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Dec 13 – Dec 19, 2010 Edition Godwin’s New Publishing Imprint First to Use Powered by Amazon Program SEATTLE/AUTHORLINK NEWS/Dec 13, 2010 — International-bestselling author Seth Godin and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) late last week announced that Godin’s new publishing imprint “The Domino Project” will publish an initial list of six titles using Amazon’s new “Powered By Amazon” publishing program. Powered by Amazon enables authors to use Amazon’s global distribution, multiple format production capabilities, including print, audio and digital, as well as Amazon’s personalized, targeted marketing reach. (Authorlink Editors Note: In most cases Amazon requires an exclusive contract with authors for these services, meaning authors are prohibited from selling their ebooks anywhere else).
Godin will serve as the lead writer, creative director and instigator for a series of “Idea Manifestos” under his new imprint, The Domino Project, which will include books by other bestselling authors, entrepreneurs and thought leaders. These books will be made available for sale in print editions via Amazon.com and as audiobooks via Amazon.com and Audible.com, at bookstores nationwide and as e-books exclusively in the Kindle Store (www.amazon.com/kindlestore).
“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to break ground and help define what a new publishing model can become,” said Godin. “We all know that ideas that spread win, and this new publishing house will enable my colleagues and me to create, write and spread ideas that matter. At the same time, we can leverage Amazon’s strength in what they do best: fulfill to a global audience, across all formats, and help me reach my core audience while increasing discovery among brand new readers. A book that isn’t read doesn’t do anyone any good, and too often, the structure of the book publishing industry gets in the way of books reaching people who can benefit from them. Amazon knows what to do to help these books get read.”
“Our goal with Powered by Amazon is to give authors like Seth full creative and editorial control while offering turnkey support for their publishing vision – from distribution to tailored marketing that simply works in getting books out in all formats to customers quickly, efficiently and globally,” said Russ Grandinetti, Vice President, Kindle Content. “We’re proud to have Seth’s ‘Idea Manifestos’ as the first books in this program.” (Authorlink Editors Note: It appears that Amazon is trying to squeeze both publishers and agents entirely out of the market with a number of author-direct programs. There is much debate over whether authors will benefit in the long run).
Interested readers can sign up for free updates at www.TheDominoProject.com. Included with the updates will be announcements of free Kindle books and updates about other exclusive content once the books are published in early 2011. Print and audio editions will be available on Amazon.com’s global sites, as well as at bookstores nationwide. Additionally, audio editions will be available on Audible.com. Like all Kindle books, these “Idea Manifestos” are Buy Once, Read Everywhere: Kindle customers can purchase these books and read them on the $139 third-generation Kindle device with new high-contrast Pearl e-Ink, on iPads, iPod touches, iPhones, Macs, PCs, Blackberrys and Android-based devices. Powered by Amazon is a brand for titles published by Amazon Content Services LLC.
Seth Godin has written 12 books – all bestsellers – that have been translated into more than 30 languages. He has long been a provocative proponent of changing the way books are created and marketed. Godin writes about the post-industrial revolution, the way ideas spread, marketing, quitting, leadership and most of all, changing everything. American Way Magazine calls him, “America’s Greatest Marketer,” and his blog is among the most popular in the world written by a single individual. An entrepreneur since the age of 16, he founded Yoyodyne, his first internet company, which was acquired by Yahoo! in 1998. It pioneered the use of ethical direct mail online, something Seth calls Permission Marketing. He was VP of Direct Marketing at Yahoo! for a year. His latest company, Squidoo.com, is ranked among the top 90 sites in the U.S. (by traffic) by Quantcast. It allows anyone to build a page about any topic you’re passionate about. The site raises money for charity and pays royalties to its million plus members.
