Amazon Tries to Drive Wedge Between Hachette and Its Authors

Amazon.com Inc. is offering authors caught up in its dispute with Hachette Book Group all proceeds from the sale of any digital book, seeking to bypass the publisher and appeal directly to writers.Amazon sent a letter to authors, including Douglas Preston, proposing to extract them from the spat by giving them all ebook revenue, Mr. Preston said in an interview. Mr. Preston, co-author of the Pendergast series of books, led an effort to rally writers and readers to petition Amazon to end the dispute.The world's largest online retailer blocked pre-orders for some of Hachette's books earlier this year, including "The Silkworm," a new novel by J.K. Rowling, writing under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Amazon and Hachette are each seeking a greater share of ebook income. While physical book sales in the U.S. are projected to fall to $19.5 billion this year from $26 billion in 2010, ebook revenue is anticipated to jump more than eightfold to $8.7 billion, according to Forrester Research. The growth is being spurred by the increasing consumer use of tablets and smartphones, through which people read ebooks. Continue reading at AdAge.com Continue reading at 'Advertising Age'

[ Advertising Age | 2014-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #digital book #appeal directly #ebook revenue #greater share #forrester research

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Philip Pullman argues that authors are being shortchanged on ebook loans

Few people understand the magic of libraries better than Philip Pullman, author of His Dark Materials, but all is not well when it comes to digital lending. As the soon-to-be president of the Society of Authors, Pullman is leading the charge against publishing houses that may be shortchanging... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scarlett Johansson Sues French Author for Using Her Name in a Novel

It is "so American": actress Scarlett Johansson is suing French author Gregoire Delacourt for describing a character in his novel as her "doppleganger" -- or exact double. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ether for Authors: Are Publishing Firefights Hurting the Mission?

Porter Anderson takes on the distraction of publishing non-controversies, a new guide for self-publishing, BEA chief Steve Rosato's response to last week's critique of BEA and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's Kindle comes to China: Paperwhite for $138, Fire HD for $244 (16GB) or $293 (32GB)

Amazon launched its Kindle ebook platform into China last Christmas, but locals looking to get their mitts on the company's hardware had to look, ahem, elsewhere. Fortunately for everyone but grey market importers, Amazon has released the non-cellular Paperwhite and the two 7-inch Kindle Fire HD... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-06-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indie publishers debate Amazon and IP

  The dominance of Amazon and the importance of copyright were two key themes of... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon launches Kindle tablet and e-reader in China

After remaining quiet on the hardware front for years, Amazon.com's China business has finally brought the company's Kindle tablet and Kindle e-reader to the country. On Friday, both the Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Paperwhite went on sale through the company's site in the country. The Kindle... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2013-06-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's E-Book Deals Were Just as Tough as Apple's

It turns out that Apple isn't the only major ebook retailer that demands "most favored nation" agreements from publishers. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2013-06-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Is Amazon asking independent bookstores to sell Kindles?

Some independent booksellers say they've received calls from someone claiming to be an Amazon staff member, asking if they'd be interested in selling Kindle e-readers. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Godfray renews government plea on Amazon

Bookseller Association c.e.o Tim Godfray has renewed his calls to the British government to take... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ether for Authors: How London Beat BEA’s Pants Off

Porter Anderson looks back on BEA 2013 through the prism of the self-published indie author and finds the show out-of-touch with the realities of the industry. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon’s Huge London HQ Says “Publishing Revolves Around Us Now”

Amazon's massive new HQ in historic central London is nothing short of symbolic, and will overshadow neighboring Penguin, Faber, S&S UK, and Bloomsbury. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lovereading axed from Amazon affiliates scheme

The founders of book recommendation site Lovereading have said they are “baffled and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon to open major London office

Amazon is to open a London office large enough to accommodate 1,600 employees later this year.... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jack Vance, prolific, prize-winning pulp author, dies at 96

Jack Vance, prolific author of science fiction, mystery and epic fantasy, died Sunday at 96, his son John told the Associated Press. He had written more than 60 books during his long life.Jack Vance, prolific author of science fiction, mystery and epic fantasy, died Sunday at 96, his son John... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dedicated website launches for Amazon Publishing

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[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's Kindle Worlds fan fiction publisher draws mixed reactions

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[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Is Amazon Too Much Trouble to Deal With? One Pub Says Yes

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ether for Authors: BoatExpo America

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon opens fan-fiction service

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[ Stuff | 2013-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Author as Entrepreneur

Samuel Johnson famously said “no man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-05-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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