YA

If you are interested in publishing with Nimble Books, read these pages first:

1. What is a “nimble book”? – briefly, it is 32-120 pp, 8.5 x 10, color interior, 7,000 to 40,000 words with >= 10 full-page images.
2. The Nimble Books Standard Contract,
3. Books in Print & Forthcoming Books.
4. The Nimble Books Marketing Playbook v 3.0.

The business model is nimble, too: no inventory, no advances, no returns, better royalties. It’s the wave of the future because it fixes a lot of things that are broken with traditional publishing. HarperCollins recently started testing something similar.

Proposals for “Nimble” format books should be submitted via the form on that page.

Once you are writing a book for us, don’t forget to consult the Nimble Books Style Manual.

Questions?

William F. Buckley Jr. Is Dead at 82 - New York Times

William F. Buckley Jr., who marshaled polysyllabic exuberance, famously arched eyebrows and a refined, perspicacious mind to elevate conservatism to the center of American political discourse, died Wednesday at his home in Stamford, Conn.

A loss for literacy. Of all his books, the one I’d most like for my personal collection is a first edition of God and Man at Yale.

After much experimentation with formats, page lengths, and styles over the past few years, we think we have found a “sweet spot” that delivers good value for money.

This new format for “nimble” books is color interior, 32 to 120 pages long, 8 x 10. For examples, visit the Nimble Books store. (I should add that we are entirely willing to entertain proposals for “traditional” format books.)

The price to the customer varies with page length, but we use a pricing algorithm that results in author compensation of about $3 per book. (Here is our standard contract).  Of course, sales vary from book to book, so  royalties do too.

The manuscript should be 7,000 to 40,000 words long minus approximately 400 words for each image. Excluding the front and back matter, that works out to 23 to 111 pages for the body of the manuscript (including images, which are typically presented in full-page format). The sad truth is that many (if not) most full-length books today are padded. Sometimes it can be more artistically effective to work within constraints.

Images must be 72dpi resolution or greater; color, if at all possible; and provided with either explicit permission to use from the owner or with a strong “no copyright” rationale.

To be clear, the availability of color images is not a requirement; it’s a nice-to-have. This format does work with straight text or with B&W illustrations, but color helps differentiate the book and add value for the customer.

The “content package” that seems to motivate purchase best is a substantial number of beautiful images plus pointed, insightful commentary on a topic that is attractive to enthusiasts.

These are some of our series and titles (current and planned):

• COOL AIRCRAFT — the X-47
• COOL MAPS — Afghanistan, Baghdad, Cuba, France, France’s Overseas Territories, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq …
• COOL SCIENCE — Our Colorful Moon, Our Splendid Sun
• COOL SHIPS — CVN-68 Nimitz, CVN-69 Dwight D. Eisenhower, CVN-70 Carl Vinson, CVN-76 Ronald Reagan, CVN-77 George H.W. Bush, CVN-78 Gerald R. Ford, DDG-81 Winston S. Churchill, SSN-23 Jimmy Carter
• CURRENT AFFAIRS – Sovereign Wealth Funds, Should Barack Obama Be President?
• MILITARY HISTORY — Borodino: Why It Matters Today; BB-67 MONTANA, U.S. Navy Battleship: Why She Matters Today
• POPULAR CULTURE– The Solomon Key and Beyond, Reread THE DEATHLY HALLOWS Today, The New Harry Potter Quiz Book
• TECH FUN — Cool Web Graphics

Ideas for other topics are quite welcome.

The important thing to understand about the financial side is that this is micropublishing. I will be quite happy with a book that sells 10 copies a month. This is not a way to get rich; I would suggest that you think about it more like adding a revenue stream to your blog. By that measure this approach stacks up pretty well. Each book purchased (anywhere in the world) is like a $3 ad click. There are no fees to the author, ever, and we bear all costs of publication.

Incidentally, I have no objection if you wish to compose your book as a series of blog entries, then turn a manuscript over to me for “nimble” publication. Our standard contract gives Nimble exclusive rights to publication in book form, but all other rights are reserved to the author.

This format should work for you if:

• You have pointed, interesting text in hand that you want to “repurpose” or try out in print, or
• You have beautiful color photos or art in hand, or
• You pick a topic that is easily illustrated with high-quality public domain images (e.g. space, navy ships, history before 1922)

and …

• You have a blog or some sort of platform that gives you the ability to drive traffic or…
• You pick a topic that is keyword-friendly or …
• You pick a topic that is beloved by enthusiasts.

Our Nimble Books Marketing Playbook provides advice on how to maximize your online sales.

Submit a Proposal for a Nimble Book

1. Your Name(required)
2. Email(valid email required)
3. Website
4. Proposal Title
5. Book Series Cool Aircraft Cool Maps Cool Science Cool Ships Current Affairs Military History Popular Culture Tech Fun Other
6. Message
7. Sample chapters or book proposal

 

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Dear readers,

Finally, some real news about THE SOLOMON KEY.  According to the publisher, quoted in today's Wall Street Journal, the release date has been set -- but it is a secret.   Which is progress!  There was no release date at all before.  There's no new news about the content of the book (or any confirmation of the title), but the thrust still seems to be that the book will be set in Washington, D.C. and focus on those wacky Freemason Founding Fathers.

I brought out my SOLOMON KEY pre-book/meta-book in 2005 (!)

  "The Solomon Key" and Beyond: DIGITAL FORTESS, ANGELS & DEMONS, DECEPTION POINT, THE DA VINCI CODE, and more ... 

and I have to say it has stood the test of time quite well.  It has already made a pretty healthy profit, and among my forty titles in print ranks sixth in lifetime revenue per month.

The content is still sound because  book is far less speculative than most efforts in the pre-book genre.  I cover Brown's entire oeuvre, and I include a detailed analysis of Dan Brown's work habits and narrative strategies, but I didn't think it wise to go on speculative excursions into the occult and Freemasonry before seeing the published books.  I stick closely to what Brown and his publishers have actually said about the book. Judge for yourself if you like my approach: take a look at the Table of Contents in Search Inside the Book mode.

I've gotten better at covers since I published this book, but I'm reasonably satisfied with the dominant cover image: Kryptos in the CIA courtyard is still a pretty darned cool piece of Washington architecture, and  it's neat to look at and learn about.  I would probably use a different font for the title type. Although the cover colors look clunky, they are keyed off the colors used inTHE DA VINCI CODE, so I don't think there was a principled basis for a better choice.

I will update this book when THE SOLOMON KEY finally comes out, but I am not sure exactly what mechanism I will use -- I may update this edition, or I may issue a separate thinner paperback.  Either way, I will provide a PDF softcopy to previous purchasers, as stated in the book. (Simply send me proof of purchase using the email address in the book).

I will update this post as publication nears.  Until then, enjoy the anticipation!

Cordially,

Fred Zimmerman
Publisher, Nimble Books LLC

Finally, some real news about THE SOLOMON KEY. According to the publisher, quoted in today’s Wall Street Journal, the release date has been set — but it is a secret. Which is progress! There was no release date at all before. There’s no new news about the content of the book (or any confirmation of the title), but the thrust still seems to be that the book will be set in Washington, D.C. and focus on those wacky Freemason Founding Fathers.

I brought out my SOLOMON KEY pre-book/meta-book in 2005 (!)

and I have to say it has stood the test of time quite well. It has already made a pretty healthy profit, and among my forty titles in print ranks sixth in lifetime revenue per month.

The content is still sound because book is far less speculative than most efforts in the pre-book genre. I cover Brown’s entire oeuvre, and I include a detailed analysis of Dan Brown’s work habits and narrative strategies, but I didn’t think it wise to go on speculative excursions into the occult and Freemasonry before seeing the published books. I stick closely to what Brown and his publishers have actually said about the book. Judge for yourself if you like my approach: take a look at the Table of Contents in Search Inside the Book mode.

I’ve gotten better at covers since I published this book, but I’m reasonably satisfied with the dominant cover image: Kryptos in the CIA courtyard is still a pretty darned cool piece of Washington architecture, and it’s neat to look at and learn about. I would probably use a different font for the title type. Although the cover colors look clunky, they are keyed off the colors used in THE DA VINCI CODE, so I don’t think there was a principled basis for a better choice.

I will update this book when THE SOLOMON KEY finally comes out, but I am not sure exactly what mechanism I will use — I may update this edition, or I may issue a separate thinner paperback. Either way, I will provide a PDF softcopy to previous purchasers, as stated in the book. (Simply send me proof of purchase using the email address in the book).

I will update this post as publication nears. Until then, enjoy the anticipation!

Cordially,

Fred Zimmerman
Publisher, Nimble Books LLC

Garner named West Virginian of the Year - Yahoo! News

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Actress Jennifer Garner has been honored as the 2007 West Virginian of the Year by her hometown newspaper.
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The Sunday Gazette-Mail says it chose Garner for her dedication, hard work and service as an ambassador and role model for West Virginia.

Rich Rodriguez wasn’t available?

Technorati Tags: jennifer garner, RichRod, OurRod, Michigan

wfzimmerman's review: "I was absolutely thrilled when this arrived the evening before I was leaving on a three-day business trip. What perfect timing! What a splendid antidote to airport boredom! It did the job, too, as my outbound trip was terrific. I finished reading the book in the hotel room the first night. Unfortunately, I didn't have any other new Pratchetts to read on the flight home, which was horrendous with a two-hour runway delay followed by a turbulent flight. The second in the Moist von Lipwig series is very good Pratchett, perhaps not quite his best but still very enjoyable. The protagonists' gf Adora Belle spends too much time off-screen, and the villain is too delusional to be quite as frightening as possible. Must reading for Pratchett fans, but not the book to start with."
Doubleday (2007), Hardcover, 352 pages
tags: first UK edition, collecting author's complete works, Pratchett, Discworld, fantasy, economics

wfzimmerman's review: "I was absolutely thrilled when this arrived the evening before I was leaving on a three-day business trip. What perfect timing! What a splendid antidote to airport boredom! It did the job, too, as my outbound trip was terrific. I finished reading the book in the hotel room the first night. Unfortunately, I didn't have any other new Pratchetts to read on the flight home, which was horrendous with a two-hour runway delay followed by a turbulent flight. The second in the Moist von Lipwig series is very good Pratchett, perhaps not quite his best but still very enjoyable. The protagonists' gf Adora Belle spends too much time off-screen, and the villain is too delusional to be quite as frightening as possible. Must reading for Pratchett fans, but not the book to start with."
Doubleday (2007), Hardcover, 352 pages
tags: first UK edition, collecting author's complete works, Pratchett, Discworld, fantasy, economics

Discovery Channel :: News - Earth :: Arctic Sea Ice Shrinks to New Low

Aug. 17, 2007 — There was less sea ice in the Arctic on Friday than ever before on record, and the melting is continuing, the National Snow and Ice Data Center reported.

“Today is a historic day,” said Mark Serreze, a senior research scientist at the center. “This is the least sea ice we’ve ever seen in the satellite record and we have another month left to go in the melt season this year.”

Yay! It’s getting warmer. A previously unusable section of the Earth’s surface is becoming habitable… The vast riches of the Arctic seafloor are coming within reach … The fabled Northwest Passage is becoming a reality … The polar bear threat is diminishing …

Changes are opportunities too.

David Shayler’s former partner reveals: How the bullying State crushed him | the Daily Mail

I had a ringside seat for the ‘Get Shayler’ operation because I was an MI5 officer at the same time (1991-96) and also his girlfriend and co-campaigner until last year when I ended my relationship with a broken man.

I witnessed first-hand the extraordinary psychological, physical and emotional burden of being a whistleblower when the full power of the secret State is launched against you.

We then both moved to G Branch, the international counter-terrorist division, with David heading the Libyan section.

It was here that he witnessed a catalogue of errors and crimes: the illegal phone-tapping of a prominent Guardian journalist, the failure of MI5 to prevent the bombing of the Israeli embassy in London in July 1994, which resulted in the wrongful conviction of two innocent Palestinians, and the attempted assassination of Colonel Gaddafi of Libya. So we resigned from MI5 after deciding to go public to force an inquiry into the Gaddafi plot.

So these two loons wrecked their lives to protect Gaddafi. Noble, but misguided …