As celebrity books boom, professional authors are driven out of full-time work

Novelist Donal Ryan is the latest name forced to seek an income outside books, while children’s writers complain that stars from other media monopolise advancesDespite scoring three bestsellers in five years and a clutch of awards, The Spinning Heart author Donal Ryan has been forced to return to his day job in the Irish civil service in order to pay his mortgage.Ryan has become the latest casualty of tumbling incomes for writers. Despite receiving advances and signing a deal to write three more books with his publisher, the Irish novelist said he had found it impossible to earn a living wage as a full-time writer. “You need to have something else on the go,” he told the Irish Sunday Independent. “You could take a chance and scrape a living through bursaries and writing books, but I’d get too stressed out. It just isn’t worth it. I have two kids in school and I have a mortgage to pay.” Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2017-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #living wage #day job #irish novelist #full-time writer

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Cheaper books make for wealthier authors, insists Amazon's Jeff Bezos

'The Kindle is trying to reduce friction for reading a whole book, and it’s working,' Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos said at a conference yesterday. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Chronicle Donates 10,000 Books in Record Time

Chronicle Books completed its third annual #GiveBooks campaign over the Thanksgiving weekend. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Orchard Books acquires debut YA author Hunt

Orchard Books has acquired Thirteen Days of Midnight by debut YA author Leo Hunt. The book is about a boy called Luke Manchett who, when his father dies, acquires $6m and a collection of ghosts. The eight spirits want revenge for their enslavement by Manchett senior and Luke has just 13 days to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Int’l Voices, NBA Authors Star at Miami Book Fair

The Miami Book Fair featured numerous international voices — from Haiti to Germany — as well as all of the 2014 National Book Award winners and finalists. The post Int’l Voices, NBA Authors Star at Miami Book Fair appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-11-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Content-Driven Ad Network Partners With Time Inc. and Meredith

With the content marketing and native advertising scene getting increasingly crowded with tech players such as Outbrain, Sharethrough and Nativo, just to name a few, OneSpot thinks it's found an edge on those competitors. The Austin, Texas-based marketing vendor, which has big clients such... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BiblioBoard, Bestselling Authors Partner on Library E-books

Dubbed the “Indie Rock Stars” module, the program will launch with the participation of some 90 authors, and will include at least 18 New York Times bestselling books and more than 30 award-winning novels. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barbie Author ???Scared to Open??? Email After Book Labeled ???Sexist???

Barbie has been an astronaut and doctor, but when it comes to programming, she just needs a man's help, according to a children's book. Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2014-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Best-Selling Author Warns ‘You Might Not Want to Buy’ His Book

Patrick Rothfuss is the author of the mega-bestselling novels The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man's Fear, and is currently hard at work on The Doors of Stone, the final volume in his epic fantasy trilogy The Kingkiller Chronicle. In the latest episode of Geek's Guide to the Galaxy he discusses... Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2014-10-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dan Brown, Arabic Authors to Star at Sharjah Book Fair

Dan Brown's talk at the Sharjah Book Fair, his first fair appearance outside the US, will be televised throughout the Arab world. The post Dan Brown, Arabic Authors to Star at Sharjah Book Fair appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cairo Book Fair to Launch Professional Program

In 2015 the Cairo International Book Fair will launch its first-ever professional program, which will run from January 29 through 31. The post Cairo Book Fair to Launch Professional Program appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-10-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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MPIBA 2014: A Mile-High Celebration of Books

The annual fall gathering of the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association in Denver was a huge celebration of books, with attendees in high spirits, reporting strong sales this year and expecting an excellent holiday season. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Frankfurt Book Fair 2014: Spanish Author’s Short Novel Causes Stir

Amid a flurry of seven-figure deals igniting this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair—many for books by first-time American authors—a short Spanish novel has generated buzz, and some hefty advances. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Howard Books Signs 'Shack' Author to New Deal

Howard Books, the Christian imprint of Simon & Schuster, will publish two new books by William Paul Young, author of the bestseller 'The Shack.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Honoring Women’s Books in Translation: It’s Time

Writing on the blog Love German Books, translator Katy Derbyshire makes the call for a prize honoring women authors in translation. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-10-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Brazil in Focus at Göteborg Book Fair, Authors React

Brazil is the country of honor at the Göteborg Book Fair and a trio of Brazilian authors reflect on having had their work promoted overseas these past several years. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Little, Brown to Release Authorized Nick Drake Book

'Remembered For A While' will go on sale December 9, timed with the fortieth anniversary of Drake's death. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Celebrate the Week: Read a Banned Book!

September 21-27 is Banned Books Week. Here we offer a list of titles that have been challenged, restricted, removed, or banned in 2013 and 2014. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK author James Dawson chimes in on debate over 'white faces' in children's books

UK children’s laureate Malorie Blackman faced racist comments after Sky News misquoted her as saying there were 'too many white faces' in children's literature.  Now young adult author James Dawson has stepped into the fray, saying, "Malorie did not say there are too many white faces in... Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fat Fox acquires debut picture book author Tan

Independent publisher Fat Fox Books has acquired the debut picture book from Wen Dee Tan, who... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Malorie Blackman on Diversity in Children’s Books

UK author Marjorie Blackman laments the lack of diversity in children's books, noting that “books allow you to see the world through the eyes of others." Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-09-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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