In the beginning there were books. Millions upon millions of books were published over the centuries educating and entertaining the masses, and serving as the main vehicle to pass on all human knowledge. Books weren’t perfect, but they served their purpose and all was good.

Then, suddenly and without warning, everything changed. A new communication platform called the internet came alive and altered the landscape dramatically. Information could be packaged and distributed in ways never before dreamed. Books were no longer the primary or even the preferred way to communicate information. But there was a problem. Publishers of books were slow to take advantage of the internet. Restricted by their current business models and disinclined to understand the significance, publishers made only incremental improvements leveraging the internet instead of the significant advances that were possible.

Introducing NetAware Media
This is the beginning of not only a new blog, but a new company. NetAware Media is the name of a new publishing company I’m starting with the aim of bringing a fresh perspective to the tired world of technical book publishing. This blog, Publishing Hacks, will be my main vehicle for discussing the ideas and issues I’ve had pent up over the last 7 years while working with a variety of print and online publishers.

First up, I’m going to cover the main ideas on which I’m founding the company. It is a manifesto of sorts for internet publishing. It is a work in progress. I’m joining the Conversation that has heated up in the last couple of years and I hope you will too.