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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One Direction fanfic author inks worldwide book deal

Following the success of Anna Todd's After series, the wildly popular stories starring the boy band will be published at the end of the year Is fan fiction something to be feared? And where did it all begin?Simon & Schuster have inked a deal for worldwide rights to One Direction fanfic.... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2014: Stan Lee: From Comic Book Legend To Children’s Author

With X-Men: Days of Future Past and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man 2 taking top box-office this month, one might presume that the co-creator of all these classic superheros is sitting by a pool somewhere sipping mai tais. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Report to EC calls for full VAT on physical books

Reduced or zero rates of VAT should be removed from physical books to create a single rate across... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #physical books

MacAdam Cage Authors Look to Resolve E-book Dispute

Despite complaints from former MacAdam Cage authors about ebook royalties and statements, Mark Pearce, publisher of MP Publishing, the ebook distributor that controls their ebook rights, claims all royalties have been paid and all statements are up to date. Pearce is urging former MacAdam Cage... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Books, Toys Still Work Together for Specialty Outlets

Since the demise of Noodle Kidoodle and Zany Brainy in the early 2000s, specialty “book-and-toy” stores have maintained a low profile. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Savannah Book Festival to Offer Year-Round Author Events

The Savannah Book Festival announced plans to offer year-round author events, starting with Tami Hoag set to headline the Spring 2014 event. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Comics Artists Lust, Yang Win L.A. Times Book Prizes

Comics artists Gene Luen Yang and Ulli Lust have been awarded L.A. Times Book Prizes for Young Adult Literature and Graphic Novels respectively for 2013. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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L.A. Times Festival of Books Hits the Mark Again

The spirit of literary camaraderie makes itself known at the 19th L.A. Times Festival of Books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Mabel and Me's' Jon Boorstin heads to L.A. Times Festival of Books

Mabel Normand, who came to fame at Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios, was one of the top comedy stars of the silent era. Besides appearing in several shorts with Charlie Chaplin and Fatty Arbuckle, Normand also wrote, produced and directed these slapstick comedies. She's the subject of "Mabel and... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2014-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Russell Brand at work on children's books

Russell Brand is writing a series of books aimed at children, with illustrations by Chris Riddell... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With 'Orphan Train,' Author Finds Bestsellerdom Fifth Time Around

Sixty thousand is the number of copies Christina Baker Kline thought her newest book, "Orphan Train," might sell in her "wildest dreams." For a midlist author on her fifth novel, it was a lofty number. It turns out, it was also way too low. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ukrainian Book Publishing Fears Hard Times Ahead

Ukraine's new government is considering withdrawing support for the publishing industry and eliminating tax and other benefits for publishers to save cash. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Prices: Have Authors Lowballed Themselves?

This week Porter Anderson sets up an #EtherIssue discussion on the market implications of bargain-basement book prices and looks at Kobo's fight for Agency. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Trophy Wife Star Albert Tsai Spends His Free Time Reading Harry Potter Books

Specs Who Albert Tsai Age 9 Accomplishments Stars as Bert on ABC’s Trophy Wife (Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c) Base Los Angeles I’ve read that you take all of your classes online. What’s that like? Yeah, I’m homeschooled. When I’m on set, there’s a studio teacher who helps me with my work. I like it,... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Saudi book fair bans 'blasphemous' Mahmoud Darwish works after protest

Removal of books by revered Palestinian poet from Riyadh publishing event is condemned by PEN as censorshipThe removal of works by the esteemed Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish from a major book fair in Saudi Arabia for reportedly containing "blasphemous passages" has drawn widespread... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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North Korean dictators: also successful children's book authors?

North Korean dictators Kim Jong-Il and Kim Il-Sung were credited with writing children's books featuring thinly veiled metaphors for North Korean political theory. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-03-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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L.A. Times Festival of Books Partners With Amazon

When the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books unveiled its list of participating authors on Tuesday, the event caused a stir among local booksellers who immediately noticed the list featured buy links to Amazon. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Podcast: Apple Looking To Buy Time In E-Book Case

In a federal courtroom in Manhattan, attorneys for Apple in its ebook price-fixing case are offering up lessons in creative legal maneuvering. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Five Graphic Novels Nominated for L.A. Times Book Prize

Nominees for the 34th annual L.A. Times Book Prizes have been announced and include five finalists for the graphic novel prize. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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