There are three important elements of a novel. The story is only one of them. The other two are about connecting readers to that story: the cover, and the title. 

Just as in fashion, book titles have trends. Titles are a contentious subject for fiction writers; most publishing contracts have a clause stipulating that the author’s wishes will be considered, but the publisher has ultimate authority over what the book will be called. Unless you’re a mega best-seller with a lot of clout, chances are your agent, editor, or the marketing department will make the final decision on the title. Sometimes the author gets it right the first time (and choosing a good title is a topic for another blog post) but too many books now are victims of obvious marketing-speak. 

The past year has been exhilarating for writers, readers, and independent publishers. On a tidal wave of new e-reader technology and the increasing popularity of Kindles and iPads, the publishing industry—once a staid, tradition-bound sector—is now experiencing the kind of upheaval we’re used to hearing about in music, film, and quantum physics.

Here are some of the year’s biggest stories in independent publishing.

There are all sorts of reasons we love ebooks at The Editorial Department. We appreciate the fact that soaring ebook sales represent one real bright spot in an otherwise gloomy publishing economy. It's also very encouraging to see part of this remarkable upswing coming from publishers recognizing what ebooks can do for their authors whose books are no longer available in hardcopy.

It wasn't so long ago that once a book went out of print, a reader's only resource was a library or a used book store. All too often it seems that only the most famous authors--the Stephen Kings and JK Rowlings--have most of their catalog available and in print. The rest of us are at the mercy of sales numbers and limited print runs. But thanks to ebooks, that's all changing, and it's truly a win/win situation for writers and their publishers.

One of our favorite cases in point comes from a client of ours named Ann Brandt, whose original path to publication with HarperCollins in 1999 was harrowing as it was thrilling.

Her debut novel, Crowfoot Ridge, tells the story of a remarkable journey of courage and self discovery as a woman trapped in a loveless marriage and a life she can no longer stand confronts the darkest secrets of her past and reconnects with a life she never should have left behind. Crowfoot Ridge is a beautiful, moving novel that, sadly, has been out of print for quite some time. But now it's been given a well-deserved new life as a September, 2010 ebook release from HarperCollins.

To celebrate her return to print, we'd like to share Ann's story with you, in her own words. Like most published authors, her story is one of persistence, patience, and the unflagging dedication it takes to bring a book to fruition. We were delighted to be a part of Ann's creative journey and are thrilled her story is once again available to old and new fans.

First of all, if you're interested in the e-book revolution and haven't already read Ken Auletta's April 26th New Yorker article, Publish or Perish: Can the iPad topple the Kindle, and save the book business? you might want to check it out. It's a standout piece on an often-discussed topic that really puts Apple and Amazon.com's role in the e-book revolution into interesting perspective.

One thing I found particularly interesting about the article was its exploration of some of the stats and financial figures that attest to the speed with which e-books are gaining traction in the book marketplace.

A few highlights: