Authors Guild Silent Over iBooks Text-To-Speech

I haven't been writing long enough to have a strong opinion about the Authors Guild. However, I found this posting on Slashdot interesting.
It seems that the Authors Guild stopped Amazon from including text-to-speech by default on all ebooks (it's available on some, but not others, depending on the publisher). However, they aren't bothering to insist that Apple do the same. I'm not sure the reason, but on the surface, it does look like a double standard. Hopefully, they will ask Apple to get in line soon.

I've just updated my homepage; adding two free short stories. Monster, in the Mirror and Steve, Space Stowaway. I've even added links so you can download them to your ereader.

Ralph Lauren Disguising Fall Catalog as Kid's eBook

The Wall Street Journal ran an interesting story about Ralph Lauren disguising a clothes catalog as an eBook for kids. I guess it's never too early to start indoctrinating kids to be mindless consumers.
"Dr. Seuss and Shel Silverstein may have some competition in the children's book department, thanks to Polo Ralph Lauren's first storybook, "The RL Gang." But unlike Mr. Seuss and Mr. Silverstein, Ralph Lauren and his team have created an online virtual experience... [and] Since it's never too early to teach children to shop online, young readers will also be able to click and purchase fall pieces, including the ones worn by characters in the story."

They are donating 15% of the proceeds to a charity, probably to soften the backlash. Hopefully, most parents realize this is a marketing ploy.

SCBWI to become eBook Publisher?

That's the advice given to the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) by Rubin Pfeffer (some industry bigshot) in his speech given at their annual conference. I'm not sure this is really such a good idea, but it's an interesting concept none the less.