Mackie Burt, Basking Ridge Local Publishes Novel

StudioW Announces Launch of EBook Novel ABOVE

Inaugural 4-book series kicks off multi-modal distribution plan for subsidiary Carthay Circle Publishin

LOS ANGELES, March 7, 2013 – StudioW, a digital media company specializing in the creation and monetization of rich media content developed from books, comics and original published material, announced today the release of the eBook novel ABOVE under the company’s newly-formed publishing label, Carthay Circle Publishing.  In a string of “firsts”, the Young Adult title is the first of four novels in a series created by first-time novelist, Mackie Burt, who started writing the book series at the age of 16, originally from Basking Ridge, NJ.  The book also represents the first publishing title to be released under the new label and will be the basis of a broad multiple media launch.  “ABOVE is a wonderful story about Guardian Angels and the interaction between the world here on earth and that of ABOVE,” said StudioW Chief Executive Officer, Brian Altounian.  “This is going to be a hit with the TWILIGHT crowd and the fact that it's been written by a young author makes the story even that much better.”

Carthay Circle Publishing is developing the brands for both ABOVE and its author by strategizing a social media push and contemplating other online content to supplement the story, providing a broad awareness and multiple “entry points” to the world created by this brilliant young writer.  As part of that broad brand awareness campaign, the company initially released a preview version of the story through a new online magazine publishing portal called Glossi.com and made a special 4-chapter preview available for free downloads as well.  The eBook will be released today on StudioW’s flagship eBook distribution platform, wowio.com, for an exclusive period of 3 months.  After that time, different variations of the book will then be released across other eBook channels to be made available for the Kindle, iPad, Nook, Kobo and other platforms.  The company contemplates an audiobook version and eventually a print version as well as other secondary distribution paths.  “Each eBook version will be slightly different,” continued Altounian, “with the goal of providing something endemic to the platform that furthers the story experience for the reader.”

“When Brian pitched us the distribution and branding campaign that StudioW envisioned, we realized that this was not a typical publishing deal – we were extremely excited that their vision matched the scope of ours,” said Barry Tropp, Mackie’s producer, business partner and mentor.  “The fact that they thought about a broader reach beyond just print and eBooks made us feel like we had a true partner who would allow us to participate fully in the launch of our project.” 

Carthay’s multiple media model represents a new form of competition in the rapidly changing digital book market dominated by big competitors such as Amazon, Apple, Barnes&Noble, and Kobo’s ebook publishing sites. E-book sales have surged in the last several years and accounts for more than 20 percent of the top 4 publishers’ worldwide revenues. While this change in buyer’s attitude and increase for digital releases is a threat to print books and bookstores, it has become the way of life for buyers to read books through their electronic devices.  “After 4 years of building this universe, pouring my heart and soul into these characters and this world, I was thrilled to see how Carthay Circle Publishing developed this social media opportunity to help me reach my readers,” added Mackie Burt, “as an author, I just want the most amount of people to read my stories as possible and I feel we are well along the way to get there now.  I couldn’t be more excited.”

About WOWIO/Studio W

WOWIO/Studio W is a digital entertainment company specializing in the creation and monetization of rich media content developed from books, comics and original published material.  The Company is widely known for owning an exclusive patent, which enables the insertion of advertisements into eBooks (patent number 7,848,951) generating online and mobile advertising revenues. Through this proprietary patent, along with the Studio W digital distribution platform, the company has been able to reach and deliver content to consumers at reduced costs.  The company is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.

Carthaycirclepublishing.com

WOWIO.com