A keen business mind and real commitment to the publishing industry are vital for a job that is all about selling – shy and retiring types need not apply Gordon Wise has been a literary agent at Curtis Brown for 10 years, and has a wide range of clients, from celebrities like Miranda Hart to novelists such as Armistead Maupin. He is also vice-president of the Association of Authors’ Agents. But becoming an agent wasn’t part of his original career plan and he reached this point via a varied and winding path through the world of books.Wise studied History and English at Edinburgh university, both, he says, “heavy reading” subjects. But his real introduction to books as business came when, as an undergraduate, he won a place on a scholarship programme at the University of Pennsylvania. “I was allowed to work under my visa and I got a part-time job as a bookseller at Barnes & Noble, which had a big downtown bookstore,” he says. The job gave him an insight into publishing and sparked a vocation that would lead him to his current career. “What I enjoyed about publishing was that it is the place where business and creativity meet; you would be working with these wonderfully creative people – the writers – but trying to turn what they have created into something of commercial value.”If you are made an offer straight away, ask for a better offer. If you don't ask, you will never know Related: Small publishers are benefiting from changes in the industry Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2015-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
Barnes & Noble has turned a profit in its second quarter of trading, but sales in its Nook... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-11-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Revenue fell in all three of Barnes & Noble’s operating groups for the second quarter ended October 26, 2013, but the retailer managed to post a 13.7% increase in EBITDA. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-11-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The creator of lesbian detective Kate Daniels was downcast when publishers rejected her work. Now, she's won the Polari first book prize for The Murder WallSomething extraordinary happened to me last week. I was outed to the whole wide world, having won the Polari first book prize 2013 for my... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2013-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Publishing, which launched a general-interest book publishing operation in New York two and a half years ago, is losing its top executive here.Seattle-based Amazon announced Friday that the head of its general-interest publishing division, Larry Kirshbaum, would leave the company Jan. 17... Continue reading at Crains New York
[ Crains New York | 2013-10-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Actors Joanna Lumley, Julia McKenzie, Rob Brydon and Miranda Hart are to star in the BBC1... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo removed self-published pornographic titles from their sites and Kobo stopped sales of self-published titles altogether. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The content on Scribd, the San–Francisco based startup that aims to create the digital library of the future, is available on a range of devices, from laptops to smartphones to tablets. But CEO Trip Adler tells Fast Company we won't be reading e–books in our hands in the future––they'll be... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2013-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookworms in the UK tired of smuggling flashlights to bed might want to take another look at the Nook Simple Touch with Glowlight. After all, you can get one for £49 now that Barnes & Noble has slashed £20 off its retail price -- that's far, far lower than the amount people had to pay at... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2013-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Man Booker Prize submission rule changes will have a negative impact on small publishers,... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In each issue of Distro, Executive Editor Marc Perton publishes a wrap-up of the week in news. There's a very good chance you're reading this on a tablet. Distro is, after all, first and foremost, a tablet magazine. There's also a reasonable chance you're reading this on a computer. Distro... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2013-08-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nook sales at Barnes & Noble have continued to drop in the first quarter of its new financial... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-08-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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B&N is being eulogized as a 'dead man walking,' but the company still has a firm foundation, including the Nook, and will be with us as long as we still have print. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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One part of a proposal to enforce the verdict against Apple for allegedly fixing ebook prices would require Amazon and Barnes & Noble 'buy' buttons in the Apple store, allowing consumers to easily compare ebook costs. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barnes & Noble says it lost less money than it previously reported during the past two years. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Writing for Bloomberg.com, Virginia Postrel has a counterintuitive suggestion for publishers, Barnes & Noble and tech-savvy retail entrepreneurs: embrace showrooming. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jim Hilt, managing director of Barnes & Noble's European ebook business, said the... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2013-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Uncertainty has been hovering over Barnes & Noble ever since the retailer first reported that 2012 holiday sales— especially those of its Nook reading devices—were well below expectations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It's been a rough week for Barnes & Noble. And month. And year. And it may get worse before (if) it gets better. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-07-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The 2013 Small Publishers' Catalogue Africa offers more than just a listing of small African publishers: it's a guide to inspire small publishers from around the world. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Following a shaky fourth-quarter report, B&N announced that it would be partnering with another company to release its Nook tablet line, although the bookstore chain will continue to manufacture its e-readers. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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