The traditional publishing industry has been overtaken by digital media, and it has only very slowly begun to make any adjustments to its outdated, advance-heavy, return-burdened business model. Celebrities and established authors have kept churning out titles, but as agents and editors look for the next bestsellers, more and more new authors have been turning to self-publishing, and even press-published books have been languishing without the publicity or reviews they might have gotten even a few years ago.

With the right criteria for reviewing books, though, paired with the right structures for engaging readers, books might still survive the industry’s decline. By offering authors listings in return for three reviews of other authors’ books, the newbooksite will not just provide access and honest reviews for new authors, but as the site acquires titles, authors and readers alike will have what they do not currently have: a reliable tool for browsing and evaluating new titles, and a format that raises the likelihood that readers will find the emerging authors who interest them.

As of January 1, 2010, this site is in development, and a designer is helping with branding and layout. Check the site for updates.