading and multimedia device which will cost $249, according to Publishers Weekly.

The Nook Tablet weighs 14.1 ounces and has a battery life of nine hours of video watching and 11 hours of reading. 

The device will be available on Nov. 17.

The bookseller is also releasing updated versions of  the NookColor and Nook Simple Touch for lower prices. The NookColor will be priced at $199 while the Nook Simple Touch is $99.

Current NookColor owners will receive a software upgrade before the holidays, which will add some of the functionality of the new Nook Tablet. B&N says the Nook Simple Touch will also receive a software update to make the type sharper, boost the life of the battery and enable faster page-turns.

New Nook Color Price Could Beat Kindle Fire

Barnes & Noble is holding a media event in New York on Monday, and there's speculation the bookseller will announce it is lowering the price of its Nook Color to compete with the $199 Amazon Kindle.

According to computerworld.com, analysts believe Barnes & Noble won't want to get their price beaten by  Amazon. Their 7-inch Nook Color currently sells for $249.

The Kindle Fire tablet will be out on Nov. 15, just a few days after the B&N announcment.

According to computerworld.com, the bookseller might also announce a cheaper black-and-white e-reader to compete with the lower-cost Kindle e-readers Amazon announced in September.

2011 Launching a Star Finalists

The Space Coast Authors of Romance (STARS Florida) have announced the finalists in the 2011 Launching A Star Contest. Organizers say they received almost 200 entries. Winners will be announced by mid  December.

Single Title
A Year To Remember – Shelly Bell
Love Shack – Elaine Meece
Pride, Prejudice and Second Chances – Virginia Munoz
Shades of Denial – Jennifer Gracen
Trust Me – Kimberle Swaak

General Paranormal
Dancing with the Devil – Jean Newlin
Demon Venture – Celeste Nist
Precious Jewels – Mary A. Behre
Soul Bound – Anne Papadacos
Take Me Tonight – Robin Bielman

Series Contemporary
A Future for Abby – Rebecca Sampson
Cruising for Love – Masha Levinson
Hard Copy – Anita Calhoun as Amity Grays
Healing Hearts – Pat Dengate
Lover’s Leap – Kimberly Hayes

Historical
Behind the Courtesan – Bronwyn Stuart
In the Arms of an Earl – Anna Small
King of Swords – Anne Kenny
Lady Catherine’s Secret – Sheidan J. Edmonson
The Lion Rampant – Carolyn Heinemann

Futuristic/Fantasy
Bloodstone – Helen C. Johannes
Haven – Anne Francis
Project Pyramid – Laurie A. Green
The Dragon’s Bidding – Christina Westcott
The Star Stone – Sabrina Jarema

Romantic Suspense
An Eye for Danger – Christine M. Fairchild
Peril in Paradise – Kamila Kay
Protecting Rose – Cheryl Yeko
Sniper Shots – Kathy Lane
Sterile Field – Margaret Berkhousen

Inspirational
God Whisperer – Kim Hernandez
Love in Bitterroot Valley – Jessica Keller Koschnitzky
Of Courage Beyond – J’Nell Ciesielski
The Madonna of Pisano – Mary Ann Diorio
When Sparrows Fly – Heidi Luchterhand

Young Adult
Lifer – Rebecca Sampson
Switch – Candi Wall as K. R. Lawson
The Fourth – Jennifer McAndrews
The Picture of Dulce Gardia – Alana Albertson
Veiled Iron – Michelle Sinclair