There seems to be a trend developing of traditional publishers buying sites that sell services to self-publishers. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/07/19/uk-pearson-acquisition-idUKBRE86I0OQ20120719 

Here's a blog that provides some useful tips for self-publishers.

http://taleist.com/ 

This looks like an interesting site to explore, with resources and contacts that may be of use:

http://www.completelynovel.com/ 

Crowdfunding seems to be an interesting concept for digitally self-published authors. Here's an interesting crowdfunding site that does have literary projects on its lists: 

http://www.kickstarter.com/

http://www.kickstarter.com/discover/categories/publishing?ref=home_spotlight 

It's coming to the UK soon too: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18780184

Maybe this is a way to fund professional edits, cover design, website design etc. for the promotion of a novel. There's a need to provide backers with some form of reward. From examples I have seen (yes, fantasy novel included), the rewards could be exclusive ebooks, acknowledgments in the published work, tweeting and blogging mentions, paperbacks, hardbacks, naming rights over characters, commissioned work ... everything seems possible.

Here's a link to The Creative Penn, a business blog with some useful resources.

http://www.thecreativepenn.com/ 

Here's a link to Poets & Writers, a US publication and reference source:

http://www.pw.org/ 

Here's a link to the Alliance of Independent Authors:

http://allianceindependentauthors.org/ 

Here's an interesting blog:

http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/book-marketing/does-your-ebook-need-its-own-isbn/ 

Here's what you need to know:

http://www.isbn.nielsenbook.co.uk/controller.php?page=158 

Here's an interesting article:

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-18438_7-10119891-82/self-publishing-a-book-25-things-you-need-to-know/