New innovations are changing how we read

Some innovations bring dramatic changes our daily routines, but others modify what we do and help us to carry on some of the same activities in different ways. Both types of innovation have their place. Today I would like to talk about an innovation that fits in the second category.

As many of you know I work at a Christian start-up helping publishers and authors to bring their content into eBook format in an interactive environment. Our endeavor is called Novo Ink and I have had the privilege to bring hundreds of powerful resources online in the last few months.

But one of the projects I am most proud of (and one of the reasons I have not been blogging as much) is launching this week. It is our first Enhanced eBook that we are releasing. And it is a big one. We have partnered with David C. Cook to release Francis Chan's book Crazy Love in an enhanced edition.

Now other people are doing enhanced eBooks, but I want to talk about how we did ours and how these resources will change how we read. Most enhanced eBooks are a lot like DVD's with an "extras" menu of interviews, images, cut scenes, etc. However, that isn't going to change reading - that simply throws more information at info-saturated readers.

In this product I got to work with the editorial team at David C. Cook and we brainstormed how to bring video, audio and web resources into the book in a way that helps the reader gain clearer understanding, new insights and different perspectives. So instead of clunky transitions between an intro video and starting the book as it has always started, we integrated the new resources throughout the chapters. The team at Cook did a great job selecting video/audio/links that really bring home the ideas that Francis is sharing and allow you to see them in a new light.

In the end this version of Crazy Love has 10 videos, 9 audio clips and over 50 web links to videos, resources and devotionals. All that content relates directly to what is going on in the book and provides a rich ecosystem for Francis' idea.

These enhanced products, if done organically, will allow you to connect with the author, hear from them, interact with resources that they care about and learn in a deeper way. This innovation doesn't change the fact that you will read Crazy Love, but it will change what you get out of it and how you share it.

I am so excited to share this innovative product with each of you who have been a part of this "Innovation in Mission" journey for so long. I hope you will take the time to check it out and buy a copy to read. I have spent a lot of time with Francis (or so it seems from the amount of time with this content :) ) and I know that this resource will be a blessing as you seek to grow in your love for Jesus. Click here to check it out.

So as you consider your next innovation, ask yourself the question: "Is this innovation designed to change everything or is it focused on modifying an existing process." The answer to that question will be a very significant "ah-ha" moment on your journey!

The End of a Transition and the Beginning of a Journey

When we suddenly found ourselves in a liminal time of transition just a few months ago, I shared very openly about our process and about the lessons my wife Mindy and I were learning as we journeyed through a time of even greater dependence on God.

Thank you to each of you for being part of that journey. Your encouragement, connections and prayers along the way have made all the difference as we have strived to honor God through our transition. Over the past months I have written the following posts about our process:

• Transparency in Transition
• Open Sourcing Your Innovations
• Rethinking Publishing
• Serving Through an Interview
• What Happens When We Can Only Think at Starbucks

And now I write this post to share about how God has guided and directed us to a new phase of ministry. As you have seen from my posts of late, God has put the publishing industry on our hearts. Better said, God has burdened Mindy and I with a passion to help people communicate their ideas in new ways for a new century. This is not new, but in transition you always go back to the passions that God has given you and ask Him for a fresh perspective.

We did that over the past months. I interacted in great detail with many in the publishing field trying to identify what God is doing through the publishing of ideas to further His Kingdom. We asked the hard questions and looked for the key innovations that would be part of making God's Word and His work in the lives of believers available to more and more people.

At the end of that process God gave us the opportunity to join a new publishing start up called Novo Ink (www.novoink.com) in Colorado Springs. This new organization will be coming alongside content providers such as Christian publishers to help them move their current and back-list titles into a high definition, color eBook reader delivered by Zinio, a long-time digital content provider with over 7 million subscribers globally. These eBooks will be available on people's computers, iPhones, iPads and soon in the Android Market.

As of September 7, I have taken the role of Account Manager and I have the great pleasure of working with the publishing staff of the Christian publishers that decide to partner with Novo Ink to get their content into this new format and available for purchase. I am very excited about the potential because Zinio's platform has the ability to deliver static content in an excellent/high-quality experience but it also has the ability to deliver audio, video and Flash content within the books - helping Christian publishers make the jump to Enhanced eBooks and a more dynamic experience for readers.

Mindy and I will continue in the Generous Mind cause, including blogging on innovations in publishing as I move deeper into that arena along with innovations for ministry in general. We also will keep blogging about our latest book Through the River: Understanding Your Assumptions About Truth and encourage you to purchase a copy and take time to think through how you understand truth.

Again, it is with great humility and thankfulness that we write this note. We owe so much to each person that is part of the Generous Mind cause. We look forward to your comments and your thoughts as we begin this new journey.

P.S. To follow along as Novo Ink launches in the coming weeks/months please connect in these ways:
Web: www.novoink.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/novoink
Twitter: www.twitter.com/novoink