‘This chance for change’ At our FutureBook 2015 Conference on the 4th of December, we will hear from two writers of our manifestos on the future of the book business. Those two “manifestistas” will be announced in coming days, and in the meantime, we will be contacting all contributors of published manifestos with a special offer for… Read More
Divisions and support at #AuthorDay
Open submissions, face-to-face feedback New developments in our Author Day (#AuthorDay) planning for 30th November are helping us to bring elements of practical author support, one-on-one networking, and advice into the mix alongside our issues-driven core discussions. Quickly: Publishers and editors from Pan Macmillan and from HarperCollins’ divisions Harper Fiction, The Borough Press and Harlequin will… Read More
What makes a good indie book cover?
Duck and cover By this time next year, there will not be fewer mobiles in the world; there will not be fewer videos uploaded to YouTube; or fewer ebooks published; or fewer tweets sent into the ether. There will not be fewer authors—and there may not be any more readers. That’s my colleague Philip Jones… Read More
#AuthorDay: What divides us?
Of “trade” and “the Trade” Today we’re making the “programme reveal” for the inaugural FutureBook Author Day conference (#AuthorDay), which is set for Monday, 30th November. It’s on the 30th at the 30th, 30 Euston Square, headquarters of the Royal College of General Practitioners, we’ll all be healthier for it. Our programme should appear, if… Read More
At Frankfurt: Can books find true fans?
Fanning the flames When asking Pan Macmillan’s Naomi Bacon to join us at Frankfurt Book Fair’s Business Club for a discussion of “hardcore fandom” and books in our “Hug the Alien” series of events, I hadn’t counted on getting video in the bargain. But we got it, and it’s good stuff. Bacon, with the… Read More
At Frankfurt: AmazonCrossing's new $10 million translation bid
Interviewing Sarah Jane Gunter at Frankfurt Book Fair’s Business Club This story was written for Wednesday’s (14th October) “Hug the Alien” session at Frankfurt Book Fair. In a move that answers a constant question both from independent authors and from publishers, AmazonCrossing has announced that it now is accepting submissions. The news comes with word of… Read More
Setting A Compass: Those FutureBook Manifestos In A Storm-Tossed Industry
Sinking Into The Pubslush Years into publishing’s encounter with the digital dynamic, it’s not as if anything is holding still, is it? A kind of heaving grace is about the best you can find on some days in this deeply shaken, tech-swept industry. Every other week, my colleague Jane Friedman and I find ourselves looking… Read More
Why Don't The Kids Read Digital?
‘Enduring appeal’ When Egmont UK’s managing director Cally Poplak (pictured) told The Bookseller’s Children’s Conference that “old-fashioned publishing skills are as relevant and vital as ever,” she could have gone on to say that “old-fashioned” reading patterns look to be just as enduring. As #KidsConf15 was written up by my colleague, Sarah Shaffi: The children’s publisher… Read More
Is this the triumph of print?
‘Digital is now as big a part of this industry as print’ There is a belief (and relief) now among some booksellers that the ebook “threat” is over. I have heard similar talk from senior buyers at supermarkets, who tell me that they have seen e-reader buyers switching to print books. So writes my good colleague… Read More
Your Survey Of Surveys
‘Perspective on the Book Business’ Is there any industry so feverishly bent on surveying itself as publishing? This week, my colleague Philip Jones at The Bookseller in Taking a measure of the FutureBook audience has launched the 2015 Digital Census, results of which will be released in relation to the Author Day / FutureBook week of activity in… Read More