Speculation is mounting that Apple's imminent announcement will have huge implications for publishers and authors.

According to Walter Issacson's posthumous biography, Jobs believed that textbook publishing was an "$8 billion a year industry ripe for digital destruction." Destruction? Well, yes.  That is exactly what the internet is best at doing.  Consider what Craig's List has done to the newspaper classified ad sector... and hence, to newspapers themselves.  It's no stretch of the imagination to assume that this is what Jobs had in mind for the highly profitable textbook publishing market: to destroy it.

If so, Apple's pending announcement will have implications far beyond the insular world of textbook publishing. Many major publishers use their highly-profitable educational divisions to effectively subsidize trade publishing.  Sucking money out of the wider publishing ecosphere will impact everyone - not just textbook publishers.

There is also speculation that that Apple may launch a set of software tools intended to be the "GarageBand for e-books".  Again, if so - this will have nothing less than a revolutionary impact on every author: midlist, toplist or nolist.

Could this be a "One More Thing" moment from Steve Jobs - a legacy that might change the publishing universe?

Radio Litopia will be covering events as the happen, on Thursday 19th January.

Starting at 2:30pm UK time, we'll be broadcasting as much information as we can find from Apple's event itself.  Join us live to listen, watch the live video, and most importantly, to contribute your thoughts, links and comments in the chat room.  We're live from 2:30pm UK / 9:30am New York / 6:30am Pacific.

Later in the day, we'll be getting an expert panel together to discuss what the day's events might mean.  Hosted by Peter Cox, the panel will comprise:

*  Philip Jones - deputy editor of The Bookseller and founder of FutureBook;

*  John Pettigrew, Managing Editor, Education - Cambridge Learning / Cambridge University Press;

*  Alison Jones, Director of Digital Development, Palgrave Macmillan

*  Martyn Daniels - publishing industry consultant and blogger for the Booksellers' Association;

*  MJ Rose - legendary New York author, publicity guru & publishing commentator;

*  Huw Alexander - Rights & Digital Sales Manager for SAGE Publications.

Make sure you join us for this analysis and discussion! It starts at:

• 8pm UK
• 3pm EST
• 12 noon Pacific

Join us for what may be a momentous occasion - in the chat room - right here.

Photo by !efatima

Posted on January 18 2012