Amazon, the world’s largest e-commerce site is soon going to into big-time publishing. Those who do not know, the premier shopping site has already been in the publishing business for several years. And this time the online retailer is creating a massive ripple in the publishing world with its ambitious expansion plan. The news is that Amazon is wooing top-notch fiction and non-fiction authors to bypass their publishers. This would not only place Amazon distinctively and fiercely in competition with New York’s publishing houses that have been its suppliers for years, but would also make the services of critics and literary agents redundant.
To give its flagship line a head start, the leading online company has hired the services of Laurence Kirshbaum, the ex-New York editor as the publishing head of Amazon. It has signed up an undisclosed deal with the noted self- help guru Timothy Ferriss in August this year. The inclusion of 34-year-old Timothy Ferriss as the first publishing writer in the leading company is seen as a natural choice as Ferriss is adept in new media (technology) as well as an expert in publishing himself. The writer is very much hopeful about the success of the technology company moving into publishing business in a big way. In mid-October, Amazon has also reportedly paid Penny Marshall, a noted actress and director a whopping $800,000 for her memoir.
Currently, Amazon is set to publish 122 books in various genres in the fall of 2011 – from e-book to physical form. Hailed for its deep pockets and unmatched distribution system, Amazon is trying to play down its goal to carve out a niche market. But traditional publishers are quite nervous about the new development as they have already been feeling the heat of rise in e-book sales for some time. But the new-age writers are not complaining. They seemed to be in a stronger bargaining position with their traditional publishers, at least for the time being. And so are the customers. For them book reading cannot get more interesting from the comfort of their home. Getting hands on just-launched books is like enjoying freshly baked cake straight from the oven!
To give its flagship line a head start, the leading online company has hired the services of Laurence Kirshbaum, the ex-New York editor as the publishing head of Amazon. It has signed up an undisclosed deal with the noted self- help guru Timothy Ferriss in August this year. The inclusion of 34-year-old Timothy Ferriss as the first publishing writer in the leading company is seen as a natural choice as Ferriss is adept in new media (technology) as well as an expert in publishing himself. The writer is very much hopeful about the success of the technology company moving into publishing business in a big way. In mid-October, Amazon has also reportedly paid Penny Marshall, a noted actress and director a whopping $800,000 for her memoir.
Currently, Amazon is set to publish 122 books in various genres in the fall of 2011 – from e-book to physical form. Hailed for its deep pockets and unmatched distribution system, Amazon is trying to play down its goal to carve out a niche market. But traditional publishers are quite nervous about the new development as they have already been feeling the heat of rise in e-book sales for some time. But the new-age writers are not complaining. They seemed to be in a stronger bargaining position with their traditional publishers, at least for the time being. And so are the customers. For them book reading cannot get more interesting from the comfort of their home. Getting hands on just-launched books is like enjoying freshly baked cake straight from the oven!
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