In today’s world, speaking a second language is a great advantage. But there’s one widely-used language that you can’t learn with a Rosetta Stone: the language of non-verbal cues. Non-verbal behavior expert Joe Navarro explains that an estimated 80 percent of our communication with others is in unspoken gestures. So if you’re not picking up on those cues, you’re missing a lot. In his Vook, Louder Than Words, Navarro, who has 30 years of research under his belt, explains how to pick up on non-verbal behaviors and decipher what they mean. It’s the kind of insight that can serve you well in business and in life.

Much of Navarro’s skill was honed during his 25 years in the FBI catching spies, but he’s always had a natural gift for it. (He was one of the only police officers actively recruited by the FBI). Navarro might remind you of another uncannily gifted detective: the legendary Sherlock Holmes. Given their shared knack for picking up on the seemingly imperceptible, Navarro was the perfect expert to feature in our Sherlock Holmes Vook, The Sherlock Holmes Experience.

After all, nobody was better at reading clues than Sherlock Holmes, arguably the world’s most talented fictional detective. If you’re a fan of Holmes, you know that at the end of every story, Holmes seems to pull together clues out of thin air to solve a case. But Navarro explains the method behind the madness; Holmes didn’t pull answers out of thin air. He deduced them through careful observation and an excellent understanding of people. Fortunately, you don’t have to be born with those skills, you can learn them.

That’s why it was so exciting when we teamed up to do Navarro’s book as a Vook. In Louder Than Words, he explains how understanding non-verbal communication helps us to get ahead in all areas of life, especially business. His video on the Sherlock Holmes Vook just scratches the surface, but in his own work, he delves deep into years of research and explains the many possible applications. We could go on and on how how important this is, but maybe you’d rather see for yourself. After all, actions speak louder than words…

It’s a fact: Vampires are back and bigger than ever. And while we certainly owe some of the resurgence to Twilight, there’s another vampire expert getting some serious attention right now: Anne Rice. Why? Because she took a plunge into the realm of mixed media and made a Vook — The Master of Rampling Gate.  Now, as an early adopter of the Vook, her vampires are in the news in a big way. Even celebrity blogger Perez Hilton, who hardly ever writes about books, took note of the launch with a post called “Why Didn’t Stephanie Meyer Get This Memo” asking, “Seriously, Twilighters: how come you guys don’t have cool shiz like this?”

Anne already had a great fan base, but she needed to spark interaction on her social media sites. She has a staggering 57,000 followers on Facebook and over 10,000 followers on Twitter. The Master of Rampling Gate Vook was an immense draw that got readers interested, engaged and effusive. When she hosted an online chat with her Facebook fans, they were beyond enthusiastic both about Rice herself, and The Master of Rampling Gate. One fan gushed, “There were so many great features. It was beautifully produced and I think the video and pictures set a great atmosphere for appreciating the story.” Another observed, “Vook is a fabulous outlet for contemporary novelists.”

Not only were Rice’s fans thrilled, but so was the author herself. She would certainly agree that Vook was great outlet, not just as medium for creative innovation and inspiration, but also as a way to reconnect with her audience.  She was delighted with the new and exciting benefits her Vook offered her as an author, and effused, “I would love to write another story for Vook. Very exciting. No doubt we will be talking about this in the future!

First of all: a big “thank-you” to everyone in the Vook community who has joined us on this exciting journey into the future of publishing. Things are happening fast around here and we’re getting lots of positive media attention. Today, The Huffington Post picked up an article from Tech News Daily about our potential to be a “kindle killer” and we’re getting plenty of mentions as a top app to look for when the iPad comes out.

But the feedback we really want to get is from you. If you have purchased a Vook, we’d love to hear about your experience and how we can make it even better. If you could take a few minutes to fill out this survey, we’d appreciate it. To show our appreciation, we’re offering one randomly chosen survey responder a free $100 iTunes gift card.

Please click HERE now to fill out the survey.

Let us know what worked, what didn’t and what we should be focusing on next. Not only will you impact the future of Vook, but you might even win an iTunes gift card.

We can’t wait to hear from you!

Official Rules Of VOOK Survey Sweepstakes

Below are the official rules for the Survey Sweepstakes for the Vook Community Survey.

No Purchase Necessary to Enter or Win. Void where prohibited.

Eligibility: Open only to legal residents of the District of Columbia and the fifty United States who are 18 years of age or older. This Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited or restricted.

To Enter:  You (”Entrant”) may enter this Sweepstakes by filling out all required sections and successfully transmitting to Sponsor the online survey. Each Entrant who meets all eligibility requirements will be automatically entered in the Sweepstakes.  Alternate E-Mail Entry:  To enter without filling out the online survey, Entrant may send an email with the words “VOOK SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY” in the Subject Line and your complete name, address, home telephone number, and e-mail address to info@vook.com.  Limit one entry per person and/or email address. Incomplete entries are void and will be disqualified.  Sponsor is not responsible for malfunctions of electronic or telephone equipment, computer hardware, software, malfunctions of Entrant’s email provider or ISP, late, lost, incomplete misdirected entries or entries not received in time for the drawing.  Use of a street address is required and cannot include a PO Box, PMB, AP/FPO or similar address.

Entries as well as answers to the online survey become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned.  Proof of mailing or transmission does not constitute proof of delivery.  Online entries will be deemed to have been submitted by the Entrant utilizing the e-mail address on file with Sponsor. The Sweepstakes begins October 5, 2009 and ends October 7, 2009. Only those entries submitted and received during the aforementioned dates are eligible to win.  In case of a dispute as to the identity of the Entrant using the Internet, the authorized account holder of the email address used to enter the Sweepstakes at the time of entry will be considered the entrant.

Prizes and Timing : Grand Prize: One (1) Grand Prize Winner will receive a $100 iTunes® gift card.  Ten (10) Second Place Winners will receive a $10 iTunes® gift card.  Approximate Value: TOTAL PRIZE VALUE is $200.00.  Approximate retail value (ARV) of prizes is $200.00.  Odds of receiving a prize depend on the number of entries. One winner of the Grand Prize and ten Second Place Winners will be selected by random drawing from all eligible entries received.  To be eligible, entry must comply with these Official Rules and be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on October 7, 2009.  The drawing will be held on or about October 8, 2009. Winner will be notified by email and/or telephone.

Miscellaneous: All federal, state and local taxes, and all income and any other taxes, fees and surcharges will be the sole responsibility of the winner.  No substitution, assignment or transfer of prize is permitted except by Sponsor due to unavailability, in which case a similar prize of equal or greater value will be provided. Sponsor is not responsible or liable for the acts of third parties.  Sponsor will not replace any lost or stolen items.  Only stated prizes will be awarded and prizes have no cash value.  The Sweepstakes is governed by the laws of the State of California, with venue and jurisdiction in San Francisco, California, and all claims must be resolved in the courts of San Francisco, California. By entering, Entrant agrees: (1) to release Sponsor from all liability, loss or damage arising out of his/her participation in the Sweepstakes and with respect to his/her acceptance and use/misuse of the prize; (2) to be bound by these Official Rules; and (3) that the decisions of the judges are final and binding on all matters relating to the Sweepstakes. In the event the Sweepstakes is compromised by a non-authorized human intervention or other causes beyond the control of Sponsor which, in the opinion of Sponsor, corrupt or impair the administration, security, fairness or proper play, or if the Sweepstakes cannot be operated, conducted or completed as planned, for any reason, Sponsor reserves the right in its sole discretion to suspend, cancel, modify or terminate the Sweepstakes. Should the Sweepstakes be terminated prior to the stated expiration, notice will be posted at http://www.vook.com/blog.  Winners List: To receive a list of winners after October 8, 2009, mail a self-addressed stamped envelope to:  VOOK LLC, Attention: VOOK Survey SWEEPSTAKES, 1100 Marina Village Parkway, Ste. 102, Alameda, CA  94501.

Please write info@vook.com for a copy of the official rules. © 2009.  VOOK LLC.  All Rights Reserved.

Sponsor:  VOOK LLC, 1100 Marina Village Parkway, Ste. 102, Alameda, CA  94501.

Worried that nothing technologically newsworthy is going to happen before the iPad comes out on April 3rd? Fear not! There’s a big, exciting launch today – We’re releasing Seth Godin’s Unleashing the SUPER Ideavirus Vook. And for a limited time, we’re reducing the price from $4.99 to only 99 cents!

Unleashing the Ideavirus was the most downloaded e-book of all time, and the Vook version completely updates it with 18 incredible new videos and insights from Seth that puts the book on today’s bleeding edge.

With the Unleashing the SUPER Ideavirus Vook you can read, watch, explore new concepts on the Web and share assets from the Vook with your friends. And you can take it everywhere with you on your iPhone. These strategies can be absorbed and spread faster than you can say, “God Bless You.”

Vook worked with the Brooklyn based production company Captain & The Fox to produce the videos — and the filmmakers really made this one a success. Not just complimentary to the text, the videos actually update the book and bring its core lessons into the world where we live today. The themes of Ideavirus are enduring, but companies change, disappear and grow. Luckily, our filmmakers move at the speed of creative inspiration. That expertise and sharp eye combined with Seth’s reflections and insight make for an incredible package.

You can find the Webbased version of the Vook on Vook.com.

And you can get the iTunes app in the iTunes store.

The Vook’s a tremendous value at only 99 cents (for a limited time!) and we’re sure you’re going to love it as much as we do. It’s one of the best Vooks we’ve ever made.
Best,

Team Vook

Twitter: @vooktv

Anne Rice has created some of the most powerful and captivating vampire stories in literature—and we were overjoyed when she agreed to work with us. Today, you can see why we were so excited with the release of Anne Rice’s The Master of Rampling Gate Vook. We’re thrilled with this title and we want as many people as possible to read it—so for a limited time, we’re discounting the Vook from its $4.99 list price to a special limited time price of only .99 cents.

At only .99 cents, this Vook is a steal. It features a vampire story written at the height of Anne Rice’s fascination with the dark, entrancing creatures. The entire story is enhanced with seven sharp, engaging videos about vampires, the black plague, the gothic style and Anne Rice herself.

Anne Rice has been a critical part of the Vook’s creation, working with our New Orleans based filmmaker Phinizy Percy to make videos that add a whole new element to the story. Phinizy’s creative vision fit seamlessly with Anne’s. As he told us, “My favorite part of working on the Master of Rampling Gate Vook had to be listening to all of Anne Rice’s interview from her home in Rancho Mirage. The experience of the reader is not only enhanced by both relevant background and history, but also hearing directly from Anne Rice. Seeing her “at work,” provides so much more depth and realism to the story.”

Don’t miss this incredible Vook. Check it out in the iTunes store. Or go to Vook.com to pick up the Web version. Either way, prepare to immerse yourself in a haunting, seductive tale from Anne Rice, packed with videos that give you a new and captivating look into her world.

Enjoy,

Team Vook 
http://vook.com Twitter: @vooktv

Vook has a simple idea: put great filmmakers together with great authors and let them create a new kind of media. But for this to succeed, we need a talented filmmaker who can be imaginative, work with another creative vision and shoot and edit for an entirely new form.

This combination of talents — authors and filmmakers whose proccesses compliment each other– has come alive with a series of new Vooks that clearly demonstrate the value (and the fun) of this partnership between publishing and film making.

Over the course of the last six months, we have tapped the creative talents of filmmakers on the East Coast and the West Coast, in New Orleans, London and Prague.

Here are some credits we would like to acknowledge:

CRUSH IT! by Lauren Saffa

For this tremendous title, filmmaker Lauren Saffa worked closely with author Gary Vaynerchuk to give his audience a different perspective on the Crush It! world. Gary already has a strong online video presence through his daily wine video blog, so Saffa had to find a smart way to bring a new side of Gary to his readers. The result was an overwhelming success: numerous reviews have pointed out that the combination of video and text really shows Gary’s passion at its best.

The Master of Rampling Gate by Phinizy Percy Jr.

Anne Rice is a beloved, world class author — one of the premiere story tellers of our time. When she agreed to do a Vook, we were thrilled — and we knew we had to tap New Orleans’ best to work with Anne. Filmmaker Phinizy Percy Jr. jumped at the opportunity and his work brings the world that inspired Anne Rice to life.

Alice in Wonderland by Emma Heald

Emma Heald is a London based filmmaker and her interpretation of this classic tale combines the surreal sensibility of Lewis Carrol’s original with a deft eye for sharp filmmaking. It’s the kind of work that you’d expect to see featured on children’s television — and as part of the book, it brings a tasteful and compelling video element that’s in perfect harmony with Carroll. . .

Brothers Grimm, Jekyll & Hyde, Frog Prince , Sherlock Holmes, Jack in the Beanstock and Embassy  by Michael Franchetti & Adad Warda

Michael Franchetti and Adad Warda are Prague based filmmakers who have done yeoman’s work for Vook. They’ve been onboard since the beginning — they were responsible for the Sherlock Holmes vook that’s had 30,000 + downloads in the iTunes store — and their Vooks are always staff favorites. Thanks for delivering again and again, guys!

Unleashing the Ideavirus by Captain & the Fox

Rachel Webster and Moss Levenson run the Captain & the Fox production company in Brooklyn. We knew they’d be the perfect people to entrust with our high profile title from Seth Godin, “Unleashing the Ideavirus” — and they nailed the project. The videos are beyond excellent, far higher quality than most television, and the artful integration of different profiles and personalities smartly updates “Unleashing the Ideavirus” for today’s world.

Return to Beauty by Christopher Chambers

A graduate of the prestigious AFI, Christopher Chambers brought his high end skills and technical prowess to creating “Return to Beauty.” The beautiful videos — all shot in high def — of author Narine Nikogosian make this a marquee title that showcases the polished look that we can achieve with our filmmakers.

Promises by Robert Sobul

Robert Sobul’s work on Jude Deveraux’s “Promises” should be an inspiration to any filmmaker wondering how fiction and video can work hand in and hand, complementing and enhancing each other. When I first saw the pieces, I thought — Robert’s produced a Terence Malick take on romance . It’s stunning stuff.

Keeping it Real (estate) by Robert Chapman

Filmmaker Robert Chapman was our go to man for popular Real Estate blogger Kris Berg. When we decided we needed to produce this title in under a week, Robert worked fiendishly to make it happen. His translation of Kris’s hectic life into video makes Vooking look easy.

LOVE LOVE LOVE by Greg Mocker

New York Renaissance  man Greg Mocker did something new even for us — he put a contemporary spin on the sonnets of William Shakespeare, with real New Yorkers reciting the poems. This was a fun, clever project that only someone as mercurial as Greg could pull off — and he did it with panache.

The Breakaway Japanese Kitchen by Peter Duddington and Dicky Dahl

One of the first Vooks we ever produced, the Breakaway Japanese Kitchen was created by Peter Duddington and Dicky Dahl — and we liked it so much that we’ve brought Peter onboard to become a permanent member of the team. Dicky Dahl turned the Vook out in record time and helped set the standard for our efficient production model.

Of course, we couldn’t have accomplished anything without the help of TurnHere. The TH staff unites us with these great filmmakers and help guarantee that our Vooks are original, innovative and compelling.