Bestselling authors take out full-page New York Times ad against Amazon

Stephen King and Donna Tartt among those petitioning Amazon to 'stop harming the livelihood of the authors'Readers of the New York Times will have to steel themselves this weekend, as the unseemly brawl between Hachette and Amazon erupts on to the tranquil pages of the Grey Lady. Perhaps the most incendiary item in Sunday's edition is due to be a full-page ad paid for by a group of bestselling authors and backed by over 900 other writers calling on Amazon "in the strongest possible terms to stop harming the livelihood of the authors on whom it has built its business".The extraordinary move is the latest salvo in a battle over terms which has seen Amazon delay delivery and remove the possibility of pre-orders on a swathe of books by Hachette authors, including JK Rowling and James Patterson. The online leviathan Amazon says it is attempting to "lower ebook prices"; publishing conglomerate Hachette argues that it is seeking "terms that value appropriately for the years ahead the author's unique role in creating books, and the publisher's role in editing, marketing, and distributing them". Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #latest salvo #james patterson #years ahead

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Bestselling authors take out full-page New York Times ad against Amazon'

Authors on the Air July 15, 2014: Hillary Rodham Clinton

Hillary Rodham Clinton, author of "Hard Choices" (Simon & Schuster, 9781476751443), will appear on "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" on Tuesday, July 15. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hard choices #simon schuster #daily show #jon stewart

'The Mockingbird Next Door,' a portrait of author Harper Lee, garners critical praise

The story of how journalist Marja Mills came to know the 'To Kill A Mockingbird' writer Lee is being called 'witty' and 'charming.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

In the UK, Traditional Publishing’s Pay for Authors “Not Fair”

In the UK, the Society of Authors’ chief executive claims that traditional publishers’ terms 'are no longer fair or sustainable' for author's to make a living. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #longer fair #traditional publishing #traditional publishers

Amazon Versus Hachette: The Whole Story

Amazon's long-running standoff with Hachette has been making headlines for months. Here's the whole story in PW coverage. What began as a "scuffle" now has us using the language of war to describe it. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #making headlines #pw coverage

Don't put your daughter on the page. She'll only earn a measly 11k a year

A survey of nearly 2,500 writers has shown that median income of a working author last year was just £11,000, down by 29% since 2005A new breed of publishing event, a secretive curtain-raiser, designed to tease the book trade and the critics, is to take place somewhere in London on Monday... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #median income #publishing event #book trade #monday evening #profit margins

The literary World Cup: readers' best all-time teams

Could goalie Camus cope with an attack formed by Burroughs, Ballard and Bolaño? Guardian readers imagined football squads made from their favourite writers. As the World Cup comes to an end, we take a look at our best fictional elevens. But what team would you put your money on? Back when the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

Traditional publishing is 'no longer fair or sustainable', says Society of Authors

Chief executive of 9,000-member UK group argues that while 'authors' earnings are going down generally, those of publishers are increasing'After figures released this week showed professional authors' median annual incomes have collapsed to to £11,000, The Society of Authors' chief executive has... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #traditional publishers #traditional publishing #longer fair #figures released

Amazon-backed award turned down by Ahlberg

Distinguished children’s author Allan Ahlberg [pictured] has declined the inaugural... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

Preston Finalizes Letter to Amazon

After writing a letter to readers calling on them to ask the e-tailer to end its sales terms dispute with Hachette, Preston posted an updated version of the note, complete with the signatures he has collected from other authors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #updated version

Amazon and Hachette take ebooks battle into public domain

The stand-off between the internet retail giant and the publishing corporation has drawn both sides into open contention over commercial termsThe extraordinary stand-off between Amazon and Hachette saw battle lines further entrenched on Tuesday as both parties took to the public arena to insult... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #public domain #battle lines

Young adult books: 'The Secret Life of Walter Mitty' author James Thurber picks the best YA titles

Beyond John Green and Veronica Roth: James Thurber compiled his own list of books that he thought young adults might enjoy, and his picks still hold up today. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #secret life #ya titles #john green #veronica roth

Al Manhal Arabic Education Epublisher Goes Paperback via Amazon

Al Manhal, the UAE-based Arabic digital education publisher, is now offer paperback editions of its work worldwide via Amazon marketplace. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #al manhal

Five Finalists Named in Amazon Novel Contest

The judges have winnowed down 10,000 entries to the top five. Consumers vote on the grand prize winner from today through July 18. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #finalists named

Distribution: Authors Sign with INscribe

Nine romance writers are distributing an anthology of short stories, "Naught Nine," through INscribe Digital. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #inscribe digital #authors sign #romance writers #short stories

Amazon's battle with Hachette is a fight for readers, writers and retailers | Hugh Howey

As things stand, Hachette is making ebook discounts impossible, and almost everybody else stands to lose, writes Hugh HoweyNews: New Amazon terms amount to 'assisted suicide' for book industry, experts claimHow much should an ebook cost? And how should that money be split? These two questions... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook cost #publishing industry #sticking point #digital books

Defining ‘Vibrant’: Two Debut Cookbook Authors' Perfect Summer Meals

First-time cookbook authors Kimberley Hasselbrink and Anya Kassoff describe what “vibrant” food means to them and suggest perfect height-of-summer meals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |

Malcolm Gladwell, Meet Amazon's VP of Fulfillment

As the gulf between Amazon and Hachette widens in their publisher-versus-retailer heavyweight fight, frustrated authors caught in the middle have begun to weigh in—some in better spirits than others. In the spoof video above, Outliers author Malcolm Gladwell meets with Amazon's vice president of... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2014-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #malcolm gladwell #vice president

Google and ABC Build a Programmatic Ad Exchange That Only Buys Mastheads

Google's private programmatic exchanges can now book premium ad space like mastheads for brands. It is working with ABC to promote the new show Rising Star using an exchange that only places ads in prominent positions, ones that are not typically associated with automated buying. "This exchange... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital strategy #rising star #rolling stone #huge part #ad world