The face of traditional book publishing is no doubt changing. Yet, while fatalists bemoan declining book sales and the ills of the digital age, the truth is people still crave a good story — they are just turning to new and innovative platforms for their content. Literary startup Serial Box combines the best of the old and new school for a truly unique storytelling experience.
With Serial Box, readers receive a new installment of their favorite stories each week. Stories can either be read online or listened to, like a podcast. All installments are designed to enjoy in approximately 40 minutes — the perfect length for a commute, a workout or bedtime reading. In total, fans can expect anywhere between 10 to 16 episodes of any given series.
No matter your favorite genre, Serial Box has the perfect read for you. Titles range from romance to sci-fi to historical fiction, with more content being added regularly. As for the quality of the writing itself, readers couldn’t be in better hands: Serial Box’s authors are a thoroughly-published, highly award-winning bunch who are making the most of the unique medium.
Those behind Serial Box have equally prestigious backgrounds: Between them, co-founders Julian Yap and Molly Barton have years of experience in business and publishing. Yap previously worked as a senior council member for the U.S. Department of Justice, while Barton served as the global digital director at Penguin Random House — one of the largest and most successful “traditional” publishers in the business.
Investors are seeing Serial Box’s disruptive potential: in late February, the startup raised a $1.7 million Seed Round. In addition to developing fresh, new stories for voracious readers (and listeners), Serial Box also plans on expanding their tech platform. A primary target is the development of an app for Android users as Serial Box is currently available on iOS.
As Serial Box continues to grow, lovers of literature get the pleasure of witnessing the evolution of the storytelling world — and Serial Box’s success is certainly no fluke. Apple recently acquired digital magazine service Texture, pointing not to the decline of the reading world, but simply a shift. Maybe the members of the Built In Book Club (that’s right!) will be looking to Serial Box for next month’s pick.
