First Chapter Plus, just launched online, allows authors to list their books with first chapter previews for readers, and it provides an e-catalog so bookstores, librarians, reviewers, and bloggers can make educated and easy book-buying decisions.
Austin, TX —First Chapter Plus replaces paper book catalogs with quick and easy ordering information and full chapter previews beyond what any paper catalog could ever do. Its new e-catalog is what the twenty-first century publishing world has long needed.
First Chapter Plus is on a mission to tell libraries, independent bookstores, the media, readers, other writers, bloggers, and reviewers about the latest and greatest books just published or about to be published. Through its easy to use website www.FirstChapterPlus.com and its free monthly e-catalog, First Chapter Plus provides listings of new books, their first chapters to preview, and direct links to Amazon so readers can immediately order the books they are confident they will enjoy.
Irene Watson, creator of First Chapter Plus, says of the site’s origins, “We polled, studied, asked, investigated...and then we thought about the responses before we moved forward. We are filling a need of librarians and bookstore owners! Yes, they want this e-catalog—they’ve told us so through our opt-in campaign. And, they are super-excited about being able to read the First Chapter of so many new books.”
That excitement is backed up with facts. Already, the statistics of subscribers to First Chapter Plus’ e-catalog are astonishingly impressive:
• 20,000 + public librarians in the United States
• 3,300 + independent bookstores in the United States
• 300 + media columnists and editors in the United States
• 11,000 + readers, writers, and bloggers worldwide
The numbers make clear that First Chapter Plus has hit upon a need it is ready to fulfill.
Just since its website launch on April 1, 2010, First Chapter Plus has been inundated with requests by authors to be listed. Frena Gray-Davidson, author of “Alzheimer’s 911,” is thrilled with the results: “My Amazon listing number has gone from about 250,000 to 66,000, which is the best I’ve ever had on Amazon so far, and this has only happened in the last few days, so clearly people are buying my book from your listing. Thank you so much.”
About First Chapter Plus
First Chapter Plus is the latest innovative idea of Irene Watson, author, literary agent, and owner of Reader Views, a book review service based in Austin, TX. Reader Views has been reviewing books and offering author publicity services since 2006. Because of her central role in the book world, Watson has listened to authors, reviewers, bloggers, publishers, bookstore owners, and librarians continually express what they need—a fast, easy, yet sophisticated and technologically cutting-edge means to promote and/or order books. The early success of First Chapter Plus suggests that Watson’s website and e-catalog concept is her most ingenious to date.
To list books at First Chapter Plus or to sign up for the free monthly e-catalog, visit http://www.firstchapterplus.com/.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Teaser Tuesday
We've got some great Teasers today, come check them out!
"Experts disagree as to whether smoking causes depression or depression causes people to smoke. However, they do agree that smokers are much more likely than nonsmokers to have a history of depression." p. 173
"Even though Michael was trapped on the sofa for several days, Gracie managed to evade any reference to the charged kiss they'd shared. She didn't know how to deal with it herself, let alone talk about it with him."
"Experts disagree as to whether smoking causes depression or depression causes people to smoke. However, they do agree that smokers are much more likely than nonsmokers to have a history of depression." p. 173
"Even though Michael was trapped on the sofa for several days, Gracie managed to evade any reference to the charged kiss they'd shared. She didn't know how to deal with it herself, let alone talk about it with him."
Monday, April 26, 2010
Reviewer's Tip - Don't Do This!
Here's another tip from the "Don't Do This" pile - and yes, this was something that was actually done. When preparing your book's back cover, don't write - "For review, see www.joesmithbookreviews.com" if you haven't already received a review from Joe Smith Book Reviews!!! It's common practice to put a review quote on the back cover that was received prior to the book's publication (and a great idea). But to print a review site's url on the back cover, not knowing what kind of review the book will get (assuming it will even get a review) is a bad idea. In the case we recently had, the book in question had serious editorial problems and we were unable to give a positive review. The author should never have listed our site, or any site for that matter, on her back cover prior to getting the review.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Friday Finds
Come on everybody, check out Feathered Quill's latest books in review, you know you wanna!
Based upon Availability: A Novel
Based upon Availability: A Novel
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Teaser Tuesday!
Welcome to the latest edition of Teaser Tuesday!
"Unless you can connect with others in some tangible form, you cannot serve or help them. As a good steward, you must show the ability to empathize with others."
"I've mentioned that writing a whole eBook can be a daunting task, and I have included a chapter full of techniques and advice that will help you make sure you get to the end of your own personal journey. That's coming up next."
"Our pilot aired on Saturday, March 30th, 1974 and I guess we were a hit, because NBC ordered 24 episodes of 'Little House on the Prairie' for the coming season. Quicker than I could say "Mickey Mouse," I was bounced off Dopey Drive at Disney and into Walnut Grove and the Little House."
"A lady does not smoke, ride astride, fence, or attend duels - nor does she fire a pistol or gamble at a gentleman's club. But if Lady Calpurnia Hartwell isn't careful, she'll break the most important rule of all…and fall desperately in love with a rake."
"My Crappy Little Kitchen experiences molded me into a better chef and a better person than I was before, and your CLK experiences can do the same for you."
"Unless you can connect with others in some tangible form, you cannot serve or help them. As a good steward, you must show the ability to empathize with others."
"I've mentioned that writing a whole eBook can be a daunting task, and I have included a chapter full of techniques and advice that will help you make sure you get to the end of your own personal journey. That's coming up next."
"Our pilot aired on Saturday, March 30th, 1974 and I guess we were a hit, because NBC ordered 24 episodes of 'Little House on the Prairie' for the coming season. Quicker than I could say "Mickey Mouse," I was bounced off Dopey Drive at Disney and into Walnut Grove and the Little House."
"A lady does not smoke, ride astride, fence, or attend duels - nor does she fire a pistol or gamble at a gentleman's club. But if Lady Calpurnia Hartwell isn't careful, she'll break the most important rule of all…and fall desperately in love with a rake."
"My Crappy Little Kitchen experiences molded me into a better chef and a better person than I was before, and your CLK experiences can do the same for you."
Another Lawsuit from Amazon
Amazon Sues North Carolina over Demand for Customer Records
by Jim Milliot -- Reprinted with permission of Publishers Weekly
Amazon has filed a lawsuit in federal court in Seattle against the North Carolina Department of Revenue charging that its demand that Amazon turn over the names and addresses of all residents who bought anything from the e-tailer since 2003 is an invasion of privacy and a violation of the First Amendment. The request by North Carolina is part of that state's efforts to collect sales tax on items purchased by North Carolina residents from Amazon. In the complaint, Amazon also said North Carolina is demanding it turn over records of what each customer purchased and how much they paid. When North Carolina first announced its plans to collect sales tax from online retailers, Amazon closed down its affiliates program in the state, arguing that without that program the state had no nexus to collect sales tax.
In the complaint Amazon says it must either comply with the information request from North Carolina "and violate the privacy and First Amendment rights of Amazon and its North Carolina customers, or refuse to comply with a request from a state agency that has stated its intention to issue an administrative summons." Amazon further argued that the North Carolina tax collectors have no need "to know the identities and other personal information linking specific customers with any purchase, much less purchases of books, movies, music and other expressive works."
Brick-and-mortar stores have long lobbied for states to collect sales tax from online retailers, arguing that not doing so gives all e-tailers an unfair pricing advantage. Retailers, however, have also long championed protecting the privacy rights of customers, particularly buyers of books and other content-based material. Chris Finan, head of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, said the demand by North Carolina "is clearly a right to privacy issue." If North Carolina were successful "it would have a terrible chilling affect" on what people could comfortably buy, Finan said. He noted that Amazon has provided North Carolina with lots of information short of personal data and that "there is simply no justification for demanding to know who bought what."
The lawsuit, however, "doesn't impact one way or another on whether Amazon should pay its taxes," Finan added. He explained that often after requesting private information states tend to back down, and Finan said he hopes that after looking at the demand again, North Carolina will withdraw its request. If the case does go to trial, Finan said, ABFFE would likely "put our oar in the water" in support of Amazon.
by Jim Milliot -- Reprinted with permission of Publishers Weekly
Amazon has filed a lawsuit in federal court in Seattle against the North Carolina Department of Revenue charging that its demand that Amazon turn over the names and addresses of all residents who bought anything from the e-tailer since 2003 is an invasion of privacy and a violation of the First Amendment. The request by North Carolina is part of that state's efforts to collect sales tax on items purchased by North Carolina residents from Amazon. In the complaint, Amazon also said North Carolina is demanding it turn over records of what each customer purchased and how much they paid. When North Carolina first announced its plans to collect sales tax from online retailers, Amazon closed down its affiliates program in the state, arguing that without that program the state had no nexus to collect sales tax.
In the complaint Amazon says it must either comply with the information request from North Carolina "and violate the privacy and First Amendment rights of Amazon and its North Carolina customers, or refuse to comply with a request from a state agency that has stated its intention to issue an administrative summons." Amazon further argued that the North Carolina tax collectors have no need "to know the identities and other personal information linking specific customers with any purchase, much less purchases of books, movies, music and other expressive works."
Brick-and-mortar stores have long lobbied for states to collect sales tax from online retailers, arguing that not doing so gives all e-tailers an unfair pricing advantage. Retailers, however, have also long championed protecting the privacy rights of customers, particularly buyers of books and other content-based material. Chris Finan, head of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, said the demand by North Carolina "is clearly a right to privacy issue." If North Carolina were successful "it would have a terrible chilling affect" on what people could comfortably buy, Finan said. He noted that Amazon has provided North Carolina with lots of information short of personal data and that "there is simply no justification for demanding to know who bought what."
The lawsuit, however, "doesn't impact one way or another on whether Amazon should pay its taxes," Finan added. He explained that often after requesting private information states tend to back down, and Finan said he hopes that after looking at the demand again, North Carolina will withdraw its request. If the case does go to trial, Finan said, ABFFE would likely "put our oar in the water" in support of Amazon.
Monday, April 19, 2010
New Reviews at Feathered Quill
Looking for something good to read? Check out a sampling of our latest reviews:
- Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet By: Stephanie Cowell
- A Parisienne in Chicago: Impressions of the World’s Columbian Exposition By: Madame Léon Grandin
- Wyndano's Cloak By: A.R. Silverberry
- The Cat, the Professor and the Poison: A Cats in Trouble Mystery By: Leann Sweeney
- Flybait’s Lament By: Danny D. Langone
- Lies the Government Told You: Myth, Power, and Deception in American History By: Judge Andrew P. Napolitano
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