Firebrand Technologies

Metadata Minute (Issue #22): Christmas in July—Planning Ahead for Holiday Metadata Trade nonfiction titles are one of the most competitive genres in publishing. In May 2024, sales in this category were up 9% year-over-year, with continued growth into early 2025. Every new release has bestseller potential, but standing out in… Read more

Booksmarts Podcast (Ep #56): Phil Madans on Book Publishing Next and the Importance of Metadata Phil Madans is a seasoned publishing executive with over 42 years of experience in trade publishing, including more than a decade as Executive Director of Digital Publishing Technology at Hachette Book Group. Throughout his career,… Read more

Metadata Minute (Issue #22): Christmas in July—Planning Ahead for Holiday Metadata While the holiday shopping season officially kicks off in late fall, the most effective metadata prep starts well before the leaves begin to change. With nearly 25% of annual book sales occurring during the winter holidays—and many shoppers beginning… Read more

Booksmarts Podcast (Ep #56): The Importance and Future of Book Reviewing with Ann Kjellberg Ann Kjellberg is the Founding Editor of the Book Post book review, an innovative newsletter-based book review service which delivers thoughtful, in-depth literary criticism from distinguished writers directly to subscribers’ inboxes. With nearly 30 years of experience… Read more

Metadata Minute (Issue #21): How to Audit Metadata for Backlist Titles in 2025 In 2025, metadata isn’t just administrative, it’s strategic. Good metadata is the key to driving discoverability, retailer rankings, library interest, and backlist sales. Yet many publishers still leave older titles untouched, assuming that what worked at launch… Read more

Booksmarts Podcast (Ep #55): The Future of eReaders with Len Edgerly Len Edgerly is the host of the Kindle Chronicles podcast, a long-running show dedicated to exploring digital reading technologies and publishing innovations. He joins the BookSmarts Podcast to discuss the evolving landscape of e-reader technology, sharing insights from his… Read more

Metadata Minute (Issue #20): Poetry Metadata Essentials In the niche but passionate world of poetry, discoverability depends on more than just beautiful language—poetry books need precise metadata that highlights the collection’s voice, themes, and appeal in order to find the right readers. Here are some poetry-specific metadata strategies to help… Read more

Booksmarts Podcast (Ep #54): Booktrovert—a Brand New Consumer Marketing Platform Kristina Radke is the Senior Vice President of Business Growth and Engagement at NetGalley. She joins the BookSmarts Podcast to launch of Booktrovert, a new consumer marketing platform for publishers and authors. Booktrovert allows for easy creation of marketing campaigns… Read more

Metadata Minute (Issue #19): The Importance of Metadata for Libraries Libraries are powerful partners in book discovery, but connecting with them requires thoughtful metadata strategies. With limited budgets and unique needs, libraries depend on metadata to make purchasing decisions—especially when buying digital titles. Publishers who invest in detailed, targeted metadata… Read more

BookSmarts Podcast (ep. 53): Daniel Berkowitz on Advertising Strategies for Publishers & Authors Daniel Berkowitz is the Ad Sales Director for Bookshop.org, an online bookstore with a mission to financially support local, independent bookstores. He is also the founder of AuthorPop, a one-stop shop for every author’s digital needs. He… Read more

Metadata Minute (Issue #18): Cookbook Metadata Essentials In the crowded cookbook market, getting your book noticed requires precise metadata that captures its unique flavor. With the right metadata, you can connect with the perfect audience, enhance discoverability, and boost sales. Here are some cookbook-specific metadata strategies to help your titles… Read more

BookSmarts Podcast (ep. 52): Bryan Heathman on How AI Is Shaping the Audiobook Industry Bryan Heathman is the CEO of Made for Success Publishing, a book publishing company that specializes in selling audiobooks. . He joins the BookSmarts Podcast to discuss how AI technology is transforming the audiobook industry, specifically… Read more

You worked hard on creating the perfect children’s book for your audience, but are you including the 𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 metadata to get it discovered by parents?? Read more

BookSmarts Podcast (ep. 51): Margaux Weisman on “The Value of Foreign Rights for Publishers” Margaux Weisman is the former Director of Business Development at DropCap Inc., a tech-enabled rights agency and a global rights marketplace used by rights agents and acquisitions around the world to find great books. She joins… Read more