Leading authors call for government probe of Amazon's 'damaging' power

Malcolm Gladwell and Ursula Le Guin lead call to US justice department to investigate its ‘monopoly as a seller of books’Authors including Malcolm Gladwell, Ursula Le Guin, Michael Chabon and Ann Patchett are putting their names to a letter attacking Amazon’s “abuse of its dominance in the world of books” and calling on the US justice department to investigate the retailer’s “power over the book market”.The letter, which is due to be submitted to the department later this month, is the latest initiative from the group of powerful authors calling themselves Authors United, which was set up in the wake of the dispute over terms between the internet shopping site and Hachette last year. Douglas Preston, who founded the group, said that signatories were “pouring in” for the letter this week, with “many hundreds” putting their name to the letter, including Sara Paretsky, Francis Fukuyama, Elizabeth George, Michael Lewis, Richard North Patterson, Luc Sante, Stuart Woods and Daniel Handler. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #latest initiative #authors united #douglas preston #michael lewis #daniel handler

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Leading authors call for government probe of Amazon's 'damaging' power'


Stephen Colbert has some choice words for Amazon

In a recent episode of his show, Colbert discussed the dispute between Amazon and publisher Hachette which has caused some books, including his own, to be delayed or unavailable to customers. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stephen colbert #choice words #recent episode #colbert discussed #publisher hachette


Is Amazon Really the Devil?

The Amazon-Hachette dispute is a lot more nuanced than has been portrayed in much of the coverage. The retailing giant has its (sometimes anonymous) defenders in the publishing industry, and Hachette has its critics. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon-hachette dispute #publishing industry


Indie booksellers join Hachette's battle with Amazon

Shops launch 'I didn't buy it on Amazon' sticker campaign, rallying customers and authors including JK RowlingIndependent booksellers in America are weighing into the dispute between Amazon and Hachette with a series of banners telling potential customers "Thanks, Amazon, the indies will take it... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


S&S Adds InkedIn to Author Portal

Simon & Schuster has launched InkedIn, a new online community for S&S authors that lets them hold one-on-one or group discussions on publishing related topics. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #author portal #simon schuster #online community


Authors on the Air June 5, 2014: Thom Shea

Thom Shea, author of "Unbreakable: A Navy Seal’s Way of Life" (Clovercroft Publishing, 9781940262376), will appear on the "Sean Hannity Show" on Thursday, June 5. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #navy seal


Publishers may hate Amazon, but the retailer may be helping us read more books

Amazon.com's negotiations with publisher Hachette Books Group have sparked a wave of anger toward the e-commerce giant from authors and readers alike. Several authors and analysts have spoken out, saying Amazon is a threat to traditional publishers. Perhaps. But whatever is going on in the... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2014-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hate amazon #traditional publishers #e-commerce giant


The war on Amazon is Big Publishing's 1% moment. What about other writers? | Barry Eisler

More people are buying more books than ever, and more people are making a living by writing them. Why do millionaire authors want to destroy the one company that's made this all possible?As an author of ten novels legacy-published, self-published, and Amazon-published I'm bewildered by the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #strange things #legacy publishers #net worth


ABA Thanks Amazon

The Amazon contract dispute with Hachette has given the ABA the chance to create signs touting indie bookstores as retailers that carry all publishers' titles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


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 ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simon schuster #worldwide rights #wildly popular #jane austen


'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' author Jeff Kinney says he will open a bookstore

Jeff Kinney says he plans to open a bookstore in his town of Plainville, Mass., aimed at breaking even within five years. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #wimpy kid #jeff kinney


Amazon: Hachette dispute may not be solved quickly

Amazon and Hachette are reportedly at odds over terms for ebook prices, at a time when Amazon is in a position of strength and vulnerability. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hachette dispute #ebook prices


“A Footprint on the Convention Floor”: BEA’s Author Hub

BookExpo America's uPublishU Author Hub created self-published authors' own 'footprint on the convention floor' for the first time, setting a strong precedent. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #convention floor #bookexpo america


Amazon releases statement on Hachette dispute

Amazon said of its delays on and lack of availability of Hachette titles, 'Unfortunately, despite much work from both sides, we have been unable to reach mutually-acceptable agreement on terms.... we are not optimistic that this will be resolved soon.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hachette dispute #hachette titles


Tracking Amazon: 'Special Heart' Skyrockets

Bret Baier‘s book about the challenges his family faced caring for his son, who was born with congenital heart defects, "Special Heart: A Journey of Faith, Hope, Courage, and Love," rose from 504,703 on Amazon's bestseller list to 143 on Tuesday afternoon, a 352,839% increase. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tracking amazon #bestseller list #tuesday afternoon


Combat Gent Calls Out 'Dad Jean' Offenders via Social Campaign

Combat Gent is launching a Father’s Day digital campaign today to scout out dads who still think acid wash Levi’s jeans are cool by replacing them with more modern trousers. The online menswear retailer is using the upcoming holiday to launch a new line of denim products also launching today.... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #memorial day


Apple Damages Trial Delayed Again

Under the new proposed schedule, the trial would now begin August 25 at the earliest. The move comes After Apple lost its emergency appeal to stay the proceedings last week. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #proposed schedule #apple lost


Authors on the Air June 2, 2014: A.J. Baime

A.J. Baime, author of "The Arsenal of Democracy: FDR, Detroit, and an Epic Quest to Arm an America at War" (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 9780547719283), will appear on NPR’s "The Takeaway" on Tuesday, June 3. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #epic quest


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 ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stan lee #amazing adventures


BEA 2014: Bestsellers: Bob Minzesheimer Chats Up Three Leading Ladies of the Page

If you’re looking for three of today’s top authors—Ruth Reichl, Jodi Picoult and Kathy Reichs—they can easily be found, on bestsellers lists everywhere. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestsellers lists #jodi picoult


BEA 2014: Amazon’s 'Bullying' Dominates Bookseller Sessions

ABA's Oren Teicher speaks out against Amazon’s “bullying assault of a major publisher” at the ABA annual meeting. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bullying assault #major publisher