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That’s where hiring a great freelance publicist with knowledge of social media and online reading communities comes into play, not someone to aggressively market your book so much as someone who can help spread the word on your behalf, and, where appropriate, make introductions that could result in meaningful coverage.
Samantha Haywood/Open Book Toronto

Welcome to the new blog for The Top 100 Canadian Singles book. It’s going to be released soon, on Sept. 30th, from Goose Lane Editions. It’s been two years in the making, and is sure to spark debate, conversation, and above all, lots of passionate talk about the great music of Canada.

Remember the 48Hr Magazine challenge a little while ago? The theme was “Hustle” and after it was revealed we all had one day to send in our submissions, they had one day to produce the magazine. Well the folks at Longshot are at it again… and the theme will be revealed today at noon Pacific time (I’ll let you do the math). More details, plus a reminder of issue zero, are available within.

NUTSHELL: We want to make a batch of prints, t-shirts and totes featuring the lovely artwork of Carson Ellis, that we will then sell and use the proceeds to support all the purposey but not profity things we do — like host dozens of free events for unknown and emerging authors and artists, dedicate ample space to free and local literature, and donate time and resources to kindred causes.
Chloe Eudaly/Kickstarter

One of the topics from last week’s Slate Culture Gabfest was a discussion on provocative literary agent Andrew Wylie’s recent shift into the world of electronic text on behalf of his blue chip stable of clients (Updike, Mailer, Nabokov, Bellow, etc.) Will this signal a quantum shift from paper to lcd?

The conventional axiom is that Gutenberg and movable type were the point at which books and technology began to merge - but I’m now reminded that this isn’t true. The technologies of reading and publishing have entwined and evolved since writing was first invented - often in response to the available resources and the cultural pressures in play as societies have changed.
Sheila Bounford/Off the Page

Contemporary publishing is engulfed by a forest of question marks. What defines a beautiful book? Is it printed or digital? How much does it take (time, money, energy) to produce? How do you get it to your audience? There are so many questions because there are presently so many available options. Advancements in affordability of printing, promotion and distribution has significantly lowered the barrier to entry for would-be publishers.
Craig Mod/Kickstartup