WOWIO, Inc., an established market leader with an online destination (http://www.wowio.com/) that provides access to rich digital media content and eBooks, is offering free PDF downloads of The Painted Darkness, by Brian James Freeman, for the month of October. The book has received praise from New York Times bestselling authors such as Stewart O’Nan, author of The Night Country and A Prayer for the Dying, who said, “The tone and building dread reminds me of classic Stephen King.

Today’s authors need to be expert marketers.

At one time, authors were coddled and cosseted (a very, very long time ago). Today’s authors need to consider how they’re going to get that book sold, often long before the book is written.

Anyone who goes the route of self-publishing knows that they are responsible for getting the word out about their book, but many authors don’t realize that even the larger publishing houses have cut their marketing divisions down to such an extent that unless you’re a regular name on the New York Times Bestseller List, you’re not going to qualify for a marketing slush fund.

What does this mean for you?

If you have any intention of writing a book that will reach the audience you want to reach, you are going to have to do all the marketing for your book.

Even before you write the first word, you need to consider the following points:

• Who your audience is
• What they want to know
• Why they need your book
• How your book is going to help them better than anyone else’s book out there

I admire anyone who has the desire to write a book, especially a nonfiction book that is designed to share information that the author has and I don’t.

KidPub Press, publisher of books written by children, has released its 100th title. Established in 2008, KidPub Press helps kids ages 8 to 18 understand the publishing process by giving them a chance to publish their own book. The young authors work with an editor to get their manuscript into shape, then with a designer who helps them create a cover.

Author and Pastor Max Lucado has 100 million products in print since his first book was published 25 years ago. Lucado’s writings have been published in a wide variety of formats including trade books, gift books, children’s books, study Bibles, devotionals, commentaries, animated children’s videos, calendars, greeting cards, teaching curriculum and licensed gift products.

Of the 100 million products in print, 80 million are books.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is investigating agreements between the country’s largest e-book publishers and two of the largest sellers – Amazon.com, Inc. and Apple, Inc. — that may block competitors from offering cheaper e-book prices.

Both Amazon and Apple have reached agreements with the largest e-book publishers that ensure both will receive the best prices for e-books over any competitors — contract provisions known as “most favored nation” ( MFN ) clauses.

In letters to Amazon.Com and Apple, Blumenthal is calling on the companies to meet with his office to address these concerns.