Reaching the Reader: Direct-to-Consumer Marketing through New Publishing Partnerships

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.

Taking the Pulse of Canada’s Niche Bookstores

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.

Publishing Doesn’t Need to Be Exclusive

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.

We’re Now Expert Bloggers for Digital Book World

Today we posted our first expert blog for Digital Book World: Canadian Competition Bureau Limits Agency Ebook Pricing. We will be blogging for DBW every few weeks about digital publishing in Canada, and we’ll be sure to share the links here when we do.

How to Limit the Power of the Option Clause in Your Author Contract

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.

Our Client Bruce Sellery Hits #1 on The Globe and Mail Bestseller List

Bruce Sellery, author of The Moolala Guide to Rockin’ Your RRSP, reached #1 on the Globe and Mail bestseller list for self-improvement today. Congratulations to Bruce! We arranged a hybrid deal for Bruce that saw Figure 1 publish his print book into the trade, and Bruce self-publish his ebook and handle special sales of the print book.

Income Potential for Writers (or Why Wallace Stevens Kept His Day Job)

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.

Three Reasons Self-Publishers Should Invent an Imprint Name

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 Author’s Twelve Days of Christmas

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: 

How to Hire a Skilled Editor, and What You’ll Pay

In our last blog post we explained the different stages of editing. This week we’ll explain what a freelance editor costs and how to find a skilled editor. 

From The Tyee: Get Up to Speed on “The New Digital Publishing”

By David Beers

If you thought people have become unwilling to read anything longer than 140 characters, #wowareyouwrong.

Far from dead, books are evolving in exciting directions, and two experts in the new publishing, Jesse Finkelstein and Trena White, can teach you what you need to have your best chance at creating your own best-seller…

Click here to read the full interview.

Who Else is Confused about What Editors Do?

When a reader comments that a book was poorly edited, usually she means she found typos or grammatical errors – the kinds of things a proofreader should catch before a book goes to print. But proofreading is just one level of editing.