This, as HarperCollins announces that it has become the official publisher of the archives of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Judith Curr speaks of ‘how inclusive Dr. King’s work is.’ Read More
Sales of Social Justice and Race Books Soar in the States
It’s Fat Season For Diet Books
Larding On The Advice According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 38 percent of American adults are technically obese (with a body mass index over 30), up from 35 percent in 2011-2012 and 32 percent in 2003-2004. That’s Robert Paarlberg at The Washington Post in a new commentary, Why Can’t America Get Its… Read More
Why That Ebook May Cost More Than The Hardcover
It’s Not Over ‘Til The Big Dog Barks Indie publishing is still growing and it seems that established publishing is at a standstill. Mike Shatzkin’s column of August 5 may be the one in which we someday remember hearing a new sermon, the beginning of the endgame. But Shatzkin is not delivering a benediction yet: This… Read More
‘Do You Love Your Publisher?’ #AuthorSay Is Hanging On Every Word
‘To Encourage More Professional Authors To Speak Out’ Originating with our report at The Bookseller’s The FutureBook in London, the news of a new online survey today (March 2) could mean a better understanding of authors’ experiences in what is sometimes called “legacy” publishing. A US-UK effort is gathering fresh perspectives on the “quiet side” of… Read More
George Berkowski's FutureBook Conference podium warmer
The Bookseller’s The FutureBook 2014 Conference programme on 14th November promises to have the widest scope and most inquisitive bent yet, in terms of signalling digital directions ahead. Keynote commentary will come from not only from author and entrepreneur George Berkowski, but also from WGSN’s Carla Buzasi, and — in conversation with Philip Jones — Penguin Random House’s Tom… Read More
Vote on The FutureBook Innovation Shortlist's "Inspirationals"
The winner will be named as part of The FutureBook Innovation Awards announcements at The FutureBook Conference on 14th November at Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London. (Best early-bird prices for the event are offered only for a week longer, to 17th October.) Among a boisterous gathering at Halle 8’s Publishing Perspectives Stage on Thursday evening to… Read More
Parallel protests of Amazon
Pitchforks United: The protests expand… As I write this, the number of signatories to the new German-language offener brief an Amazon, open letter to Amazon, has jumped by nearly 200 in a single day. There were 1,188 yesterday. There are 1,354 today. Melissa Eddy at The New York Times takes care to point out to us that those supporters include… Read More
Douglas Preston: On Amazon, Hachette, and Indie Authors
“We’re not against Amazon. And we’re not for Hachette at all.” Douglas Preston’s new Gideon Crew novel with his longtime co-author Lincoln Child is titled The Lost Island. It’s to be released Tuesday — 5 August — in both the UK and the States. At Amazon.co.uk, you can pre-order the hardcover and audiobook for 5 August. You… Read More
The One Most-Kissed: You, The Reader
This Article Is Not About What You Think It’s About You. The readers. Without you there wouldn’t be a book industry. I can understand what motivates authors to write such lines. Everybody can understand this. Gratitude. And that’s one fine emotion. We could use more of it in the world. It’s great stuff. It’s completely logical –… Read More
#FutureChat: How can we ease the summer's debate?
Just in time for those reports that Big Five publisher Simon & Shuster (S&S) is, like Hachette, in negotiations with Amazon, as covered here by Sarah Shaffi at The Bookseller. As Greg Bensinger and Shira Ovide at the Wall Street Journal quoted Les Moonves, CEO of CBS, which owns S&S, “It’s going to be a very interesting thing to watch.” That… Read More