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Ebooks Give Treebooks a Push

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

At least one publisher is betting on the idea that ebooks can help traditional  retailers sell books.

Algonquin has started a promotion at 300 Barnes & Noble stores which offers a discounted ebook to customers who purchase an Algonquin trade paperback, according to The New York Times.

Algonquin plans a similar promotion in October. Customers who buy a hardcover copy of "When She Woke," by Hillary Jordan will receive a digital version of the book for free.

“We spend a lot of time lately trying to figure out how to sell books in this new world order,” Elisabeth Scharlatt,  Algonquin's publisher, told the Times. “And particularly to help booksellers to sell hardcover books, which seems increasingly difficult. So this seemed like one way of calling attention to a book by giving an incentive to the customer.”

The Times reports publishers are concerned about declining traffic at physical bookstores as more ebooks sales are made online. If physical bookstores disappear, publishers worry their books will not have an opportunity to be discovered by customers who wander into a store without knowing what they want to buy.

This month's Algonquin promotion lets customers choose a trade paperback from a list of 12 titles, and then buy an ebook for $3 from a separate list of 12 titles.

RWA Honors Best in Romance

Sunday, July 3, 2011

 The 2011 RITAS were announced this weekend in New York. The RITAS honor the best in romance fiction for 2010.  Here's a rundown of the honorees as selected by the Romance Writers of America. Congratulations to all of the winners!

 Best Paranormal Romance
Sharon Ashwood for “Unchained: the Dark Forgotten”


 Best Romance Novella
Virginia Kantra for “Shifting Sea”


Best Contemp Series Suspense/Adventure Romance
Helen Brenna for “The Moon that Night"


  
Best Young Adult Romance
Julie Kagawa for "The Iron King"


  
Best Regency Historical Romance
Lauren Willig for "Mischief of the Misteltoe"



Best Historical Romance
Sherry Thomas for "His At Night"

 
Best Contemporary Single Title
Jill Shalvis  for "Simply Irresistible"

 

Best First Book
Kaki Warner for "Pieces of Sky"


Best Novel With Strong Romantic Elements
Jodi Thomas for "Welcome to Harmony" 


Best Inspirational Romance
Irene Hannon for "In Harm’s Way"