---
title: "Kevin Smokler Blogs for Powell’s Books"
description: "I haven't been paying attention to all the newsletters that I receive. Mostly there's one or two interesting things per week and I wonder why I bother subscribing. I'd love a human filter. Someone..."
url: https://somisguided.com/2006/01/15/kevin-smokler-blogs-for-powells-books/
date: 2006-01-15
modified: 2006-01-15
author: "Monique"
type: post
lang: en
---

# Kevin Smokler Blogs for Powell’s Books

I haven’t been paying attention to all the newsletters that I receive. Mostly there’s one or two interesting things per week and I wonder why I bother subscribing. I’d love a human filter. Someone who’s reading all the things I like and then posting just the relevant stuff for me. I do have many friends who acts as filter support so in return, here are my links to recent book news.

(http://www.powells.com), America’s best indie bookseller, has a blog and podcast. (http://www.wheretheressmoke.net/) is the guest blogger from Jan. 16 – 20. The Bookcast sound quality is okay but not great. It’s rather echoey and the blog is also okay. Lots of reviews, but some personality driven posts. I look forward to what Kevin will bring to it.

Amazon Connect: authors blog on Amazon.com. But it’s not a blog: no RSS feed and no comments.

(http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/topnews/wpn-60-20051229AmazonConnectsButItsNotBlogging.html)

Kiwis are using a site called (http://www.lulu.com) to post their books. Lulu offers free hosting and a free personal shop front for authors to display their work. Lulu also will print and post a paper copy in various bindings (paperback, hardcover, etc.). The only charge is 20% of the author’s royalty, if any. If the author waives royalties, a free electronic download is available. Sounds quite civilized.

(http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0512/S00048.htm)