Posted By: Tom Retterbush

You can stay up to date on the latest writing, publishing and book promotion trends by subscribing to my assetebooks' posterous Writing Experiment, but if you really want to stay on top of your game, check out my AssEtEbooks.com Writer's Blog, where you'll find all the news, tips, tricks, articles and ebooks you'll need and my AssEtEbooks.com Writer's Platform, where new or unknown writers can present, promote or even sell their new, self- or unpublished books. And while you're at it, you'll want to check out the many FREE and cheap Ebooks I offer on just about any and every subject you can possibly think of, at AssEtEbooks.com. Follow me on Twitter @assetebooks

What posts inspired you this year? Please share the link in the comments below.

This book, written by Elaine Weiss follows the journeys of 12 real women, each a victim of domestic violence. The women share their stories of abuse, escaping, reconstructing their lives and living at peace once again.

Written by Roger R. Hock, It’s My Life Now clarifies the patterns and cycles that are synonymous with abusive relationships. This book also focuses heavily on moving on and offers advice on getting through an equally tough time- the healing process.

This book presents an in-depth look into the causes and effects of violence against women as well as an introduction of change in regard to it. Written by, Stanley G. French, Wanda Teays, and Laura M. Purdy, this book also talks about cultural and world views from many different aspects in regards to violence against women.

Written by Nancy A Crowell and Ann W. Burgess, Understanding Violence Against Women brings to light an overview of present facts we know about domestic violence against women while also understanding that domestic violence is still something that remains unsolved, misunderstood and often overlooked.

Written by Patrizia Romito, A Deafening Silence evaluates male violence against women and children and the lengths society goes to cover it up and put it out of sight. The book offers a guide to better understand male violence to women and children and how to prevent and fight it.

Written by Pamela Cooper-White, this book tells about the information and facts surrounding what types of violence against women exist and how and what the church does in response to these actions.

Written by Gavin de Becker, The Gift of Fear focuses heavily on eliminating fear from your life and instead focusing on picking up on warning signs and behaviors that shape most violent offenders. Becker strongly believes that people don’t just become violent and that there are always warning signs; they should never be brushed off or ignored.

Written by Dante B. Gatmaytan, Getting Played presents a study on violence against young women in urban areas. The interviews compare both mens and women’s perspectives on violence as well identifies what type of females are at risk.

Written by Lori Gervasi, Fight Like a Girl offers great tips and strategies for fighting off an attacker or a potentially dangerous situation. While providing physical means of defense, Gervasi also highlights psychological tips for staying calm and alert in a dangerous situation, which is essentially, the most important part.

This book re-tells the real life story of the author who was raped and abducted from her home and held captive in a home by her abductor after he shot and killer her husband. Debra Puglisi Sharp, tells of her story, the recounts she had to go through in court and her road to recovery.

Written by Margaret Yorke, Dangerous to Know presents the true horrors of spousal abuse, mostly through emotions. The books tells of the couple that seems like the perfect match- but what happens behind closed doors- and not doing anything about it, is where the real problem lies.

This book, written by Dr. Edward W. Gondolf presents what has been proven to work and what has not when it comes to fighting violence against women. The book outlines cases in which an abuser is likely to seek help and change- and signs to know when improvements cannot be made on behalf of the abuser.

Written by Margaret Randall, this book tells the story of two women who were kidnapped, raped, and tortured and met by chance 14 years later. The story of what happened to them, how they escaped, and how they re-built their lives is explained in the book.

Written by Kate Ferrell, this book tells the story of a young woman who covers up the abuse she suffers at the hands of her boyfriend. After finally gathering enough strength to leave, she starts a journey to self-discovery and overcomes obstacles in her life.

Written by Lisa A Goodman, No Safe Haven details studies of violence and abuse as well as harassment endured not only in the home but in and out of work as well. The books also offers information to base new laws and case studies in regards to violence.

Written by Janine Latus, whose sister was brutally murdered by her live-in boyfriend, this book tells about the author’s own brushes with emotional and physical abuse. Letus explains what it takes to realize how important it is to leave and to save those that can still be helped.

Written by Dianne Schwartz, this book focuses heavily on the life of a battered woman- from exposing lies and cover-ups to leaving. Schwartz opens up about her denial, the battle, and the learning process in regard to domestic violence.

This book, written by Beverly Engel, a marriage and family therapist, offers women in the process of healing from domestic abuse a step-by-step recovery. Engel explains abusive situations, identifies the role the victim plays in it, then explains how get through it.

Written by Dr. Mary Susan Miller, this book focuses on emotional abuse and how important and detrimental it can be. Miller explains how psychological abuse may not be physical but can still be as equally damaging and hurtful.

Posted By: Tom Retterbush

You can stay up to date on the latest writing, publishing and book promotion trends by subscribing to my assetebooks' posterous Writing Experiment, but if you really want to stay on top of your game, check out my AssEtEbooks.com Writer's Blog, where you'll find all the news, tips, tricks, articles and ebooks you'll need and my AssEtEbooks.com Writer's Platform, where new or unknown writers can present, promote or even sell their new, self- or unpublished books. And while you're at it, you'll want to check out the many FREE and cheap Ebooks I offer on just about any and every subject you can possibly think of, at AssEtEbooks.com. Follow me on Twitter @assetebooks

       

1. Twilight: Certainly you’ve been unable to escape hearing about this vampire love series. Although some fans are casual readers, others have embraced the series into obsession, becoming "Twifans" or "Fanpires." As a whole, the Twilight series has sold more than 100 million copies around the world, and Twilight was the best selling book of the year in 2008. In its first day of release, the Twilight DVD sold more than 3 million copies, with huge crowds at midnight release parties. Twilight has been a large presence at many conventions, including ComicCon, and one completely devoted to Twilight, TwiCon.
2. Harry Potter: Before there was Twilight, there was Harry Potter, the young adult series written by J.K. Rowling. Harry Potter and his friends learn to become expert wizards, and fans young and old have strongly embraced its culture. In fact, it’s even been considered that Harry Potter has spawned a lifelong love of books for readers young and old, converting nonreaders into those who will clear their schedules in order to sit down with the newest release. The series has met incredible success, with more than 400 million copies sold and every one of its six movies so far nearing a worldwide gross of $1 billion each. Rabid fans of the series have even created their own works, with almost 500,000 different pieces of fan fiction available online.
3. The Secret: If you believe this book will improve your life, it just might. At least, that’s what author Rhonda Byrne wants you to think. After being featured on Oprah, this self-help book that insists positive thinking can bring on incredible life changing results hit the New York Times bestseller list and went on the make a movie that was for a time the #1 DVD on Amazon. The book had many readers frenzied into a spiritual cult, insisting that through the Law of Attraction, they could achieve almost anything, including extreme weight loss and even beating cancer. Overall, The Secret has sold more than 19 million copies since 2006.
4. Lord of the Rings: Although published between 1954-1955, The Lord of the Rings has enjoyed an enduring fan following, as well as a new revival in fans due to The Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies directed by Peter Jackson. These books have had many influences on popular culture, including the language of Elvish, an expansion in the genre of fantasy fiction and the inspiration of filmmakers such as George Lucas. "LOTR" fans have been known to get tattoos inspired by the series as well as create fan art. Over the years, sales of these books have topped 150 million. The Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies reached a box office revenue close to $3 billion.
5. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: This franchise has enjoyed success in many different forms, including books, radio broadcast, TV, computer games, comic book adaptations, and even a large production movie. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy inspired "Hitch-Hikeriana," a variety of merchandising and spinoff items related to the series, especially towels. It has been an international phenomenon, enjoyed in the UK, US, Canada, Germany, Israel, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. Every year on May 25th, fans of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy celebrate Towel Day to honor the late author Douglas Adams.
6. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Chronicles of Narnia is a series of fantasy novels written for children. It’s been adapted to the radio, stage, TV, and even movies. The classic works sold more than 120 million copies, and have been printed in 41 languages. Authors including Neil Gaiman and Katherine Paterson have been influenced by the works, as well as the graphic novel The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen and popular TV shows like LOST and Family Guy. There is also a Saturday Night Live digital short, Lazy Sunday, that focuses on going to see Chronicles of Narnia in the movie theaters. Two movies have been released so far, and their worldwide box office gross has topped $1 billion.
7. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: In this series, a young boy learns that he is the son of Poseidon, and discovers the world of Greek mythology. The series began in 2005, and has recently released a movie of the first book, The Lightning Thief, which opened with more than $31 million in the box office its first weekend, the highest for a fantasy film outside of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Narnia. This same book has sold more than $1.2 million copies in hardcover and paperback. Percy Jackson has found fans young and old, with these fans going on to purchase the video game based on The Lightning Thief as well as a DVD that released to almost $14 million in revenue its first week.
8. The Da Vinci Code: Written by bestselling author Dan Brown, the Da Vinci Code offers a thrilling look into the legend of the Holy Grail as well as Mary Magdalene in Christianity. Although critics have not received the book well, fans certainly have. Fans in the UK have gone on their own Da Vinci Code-style treasure hunts, with one pair causing damage to the stonework of a 14th century church in search of the Holy Grail. The book has sold over 80 million copies and been translated into 44 different languages, the bestselling English language novel of the 21st century. The Da Vinci Code film in 2006 earned more than $230 million worldwide in its opening weekend, at the time the third most profitable opening weekend in film history.
9. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo: Late author Stieg Larsson’s novel has become a posthumous bestseller with an large fan base. It was released to great popularity in Larsson’s native Sweden, and soon took over many European countries, eventually reaching a frenzy in the United States as well. The trilogy has topped more than 27 million copies worldwide, and its small-release film has reached a box office payday of nearly $10 million just in the US. Fans love The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo so much that a tour has been spawned in Stockholm, taking fans to important locations in Stieg Larsson’s book.
10. Sookie Stackhouse: Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse novels haven’t quite reached a Twilight frenzy, but the books that started True Blood have a rabid collection of fans, commonly referred to as "Fangbangers." The Fangbangers often descend upon the towns of Shreveport and Monroe, Louisiana in search of the fictional Bon Temps, Louisiana that True Blood is set in. These novels went on to create the True Blood drama series that has enjoyed fandom and critical acclaim, including a Golden Globe and Emmy. In its third season, True Blood is now HBO’s most watched series since The Sopranos.

Posted By: Tom Retterbush

You can stay up to date on the latest writing, publishing and book promotion trends by subscribing to my assetebooks' posterous Writing Experiment, but if you really want to stay on top of your game, check out my AssEtEbooks.com Writer's Blog, where you'll find all the news, tips, tricks, articles and ebooks you'll need and my AssEtEbooks.com Writer's Platform, where new or unknown writers can present, promote or even sell their new, self- or unpublished books. And while you're at it, you'll want to check out the many FREE and cheap Ebooks I offer on just about any and every subject you can possibly think of, at AssEtEbooks.com. Follow me on Twitter @assetebooks

Just check out our list of some of the strangest how-to books sold on Amazon, just in case you're looking for some non-traditional advice.

Business and Professional

These business books are outdated, politically incorrect, or just totally random.

1. How to Make Money in Mail-Order: by L. Perry Wilbur. The product description really gets you here, doesn't it: learn "how to share in the profits of the mail-order boom." Wow.
2. How to Start a Home-Based Secretarial Business: by Jan Melnik. This is the unabridged guide, so only those serious about starting their own secretarial business should get this one.
3. Working Together: How Workplace Bonds Strengthen a Diverse Democracy: by Cynthia Estlund. Become the president of your little democracy, but don't let it get to your head, or you could become the office dictator.
4. Trade Like an ONeil Disciple: How We Made 18,000% in the Stock Market: by Gil Morales and Chris Kacher. If you've always wanted to invest like Bill O'Neil, then check out this book.
5. Mortar: How to Specify and Use Masonry Mortar: by The Aberdeen Group. If you're foregoing engineering or construction classes and want to teach yourself how to use masonry mortar, then we guess it makes sense.
6. How Full Is Your Bucket? Positive Strategies for Work and Life: by Tom Rath and Donald O. Clifton, Ph.D. Written by a grandfather and grandson, this book plays off the "is the glass half empty or half full" concept.
7. The NeXt Revolution: What Gen X Women Want at Work and How Their Boomer Bosses Can Help Them Get it: by Charlotte Shelton and Laura Shelton. This title just sounds a little suggestive to us.
8. Help! My Job Interview Is Tomorrow!: How to Use the Library to Research an Employer : by Mary Ellen Templeton. This is just too cute. Get a used copy of the 1991 paperback for one cent.
9. Time Mastery: How Temporal Intelligence Will Make You A Stronger, More Effective Leader: by John K. Clemens and Scott Dalrymple. Business leaders need to understand that time is malleable, according to this book.
10. Selling by Phone: How to Reach and Sell to Customers in the Nineties: by Linda Richardson. What's so strange about this book is its price tag of $13.22, barely reduced after twenty years.

Hobbies

Have you ever thought about taking up Swedish weaving or buying a dwarf hamster? These books will help you with your new pursuits.

1. How to Book of Swedish Weaving and Hu: by Avery Hill. Weaving is making a comeback, you guys. Especially Swedish weaving. And don't miss Swedish Weaving Patterns for Monks Cloth, either.
2. How to Ride Your Unicycle: by Charlie Dancey. It looks tricky but fun and carries the tag line "a beginner's guide to the most ridiculous form of transport ever invented."
3. Simplified Anatomy for the Comic Book Artist: How to Draw the New Streamlined Look of Action-Adventure Comics!: by Christopher Hart. Learn how to draw the muscles in all the right places.
4. A Surprisingly Easy Guide to Making Hundreds of Everyday Products You Would Otherwise Buy: from the Readers Digest Association. Make your own cleaning supplies and other household, beauty and kitchen items.
5. How to Carve Wood: by Richard Butz. Get in touch with your inner woodworker when you buy this book.
6. How to Play from a Fake Book: by Blake Neely. To keyboard players and pianists, this one may make sense. It's a guide for creating chords and melodies so that you can play whatever you want.
7. How to Buy an RV (And Save Thousands of Dollars): by Don Wright. So that you have lots left over for beer and jean shorts!
8. How to Care for Your Dwarf Hamster: by Marianne Mays. Oh, my, these little guys must be tricky if they need a whole book on care and maintenance.
9. My Name Isn't Martha, But I Can Decorate My Home: by Sharon Hanby-Robie. Oh, snap!
10. How to Videotape Weddings: by Robert Hurth and Sheila Hurth. You probably wouldn't be able to find the equipment touted in this book anymore.
11. Hearthstrings: How to Make Decorative Garlands for All Seasons: by Carol Cruess Pflumm. Your friends will be jealous, we're sure.
12. The Dancer's Survival Manual: Everything You Need to Know About Being a Dancer… Except How to Dance: by Marian Horosko. We guess you have to figure that part out all by yourself.
13. Check Points on How to Buy Oriental Rugs: by Charles V. Jacobsen. This "folksy" guide by Colonel Jacobsen will help you pick out awesome oriental rugs.
14. How to Haunt a House: by Dan Witkowski and Jack Lindstrom (Illustrator). This book is actually for kids, but we bet it has some pretty spooky ideas!
15. How to Rescue the Earth Without Worshipping Nature: A Christian's Call to Save Creation: by Tony Campolo. Just in case you thought recycling made you a witch.

Personal Improvement

These how-to books also act as self-help books, but you may want to take their advice with a grain (or two) of salt.

1. The Sprouting Book: How to Grow and Use Sprouts to Maximize Your Health and Vitality: by Ann Wigmore. Forget tomatoes, corn or bell peppers: this book favors sprouts as the magic health food.
2. Writing Successful Self-Help and How-To Books: by Jean Marie Stine. The how-to of how-to books? We're curious.
3. Singled Out: How Singles are Stereotyped, Stigmatized, and Ignored, and Still Live Happily Ever After: by Bella DePaulo. We wonder if Bridget Jones is a secret co-author?
4. The Healing House: How Living in the Right House Can Heal You Spiritually, Emotionally, and Physically: by Barbara Bannon Harwood. The ultimate for feng shui freaks.
5. The Tao of Horses: Exploring How Horses Guide Us on Our Spiritual Path: by Elizabeth Kaye McCall. Learn spiritual "exercises" to try out with your horse.
6. How to Become Naturally Thin by Eating More (The Anti-Diet Book): by Jean Antonello. Don't you know you can't become natural at anything?
7. How to Teach Your Baby to Read: by Glenn Doman. Yup, baby. The cover is a picture of a little infant with its hands in its mouth.
8. How to Understand Women Through Their Cats: by Wendy Diamond and Marilena Perilli (Illustrator). Didn't you know there are different breeds of cat lady? This book outlines them all so that you can figure out which one you want to date and marry. Seriously.
9. How to Get Married After 35: A Game Plan for Love: by Helena Hacke Rosenberg. This sounds like one of those books Charlotte York would have thrown out her window.

Society and Etiquette

Brush up on your etiquette and awareness with these books.

1. How to Say It: Choice Words, Phrases, Sentences, and Paragraphs for Every Situation: by Rosalie Maggio. You know you'll impress people when you have just the right paragraph at just the right moment.
2. HOW TO HAVE SEX IN PUBLIC WITHOUT BEING NOTICED: by Brian Heaton (Illustrator) and Marcel Feigel. We want to see the illustrations! (And yes, the title is all capitalized).
3. Mitch Murray's Complete Book of One-Liners for Weddings: And How to Use Them in Your Speech: by Mitch Murray. YIKES.
4. 25 Words or Less: How to Write Like a Pro to Find That Special Someone Through Personal Ads: by Emily Thornton Calvo and Laurence Minsky. Get a real catch by learning how to write a fabulous personal ad or online dating profile.
5. How to be a Way Cool Grandfather: The description for this book reads, "this charming guide shows you how to engage children with fun, inexpensive projects that can teach valuable life lessons." Whatever, way cool grandpas take you to the liquor store.
6. How to Talk to Moms: by Alec Greven and Kei Acedera (Illustrator). Because we all know moms only want to talk about bottles and playdates. Actually, this book is for little kids, which is even weirder.
7. How to Keep Him on a Short Leash: by Jessica Rubin, Lindsey Musante and Partners & Spade. Train your man like a dog or horse, it's that simple.
8. How to Marry the Rich: by Gini Polo Sayles. Making up a name like "polo" might help.
9. How Did Sex Begin?: by R. Brasch. We've always wondered…

Just Very…Niche

1. Grow Your Own Drugs: by James Wong. This is actually a home remedies kit, but we wonder if it would put you on one of those FBI lists anyway?
2. The Consumer's Guide to Cat Food; What's in Cat Food, Why It's There, and How to Choose the Best Food for Your Cat: by Liz Palika. Become the ultimate cat lady when you display this book on your coffee table.
3. The How-To Book of the Mass: Everything You Need to Know but No One Ever Taught You: by Michael Dubruiel. Find out what you're really supposed to be doing when you attend Mass.
4. How to Afford Your Own Log Home: Save 25% Without Lifting a Log: by Carl Heldmann. We didn't realize getting back to (frontier) basics cost so much.
5. How to Make Icing Flowers: by Wilton. This cake decorating book will make you the favorite on Wisteria Lane.
6. How to Be a TV Quiz Show Millionaire: by Consumer Guide editors. There's a strategy behind it, we promise!
7. How to Save a River: A Handbook for Citizen Action: by David Bolling. Don't let the Man pollute your river: pass this book out to all your friends and demand accountability.

Posted By: Tom Retterbush

You can stay up to date on the latest writing, publishing and book promotion trends by subscribing to my assetebooks' posterous Writing Experiment, but if you really want to stay on top of your game, check out my AssEtEbooks.com Writer's Blog, where you'll find all the news, tips, tricks, articles and ebooks you'll need and my AssEtEbooks.com Writer's Platform, where new or unknown writers can present, promote or even sell their new, self- or unpublished books. And while you're at it, you'll want to check out the many FREE and cheap Ebooks I offer on just about any and every subject you can possibly think of, at AssEtEbooks.com. Follow me on Twitter @assetebooks

Famous Political Writers You Can Follow on Twitter

From current and past office holders, you can find many writers of political thinking in the below.

1. Barack Obama: Writer of “The Audacity of Hope,” he currently has a gig as President of the United States. Many of his tweets have to do with policy updates and his daily activities.

2. Al Gore: Renowned author, activist, and former vice president, Al Gore is leading the fight against global warming. He often tweets on sites and articles that interest him.

3. John McCain: War hero, senator, and Republican presidential candidate, John McCain has authored several books including “Faith of my Fathers.” Tweets often focus on public policy and interesting meetings he has had.

4. Arnold Schwarzenegger: The current governor of California and world renowned movie star has also co-written “The New Encyclopedia of Modern Bodybuilding” and “Two Billion Cars.” Get updates on his busy schedule, along with items that interest him.

5. Sarah Palin: Currently the governor of Alaska and former vice presidential candidate, she is at work on a new book. Her tweets mostly deal with causes she is interested in.

6. George Stephanopoulos: Former Clinton advisor, he is currently ABC News Chief Washington Correspondent and host of “This Week.” He often tweets on headlines and occasionally his daily life.

7. Penn Jillette: Most famed for his comedic role in the Penn & Teller magic team, he has also authored several books on magic and humor. He now currently comments on political matters and his tweets are mostly on his daily life.

8. Gavin Newsom: He is the current mayor of San Francisco, a hopeful candidate for governor of California, and the author of “We Do: A Celebration of Gay and Lesbian Marriage.” Find out where he will be appearing or even send him a question via twitter.

9. Elisabeth Hasselbeck: She is the conservative co-host on “The View,” mother, and author of “The G-Free Diet.” Get updates on the show and tweets on being a mother.

Famous Inspirational Writers You Can Follow on Twitter

From talk show hosts to athletes to motivational speakers, find something inspiring in the tweets below.

10. Oprah Winfrey: Infamous talk show host, film actress, as well as writer and editor of her own magazine, Oprah is everywhere. She often tweets on what she is doing, who is on her show, and even asks her followers questions.

11. Lance Armstrong: Famed cyclist and author of his life story and a lifestyle book, he even co-authored a children’s book entitled “Mike and the Bike.” You can read how he trains and he often posts pictures.

12. Dr. Drew: An expert at rehab and love, Dr. Drew Pinsky has authored books on both subjects. He often tweets on his work, as well as shares inspirational thoughts.

13. Martha Stewart: Best known for her talk show “Living,” Martha is also the author of many cookbooks. Tweets include upcoming shows and what she is cooking today.

14. Brooke Burke: Famous model and mother, Brooke is a writer for “Modern Mom,” a magazine and community for women. Get updates for the website and tweets on what she is doing today.

15. Tony Robbins: Motivational speaker and successful business owner, Tony has authored several books on the subject including “Awaken the Giant Within” and “Unlimited Power.” Follow him on twitter to get many motivational words and tweets.

16. Threadless: This a community of t-shirt designers who often write odd, yet inspiring messages on clothing. Follow them to read the latest shirts or find out how to add your own.

17. Alan Carr: He is a well known self help writer whose books help people quit smoking and raise happy children. He often responds to his fan’s tweets and tells them what he has coming up.

18. Richard Branson: Sir Branson is a billionaire, adventurer, and author of many books on how he did it. Find out what he is up to by following his tweets.

Famous Actor/Writers You Can Follow on Twitter

Many actors used writing as a springboard and can be found tweeting below.

19. Ellen DeGeneres: A writer of her own talk show and sitcom, “Ellen,” you can find her on twitter. Her site also includes tons of links to Ellen related material.

20. Jimmy Fallon: Another talk show host, Jimmy is best known for his appearances and writing for “Saturday Night Live.” Get updates on his career, upcoming appearances, and random humorous thoughts.

21. Wil Wheaton: Best known for his role on “Star Trek: TNG,” Wil also wrote a few books on the show and being a geek. He still has a large following, who read his tweets on related topics.

22. Felicia Day: Best known for her roles in “Buffy” and “The Guild,” which she also wrote and created, Felicia is one of the pioneers of the new media. She likes to “keep tweets real” and they often are on her work, gaming, and other related topics.

23. Levar Burton: He won awards for his performance on “Roots” and gained a new following with “Star Trek: TNG.” Author of the sci-fi novel, “Aftermath,” Levar’s tweets center on his daily life.

24. Mandy Moore: Also a famous singer, Mandy is best known for her role in “A Walk to Remember.” She tweets on what she is up to, things she likes, and appearance updates.

25. John Cleese: This British actor is best known for his role on “Monty Python” and can be seen in the current “James Bond” movies. He has published a few humorous books and tweets on random thoughts and his day.

26. Seth Rogen: This actor has starred and written movies like “Pineapple Express” and the upcoming “Green Hornet.” Follow him to read his protected tweets.

27. David Henrie: This young actor is best known for his role on “The Wizards of Waverly Place.” He often responds to his fans tweets and lets them know what is going on with him.

28. Sarah Silverman: This controversial comedian has appeared in several films and television shows, including her own titled “The Sarah Silverman Program.” Her tweets are often humorous and racy.

29. Adam Sandler: The actor appeared in “Saturday Night Live,” “Little Nicky,” “Big Daddy,” and he also had a hand in writing them. Get random and humorous tweets by following him.

30. Amber Benson: Best known for her role in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” Amber is also the author of several books with “Death’s Daughter” as the latest. Get tweets on her daily life, politics, appearances, and more.

Famous Music Writers You Can Follow On Twitter

Rappers, country stars, and pop musicians often write their music and have made this list.

31. John Mayer: This musician is best known for his song “Your Body is a Wonderland” and his relationships with Hollywood starlets. His quirky personality comes through on his tweets.

32. Sean “P. Diddy” Combs: This rapper and songwriter is known for his flamboyant style, as well as his hip hop music. Get updates on how his day is going, along with random thoughts.

33. 50 Cent: A rapper and hip hop writer, 50 Cent is best known for his hit, “In Da Club.” Get tweets on music he likes and more.

34. MC Hammer: Best known in the nineties for hits like “Can’t Touch This,” Hammer now divides his time as a father and a preacher. Tweets contain things that interest him and even inspirational messages.

35. Sara Bareilles: This musician became widely followed after her album “Little Voice” was released in 2007. Get tweets on her daily life along with things she likes.

36. Dave Matthews: Leader of the Dave Matthews Band and Grammy award winner, Dave is best known for the song “Crash Into Me.” He often tells fans about things that interest and inspire him.

37. A Fine Frenzy: This alternative/indie band has a strong internet following. Alison posts mainly on things that are interesting and upcoming appearances.

38. Trent Reznor: He is best known for his role as lead singer of the band Nine Inch Nails. Be prepared for harsh language and tweets for life on the road.

39. Pete Wentz: Part of the group Fall Out Boy, Pete made headlines when he married Ashlee Simpson. Learn how married life is treating him and more from his tweets.

40. Ashlee Simpson Wentz: Married to the above and a recent mother, Ashlee is best known for her hit “Pieces of Me” and her controversial performance on “Saturday Night Live.” Get baby pics, love notes to her husband, and random thoughts.

41. Taylor Swift: This country and pop artist is best known for her hit “Love Story.” Tweets include her daily life, career, and musings.

42. Mariah Carey: This Grammy award winning singer broke onto the scene with her hit “Vision of Love” and followed it up with many more. Tweets include studio work and random thoughts.

43. Jimmy Eat World: This alternative band is known for hits such as “Pain” and “The Middle.” Tweets often include what they are up to, including the music.

44. Fred Durst: He is best known for his leading role in the band “Limp Bizkit.” He often responds to his fan’s tweets and posts on what he is currently up to.

45. Justin Timberlake: He is a former member of the band, N’Sync, and has had many solo hits. He often tweets on things that interest him.

46. Wyclef Jean: This Haitian musician was a former member of The Fugees and now has a solo career. Tweets involve politics and getting active.

47. Travis Barker: He is the former drummer of the band Blink 182 and has made many headlines. His tweets include music, being a dad, and his daily life.

Famous Book Writers You Can Follow on Twitter

Visit the below for the tweets of best selling and popular authors.
48. Stephen Fry: Stephen wears many hats and has also authored many books including “Moab is my Washpot,” “Revenge,” and “Stephen Fry in America.” Tweets are often strange and/or funny.

49. Stefanie Michaels: Also known as “Adventure Girl,” Stefanie has a related book entitled “Adventure Girl’s Guide to Finding Adventure.” Her tweets tell you what she is up to or give tips on adventure finding.

50. Jack Welch: Along with his wife, Suzy, Jack has published many books on business including “Winning” and “The Answer.” Tweets focus on business thoughts, sports, and questions for his followers.

51. Bill Simmons: With a role as the Sports Guy on ESPN, Bill is known for his “Now I Can Die In Peace” books. He often posts tweets on sports related material, but will throw in a tweet on something he found interesting.

52. Leo Laporte: Leo is a technology expert and has authored many books on the subject. Get tweets on where his latest advice and columns are appearing.

53. Tim Ferriss: He is the author of the best seller “The 4 Hour Workweek.” Tweets center around things that interest him.

54. Paul Coelho: He has written many books including “The Witch of Portobello,” “Warrior of the Light,” and “The Pilgrimage. Tweets are both in English and Portugese.

55. Kevin Smokler: His books often focus on how to improve your own writing. Get appearance updates, along with what he is up to.

Famous Internet Writers You Can Follow on Twitter

Writers are no longer limited to the printed page and can be seen on a whole new online frontier. Keep up to date with them by following their tweets.

56. Drudge Report: This internet writer is famous for telling the stories other media outlets won’t. Read the tweets to get up to the minute headlines.

57. Biz Stone: He is Co-founder of Twitter and also helped make Xanga, Blogger, Odeo, and has published two books about the social media. Posts come every few hours on where he is and what he is doing.

58. Pete Cashmore: Pete is the CEO of Mashable, a social media guide to the internet. Get the latest on the internet and other media outlets from his tweets.

59. Kevin Rose: Kevin is the founder of Digg, where many people go to the internet to write. He often tweets on internet updates and gives recommendations.

60. Justine Ezarik: She is the founder and writer of the popular site, iJustine. Get tweets on writing, daily life, and more.

61. Ana Marie Cox: She is the founding editor of the political blog, Wonkette, and the Washington editor of Time.com. Her tweets focus on political headlines and musings.

62. Frag Dolls: Brooklyn, Phoenix, Psyche, and others use the internet to write on all sorts of comic, video game, and related material. Their tweets contain the latest in gaming and what they are up to.

63. John Dickerson: John is “Slate” magazine’s Chief Political Correspondent, a political analyst for CNN and NPR, and the author of “On Her Trail.” Get the latest headlines from the magazine or items that interest him.

64. Tim O’Reilly: He is the force behind the O’Reilly Radar, which gives insight, analysis, and research about emerging technologies. Tweets mostly contain technology related headlines.

65. Dave Morin: A former employee of Apple, he now works for Facebook and often blogs on technology, entertainment, and design. If he’s not responding to follower’s tweets, he’s tweeting on what is going on with him.

66. Sarah Brown: She is the force behind the Million Mums White Ribbon Campaign. Get updates on her progress, as well as tweets expressing gratitude to her followers.

67. Zen Habits: This site shows readers how to Zen their lives easily and effectively. Tweets often update you on their latest post.

Famous Screenwriters You Can Follow on Twitter

You may have paid eight dollars to see their work, but you can read the tweets of these famous film and television writers for free.

68. Kevin Smith: Known for his role as Silent Bob in several movies, Kevin has also written such films as “Dogma,” comics, and books on his work. Tweets often focus on what he is up to that day.

69. Quentin Tarantino: An award winning writer, actor, and director, he is behind such films as “Kill Bill” and “Pulp Fiction.” Tweets are on items that interest him, musings, and appearances.

70. Diablo Cody: She is best known for winning an Oscar for her original screenplay, “Juno,” and is currently working on “The United States of Tara.” Follow her tweets to get quirky, humorous, and unique entries.

71. John August: This award winning screenwriter was the force behind “Charlie’s Angels,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” and “Go.” Get many tech related tweets, in addition to screenwriting ones, by following him.

72. Shonda Rhimes: This outspoken mother and writer is the force behind “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Private Practice.” Tweets often involve things that interest her and writing.

Famous Comic Book Writers You Can Follow on Twitter

With more and more movies coming out based on their work, writers of comics are worth a tweet or two.

73. Agent M: This blog gives an inside look at Marvel Comics, from the writers to the editors to a behind the scenes look. Get the latest updates from this leading comics publisher by following their tweets.

74. Neil Gaiman: Neil is the creator of ground breaking comics such as “The Sandman” and his novel, “Coraline,” was recently made into a movie. He often responds to his fans tweets and posts humorous ones of his own.

75. Warren Ellis: He is the award-winning creator of graphic novels such as “Planetary, “Transmetropolitan,” and the author of “Crooked Little Vein.” Read his tweets for disturbing, yet insightful thoughts.

76. Alan Moore: Alan is the eccentric creator of comics such as “The League of Extraordinary Gentleman” and “Watchmen,” which were both made into movies. Find out how he feels about that by reading his tweets.

77. Joe Quesada: He has created comics and is the editor in chief at Marvel comics. Get a ton of comic and geek related tweets by following him.

78. Scott Allie: Scott is a writer and editor for Dark Horse comics. Check what’s new with their publications or find out what interests Scott by following his tweets.

79. Geoff Johns: He writes comics for DC, including “Green Lantern” and “The Flash.” Many of his tweets are on what he does and does not like.

Famous Gossip Writers You Can Follow on Twitter

Don’t feel like spending money on a tabloid? Then follow these tweets to get the latest in celebrity gossip and news.

80. Perez Hilton: He skyrocketed to fame after launching a tell all website on the inside lives of Hollywood. Tweets often include celebrity related topics.

81. E! Online: This channel is best known for getting the latest in Hollywood scoop. You can get loads of celebrity related tweets by following E!

82. Joel McHale: Joel is the host and writer of the popular E! show, “The Soup.” His tweets are just as funny as the show.

83. Giuliana Rancic: She is best known for her role on E! News. Get the latest rumors, fashion tips, and more from her tweets.

84. Defamer: Gawker often posts on Hollywood and other famous celebrities. Most tweets include the latest gossip headlines from the website.

85. Michael Ausiello: Mike provides the latest in television news and scoops. Tweets often involve which shows are getting picked up and which are cancelled.

86. MTV: Music Television News is a great place to catch up on your favorite singers, actors, and bands. Get the latest music releases, tour info, and more from their tweets.

Best Collection Of Writers To Follow On Twitter

These writing teams tweet on everything from the latest news to technology, fashion, and more.

87. The New York Times: This leading publication is “where the conversation begins.” Tweets often include the latest headlines.

88. The Onion: “America’s Finest News Source” is made up completely of fabricated and hilarious stories. Get the latest additions via Twitter.

89. NPR Politics: National Public Radio specializes in political coverage and conversation. Headlines in politics often make up their tweets.

90. TIME: This magazine has been around for decades and is famous for its “Person of the Year” issues. In addition to politics, you can get links to many informative and amusing articles.

91. BBC Click: The BBC is one of the most recognizable channels in the world and “Click” is its show that is entirely devoted to technology. Get tweets on the latest in all technology, gaming, computers, and more.

92. Guardian Tech: This famous newspaper is based out of The United Kingdom and has a popular section for technology. Tweets include the latest tech news and reviews.

93. The Moment: This is the popular fashion blog of “The New York Times.” Get the latest in fashion news and trends by following their tweets.

94. U Stream: Move over, YouTube, U Stream is taking over the way the average person broadcasts themselves over the internet. Get tweets on the latest additions to this interesting and wily site.

95. Nightline: This ABC show has made hosts such as Ted Koppel famous. Tweets involve the latest news and they even invite other twitter users to join in on debates.

96. BNO News: Breaking News Online is a leader in news on the internet. Tweets often include headlines from the United States and abroad.

97. Health Magazine: This leading publication offers the best in men’s, women’s, and children’s health. Get the latest in health news, and even reviews, by following their tweets.

98. Guy Kawasaki: Guy heads up Alltop, an internet magazine that is regularly updated. Tweets involve headlines, questions, and thanks for his followers.

99. CNN: The entire network focuses on breaking news, weather, and much more. Tweets update the stories they are working on.

100. Fox News: A controversial source of news, their headline is “We report. You decide.” Tweets include news updates on world, politics, business, health, and more.

Everyone from aspiring writers to the award winning or just looking for an insightful view will appreciate the tweets of these famous writers for print, screen, and web.

Posted By: Tom Retterbush

You can stay up to date on the latest writing, publishing and book promotion trends by subscribing to my assetebooks' posterous Writing Experiment, but if you really want to stay on top of your game, check out my AssEtEbooks.com Writer's Blog, where you'll find all the news, tips, tricks, articles and ebooks you'll need and my AssEtEbooks.com Writer's Platform, where new or unknown writers can present, promote or even sell their new, self- or unpublished books. And while you're at it, you'll want to check out the many FREE and cheap Ebooks I offer on just about any and every subject you can possibly think of, at AssEtEbooks.com. Follow me on Twitter @tomretterbusch or @assetebooks  

Update at the foot of the post.

Two days ago, the popular blogging and content delivery portal Posterous was knocked offline after a DDOS attack, requiring its users to amend their domain records if they were using a custom domain on their account.

In the past hour, Posterous has tweeted that its users should change the A Record on their custom domains a second time; apparently the attackers behind the initial attack have switched focus to the new server IP address, bringing down a large number of Posterous blogs in the process.

If you are a Posterous user with a custom domain and have found your blog is down, you will be able to get your site working again by amending domain settings for what could be a second time:

The above tweet asks users to change their root domain to point to an A record (which should already be pointing to an old address) to 66.216.125.32, and to change their subdomain to point to a CNAME record to posterous.com.

In a bid to rectify its problems, Posterous will be down at 10pm PDT for 2 to 4 hours as its moves datacenters, increasing the capacity of the website and allowing it to combat the DDOS.

M. Jackson Wilkinson, head of UX at Posterous, has been engaging with disgruntled users on the official blog (see comments), issuing the same fixes above to get blogs back up.

According to Wilkinson’s last comment, an explanation of the troubles currently faced by Posterous is being written up which will detail how the company will be amending its technical infrastructure for the future.

Update: Posterous has just updated its official blog with the following information:

This morning, our new IP address, which we announced on Wednesday, began suffering a Denial of Service attack just as the old one had. For those of you who recently switched your custom domains to the new IP, you’ll find that your site is once again down.

We certainly knew there was a risk of this happening, but we were hoping that the attack on the old IP would be the end of it. This morning, our operations team responded by bringing up multiple new servers and reviving the old IP address, which is no longer under attack.

It goes on to describe ways of getting sites back online (detailed above) and explains what the new servers will do for the reliability of the site in the future.

It’s great to see transparency and the free flow of information. Posterous has impressed its users by communicating what was happening through every step of the process, even when it was working hard to bring the sites back up.

Interested in more social media news and discussion? Join TNW Social Media on Facebook and Twitter, or grab our RSS feed here.

Amazon Claims to have 70-80 Percent of Ebook Market

In case you missed it, Amazon told the world yesterday that for the last three months it was selling more e-books than hardcover books and in the last month it sold 180 digital books for every 100 hardcover copies. It was one of those great self-serving press releases that had a terrific headline and all the blogs and major newspapers jumped on it.

Well played, Amazon. As your CEO Jeff Bezos succinctly put it, "We've reached a tipping point with the new price of Kindle--the growth rate of Kindle device unit sales has tripled since we lowered the price from $259 to $189."

To those who follow the book industry and happen to be part of it, this is not surprising. What I find interesting is how easily a lot of the press took the bait, ran with it, and did little to look beneath the numbers provided by Amazon, which it chose carefully.

Here are some things to ponder:

• Growth rate of Kindle sales tripled but what were they before the price drop? Let's compare the month that Amazon dropped the price of the Kindle from $359 to $299 to the month that Amazon dropped it from $259 to $189. I wouldn't be surprised if sales tripled back then as well.
• I'd like to see gross revenue from e-books vs. gross revenue from hardcovers. Until recently, Amazon was actually losing money on bestsellers that it sold for $9.99 when their wholesale price from publishers was around $12 or more. Now that the publishing industry has shifted to an "agency" model, Amazon is taking a 30 percent cut, but the prices of many e-book titles are higher, possibly squelching demand. Amazon hasn't told us yet whether the higher prices have had any impact on sales. Most Kindle users I talk to say they are buying fewer traditionally published Kindle titles because many cost over $9.99.
• Just how many e-books sold are self-published titles? The Kindle Store is literally flooded with self-published titles and many of them sell between 99 cents and $3.99. Some self-published authors are doing very well because they've written a decent book or books that are priced cheaply. Cheap sells these days.
• Yes, as expected, the e-book industry is growing at a rapid rate. But is Amazon gaining or losing overall share? Apple is claiming that it has already taken 20 percent of the e-book market. I've also heard similar, non-confirmed numbers come out of Barnes and Noble. If you believe those numbers, Amazon actually lost quite a bit of market share in the last year, though the overall pie is growing.
• Certain genres are doing very well on the Kindle. Romance novels, for instance. These titles are typically very big in paperback not hardcover. According to Wikipedia, in 2004, romance novels made up 54 percent of all paperbacks sold.
• On the iPad, iBooks is currenly listed at #1 under free book apps, the Kindle app is listed #2, and the Barnes & Noble app is number #3, though the Kindle and B&N apps tend to flip flop places. So one would presume that Apple and B&N are very competitive on the iPad, which has already sold well over 3 million units.
• Amazon is a master of selling paper books online and still offers the best user experience. It has transitioned that experience over to the e-book world and Kindle Store and clearly had much success. But in the digital book world, where pricing is largely fixed now (at least for traditionally published books), you're starting to see a more level playing field as Barnes & Noble invests millions in its online arm and Apple knows a thing or two about user interfaces. Sony and scrappy upstarts like Kobo are also trying to get in on the e-book game, though consolidation seems inevitable.
• I can't give out exact numbers, but after the price drop to Amazon's and Barnes & Noble's e-readers, the number of people reading reviews of Nook e-readers (Nook 3G/WiFi, Nook WiFi-only) is three times the number of people reading reviews of Amazon Kindles e-readers (includes the Kindle and Kindle DX). Sony Readers are third in terms of interest from our readers. To be sure, our top products list skews these numbers (the Kindle and both Nooks all have 4-star reviews), so take them with a grain of salt. Undoubtedly, a lot of people simply buy the Kindle (or Nook) without ever reading a CNET review. After all, the Kindle--or Kindle apps--are promoted front and center on the Amazon home page virtually every day. With millions of people checking in each day, it's no wonder the Kindle is the best selling product on Amazon.
• When Jeff Bezos said that we'd reached a "tipping point," I would argue that he was giving a big wave to brick-and-mortar stores. He wasn't necessarily saying goodbye and nice knowing you, but the message certainly was that e-books are the future and good luck with your multi-thousand square-foot physical spaces.

The long and short of it is there are many ways to present numbers. Yes, the odds seem stacked against hardcovers these days (disclaimer: I have one out now and it's a lot easier to sell a $3.99 e-book than a $16.47 hardcover). And while the The New York Times and the American Publishers Association say that industrywide sales of hardcovers are up 22 percent this year that seems hard to believe, especially since e-book sales have allegedly quadrupled since last year.

But just remember who's trying to control the narrative here. Amazon has an agenda. It wants to sell e-books. And lots of them.

Recently, I sat down with Ian Freed, an Amazon vice president in charge of the Kindle, to get a sneak peek at the new Kindles and discuss e-books and the Kindle business in general. Naturally, a good portion of the conversation centered on the design and features of Amazon's new e-readers, which you can read about here. But we also chatted about the e-book industry and Amazon's Kindle business in general. Here's a look at some of the more interesting parts of the conversation. Feel free to post your own analysis in the comments section.

CNET: You've been talking a lot lately about the growth rate of Kindle sales. You said it tripled...

Freed: There's actually two triplings. One is the number of e-books sold in the first quarter of 2009 versus the first quarter of 2010. And then the other is after we dropped the price of the Kindle to $189, we saw a tripling of the growth rate year over year [of the device itself].

Ian Freed

(Credit: Amazon)

CNET: How much of the rate of growth on the e-book side is attributable to the iPad and getting your app on these other devices like the iPhone and iPad?

Freed: Excellent question. Some numbers we haven't released before...80 percent of Kindle books we sell are sold to Kindle owners. They may have a Kindle app on a phone or an iPad or Mac or PC, but they at least have a Kindle. So 20 percent do not. I think it's a combination of the health of both businesses. The device business continues to grow with a device [the second-generation Kindle] that's over a year old, and then the content is growing both with the device sales and independently with the apps. We see a lot of customers start with apps and buy a Kindle later.

We see others who've had a Kindle for a year and half and have an Android phone and they've started using the Android phone for Kindle in the last month or so.

CNET: Now that most publishers have shifted to the "agency model" and are setting their own prices, how have the higher prices on many e-books impacted sales?

Freed: Happy to answer that. We have definitely seen a shift. We have data for the last 15 years on books. And since some of the publishers have decided to price their e-book above $9.99, we've definitely seen a shift of customers going to e-books that are $9.99 or less. The good news for them is that the selection of those books is very dramatic. We have about 630,000 books that are not public domain titles and of those 510,000 are sold for $9.99 or less. Of The New York Times best-sellers, 80 of them are $9.99 or less. So customers are voting with their pocketbook...

CNET: And how much of an impact are self-published titles having? Many of those are priced very cheaply.

Freed: We've had the self-publishing in place since we launched the first Kindle back in 2007. To my knowledge, I wouldn't say we've seen a shift to more purchases on the self-publishing side, with a couple exceptions. As people see the model--maybe a lot of authors who didn't think of self-publishing before the Kindle opportunity became large [are now self-publishing]. So we're probably just seeing more self-published books. The other thing I'd say is that when we made that 70 percent royalty option available, we cut a lot of those checks. Folks are deciding, yeah, I want to go with that option. That model is definitely working.

The new, more compact Kindle arrives August 27.

(Credit: Amazon)

CNET: Can you talk a little bit about the iPad's entry into the market and how you see things shaking out in the future? Obviously, e-book sales are growing at a rapid rate, but you now have some pretty big competitors trying to take market share.

Freed: First of all, with regard to the iPad, it's a totally different product. I mean, the product is a general-purpose tablet. We love that product because people use their iPads to buy a lot of products on Amazon. It's a tailwind for our e-commerce business. But for book reading it's substantially heavier than a Kindle; the battery life is 10 hours versus 4 weeks on the new Kindle, and you can't read it outside in the sun. The Kindle is absolutely purpose-built for reading and it's a product that people consider a tool for reading. It's not something that's more of a gadget. People really love their Kindle and they use it for reading and that's what they do with it and it's a practically designed tool for folks who want to read.

With regard to what'll happen [in the future] I'll say it is an opportunity for multiple companies to have competing products and there will be more than one winner in this market segment. Our focus is just on building the best products--and not just the product but the whole experience.

The American Association of Publishers has said that e-books have grown at about 200 percent year over year. Our sales are growing faster than that, so you can back into what that means in terms of segment share.

CNET: Well, Apple's saying it's got 20 percent market share and I've heard Barnes & Noble saying it's got 20 percent as well, so that would leave you guys with...

Freed: Honestly, something doesn't add up because we're pretty sure we're 70 to 80 percent of the market. So, something, somewhere isn't quite working right. I encourage you to do some more research. Obviously, from the beginning of Amazon we've been very metrics-focused and we don't typically throw out numbers we don't firmly believe in. Take that 70 to 80 percent number and add up all the others and something somewhere isn't going to add up.

CNET: A lot of people, including me, have said that you'd prefer not to be in the hardware business. That you just got into it to establish the market and that you'd prefer to sell razor blades--the e-books--rather than the razors.

Freed: I wouldn't actually say that. We really set up the businesses independently. We fully expect our device business to stand on its own. And we think of our device business as device and accessories. But we would expect our device business independent of accessories to be profitable. But normal-Amazon-profitable, which means we try to make it as inexpensive as possible yet make a fair profit.

CNET: And I assume you've factored in all the customer support and the back end on all this?

Freed: We have finance teams that build spreadsheets and look at all those factors. But another thing I can tell you about Amazon is that we are incredibly focused on improving customer service--not only in terms of service but frankly the cost to us. I can tell you, for example, that our customer service costs today compared to when we first introduced Kindle are way lower. So when we look at the device business, we look at it all in, with customer support and everything else, and ask whether it's a healthy business. The big thing about consumer electronics is that the more units you sell, the lower the overall cost. The more we sell, the more we can lower the costs across the board, which is what you're seeing with the new Kindles.

CNET: Partly for that reason we've been surprised by some of these smaller companies, even start-ups, are trying to get into the e-reader market.

Freed: What I would say about that is making the consumer experience really great, designing the hardware so it's beautiful and convenient and disappears when you read, and getting enough content and a good price--I think it's easy to underestimate how hard that is. You look at that and say, 'Oh, here's a big opportunity.' Well, I can say that how much we've improved in three years just shows how much we can continue to improve. And it's hard. Making all this work is hard. -

Written By: David Carnoy

(This article is actually two articles combined into one. Both articles were written by David Carnoy. Thanks David! -Tom) 

About the Author: Hunkered down in New York City, Executive Editor David Carnoy covers the gamut of gadgets and writes his Fully Equipped column, which carries the tag line "The electronics you lust for." He's also the author of "Knife Music," a novel that's available at Amazon, barnesandnoble.com, and as a free iPhone/iPad app (excerpt). E-mail David. Follow David on Twitter.

  Posted By: Tom Retterbush

Purdue OWL (Online Writing Lab)

InkPop

YA Books Central

 

 
Posted By: Tom Retterbush

 

You can stay up to date on the latest writing, publishing and book promotion trends by subscribing to my assetebooks' posterous Writing Experiment, but if you really want to stay on top of your game, check out my AssEtEbooks.com Writer's Blog, where you'll find all the news, tips, tricks, articles and ebooks you'll need and my AssEtEbooks.com Writer's Platform, where new or unknown writers can present, promote or even sell their new, self- or unpublished books. And while you're at it, you'll want to check out the many FREE and cheap Ebooks I offer on just about any and every subject you can possibly think of, at AssEtEbooks.com. Follow me on Twitter @tomretterbusch or @assetebooks

 

 

Do you have a website you think would make a good resource for AssEtEbooks.com visitors? You can reach me on Twitter at  @tomretterbusch or @assetebooks

One interesting news item this week is that Amazon says it sold more e-books than hardbacks in the past three books. According to The Wall Street Journal, “Over the past month, the Seattle retailer sold 180 Kindle books for every 100 hardcover books it sold, it said.” Does this news come close to reflecting your reading habits? Let us know by answering this poll question.

• Library
• Local bookstore
• Chain bookstore
• Second-hand bookstore
• Swap books with friends and family
• Online bookseller (this could be an e-book or hardback)
• My own bookshelf -- I have a lot of books that I still haven't read.
• Other -- let us know in the discussion.

Answers

Are you buying more e-books than hardbacks or paperbacks?

• No (59%)
• Yes (23%)
• I'm not purchasing any books right now. (13%)
• It's about 50/50. (5%) Total Votes: 115

Where do you usually get the books you read?

• Online bookseller (this could be an e-book or hardback) (37%)
• Library (20%)
• Second-hand bookstore (12%)
• Chain bookstore (11%)
• Local bookstore (9%)
• My own bookshelf -- I have a lot of books that I still haven't read. (6%)
• Other -- let us know in the discussion. (5%)
• Swap books with friends and family (0%) Total Votes: 109

Host: Mary Weilage 

 
Posted By: Tom Retterbush

 

You can stay up to date on the latest writing, publishing and book promotion trends by subscribing to my assetebooks' posterous Writing Experiment, but if you really want to stay on top of your game, check out my AssEtEbooks.com Writer's Blog, where you'll find all the news, tips, tricks, articles and ebooks you'll need and my AssEtEbooks.com Writer's Platform, where new or unknown writers can present, promote or even sell their new, self- or unpublished books. And while you're at it, you'll want to check out the many FREE and cheap Ebooks I offer on just about any and every subject you can possibly think of, at AssEtEbooks.com. Follow me on Twitter @tomretterbusch or @assetebooks