What company published your favorite book? Better yet, what company published the book you are currently reading? Chances are, you probably don’t know the answer to either question (I certainly don’t), and if you do, I tip my hat to you!

I came across an article written on The Huffington Post that talks about this very subject. Few people know who publishes the books they read – so don’t feel too bad if you fall into this category. Does it really matter who publishes that book you’re reading?

In the grand scheme of things, I’d say that no, it does not matter. Unless you have a personal bone to pick with a specific publisher and refuse to buy any book from their catalog, you’re not going to pay much attention. The more obvious influences on your choice of reading material is author and genre. For example, I’ve read quite a few books by science fiction writer Kim Stanley Robinson, so if I see he has a new book on the market, I’m more likely to pick it up the next time I’m at Borders. I don’t even know off the top of my head who publishes Robinson’s books.

This is an interesting idea because there’s such a large debate going on over the legitimacy of self-publishers. Some say those authors that publish their own works are only doing so because the failed to get a traditional contract (although not many people are saying this nowadays).

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When most people think of China, they might think of a large communist country that will soon host the Olympic Games. Or they might think of a country that is a growing trade partner with the United States – especially in light of all the recalls of defective products that have been making headlines lately.

One thing people probably don’t think of about China is literature. But thanks in large part to the internet, reading and writing novels has become the chosen hobby of millions of Chinese youth. In fact, according to a recent article published on Wired, the internet is boosting print sales of novels and even the word "novel" is the number one search term on the Chinese search engine Baidu.

"Novel," the top search term on China’s biggest search engine, Baidu, yields thousands of Chinese literature websites. More than 100,000 amateurs shirk mundane duties to publish their tales of fantasy and love in installments on these platforms. A handful of anonymous web authors have seen their pageviews soar into the upper seven digits. When that happens, print publishers come knocking.

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For most of us, fifty years is a long time. In the literary world, if a book is still being read and discussed fifty years later, then it’s probably sliding into the realm of a classic. One of those books is Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. A new version of the infamous novel will be released, and according to reports, this version will be uncut. According to a Yahoo! news article, the new release will be much more revealing:

Now, 50 years on, the tale of disaffected youth struggling to find a place in post-war America is to be re-released in its original form, unedited, cruder and more erotic, and with the real names of Kerouac’s traveling companions restored.

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For those of you who have jumped on the iPhone band wagon, you will soon be able to get read book excerpts from publishing giant HarperCollins. The company announced that it will make book excerpts available via their website.

"Reaching consumers on mobile devices and the Internet is increasingly important for publishers," Brian Murray, president of HarperCollins Publishers Worldwide, said in a statement that noted the publisher has some 10,000 titles already digitized.

While I applaud any and all efforts to get books, whether in print or digital form, out to consumers, I’m not sure how effective a cell phone will be. The biggest problem is reading the small text on such a small screen. Even the iPhone, which boasts a larger screen than most cell phones, would certainly place undue strain on the reader’s eyes. This is the reason why ebooks never caught on on the iPod.

But HarperCollins is moving in the right direction. Maybe I’m wrong and these book excerpts on the iPhone will be a huge success. I hope I am wrong here.

However, if publishers want to reach the masses with digital titles, then they should throw out their dreams of proprietary exclusiveness and collaborate to produce a standard for digital publishing – including a reading device to consume digital products with.

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Cell phones have become an integral part of our lives. They allow us to do everything from text message, surf the internet, check email, play games, take pictures, shoot video, organize our calender, and…oh yeah…make phone calls. But one company is changing the way we shop, with cell phones being the focus point.

According to an article on the Publisher’s Weekly website, a company called ShopText is allowing consumers to buy, among other things, books directly from their phones. When I first read this I was under the false assumption that when you buy a book from your phone, the book is then downloaded to your phone and you must read it from your phone as well – imagine reading War and Peace on that tiny screen!

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Have you ever wondered if well-known, classic authors would be able to get published today? One man attempted to find out for himself. David Lassman tried an experiment where he would send out manuscripts of some of Jane Austen’s most timeless work, with a few minor changes. The experiment’s premise is that in todays publishing world, where blockbusters and marketability are everything, someone like Austen wouldn’t stand a chance of landing a publishing contract. Here’s what happened:

After making only minor changes, he sent off opening chapters and plot synopses to 18 of the UK’s biggest publishers and agents. He was amazed when they all sent the manuscripts back with polite but firm "no-thank-you’s" and almost all failed to spot that he was ripping off one of the world’s most famous literary figures.

Now remember that Jane Austen isn’t only known to the literary elite. And as the article from the Guardian Unlimited points out, her books have withstood the test of time and have sold millions of copies. Not to mention all the movie adaptations made from her writing. Jane Austen is definitely a literary powerhouse.

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I know what you’re thinking: "Another post about Harry Potter?" Yeah, I know. To be honest, now that the final book is out, I promise this will be one of the last Potter posts for a long while.

Whenever a series as popular as Harry Potter hits the reading public, there is bound to be criticism. Not everyone will be a fan – that’s to be expected. But in the case of the Potter series, I haven’t read a lot of criticism at all. Maybe I’m just not paying attention. Maybe I’m reading all the wrong newspapers, magazines and websites. I really don’t know why, but heavy Potter criticism doesn’t seem to be out there.

One thing I have really been interested in, is knowing what academics think of Harry Potter. I’m talking about literary theorists and old grouchy college literature professors. I finally got my wish the other day in my email inbox in one of my many Google Alerts I receive regarding literature.

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A little more than 24-hours from now the newest and final Harry Potter book will be released to the masses. Of course, for some, the book has been released a little too early for the publisher’s taste. I’m not surprised. Given that this is one of the most anticipated book releases of one of the most popular children’s series to ever hit literature, is anyone else really surprised that the book leaked out early?

I’m actually even more surprised at the actions of the publisher, Scholastic. They appear hell-bent on take legal action on anyone who lets the book out early. While many agree with their position, and to a point, so do I. But let’s consider that all the books that were leaked out have been paid for. Let’s also consider it’s a well-known fact that booksellers aren’t going to make a cent off direct sales from the new Potter book. Then where does all that money go? Scholastic, of course!

The publisher doesn’t seem to be losing money on this deal. If a few books slip out early, that’s the price of doing business. The only crime would be if books were somehow stolen, then a lawsuit would be in order. But suing their own customers?

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Paying for services – an old idea
In just about every service-related job, no one thinks twice about paying for services rendered. The price paid can vary, and depends heavily on market forces and what consumers are willing to pay.

What does this have to do with writing and literature?

Even well-published authors suffer
Yesterday a fresh copy of Poets & Writer’s (aff link) magazine arrived at my house. As usual, I spent a good amount of time browsing through it and reading the articles. But one article I came across really caught my eye. The article was written by an author who discussed how hard it is for him to get paid for his various "services" he provides (book readings, contributing to various publications, etc).

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JK Rowling, Stephen King – these names usually bring up images of bestselling authors who seem to have the publishing world wrapped around their fingers. Yet many, also consider the two the "crack" of the literary world, or at the very least, comparable to a gateway drug.

While many criticize Potter and King because they appear to be able to sell an unnatural amount of books, there is no doubt that because of the two, countless people have taken up reading and never looked back.

Melissa Fryer, who is the art editor for the Nanaimo News Bulletin, became hooked on reading after picking up a Stephen King book:

I became a serious reader of more adult-oriented books at about Grade 6, giving up Jessica, Elizabeth and their world at Sweet Valley High. I love the feel of new books; the smooth cover and tightly packed pages, so when I saw Four Past Midnight in the supermarket, I bought it.

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