Dear everyone:

I need some SXSW Panel Picker Love. And, as I have no pride (nope, not really - used to, but then I noticed it was getting in the way of my ability to grovel - so it had to go), I am blatantly begging for votes.

Please go vote for the cool SXSW panel that I'll be on with an impressive line up of very smart, creative, good looking, and forward-thinking bookish types, including:

• Joe Wikert, General Manager + Publisher of O'Reilly Media, and proprietor and head honcho of the Publishing 2020 and Kindleville blogs
• Lisa Holton, Founder and CEO of Fourth Story Media (making awesome things like the Amanda Project + The 39 Clues happen)
• Mark Jeffrey, author of Max Quick Series, host of BiblioTechShow.com (a cool videocast about books/publishing technology and change), and CTO of Mahalo.com (not to mention cofounder of Zerodegrees, The Palace, and SuperSig - really, don't mention it. shhh...)
• Evo Terra, cofounder of Podiobooks.com and co-author of Podcasting for Dummies
• Maya Bisineer of MemeTales, a very cool collaborative picture book site

Not like you really need more incentive than just seeing that list of STELLAR bookish stars, but wait - there's more...

Yes, this panel, dubbed "Book Publishing - The New Ecosystem" represents all kinds of new ways to think about books, and the discussion will revolve around how the tools for storytelling/information-sharing are evolving. As varied as our publishing backgrounds are, each of us on the panel share a common belief that making books is no longer just about publishers delivering textual content to passive readers. Instead, it's becoming...well...alive! Publishing and reading are morphing. Readers have more and more opportunities to interact with authors, other readers, and publishers - and to influence the publishing process itself.

As more tools for producing and sharing information are added to the publishing infrastructure, the stories can evolve/information can be added to and updated by authors and readers alike. Books have moved beyond the static page, and storytelling/information sharing is very much a living conversation that grows and changes.

Everyone on the panel has such a unique perspective on this ever-changing process that the panel is going to be a bit like a multi-dimensional puzzle coming together.

I'm excited. I'm pretty sure this panel will save publishing. It may even save democracy. If nothing else, it'll keep me busy for a few hours. So, please vote for us--I can assure this will be one incredible session.

Other very very cool publishing panel proposals can be found over at Ms. Kassia Krozser herself's fantabulous bloggy blog, BookSquare. (Unlike me, Kassia is selfless and is promoting everyone. Yup. She's a better person than me, so go vote for her panels too.)

Voting closes September 4th. That's soon. So, go vote. Go on now.