Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Product Placement in books?

"Find Me I'm Yours" is a new e-book (and cross-platform story) that was funded, in part, by $1.3 million dollars from the people behind the artificial sweetener Sweet'N Low.

Yep, you read that right.

The New York Times article about product placement in e-books

According to this recent New York Times article, in the e-book, the main character paints her nails to look like Sweet'N Low packets, and in one scene defends her use of the product to a friend, citing the company's research.

While it's targeted to adult readers (mainly women), it is a fascinating foray into what one possible future of publishing might look like. We've come to accept -- and expect -- that when a character on a TV show drinks a Coca-Cola, it's sponsored. We accept/expect it in movies, too.

And now, it would seem, this is becoming true for books as well.

Can teen novels be that far behind?

Illustrate and Write On,
Lee

p.s. - This blog post was NOT sponsored by either Sweet'N Low or Coca-Cola. Just so you know.

3 comments:

laurasalas said...

I'm surprised it hasn't happened in kids' books yet! Glad, but surprised. Coming soon, new versions of NCTE Notables books:

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library (as brought to you by Petrone)

Etched in Sculpey Clay: The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter and Poet

Look Up! Bird Watching in Your Own Backyard (with Nikon Binoculars)

The Pop Rocks Candy Smash

:>)

orthodoxmom3.com said...

Oh this is hideous....not only do I not support the idea of using books to promote a product, but Sweet N Low?? Ugh... totally toxic :(

Stacey Shubitz said...

I hope CCFC will get involved to keep product placements out of -- at a bare minimum -- children's books!