New digital initiative from Quick Reads Thursday, February 25, 2010 - 12:16

From World Book Day, Thursday 4th March, the new Quick Read titles - from bestselling authors including Cathy Kelly, Andy McNab, Peter James, Rolf Harris and Alvin Hall - will be available as apps on the Apple iPod and iPhone and as downloads direct to computers and e-readers. To kick-off the digital campaign, one title - The Thief by Ruth Rendell - will be available as a free download for the week of launch. More information is available on the Quick Reads website.  

Kathy Gale, Quick Reads Project Director, said:

"This is an important step for Quick Reads. Over the past five years we have undertaken a major outreach campaign to provide people who are not reading with great books designed to get them hooked. With Quick Reads available digitally on computers and phones, we are not expecting them to come to the printed book, we are taking books to them. Talks are underway with other digital providers and we hope to have more to announce soon."

With Quick Reads available digitally on computers and phones, we are not expecting ... [people] to come to the printed book, we are taking books to them.

Kathy Gale, Quick Reads Project Director

The apps, produced by award-winning digital publisher Enhanced Editions, allow users to choose their font and text size. They also use the device accelerometer (which detects when the device is being tilted) to scroll the page, offer a bedtime-friendly night reading mode and encourage users to send excerpts to friends via email. All of the Enhanced Editions apps come with a short sample of the other nine titles, plus a live feed of the latest news about the authors and partners involved in Quick Reads.

The digitization of Quick Reads will make a great difference to adult learners, particularly those with dyslexia or impaired sight, who may find it difficult to access print of any kind. With Quick Reads available on computers, mobile phones and e-readers, learners can manipulate text on a screen to their convenience as well as use a screen reader.

Quick Reads are part of a campaign to get more people reading in the UK and Ireland. They are short, sharp shots of entertainment - fast, fun books by bestselling writers and celebrities which prove that books can be as exciting as an action film and as thrilling as a theme-park ride. Since its inception in March 2006, over one and a quarter million Quick Reads have reached new readers.