Japanese novelist bypasses publishers to release straight-to-iPad book

"In yet another blow to the publishing industries, Japanese author Ryu Murakami has gone directly to the iPad for his new book, A Singing Whale. The acclaimed novelist of In the Miso Soup and Piercing has side-stepped the old-school publishing houses and will release his novel exclusively on the iTunes App Store. Slated to retail for 1,500 yen (US$17), the e-book is currently pending Apple's approval" - Taxi