PicPocket Books to Host 7/3 #storyappchat!

Lynette Mattke, co-founder and publisher of PicPocket Books will guest host THIS Sunday’s (July 3) #storyappchat! As many of you know, PicPocket Books is a prominent publisher of children’s book apps–the company has more than 100 apps in the Apple App Store.

This will be a great opportunity for writers/illustrators to find out more about how to get a storybook app published, and to discover more about what PicPocket Books is looking for in their next collection of apps. Bring your questions for Lynette and we look forward to seeing you at 9:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 3. In the meantime, visit the PicPocket Books website at http://www.picpocketbooks.com.

And: as a special bonus, Brooks will be giving away two copies of I Don’t Like Pink!, her storybook app published recently by PicPocket Books. Join us!

Chat Transcript: 6/26/11

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This was a bit of a hot topic: Apps vs. iBooks – Where do stories belong? and it did get the conversation moving! Some of the links shared during the chat:

@ipad_storytime: Yes, you can narrate & ‘follow along word by word’ in iBooks according to cnet article – http://cnet.co/kaZO6N

@brooks_jones: The @smashwords site says books still need ISBNs, and makes no mention of audio at all http://bit.ly/9UUduf

@davidbfox: Here’s Apple’s feature list for 1.3 http://t.co/F6vhCCj

@mendicantraf: here’s an O’Reilly webcast on digital pub tools on 6/30 http://t.co/ueAgVTU

 

Thanks to everyone who attended and shared information. Plan to stop by this (and every) Sunday for an hour of lively banter at 9:00 p.m. ET!

 

 

Topic for 6/26 #storyappchat

Seems like there is a lot of chatter today about Pottermore, J.K. Rowling and the wizarding world. While it’s hard to compete with that, I will at least share the topic for this Sunday’s #storyappchat:

iBooks vs. apps–do stories with limited or no interactivity belong in the iBookstore instead of the App Store?

There has been a recent push by Apple to move stories from its app marketplace into the iBookstore. Apple has even added the ability for content creators to add a voiceover to their stories published in the iBookstore. As developers, writers/illustrators and consumers: does this make sense? Do you enjoy content as apps, iBooks, or both? Which do you prefer? What are the advantages, if any, from a developer’s viewpoint? Where do stories ultimately belong?

Come and share your opinion at 9:00 p.m. ET on Sunday evening, June 26. I look forward to a lively discussion and will see you then!

Chat Transcript: 6/19/11

Wow–we had a fantastic chat last night. We put Chris from Moglue through the question wringer, but he didn’t seem to mind. It sounds like they are creating a very special platform for those of us who aren’t interested in learning how to write code to create apps.

In addition, we gave away four copies of the Three Little Pigs storybook app from Nosy Crow. Hooray!

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Thanks to everyone who participated, and a special thanks to the team at Moglue and the generous folks at Nosy Crow! Remember, we’ll be doing it again this Sunday at 9:00 p.m. ET. Look for the topic here in the next day or so!

Moglue to Guest Host 6/19 #storyappchat!

The guys at Moglue will be our very special guest hosts during this Sunday’s (6/19) #storyappchat, set for 9:00 p.m. ET.

Moglue was formed a little over a year ago by folks passionate about providing app-building tools to artists, writers and anyone who has a story to tell. Their tool allows anyone with a story idea to put together an interactive book app, and then publish it for the Apple App Store and/or the Android Market–no programming skills needed!

Join us THIS Sunday at 9:00 p.m. Eastern to find out more about them and their platform for creating storybook apps. Use the hashtag #storyappchat on Twitter to participate!

SPECIAL BONUS! The generous folks at Nosy Crow Apps have agreed to give away copies of their award-winning (and fabulous!) Three Little Pigs storybook app during Sunday’s chat. Don’t miss it!

Chat Transcript 6/12/11

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Open Mic Nite was lively this week, with friendly debates of app and ebook pricing, and discussions about funding (or lack thereof) for mobile technology in schools. Here are some of the tidbits shared during the chat:

@AppsforiPads: I do not understand why someone will pay B&N big bucks for a reg book, but think an app of the same book should be “free”

@LoreenLeedy I would rather buy 3 apps than to pay $15 for one book

@LMWArizona: @LoreenLeedy It’d be great if we had the technology to support it. No Ipads for kids in my schools. No wireless. No $.

@CristinaGetson: @LoreenLeedy Web-based books might be the answer for schools; then apps s/b available for students to use at home

Don’t miss out–plan to pull up a chair THIS Sunday, 6/19. Topic to be announced soon: watch this space!

Open Mic Night for #storyappchat THIS Sunday, 6/12

Plan to drop by the weekly #storyappchat this coming Sunday [June 12] at 9 p.m. Eastern for Open Mic Night. That’s right–the topic or topics are up to YOU. The possibilities are endless:

• Writers and illustrators: ask the developers about the ins and outs of getting your story built into an app or ebook
• Story app developers and story app service providers: meet and get to know talented digital artists and writers; find out what your users like and don’t like about your apps
• Moms, dads, teachers and caregivers: find out about new apps for your kids, and discover how they were created

Since you can create your own topic during the chat hour, there’s no reason why we won’t be seeing YOU this Sunday night at 9 p.m. ET. Use the #storyappchat hashtag, and tweet away!

P.S. if you are a Twitter newbie, don’t worry. Take a look at these handy tips from Debbie Ohi, and follow @storyappchat for chat updates throughout the week!

Chat Transcript: 6/5/11

Wow, what a fabulous chat! Will Terry claims to be a Twitter newbie, but you’d never have known it last night. Here’s some of what he shared with us during his first-ever Twitter chat:

“many artists and authors are afraid of ebooks but I think those who embrace them will be further ahead in the long run”

“I really believe that if you build an amazing app people will find it and share it and it will have a great opportunity to go big”

“In the end I can’t believe that I almost didn’t jump into the ebook arena when I did – it would have cost me BIG TIME!”

Thanks to everyone who came out for this, our best-attended chat so far. Read the rest of the transcript here–and we will see you THIS Sunday night at 9 p.m. ET!

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Will Terry to Guest Host During THIS Sunday’s Chat!

I am thrilled to share with you our special guest host for the 6/5/11 #storyappchat: Will Terry!

Will is the illustrator of 17+ children’s books for the print market, and has both written and illustrated a terrific story app titled Monkey and Croc. He is also one of the few people who a) both write and illustrate, b) has experience in both print and electronic publishing, and c) has published the same story in the Apple App Store, Amazon’s Kindle Store and the Barnes & Noble Nook Store.

Being the helpful guy that he is, he’s also put together several how-to videos on his site, designed to help other illustrators get better. I myself have been working through his ‘How to Illustrate Children’s Books‘ series, but he has a Photoshop class and an acrylic painting series as well.

He will be taking your questions THIS Sunday, June 5 during #storyappchat! In the meantime, read his bio, see his online portfolio and check out his blog. He is also on Facebook–and here’s his Twitter profile. I just can’t wait–can you? Join us at 9 ET!