eReading devices are one of the most polarizing topics among bibliophiles – but whether you’re glued to your Kindle or loyal to print-and-paper, being able to easily read ebooks on your computer is a revolutionizing experience. Why on a desktop? If you’ve got an eReader, you might not see the point in having a eReader program on your home computer. But consider: Being able to click on links and access websites through the document without the limits of your device If you forgot your eReader before a business trip, you’ll always have some reading material at hand Accessing DRM-free materials without compromising the integrity of DRM-locked device If you aren’t the eReader-type, give reading on a screen a try – and if you need convincing, think about: Having access to thousands of free classic and educational books through Bartleby, Project Gutenberg, and the Open Education Resource Commons. Take advantage of content that’s not available anywhere else. Take Stephen King’s essay Guns – it has all of its proceeds going to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, and is only available digitally. Pay less for reading – Join an eBook lending library, don’t pay for the hardcover version of the latest new release pulp thriller, or consider that Apple is rolling out e-textbooks at $14.99 or less. Giving away eBooks for free is a tried-and-true eReader marketing tactic – take advantage by snagging titles while they’re being given away! Don’t leave these files strewn about your computer willy-nilly, though –…

The business of publishing continues to evolve and new finance models have emerged offering authors more than the option to self-publish or go the traditional route. Between the five big commercial trade presses – Penguin Random House, Hatchette Book Group, Harper Collins, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster – and self-publishing with Blurb, or Smashwords, there are new routes for writers to consider in their pursuit of publication. Small and independent presses can’t offer authors large advances or extravagant marketing campaigns, but they do offer many advantages over self-publishing including distribution. Most self-published authors recognize the difficulty of getting their books into retail stores and libraries because they lack access to the distribution systems used by publishers. Finding a good fit with a small publisher who champions your manuscript can be an ideal scenario for authors. Some presses, if they endorse your manuscript editorially, may negotiate with an author for a subsidy to proceed with publication. When an author invests in the initial production costs, it is possible to negotiate a higher copyright royalty rate in lieu of an advance. Subsidy publication is an avenue to explore. Find a benefactor, or if the author has the financial resources, to provide a subsidy for the production expenses of publication. Subsidy publication is a “dirty little secret” in the publishing business. Many traditional publishers don’t want it well known that such business arrangements can be made outside of their traditional editorial decisions. That’s because an author must still meet all their other editorial criteria…

In this day of high priced books and new technology, public libraries are an invaluable resource for authors as well as readers in general. I sometimes think my local library, the Tompkins County Public Library is beyond compare, but I constantly run into articles and posts by people around the country, around the world, who love their libraries just as much. For an author, a library can be a quiet place to work. Computers are usually available, both with internet access and with Word software. If you buy a thumb drive, you can instantly upload your work, add to it or edit, and even print it off at the library. There are also just large desks to spread your work out on, to bring your own computer (free wifi is also available.) There are free study rooms if you need a place for a meeting or discussion, but sometimes being out in the open, in quiet and yet with other people around can keep you from feeling too cut off from humanity. Most libraries have a space to use for author readings. Sometimes a fee may be charged, but sometimes the library will sponsor (and advertise) the reading. Usually there is a specific person who organizes community/author events, and it’s worth a call (or email) to find out who that might be. A reading in your local library is likely to draw more people than in a stranger’s town, and is a good way to “handsell” your book. A library…