September 17, 2008 Book Publishers To Discuss How Technology Affects Industry

Barbara Peters and Robert Rosenwald, owners of Poisoned Pen Books and Poisoned Pen Press in Scottsdale, Ariz., will discuss both the mystery genre and the state of publishing in America in a lively program co-sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and the Mystery Writers of America. The program is part of the center’s Books & Beyond author series.

“Books—Before and Beyond: Publishing in the 21st Century” will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7, in the Montpelier Room on the sixth floor of the Madison Building of the Library of Congress at 101 Independence Ave. S.E. The program is free and open to the public; no tickets are required.

Drawing on their longtime experience in bookselling, publishing and editing, Peters and Rosenwald ask, “How does the medium influence the message?” Their program will take a brief look at book and print technology past, present and future, and how electronic manuscript submissions, e-books, digital ink and wireless reading devices have affected the industry. The publishers will also talk about the potential of digital rights management. Other trends in the industry, such as the interplay of Web and print media, the use of video trailers for books, the popularity of the graphic novel and gaming based on books will be a part of the program.

Peters and Rosenwald founded the Poisoned Pen Bookstore in 1989. Peters also serves as editor and Rosenwald as publisher of Poisoned Pen Press, which has published more than 100 authors and has more than 600 titles in print.

Peters—a former librarian at the Library of Congress—and Rosenwald started Poisoned Pen Press because, as Peters says, “By 1997, we had become more and more aware that good books we wanted to sell had vanished from our shelves.”

The Library of Congress, the nation's oldest federal cultural institution, is the world's preeminent reservoir of knowledge, providing unparalleled collections and integrated resources to Congress and the American people. Many of the Library’s rich resources and treasures may also be accessed through the Library’s Web site www.loc.gov and via interactive exhibitions on a new, personalized Web site at www.myLOC.gov.

The Center for the Book was created in 1977 to stimulate public interest in books and reading. With its many educational programs that reach readers of all ages, through its support of the National Book Festival and through its dynamic state centers in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, the Center for the Book has developed a nationwide network of organizational partners dedicated to promoting the wonders and benefits of reading. The center’s Books and Beyond author series brings writers of all genres to the Library of Congress to discuss their work. For information about its programs, publications and national reading-promotion networks, visit www.loc.gov/cfbook/.

Mystery Writers of America is the premier organization for mystery writers, professionals allied to the crime-writing field, aspiring crime writers and those who are devoted to the genre. With 11 chapters covering all 50 states, the organization provides scholarships for writers; sponsors "MWA Reads," a youth literacy program; and conducts other activities that further a better appreciation of and higher regard for crime writing. For further information visit www.mysterywriters.org/.