Okay, let me repeat that: Twitter does not sell books. And by that, I mean, authors who write really valuable, amusing, aha-moment Twitter feeds--they sell books. By being engaging, authors build a following, and ultimately, increase their book sales. A simple formula that somehow, authors make more complicated. Then, you...

Think about movie launches: The big ones have trailers and licensed toys and behind-the-scenes blogs, stars a-Twittering -- well before the movie appears. Soon, one can imagine, the publishing world will be no different. Trends do tend to go where the money is, and right now, according to a story...

Recently I went to an event where a very smart man in ad sales remarked, "for the consumer in 2010, convenience, cost and confusion reign." He is so right, and his savvy observation was backed up today in a report by Robert Passikoff, Ph.D. who observed...

Be my Valentine? Nah. This year, we want to be your Momshell. Your MILF. We want to head out on date night wearing Skinny Mom Jeans. I swear, the hot-mama obsession has reached peak level. A few weeks back there was the Octomom, rearing her lovely rear on the cover...

Americans have collectively slipped on a banana peel of really bad judgment. It seems like an odd thing to be happy about, but I think this collective bad Karma gives authors a chance to reinvent the self-help category and steer the ship away from the schlocky "5 Steps to a...

You want to learn about a new release before you buy it--or, maybe, discover more about a writer by watching a 'book trailer', as the category is known. Very trendy of you. Video as a marketing medium is hot. A record 31 billion videos--of all types, not just about books--were...

The problem with trying to stay healthy is that, well, you have to try to stay healthy. It takes effort. But because no single thing is more depleting to your health than being bored to death by the very topic, I am offering a few reading suggestions -- all affiliated...

Admit it--2010 is not the decade to have no idea how to cook. Why? Because the way I see it, eating and entertaining at home not only saves you money, it can also save you from consuming heaps of butter and oil and hidden calories that chef's love to sneak...

Several weeks ago I went on a search for the new pin-up girl of the publishing world. What kind of author was getting all the attention? I'm not talking about the Sarah Palin Media Monster types--I wanted to know about the small fries flying coach and blogging from their couches...

We are a nation of armchair dieters, who love to curl up (or stand at the kitchen counter) with a good Don't Eat This; Do Eat That guide. Money may be tight. Our pants may be tighter, and still, diet books sell: Master Your Metabolism, a drop-the-flab plan from NBC's...

One of my favorite topics of conversation is what I call Oddball Signs of the Recession. A colleague at Good Housekeeping recently told me that dentists see flossing rates drop in a recession, and my 97-year-old grandmother isn't the only one whose noticed the long line at the local library...