As Amazon slugs it out with the big publishers, authors are left cowering | Adam Fletcher & Paul Hawkins

And whoever comes out on top, you can bet the poor old writer won't be any better offA few weeks ago, we published a book called Denglisch for Better Knowers, a (hopefully) humorous book about how the English language could be improved by taking new words and concepts from German. Like "ear worm", which describes the phenomenon of an annoying song getting stuck in your head. Safe to say, it's a fun book, but not a particularly controversial one.Imagine how surprised we were, then, when our book suddenly found itself an unlikely political tool in a battle between Amazon corporate omnishop and consumer's wet dream and our publisher Ullstein's parent media conglomerate, Bonnier. As previous contracts between the two expire, they have locked horns over ebook pricing, commission structure and marketing, echoing a similar dispute currently frothing in the US between Amazon and the publisher Hachette. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #ebook pricing #publisher hachette

Other Publishing stories related to: 'As Amazon slugs it out with the big publishers, authors are left cowering | Adam Fletcher & Paul Hawkins'


Behind the Mic: On Big Friendship by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman, Read by the Authors

Every Monday through Friday, AudioFile’s editors recommend the best in audiobook listening. We keep our daily episodes short and sweet, with audiobook clips to give you a sample of our featured listens. The hosts of the “Call Your Girlfriend” podcast are warm, open, and matter-of-fact narrators... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-08-14 08:44:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #aminatou sow #ann friedman #editors recommend #audiobook listening #audiobook clips #featured listens #audiobook


Some Big Publishers Find Ways to Cope

Cost cuts and higher sales of digital products have eased the impact of the Covid-19 on the bottom line for some publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-08-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cost cuts #higher sales #digital products #bottom line


Big Changes for Publishing in W3C

Changes are brewing at the International Digital Publishing Forum, which has been part of the Worldwide Web Consortium for the past three years. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-07-31 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital publishing


Post-pandemic Publishing for Indie Authors

Indie authors are well positioned to survive and thrive in the post-pandemic publishing landscape Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-07-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #indie authors


In Europe, Efforts at Pandemic Relief for Publishing; New Funds for Authors

Industry notes: The Federation of European Publishers is backing efforts to see the cultural sector included in EU Special Council meetings, while Bonnier donates to open a ‘Reading Fund’ in Germany. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson FEP’s Manifesto: ‘European Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-07-17 17:40:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors appeared #european publishers #porter anderson #bonnier


Publishers want more black authors. Why have they silenced us for so long? | Candice Carty-Williams

As Black Lives Matter protests take place across the world, the publishing world is rushing to support those ‘ignored by the mainstream’. Who is the mainstream, then?The publishing industry is stilted and archaic. I worked in it for seven years, and left due to reasons I can’t legally talk... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-06-11 09:44:22 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #underrepresented voices #deliver books #candice carty-williams #sustainable change #4th estate #book proposal #follow trends #literary agents #literary agent #publishing industry #publishing world


Dorothy Koomson: 'publishing is a hostile environment for Black authors'

Author Dorothy Koomson has written an open letter to the publishing industry, in which she describes it as a “hostile environment for Black authors”.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-10 06:37:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry #dorothy koomson #hostile environment #black authors #open letter


Publishers, agents and authors continue to respond to Black Lives Matter protests

Publishers and authors have continued to share reading lists and offers of help following the Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-05 10:41:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors continue


Keys to Amazon’s success: Price wars and big data

Brian Dumaine looks at the tactics and innovations that have powered the company. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-05-29 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big data


Adam wins Authors' Club Best First Novel Award

Claire Adam has scooped the Authors' Club Best First Novel Award for her “outstanding” novel Golden Child (Faber). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-05-17 13:26:01 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #claire adam #first novel


Coronavirus has left small publishers desperately fighting for survival

A survey of indie presses shows that 60% fear they could be out of business by the autumn, writes Galley Beggar Press cofounder Sam JordisonOver the past few years, the success of independent publishers such as Fitzcarraldo, And Other Stories, Bluemooose and Influx Press has been something to... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-05-15 06:00:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #small presses #sales drop #physical sales #online retailers #ebook sales #real connection #physical objects #great deal #bookseller


'It's a real battle': African authors fight for publishing independence

Francophone African books are still very often published by French imprints, which can make them hard to get at home. But there is a growing push for changeWhen Cameroonian author Daniel Alain Nsegbe first saw his debut novel for sale in his home city of Douala, the price was so high “you would... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-05-14 09:59:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rights territories #local readers #sub-saharan africa #books written #world rights #debut novel


The Digital Transformation in Publishing Has Left Plenty of Space for Print

Every industry is experiencing a digital transformation. For some, the pandemic has accelerated this transformation. Others, like retail, travel and QSR, are trying to quickly adapt to the new criteria of our on-demand world. Consumers are permanently changing their online consumption habits,... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2020-05-07 14:20:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reliable source #report revealed #content creators #pivotal role #moving forward #publishing world


Virtual Author Events Are the Next Big Thing

Booksellers are finding that the format is drawing big audiences—albeit with varying degrees of sales success. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-05-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big thing #varying degrees #sales success


Left-wing indie publishers have formed a coalition to support each other during the pandemic.

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to highlight the massive and devastating inequality in the US, the work of socially progressive publishers is more important than ever. With the goal of supporting one another during the uncertainty of the pandemic, a group of left-wing independent... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-04-30 16:27:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #independent publishing


Coronavirus Worklife: Amazon Publishing ‘At Home’ in Germany, the UK, and the States

'Our desk spaces are evolving their own personalities,' as the publishing house built by a tech and retail giant adapts to home-officing. The post Coronavirus Worklife: Amazon Publishing ‘At Home’ in Germany, the UK, and the States appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-04-30 01:41:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #states appeared #coronavirus worklife #amazon publishing


Left-Wing Indie Publishers Form Coalition

The Radical Publishers Alliance is an international group of left-wing independent publishers who have joined together with the goal of supporting each other during the coronavirus pandemic. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-04-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #international group #coronavirus pandemic


Agents warn publishers to 'think carefully' on delaying author payments

“Many” requests have been made by publishers about the possibility of delaying payments to authors to help improve cashflow in the difficult circumstances caused by Covid-19, it has emerged. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-20 15:49:24 UTC ]
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PubWest to Amazon: Publishing Needs Your Help

PubWest has published an open letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos asking him to support independent publishers by placing a moratorium on certain fees and by making books more of a priority for shipping as soon as possible. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-03-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #open letter #making books


Authors and publishers get creative as book launches are moved online

In response to the coronavirus outbreak and government advice to socially distance, authors, readers and booksellers are thinking of new, exciting and creative ways to launch their books and keep readers engaged after in-person-events get cancelled.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-18 11:27:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #creative ways #book launches #moved online #coronavirus outbreak