Web-based book sections on the rise

Jenny Shank, editor for New West's books and writers section, tells me that her site needs more hits. I'll vouch for the fact that the site deserves more attention. Over the past few months, it's featured stories about Wyomingites Annie Proulx and Mark Spragg. Last fall, it did a story on the Wyoming Authors Wiki sponsored by the Wyoming Center for the Book. It's also a good way to discover book signings, readings, bookfests, and other literary events in the Rocky Mountain region.

One other thing: newspaper book sections are disappearing at an alarming rate. Newspapers are experiencing slumping readership and advertising. They cite those factors -- and others -- as reasons to drop literary supplements. I've read a number of columns by outraged writers and readers decrying this trend. I'm a big fan of writing outraged (and possibly outrageous) columns. But it's a bit like howling at the moon. Web-based publications are on the rise and print pubs --newspapers especially -- are dying.

So check out New West Books and Web del Sol and the interesting array of litblogs such as bookslut and Maud Newton and Beatrice.