This Week in the Blogs, January 1 – 7, 2012

Welcome to 2012. Summaries of the past are done, and predictions for what’s to come duly noted. We’re now looking at the fresh new vista of a year spreading before us. Of course it’s easier with great companions writing about selling e-books overseas, getting your email list going, being a writer, wondering about KDP Select, and learning what goes on in libraries. And don’t miss the remarkable short film linked in the addendum. Have a great Sunday!

Elizabeth Castro on Pigs, Gourds, and Wikis
Selling ebooks outside of the US
“Ebooks are clearly a worldwide phenomenon and particularly for my readers, timeliness is one of the key features of my books. But neither Amazon nor Apple sell all over the world.”

Jane Friedman on Jane Friedman
Why You Should Add E-mail Subscription Service to Your Blog
“Implementing an e-mail subscription form or widget is easy if you use a popular blogging service. It’s a little more complicated if you host your own site, but still easy. Here’s how to do it.”

Dean Wesley Smith on Dean Wesley Smith
The New World of Publishing: Writer vs. Author
“This world of indie publishing has opened up vast opportunities for Writers. But it is also going to really, really divide the Authors away from the real Writers. I’m watching it happen.”

Catherine Ryan Howard on Catherine, Caffeinated
So [Innocent Whistling], About That KDP Select…
“today I’m going to do something a tiny bit cruel. I’m going to tell you the first half of a very long story, and then make you wait a couple of weeks for the second part.”

Marlene Harris on Lindsay Buroker
Getting Your Self-Published Book into the Library, Tips from Librarian Marlene Harris
“If you can get the librarians on board, they can also help you tremendously. People forget that librarians also hand-sell books, just like bookstores do. Libraries host book groups, libraries do author events.”

And a video addendum . . .

Dan Wagstaff on The Casual Optimist
Ink & Paper
“‘Ink & Paper’ is a bitter-sweet short film directed by Ben Proudfoot about Los Angeles paper company McManus & Morgan Paper and their next-door neighbour Aardvark Letterpress.”