On July 1, 2014, new Canadian anti-spam legislation (CASL) came into effect that restricts the use of email, text messages, and instant messages for commercial purposes. Businesses now need consent to send electronic commercial messages to individuals.
There has been much debate over the ebook pricing dispute that’s emerged between retail giant Amazon and Hachette, a large multinational publisher. The issue could have enduring and serious consequences for the industry, and the stakes feel high.
Stephen King says in his memoir, On Writing: “Write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open. Your stuff starts out being just for you, in other words, but then it goes out.” He meant that you should think about your reader when you’re revising your manuscript.
Yesterday we attended a thought-provoking talk by an excellent speaker: Darren Dahl, Senior Associate Dean of Faculty and professor of marketing and behavioural science at UBC’s Sauder School of Business. The event was hosted by the Professional Women’s Network, and it was called, “what’s the point of creativity?” Darren addressed the role of creativity in business: why it’s important, how it can lead to innovation and how it can push us to do things we never previously dreamed of doing.
At this time of year, writers across Canada are scrambling to organize their receipts and invoices before filing their income taxes. Maybe some of you are kicking yourselves for not being better organized, or you’re wondering if you have a handle on your finances.
A pervasive characteristic of the digital shift in publishing is the attempt to connect directly with readers. Every publisher, and every self-publishing author, is urged to consider carefully not only who their target readers are, but also how to reach them directly.
For years now, niche bookstores (specializing in mystery, sci-fi, kids’ books, etc.) have been seen as better positioned than most indie bookstores to survive the changing book retail landscape. In a piece about the upcoming closures of Oscar’s Art Books and Toronto’s Cookbook Store, we write about whether niche stores are still the future.
When we launched Page Two, we crafted our mandate carefully. We wanted to attract writers of upmarket, accessible non-fiction that challenges current conceptions. We love working with authors who are entrepreneurs and innovators in their fields; people who have big, new ideas to express.
You’ve been offered your first book deal, for your novel. Congratulations! Now that you’re looking at the publisher’s draft contract, you’re concerned because it includes an option clause, requiring you to send your next manuscript to this company too.
A friend recently attended a lecture given by a well-known Canadian novelist who stated that it’s virtually impossible to earn a living writing books. It was not a surprising statement to make, but coming from this particular author – an award-winning novelist with a significant profile in Canada and abroad – it was jarring to many in the audience.
You’ve probably heard of David Chilton, author of The Wealthy Barber. Maybe also Janet and Greta Podleski, authors of the Looneyspoons cookbooks. But have you heard of their publishers, Financial Awareness Corp.
The holidays are approaching, and we’ve got gift-giving on the brain. We’re thinking about writers and what’s on their wish lists. And we’re thinking about what we want most for the writers we support. In the spirit of holiday cheer and New Year’s wishes, here is Page Two’s adaptation of The Twelve Days of Christmas:
