Digital Book 2013 Program

Reader Engagement

Three leading book-biz marketers will discuss how and why authors and publishers should engage more deeply with readers. Anne Kubek (INscribe) will focus on outbound marketing and social engagement. Kristen McLean (Bookigee) will cover inbound “customer anthropology" and Allen Lau (Wattpad) will share his vision for facilitating true, organic connections between readers and writers.

Applying Interactive Design Best Practices to Next Generation eBooks

Just shoving the print page onto a digital screen isn't the answer to delivering compelling digital reading experiences. Particularly with illustrated fixed-page titles, designers need to think about how readers use digital, what they expect from digital and how they can take advantage of things they can't do in print. This talk will showcase real-word examples of good and bad design elements and cover best practices for cooking, how-to, and other high-design segments of eBooks, focusing on how to achieve good results that work across devices and platforms.

Liisa McCloy-Kelley (Random House)

From Textbooks to Learning Platforms: Implications for Education Publishers

e-Textbooks are evolving into, and converging with, online learning platforms. Hear from two top education publishing and blended learning experts on the growing transition to interactive learning in higher education and K-12 and the technology, operational, and organizational innovations needed to improve student achievement.

Panel: What Authors Want: Hybrid Author Deep Dive

In this discussion, we will talk to two prominent hybrid authors about their position in the industry, self-publishing, publishers and the next phase of author evolution. We will also analyze the results of a recent Digital Book World and Writer's Digest survey of hybrid authors. 

EPUB 3 Now!

Noted EPUB expert and author Liz Castro will show how to create content that takes advantage of all the features that the latest platforms have to offer… while avoiding the pitfalls and inconsistencies.

K-12 Content and Adapting to Learners and Early Readers

This session discusses the issues and opportunities in children's content and early learners with an overview of the new Core Curriculum standards and how publishers can be prepared.

Evan St. Lifer (Scholastic), Daniel Fountenberry (Borne Digital), Marc Aronson, Ph.D. (Author, Core Curriculum Lecturer)

When is a Sale Not a Sale? Selling vs. Licensing Digital Content

When you buy a book, you can resell it, lend it, or give it away.  With eBooks, it’s unclear whether the same rights apply – whether the buyer gets rights under copyright law or under whatever license terms the retailer offers.  As more and more people read digitally, the sale vs. license dichotomy becomes more important – and more controversial, with profound implications for everyone involved in publishing.  We’ll discuss what resale, sharing, gifting, and library lending will look like in a world where eBooks predominate.

Creating eBooks: Styling & Fonts

As eBooks evolve beyond plain text, styling and typography are critical to delivering richer reading experiences. Hear from two category-leading providers about the overall considerations for styling and fonts for eBooks, and about the newest tools for content creators.

Best Practices for structuring Content and integrating e-learning and e-textbooks

Education publishers and e-Learning system providers utilize various standards: Common Cartridge, QTI Assessments, EPUB, and HTML5. These worlds are fast converging and this session will cover how education publishers can evolve towards an integrated content architecture with best practices, enabling e-Textbooks and other learning materials to be dynamically and seamlessly provided to individual learners.

Made In Japan: eBooks and eManga adoption insights

eBooks and eManga are taking off in Japan, and Japanese e-Content is growing. Hear about the latest trends from a pioneer of interactive multimedia and an influential innovator in global manga publishing.

In-Sourcing vs. Outsourcing of eBook Conversion and Production: Solutions, Practical Considerations and Publisher Experiences

In this session leading publishers will share their experiences with in-sourcing vs. outsourcing their eBook production, focusing on practical considerations: internal resources, technology solutions, production workflow, capacity, quality, cost, fixed-layout vs. reflow.

Inclusive Publishing for Learning and Professional Content

Accessibility is critical for all readers but education is a fundamental right. It's critical for publishers of e-textbooks, academic, and professional content to understand why and how to deliver highly accessible content and experiences.

Reading Systems Adding Value vs. Content Becoming Enhanced

There's a natural tug-of-war between publishers, who want enhanced and customized presentation of specific titles, and reading systems , who want to deliver enhanced experiences that work consistently across multiple titles. And users of course have their own needs and preferences. As titles are increasingly enhanced, how will reading systems differentiate and add value? What will be the drivers of product and content success?

Engineering Next-Generation Publishing Workflows

Learn how technical publisher O'Reilly Media has solved the challenges of implementing a single-source workflow by taking advantage of modern open source software development tools to create a new authoring platform for print and ebook creation. Topics covered will include optimal authoring document formats, version control, automated eBook generation, and developing digital-first content with HTML5 technology.

The Reinvented Classroom

A leading print textbook publisher successfully evolves into a digital learning platform solution developer, leveraging open source and open standards. At the same time, a new education publisher builds the first digitally organic curriculum and radically re-imagines what the reading experience is for students in school and out. 

Data to Die For: Dynamic Pricing and Sales

The rapidly changing eBook market has created both angst and
opportunities when it comes to pricing. Michael Tamblyn of Kobo and Josh Schanker of BookBub will share exclusive eBook sales data and ideas to help everyone from publishing executives to independent authors develop dynamic pricing strategies that work for their titles.

EPUB 3, HTML5 and More: What’s Next for the Open Web Platform?

This session will discuss upcoming developments in EPUB including HTML5 and the other underlying Web technologies on which it's built. Both new features and open source efforts including Readium.org will be covered.

Professional and Scholarly Publishing Today – Balancing Digital Innovation with Professional Goals

Professional and scholarly publishing has adapted to the digital realm rapidly, and new ideas about how it can innovate further are being actively pursued – from open access to e-books to MOOCs. This overview will detail some of the innovations, what constraints they may face among professionals and scholars, and provide a broad view of the field, combining the latest developments with historical and practical perspectives.