Simon Buckingham of Appitalism.com talks about the future of ebooks following the launch of Google eBookstore

This is getting to be a very interesting week in the ebook marketplace, following the launch of Google eBookstore on Monday.

How the new eBookstore will shape the future of ebooks is still unknown, but we (as everyone else) are still very curious about it, so we asked one of the experts in the ebook industry, Simon Buckingham, founder and CEO of Appitalism.com to share with us his thoughts on the new eBookstore and its influence on the market.

Hello Simon. What do you think would be the most significant influence of the new Google eBookstore on the ebook marketplace?
While the Nook, Sony Reader and other e-readers have been moderately successful, Amazon has largely dominated the ebook marketplace. Is Amazon's ebook model the best one for consumers? We don't know because Amazon and the Kindle have not faced stiff competition. If successful, the most significant accomplishment of Google Editions will be that it brought healthy competition to the ebook marketplace.

You mention that "Google Editions, like Appitalism, is platform and device agnostic and that freedom gives consumers access to their e-books from any device with internet connectivity", which is true to all devices except the Kindle - who do you think it hurts more - Amazon or Google?
This is not necessarily an either/or scenario. If you look to the mobile market, both the iPhone and the devices powered by Android are wildly successful. Similarly, I think there is enough space in the future of ebooks for both Amazon and Google to co-exist amidst healthy competition.

What will be the influence of Google eBookstore on online sellers such as Appitalism?
If Google eBookstore is successful, consumers will increasingly feel more comfortable purchasing ebooks from a wide variety of sites, including Appitalism. The ebook marketplace is expanding rapidly and bringing new consumers into the fold is beneficial for all ebook retailers

Do you think the collaboration of Google with the independent bookstores can help them to thrive? Can it help them to transform their brick and mortar bookstores back into an asset?
The independent bookstores certainly feel like in aggregate they can leverage Google's resources to help them compete with larger chain stores and I am inclined to agree. Independent bookstores are closing across the country, so it is wise for them to innovate using Google. They have little to lose and everything to gain. Google eBookstore is not a panacea however, and I'm leery of anyone who thinks Google eBookstore alone will restore the health and viability of local independent bookstores.

What will be considered by Google a success here? How do they plan to achieve it?
The first mark that must be met is sustainability and viability. Google's model is untested and there are plenty of pitfalls, including publishers unwilling to agree to Google's term for example. It doesn't have to be pretty, but if Google can simply keep Google eBookstore functional and even somewhat competitive over the next 12 months, they have the resources to help the venture grow quickly. As with all things Google, they plan to achieve success by employing the smartest people and having a ton of funding.

In all, is last Monday going to be remembered as a milestone in the book marketplace or just as a day when another new online bookstore was launched?
Google Editions was launched without much pump, but if this model proves to be successful then I think it would help revolutionize digital content and truly bring it to the masses. In retrospect this launch could be Google's most important - for revolutionizing the way we acquire and read content.

Will you buy ebooks at the new store?
Of course! As an entrepreneur and CEO of a digital content provider, I would be remiss not to test out Google's new offering. I am interested to see the user interface, the ease of use and plenty of other aspects of the business.

Why would a consumer choose Appitalism for their ebooks?
Just like you don't shop at Costco because you want Coke, you wouldn't shop at Appitalism just because you want ebooks. I want consumers to choose to come to Appitalism for ebooks, music, apps and digital content because they know that across the board we deliver the best possible value and service.

What types of ebooks are available on Appitalism?
Appitalism carries content from all of the major publishers as well as a large number of independent publishers. Our catalog has all the classic books you would expect and the library is regularly updated with the newest releases. Our books are all in ePub format and so can be read on almost any device (excluding the Kindle).

Thank you, Simon!

About Appitalism.com:

Appitalism.com combines a social community with an online store, enabling consumers to discover, discuss and download digital media from a catalog of over ten million premium apps, songs, books, games and videos compatible with a broad range of digital devices including smartphones, tablets, PCs and eBook readers. Simply put, there is no better way to discover and download apps and digital content than on Appitalism.com

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading!

Green book of the week: Green Morality by Edward Flattau (including an interview with the author)

This week our green book is "Green Morality: Mankind's Role in Environmental Responsibility" by the renowned environmental columnist Edward Flattau.

This book, with a title that looks more relevant to our life than ever, will be released next month, but was already described as “an easy-to-read must-read for all who love our planet and want to know the truth about what is happening to it." (Alex Shoumatoff, contributing editor and veteran environmental correspondent)

Published by Los Angeles independent social issues press, The Way Things Are Publications, “Green Morality” analyzes manmade global environmental atrocities supporting a theme that environmentalism must become a universal moral imperative to avert long-term environmental destruction. Flattau discusses topics ranging from corporate and industrial environmental immorality to failed public policies, and corrupt or immobilized political leaders. The book advocates a re-alignment of modern society’s value system and economic infrastructure in order to avert environmental destruction and create an environmentally and economically sustainable society.

After reading "Green Morality", I find Shoumatoff's description very accurate and I decided to ask the Flattau, who is the nation’s longest running syndicated environmental newspaper columnist with 40 years in the industry and columns in more than 120 daily newspapers, for an interview to learn more about his thought provoking book. Luckily he agreed and I have the pleasure of sharing it with you.

Hello, Ed. What inspired you to write this book?

Frustration at our failure to learn from the lessons of the past. The environmental problems of today are by and large, not new and solutions were developed decades ago. They were frequently not implemented then and the same holds true now. There is also my frustration at the partisan paralysis that has rendered our politicians virtually incapable of meeting their moral obligation to current as well as future generations. It is appalling to see how we are shortchanging future generations.

In the section about "the good", there seems to be a little about technology and a little about personal commitment and individual success stories. Is there really that little good in the larger environmental movement or the politics of sustainability?
Perhaps the most optimistic environmental development is the increased widespread public awareness of the threats to the planet’s ecology. Whether that translates into effective action across the board in time to avert irreversible harm is yet to be determined. Still, as I mentioned in the book, many corporations have become enlightened about incorporating efficiency and sustainability into their operations.

Biomimicry is far more than a passing fad as more and more people in all walks of life realize that to make nature an adversary rather than accomplice is a losing proposition. A voluntary simplicity lifestyle is sprouting up around the nation and there are an estimated 750,000 households off the grid and self-dependent on solar, wind, and other renewable sources of energy. One of the most hopeful trends of all is the greater environmental sensibility of our younger generations, thanks in large part to new progressive curriculums in our educational institutions.

You focus on consumption as a major barrier to upholding our moral imperative of conserving the earth. Changing consumption patterns is considered to be almost an impossible task in the affluent developed world. What do you see as the most important steps on this issue,and how fast do you think it could change.

A crucial step in changing our pattern of conspicuous consumption is to elevate quality over quantity. Durability and a high level of performance should be valued over volume and rapid turnover of possessions. Recycling should be routine and planned obsolescence totally discredited. Conservation should enjoy more prestige than consumption, and frugality should gain favor with the realization that it is not tantamount to deprivation. We are beginning to see this sea change in American society, but to get it up to proper speed, we need political leaders bold enough to show us the way, and up to now, there have been powerful few of those.

How would you suggest addressing the consumption gap in the developing world? isn't there a parallel moral imperative to enable them to catch up with the rest of us? what are some of the ways we could do that and at the same time protect the environment?

Addressing the consumption gap in the developing world will require us to set an example by adopting a sustainable lifestyle that provides the basic comforts of life without destroying the natural resources on which all living things depend. If we provide that existence as a goal, when the developing nations do approach our standard of living, they will spare the earth in the process. Setting an example for them means our placing an emphasis on conservation, quality over quantity, recycling and reuse over planned obsolescence, and health over profit (not in place of profit, mind you). Those values will provide a comfortable standard of living while leaving the earth’s life support system in tact.

What do you hope that your readers will take away from your book?

I hope readers will embrace the moral values referenced in the book not only in words but in actions. I also hope they will be convinced that we do have the capabilities to meet the formidable environmental challenges of the 21^st Century.

You suggest political inaction on environmental issues is inherent to the long term nature of environmental issues because dealing with these issues doesn't offer any immediate results that can be translated to political gains. Other than building up public support for environmental issues, what could be other incentives for politicians to get more involved?

Our politicians could escape the trap of catering to immediate voter gratification by translating future threats into more compelling terms, namely through references to the pocketbook. Identifying environmental consequences of inaction in huge dollar and cents costs rather than scientific abstractions would win public support faster and in greater numbers. Our leaders could also set an example with their own personal behavior.

Could you share your thoughts on the recent BP oil spill? it seems like many of the themes of your book apply here. There is political inaction (at best), corporate greed, and mixed popular debate. Can we really expect corporations like BP to avoid accidents like this one?

The BP spill is a classic case of where health (both human and environmental) should take precedence over profit, and tragically did not. For this moral precept to prevail, there must be strong regulation that is strictly enforced, and hopefully that will be the case in the post BP world. Gulf Coast residents were caught between a rock and a hard place.

Because of jobs, they were beholden to an oil industry that at the same time was destroying their environment (carving up their wetlands with shipping channels). Moreover, the use of oil and gas is a one time proposition, whereas the fisheries and tourism damaged by the spill are infinite sources of income if the natural resources on which they depend are responsibly managed.

Indeed, as much income as the oil industry generates for the Gulf region, tourism and fishing produce more revenue. The way out of this trap for Gulf coast residents is to gradually phase out oil drilling and replace it with renewable energy industries. Louisiana politicians have historically been derelict in diversifying the energy economy, given the handsome largesse that the oil industry has showered on them.

What was some of the feedback you received on the book and is there another in the works?

So far, the reviews have been extremely favorable. For the moment, I am just continuing with environmental commentaries. As far as future books are concerned, it’s possible I might take a crack at how President Obama met his formidable environmental challenges, assuming a compelling story line develops.

Thank you, Ed.

Edward Flattau blogs on The Huffington Post and posts news and updates on Twitter and on Facebook.

The book will be available next month, but you can already pre-order it at http://waythingsarepublications.com/?page_id=84

Disclosure: We received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting Sustainable Reading!

A new toolkit of Moon Willow Press helps publishers and authors who want to green!

Our mission at Eco-Libris is to green up the book industry and make reading more sustainable. Fortunately, we're not alone in this quest.

One of the new forces that is joined us is Moon Willow Press, a Canadian publisher that not only publish books sustainably, but also works to help other publishers to do the same. Last month we updated you that they started a campaign where 33% of the first 100 sales of their first e-book, The Little Big Town, go toward planting trees with Eco-Libris. Already as a result of their campaign, 200 trees are planted with our planting partners.

But that's not all. On April Moon Willow Press published a comprehensive toolkit that "provides backgrounder information for Moon Willow Press’s publishing philosophy, and offers tools for authors, publishers, printers, and others who want to follow responsible practices when using materials from the planet’s remaining forest resources."

This toolkit is a great tool for any publisher or author who wants to learn more about the environmental impacts of books and how they can reduce it. We wanted to learn more about it and conducted an interview with Mary Woodbury, the owner and publisher of Moon Willow Press.

Hello Mary. Can you please tell us about Moon Willow Press?

Hello Mary. Can you please tell us about Moon Willow Press?
Moon Willow Press is just an idea I have had lingering in my head for a long time. I wrote this in the toolkit, but will repeat it here: When I was little, my favorite past-time was sitting beneath a big tree, reading a book. I loved to soak up the big world around me, both imaginatively and intellectually. This picture leaves juxtaposition behind, however, in that nearly four billion trees worldwide are cut down each year for paper -- the same paper used for those lovely books we read.

I love to read, and love books, and wanted to begin publishing, but was faced with the reality that I didn't want to contribute to non-sustainable forestry practices when publishing. I figured I'd follow some models, such as the Green Press Initiative's model of using only either post-consumer paper or FSC-certified paper that I know is coming from responsibly managed and renewable forests. I also wanted to make good books to read. I'm primarily interested in non-fiction that deals with environmental issues. I think it's important to educate the public about what's going on in our world. I also love fiction and poetry, so that will also be a part of my publishing plan.

What brought you to publish the Moon Willow Press Toolkit?

I started working on it as a resource for myself, and then it turned into a big project that I thought would be helpful for other publishers, authors, and presses. I had a lot of information from organizations such as Eco-Libris and many others, and just wanted to combine it all into one place.

The toolkit includes detailed information on the state of forests, especially in Canada - Were surprised of some of the information you found out?

To be honest, as brutal as some environmental facts and figures are, I wasn't too surprised. I was especially moved by how indigenous people who are so dependent on the forest ecosystems in which they live are treated so badly and have their resources and livelihoods turned upside-down. I've always had a soft spot for nature and preserving it, but social injustice tears at my heart too.

What advice you can give to a publisher who wants to go green but don't know where to start?

Well, a lot of it's common sense. Don't be wasteful, and look for alternatives when publishing or even just making decisions for your office. Remember that cost and quality of paper isn't everything. The real costs of using high-grade, non-sustainable fiber reach far beyond your pocket book.

I'm just starting out myself, and will learn a lot along the way, and hopefully can share more later. But there are so many resources on the web about responsible publishing, and a good start is the toolkit and many of the places I reference in there, such as Green Press Initiative, Eco-Libris, Canopy, and Rainforest Alliance.

Why do you think we don't see more publishers that go green? What are the main obstacles?

I think a lot of publishers don't realize that they can go green, that there are options when making paper choices. There are so many green printers out there. I think smaller-run, digitally produced books, e-books, FSC-certified fiber printing, and printing on demand are the wave of the future. At least I hope they are.

I don't think there are any huge obstacles in going green. The only one I can think of is that for large book production, offset printing may be choice and non-post-consumer or non-FSC paper might be cheaper. But again, I think it's helpful to look at the overall savings in our environment rather than a few cents in our pocketbooks. Profit isn't always wallet-based!






















How real is the option to use non-tree resources for paper?

I would like to see more studies on non-tree resources such as wheat, hemp, sisal, flax, kenaf, or other vegetable fibers. As with any natural resource, we always need to think ahead for the sustainability of large production with those fibers too. I think for now using these alternatives is great at least for office solutions, like business cards and calendars. As for the production of books, more studies and trials need to take place.

Do you think bookstores can also play a role in making books more sustainable?
Yes, book stores can take initiative, along with publishing houses and authors, in extolling the virtues of books printed on recycled/FSC papers and in printing processes that are environmentally cleaner, safer, and use less resources - such as nontoxic toners or vegetable/biodegradable inks, recycled aluminum plates, totally chlorine-free processes, and so on.

I think we just stepped into the age where people will start to "get it" about our environment, with the worst environmental disaster in history having seeped to our Gulf as I write this. Everyone is going to be more conscious about our resources and dependencies. Everything from renewable energy and less dependency on oil to conservation and preservation of our endangered and declining natural resources is going to be a high priority. Once consumers realize this, I think bookstores and other industries will gain respect in the eye of the consumer by having good environmental practices, whether in manufacturing or retail.

What about e-books? When do you think we'll be able to consider e-readers as a greener alternative?

I think we should start to consider e-readers as a greener alternative, though I've only read a few studies (mentioned in the toolkit) that found e-readers less of an impact over books. The Cleantech Group, for instance, predicted that e-readers purchased from 2009 to 2012 could prevent 5.3 billion kg of carbon dioxide in 2012, or 9.9 billion kg during the four-year time period. I think more study is needed, but the e-ink technology is a wonderful one, and at least the e-book I have (Kindle DS) feels very much like a book and I consider it a replacement and buy only e-books at this point.

What's your advice for readers who want to green up their reading? What can they do?

There is so much to do! People can seek out green publishers when making book-buying choices, write to publishers with opinions on paper choices, buy e-books instead of paper books, check books out at the library instead of buying new books (many libraries now offer e-book downloads too), and also join planting programs like yours. There are book recyclers, regular paper recyclers, book donations, and so on. I would say it's important to never buy what you are going to throw away, but also never throw away a book. Donate it to charity or your local library.

After writing this toolkit, are you more optimistic or pessimistic?

I'm more optimistic. I get invigorated when I start talking or thinking about my press. In an odd way, my press is really still in the baby stage, because my first paper book won't be published until later this year, and then in 2011 I have accepted three more books for publication so far too. So I haven't done much with the press as of yet, but am very excited about it. Thanks for giving me this opportunity to talk about it. And thanks for your wonderful tree-planting program!

Thank you, Mary. Moon Willow Press's Publishing Toolkit can be downloaded at no charge at http://www.moonwillowpress.com/MWP%20Toolkit.pdf

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting sustainable reading!

The future of Publishing - a talk with media industry expert Scott R. Singer

Scott R. Singer has spent the past 20 years advising companies on how to adapt to change, to embrace technological advances, and to put the best strategy in place to deal with the next big thing—essentially, teaching them how to hit curveballs. Therefore we thought he is the right person to speak with on the changes that the book publishing industry is going through.

Scott, a noted media industry expert, investment banker, strategy consultant and the author of HOW TO HIT A CURVEBALL: Confront and Overcome the Unexpected in Business, join us for an interesting conversation on the future of publishing. Here it is:


What is the influence of the launch of the iPad on the book industry?
I think the iPad's launch is a game changer. Not only is it a fantastic Internet surfing, photo storing, app powered, movie viewing device, but it's also a powerful iPod with a gorgeous screen, functionality, and e-reading capability. The iPad opens the door for full color books and magazines to jump into the digital reading sphere.

Do you think the trend of transforming from print to digital is currently no more than just a hype when e-books sales are less than 2% of the market?
Clearly, not everyone will want to read books or magazines in a digital format. There is still high demand and great pleasure derived from reading materials in printed form. That said, a large and growing base of consumers are on the go, looking for more convenient ways to consume
the content they enjoy, and like the eco-friendly nature of an e-reading device.

It is important to keep in mind though that for the most part, every child that's born is "digital" and every elderly person that passes away is "analog." As a result, we are experiencing the third
tectonic shift in traditional media - first music, then video, now print. My middle school-aged children don't have printed text books. They are all electronic.

What is your advice to bookstores, both independent and big chains, who look for innovative models that will help them to thrive in the digital age?
Bookstores need to reinvent themselves as centers of learning and brand development for the content industry. They can be the social hub of all types of media, not just print. By realizing that a portion of their retail sales are likely to be disintermediated by digital content, they
should focus on ways to keep customers coming to their establishments and offer them products that can be consumed in such a manner.

Bookstores are still a place to browse, socialize, and share ideas. They're not libraries, so you don't need to keep quiet. You can drink coffee, meet friends, and buy many things. Not just books.

What's the potential of the e-book market in the next 10-15 years?
There are many projections concerning the penetration of tablet devices. It is my view that there is a huge market for a device that can fill the gap between full computing and a PDA. The more content that's available, the greater the potential. And by that I mean magazines,
newspapers, and text books, not just consumer fiction and non-fiction books.

It is clear that newspapers in a printed form are headed the way of the dinosaur. That industry needs to embrace this change and redesign its business model to deliver valuable, hyper local content in a form its consumers want. No one else is better at reporting on high school sports, the goings on at town hall, or issues facing local school boards.

Do you think the publishing industry can actually gain from the cannibalization of physical books market by e-books?
TV was supposed to kill radio, VHS tapes were supposed to kill TV, and the Internet was supposed to kill them all. But that's not what happened. More content is being created on more platforms and consumed to greater degrees than ever before. I think the publishing world will
thrive in this environment, especially if it is able to deliver more quality products at lower costs, not to mention in shorter production times.

Do you think the publishing industry can actually gain from the cannibalization of physical books market by e-books?
TV was supposed to kill radio, VHS tapes were supposed to kill TV, and the Internet was supposed to kill them all. But that's not what happened. More content is being created on more platforms and consumed to greater degrees than ever before. I think the publishing world will
thrive in this environment, especially if it is able to deliver more quality products at lower costs, not to mention in shorter production times.

Do publishers still have the same added value in the age of POD (print on demand) and social media?
The need for the curatorial and editing skills publishers bring are even more important in the digital world when anyone with Internet access can essentially be a published journalist/author. We as consumers will rely to an even greater extent on our media brands to help us sort through
the online clutter.

Finally, we are going to celebrate Earth Day tomorrow - what should be done to make the book industry more eco-friendly?
Well, the e-reader is perhaps the best answer to saving trees and lowering the use of fossil fuels and reducing emissions. Fewer trees will need to be cut to make books, newspapers, and magazines. Fewer chemicals will need to be mixed to create ink. And fewer trucks will
need to roll to deliver these physical products assuming e-reading grows to the levels many expect. A great result for our planet overall.

Thank you, Scott.

Scott R. Singer is the author of the recently published HOW TO HIT A CURVEBALL: Confront and Overcome the Unexpected in Business (Portfolio 2010). A Managing Director and Head of Media & Entertainment at The Bank Street Group, Singer has more than twenty years experience in investment banking and strategy consulting. He previously held positions at BMO Capital Markets, Deloitte, and Bear Stearns. He lives in New York City and Connecticut. For more information on Scott's new book, see http://www.hitacurveball.com.

You can read more updates on the future of publishing on our website at http://www.ecolibris.net/publishing_future.asp

Happy Earth Day!
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: Promoting sustainable reading

An interview with the Director of Marketing of Zumbox, the new promise for paperless mail

If you didn't hear yet about Zumbox, you need to recheck your news resources.

In the last couple of weeks you hear about them everywhere - from an announcement on two new clients: the cities of San Francisco and Newark (NJ) that will start using their web-based mail delivery system to an announcement on a partnership with New York City for Five Borough Pilot Program.

So what is exactly Zumbox? according to their website "Zumbox delivers paperless mail online – from street address to street address. What used to only be sent as paper mail can now be sent without the paper. How? We’ve created a nationwide paperless postal system with a Zumbox for every street address in the United States, including yours."

Well, it sounds very promising, but paperless mail is just like the paperless office - something we believed for many years to be just around the corner but somehow it never happened. Their success to partner with cities like New York and San Francisco showed skeptics that these guys shouldn't be ignored, but will Zumbox succeed in making an impossible mission possible? Will they revolutionize the mail system?

I decided that I need to learn more about Zumbox (still, we're talking about saving paper and trees here..) and asked their Director of Marketing, Joergen Aaboe, to answer couple of questions on our blog and tell us all about the new promise of paperless mail.

Hello Joergen. Firstly, where does the name Zumbox come from?

As far as I know, Zumbox is actually just a made-up name. Having said that, there has been a lot of speculation on this topic. Some ask if “zum” refers to the German preposition, while others wonder if it’s some sort of play on the word zoom. Sadly, we may never know the real meaning or origin of the name.

What is the main added value of Zumbox for businesses and organizations in comparison with the traditional option of sending emails instead of mail?

What we have learned from several of the organizations we have been talking to is that they are truly struggling to get the email addresses of their customers and supporters. In fact, many businesses have email addresses for less than 10 percent of their customers. But these companies already have the street addresses of their customers on file, which means they can start sending paperless mail via Zumbox immediately, as we have created a Zumbox (a digital mailbox) for every street address in the U.S.

Another key value is that Zumbox is a closed system with bank-level security that allows businesses to send sensitive mail like bills directly to their customers. As we all know, with email we simply get a message that lets us know we can view a bill at another website where we have to log in with a separate username and password, but Zumbox offers the security required for all sorts of transactional mail and other sensitive information to be delivered directly to a recipient’s Zumbox.

What will be the incentives for people to adopt Zumbox?

We’ll see the value of Zumbox to people evolve over time as more organizations start sending mail and as we develop the product further, but the most immediate value we offer is the opportunity to join this paperless movement. Through our campaign – Paperless Please (www.paperlessplease.org) – people can, among other things, request paperless mail delivery from several of the largest mail senders in the U.S. It’s a way for everyone – people, businesses, non-profit organizations and government – to get involved in the conversation about paperless mail and our corresponding preferences.

Control, and the ability to manage a transition from paper to paperless mail, is a key part of the value Zumbox offers both businesses and individuals who want to make that transition. And now that paperless mail is being delivered, people who claim their Zumbox will start experiencing the convenience of accessing their mail from anywhere and anytime, practically speaking.

Are you planning to have a rewards program similar to RecycleBank's one in the future?

We’re not planning to offer points for using Zumbox. Instead, we’re focusing our efforts on continuously enhancing the user experience through our relationships with third party mail senders and content providers as well as the development of new features within Zumbox. While reducing paper waste is a key goal for us, we want that to only represent one of many benefits associated with Zumbox.

In the cities where we’ve now launched – San Francisco, New York and Newark – mail is currently being sent from the local governments and other organizations, giving people there the ability to start receiving, organizing and storing their mail online. We’re essentially offering everybody a paperless mail option that’s convenient, secure and environmentally responsible.

What's your comment on the findings presented on the New York Times by Prof. Randall Stross about the effectiveness of using the stick approach to converting customers to paperless billing?

Well, I think that was a very interesting piece, as it underlined the challenge faced by most billers. Incentivizing people to go paperless has not really moved the needle, but apparently a company can get people to convert faster when a paper bill fee is introduced. However, the stick approach doesn’t always stick (pardon the pun). And as the article points out, T-Mobile had to quickly respond to pressure by putting an end to the paper bill fee, and the company has since gone back to the carrot approach or simply the voluntary approach.

But the real issue here is that the voluntary approach does not work for a reason. Current paperless options are just not cutting it for most people. The notifications that are sent via email typically only include a link to the bill, and having to go to different websites and keep track of numerous usernames and passwords just to view bills is highly inconvenient.

Personally, I think people would respond better to the idea of going paperless if there was a better way to go paperless. With Zumbox we’ve created a secure environment where bills and statements (and all other mail) can be sent as digital files and presented online exactly like they appear on paper. In that way, Zumbox mirrors the experience of receiving paper mail; the bill is actually delivered to a customer and appears the way we’re all used to seeing it, only without the paper.

While the stick approach may work temporarily for some, I believe the real solution to the challenge of getting people to go paperless is to create a better option than what has been pushed on people up until this point, which is a big part of what we’re trying to do.

What's the percentage of paper mail you think you can eliminate with Zumbox?

We have not done any calculations on this.

How do you see junk mail? Will you provide businesses sending it to use Zumbox instead?

First of all, we define junk mail as irrelevant mail, and we have built our system to increase the relevance and reduce the waste associated with paper mail. Having said that, Zumbox is an agnostic delivery platform, which means we offer all mail senders, including marketers, the ability to send paperless mail.

But Zumbox offers a unique kind of control that lets recipients decide what mail they want to receive. Specifically, if you receive a special offer in your Zumbox from a business you do not care for, you can permanently block that mail sender so we will ultimately only receive the offers that are relevant to us.

What is your plan - are you going to focus in the short-term on collaborations with municipalities (such as San Francisco and Newark) to get people use Zumbox and then move over to the business sector?

After a successful pilot in a smaller market earlier this year, we started the first stage of our national rollout in September, with San Francisco and Newark being the first cities. Over the next weeks and months, we will announce other cities that will be a part of this stage of our rollout, and the municipalities themselves will be involved in most cases.

Simultaneously though, we are talking to several national businesses and non-profit organizations about sending paperless mail to their customers and supporters in these markets, and we are also inviting local businesses and other organizations to participate. The goal is to create eco-systems, if you will, in the rollout markets so there are enough senders and recipients of paperless mail to make it meaningful for both sides.

Meanwhile, Zumbox is already available nationwide so anybody can start using the service right now.

What is the required penetration rate of Zumbox to make it work?

I’m not sure there is a general penetration rate required for Zumbox because these eco-systems can be created anywhere, all with different levels of participation. For instance, a community may embrace the service even if there are only a few critical mail senders initially, and most businesses will find Zumbox meaningful as long as they can start reducing their paper usage and the cost associated with that.

What will happen with USPS if you guys win?

While Zumbox is the first paperless postal system and clearly the first all-digital alternative to traditional postal systems, it is not the first competitor the USPS has ever seen. FedEx, for instance, started offering speedier delivery, but the Postal Service still offered a valuable service. Our service obviously represents a more dramatic shift, as we offer digital delivery, but we do not aim to replace the Postal Service and we certainly do not expect to do that. All we want to do is offer people a paperless alternative. We expect the world to be big enough for both paper and paperless mail.

Thank you Joergen!

Yours,

Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting sustainable reading!

John Sanderson on the idea of carbon neutral paper and other green paper issues

Can a sheet of paper be carbon neutral? what does it actually mean? and what is more eco-friendly - internet publishing or printed paper?

John Sanderson, former environmental activist and now UPM's (one of the world's leading forest industry groups) global head of environmental market support is answering these interesting questions and others in an interview with Mark Rushton, Editor, Pulp & Paper International Magazine.

I like Sanderson's approach especially when it comes to defining the relationship between online publishing and paper printing and I believe the way he describes them as complimentary to each other will become more and more common in the near future.

You can read the full interview HERE.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting green printing!

An interview with Shelley Meyer, author of the new children's book "Where the Buttercups Grow"

"Where the Buttercups Grow" is a great children's book, and we're not saying it just because we're collaborating with the publisher, Aaspirations Publishing, to plant a tree for every copy sold, but because we really think so, and that's also the feedback we got from couple of kids in the Eco-Libris family we asked to check it out.

This book is beautifully written by Shelley Meyer and vividly illustrated by her daughter Tessa Meyer (in the photo above at the first book launch in Surrey).

Here's the short version of what this book is about (the longer version can be found here):

In a beautiful field, the buttercups grow, but when two children have no respect for nature, garbage begins to pile up high. Are the days of the buttercups over, or will help come to rescue the buttercups from a fate more deadly than illness? See the difference that children can make when they set their mind to it and decide to take care of Mother Earth.

I wanted to learn more about the book and the author and I asked Shelley Meyer to join us for an interview, and here it is:

Hi Shelley. What led you to write this beautiful book?
I have 23 years experience teaching children and in that time am raising two of my own. Needless to say, I have read many books to many children, and have always thought how great it would be to write one of my own. So, having seen "The Bucket List" movie, which encourages doing things you want to do, and not just talking about it, I was motivated to get going on writing my own book.

I wanted the book to be about something that would teach children that they can make a difference to our world, one step at a time, as this is something I have always incorporated in our learning. We are part of the Adopt a Street Program, which means we pick up garbage on our street, we have been part of the Bulb planting program in our community, we have always planted a "graduation tree" for the class, we recycle and we always acknowledge Earth Day.

Why of all the flowers you chose buttercups to be the center of your book?
Because most children are familiar with buttercups. You know, holding one under your chin to see if you like butter. They are also such a visible wild flower that I knew most children would be acquainted with them.

On the back of the book it says that as a teacher "you hope to teach young children values they can live up to all their lives". What are the values you hope children will learn from this book?

I am hoping that most children ultimately learn the importance of respect for their community and for each other and that all people, young and old can make a difference even in the smallest of positive acts.

What was it like to work with your daughter, who is the book's illustrator, on the book?

My daughter is such a motivated person, that is something I totally admire about her. She has always enjoyed drawing and has a natural talent for it, so for us to work on this together, was an invaluable experience and a memory that I will cherish.

Your book is filled with optimism and the notion that change can be achieved if we are ready to work to make it happen. Is it something you really believe in considering all the difficulties we face to make even the slightest changes?

I absolutely believe we can make changes even in the smallest ways. If we think of the big picture we may be discouraged. But if we can focus on what we can do, and not we cannot do, then change will absolutely happen. And more people get on board because they see the difference and before you know it, these little changes add up to big changes. I think this is a good way to pace yourself through life. Take on what you can and be proud of that!

What do you think is the best way to educate children on the importance of sustainability?

I think the best way to educate children on the importance of sustainability is "hands on." Get them out there to plant trees and flowers so they can see what needs to be done so as not to deplete our forests. Get them recycling and explain why so they can understand the importance of reducing and reusing. Reading to them, showing them pictures of "treeless areas" etc. They need visual and hands on learning in order to achieve understanding.

Who is your environmental hero?

I so admire the work of Dr. David Suzuki and Al Gore. They are renowned environmentalists who force us to take a look at our lifestyles and seek to change them in ways that protect our Earth. I also admire my little preschoolers when I see them outside picking up garbage or planting their graduation tree, know full well they are making a difference.

What are the feedbacks you receive from children and parents?

I am so lucky to have their support. They are so proud of my daughter and I and they are so glad that the book is one that will teaches their children the values that they as parents are teaching them at home. The children love that they know the author and the illustrator and they like the message and are encouraged to get out their and clean things up. I have had a few children who now bring buttercups into their homes to be put into vases. Parents especially like the Eco-Libris association because having trees planted because they purchased a book is so significant.

How do you feel about the fact that one tree is being planted for every book with Eco-Libris?

This is the best. How great to have one tree planted for every book sold. I am honoured to be associated with Eco-Libris. This fits into the message of the book perfectly and children and parents can feel they are doing something very proactive.

What are your plans for the future? are you working on any new children's book?

I am absolutely planning on writing more books. My second one is done, just needs to be polished before getting published. All my books will have a "Kids Can Make a Difference Theme." Because I know they can. Then they will carry this attitude into their adult life and hopefully pay it forward and teach other kids that they too can make a difference.

Thanks Shelley!

You can purchase a copy of the book at http://www.aaspirationspublishing.com/where-the-buttercups-grow.html

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Eco-Libris: promoting green reading!

An interview with Rebecca Lerwill, the author of the new thriller 'The Acronym'

Rebecca Lerwill is an author and a partner of Eco-Libris, as she plants a tree with us for every sold copy of her books. She has just released her second book 'The Acronym - White Nights of St. Petersburg', which got a great praise from #1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Tami Hoag, who wrote “Rebecca Lerwill is a fresh voice with a fresh angle on suspense, destined to keep readers happily turning the pages as fast as they can.”

We agree! We thought that with the release of this new book, it is a good time to interview Rebecca and hear more about the book, her experiences as an author and her thoughts about sustainable reading and the future of the industry.

Hello Rebecca and congrats on your new book 'The Acronym'! Can you tell us what is it about?
Hi Raz, thanks so much for this interview. My latest thriller, The Acronym, just got published in April of 2009. It is a sequel to my award-winning debut, Relocating Mia, a romantic suspense. Although a sequel, The Acronym stands on its own and is a story of espionage with a romantic back drop.

It picks up where Relocating Mia left off: Our heroine, Mia Trentino now works for the Acronym, a clandestine agency consisting of former elite members of U.S government and international law enforcement institutions. Mia has to return to Russia to testify against Piotr Lagunov, an affiliation of the Russian Mafia which kidnapped Mia a year ago.

While in Russia, preparing her self to take the stand, Mia’s fiancée and Acronym agent, Douglas Farland, suddenly disappears and is accused of treason. Trying to stay a step ahead of the long and ruthless reach of the Russian Mafia, Mia searches for the truth behind Douglas’ accusation.

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Tami Hoag says, “Rebecca Lerwill is a fresh voice with a fresh angle on suspense, destined to keep readers happily turning the pages as fast as they can.”

This is your second book after 'Relocating Mia'. Is the second book easier than the first one?
Like I said, The Acronym stands on its own, and I think it’s an easier read. The chapters are short and snappy and keep you on your toes. One reviewer compared reading The Acronym to a race in a luge. Great compliment! The Acronym was easier to write, as well. As an author, I definitely found my niche writing spy novels. Researching the tactics of clandestine operations is a riot. Although I might explore other genres, a great thriller of international crime is hard to beat.


You self-publish your books. Can you tell us a little bit about the process?
Today’s market makes it almost impossible to break free as an indie author (Independent author), because with over 2000 books published weekly, nobody pays attention to written art when not promoted by a traditional publisher.

There are some real gems out there, written by indie-Authors which simply get drowned in the sea of books. I only began writing seriously in 2006. Impatient by nature, I didn’t take the time to submit my manuscript to a traditional house, or hunted for an agent. I did some research and chose to self-publish; meaning I paid a self-publishing company to get my book in print.

The opinions and pro and cons on those self-publishing companies is a wide-spread discussion. I’m glad they were available when my time to publish came, but I’m beyond needing help to self-publish. Any future work – if I don’t get picked up by a traditional publisher – will be published by my own pub house, Ivy Leaf Press, LLC.

My suggestion to any new author is: Do your homework before you choose a ‘vanity press’, and do as much as you can yourself but find a professional editor. I can’t stress enough how important it is to get your manuscript edited, and I don’t just mean dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. English is my second language, so I will always need a good editor. But that’s not the only reason; The Acronym was slashed by almost 10’000 words between editing rounds; something I had agreed to. The outcome is a brighter book without unnecessary details and without the change of my voice.

Do you do print on demand (POD)?
I don’t. Although I’m proud to be an indie-author, I like my books to stand out. My covers are embossed which isn’t possible if you Print On Demand. My books are also readily available and since the individual cost is much lower than POD books, those off-set printed books are a lot less expensive -- in production and retail.

Of course printing 1000+ copies is an investment, but my royalties are much higher than a POD author’s paycheck and I’m able to sell books directly through my website for a discounted price.

I know that you were looking to print the book on recycled paper. How did your search go and did you eventually use recycled paper?
After receiving several bits from different printers, McNaughton & Gunn did a fabulous job printing The Acronym on 50% recovered fiber and acid free paper. I believe this statement from their website says it all: “In ten years' time, while our company experienced 40% growth, we also successfully decreased our landfill waste from 1,660 cubic yards to 120 cubic yards. Our environmentally sound business practices have brought about cost savings to our company while helping reduce our carbon footprint.”

What do you think in general about the environmental footprint of books? how it can be reduced?
Although I’m old-fashioned and like the feel of a book in my hands, electronic publishing is becoming very popular and very easy to do. Of course programs like yours are an important part in preserving our environment. I made Relocating Mia, as well as The Acronym ‘Eco-Libris’ books by purchasing stickers. Every book ordered through my website generally gets a cover enhancement with one of your stickers. As of today, I have my own little forest planted somewhere.

Is your book available on Kindle? what do you think of e-books in general?
Relocating Mia is a Kindle book and The Acronym will follow as soon as I find the time re-formatting the text. I’m planning on releasing The Acronym on Kindle the end of May 2009. I don’t own a Kindle yet, but I have purchased e-books that aren’t available in print and read them on my laptop.

How do you see the future of the book industry? do you think we'll see more POD and self-published writers and less of the old-fashioned publishing houses?
Tough question. As a relatively new author, I’m not sure if I’m qualified to answer this, Raz. My feeling is that the huge wave of self-published books might cease when people finally realize that there isn’t a quick buck or even fame made by publishing a book.

Of course we love those success stories and we always root for the underdog. But those stories of a self-made, self-published millionaire are rare, and an honest writer doesn’t plot for the fame – he/she writes for him/herself and the audience. Maybe I’m too naïve, but I would like to believe that the indie-authors of the future focus more on quality writing. Traditional houses won’t go away, and they shouldn’t. Their work preserves the integrity of literature.

What are your plans for the future? are you working on a new book?
I keep telling myself that, after writing and self-publishing 2 novels within less than 2 years, I need a break. But I already started a third thriller and also am working on a non-fiction; Becoming American is my memoir and very dear to me. As a native of Germany, I have become very patriotic to this country over the last years. I have lived an interesting life here in the States since 1996. I think I’m ready to share my experiences in a memoir in essay form.

Thanks Rebecca for this interview. Is there anything else you would you like to add?
I would like to invite your readers to visit my website and sign up for my newsletter. Once, sometimes twice a month, I share reviews of books I’ve read, reviews readers wrote about my books, poetry, recipes, and all kind of fun stuff. I give away 2 signed copies of Relocating Mia every month, and also hold poetry contests. Both my books, Relocating Mia and The Acronym, are offered to discounted prices, as well. Of course, they are also available at online book sellers or can be ordered in any brick and mortar store. Thanks for taking the time to conduct this interview, Raz. I hope your readers enjoyed it as much as I did.

Here's the book's trailer:

You can buy 'The Acronym' on Rebecca's website. It's also available on Amazon. We will also have a giveaway of one copy on our upcoming May newsletter this week. If you're not a subscriber yet, you're welcome to join our mailing list by adding your email on the 'Join Our Email List' box on the right column of the blog.

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net