Most UK authors' annual incomes still well below minimum wage, survey shows

Report finds average earnings for British authors are just £12,500, with legal protections among the worst in EuropeAs publishing prepares for the Christmas rush, with a blizzard of titles due for launch this week on “Super Thursday”, a European commission report has shown that life is less than super for many authors in the UK, with average annual incomes for writers languishing at £12,500.This figure is just 55% of average earnings in the UK, coming in below the minimum wage for a full-time job at £18,000 and well below the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s minimum income standard of £17,100. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #minimum wage #survey shows #christmas rush #titles due

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Earnings soar for UK's bestselling authors as wealth gap widens in books industry

New study reveals Julia Donaldson, David Walliams and JK Rowling lead the top 1% of authors, who account for nearly a third of all UK book salesThe gap between publishing’s rich and poor continues to widen, as figures from Nielsen BookScan reveal that the top 50 authors account for more than 13%... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Where are the brown people?': authors slam lack of diversity in UK publishing

Nikesh Shukla calls industry’s backtracking ‘a perfect loop-de-loop of blame’ as he is joined by Jon McGregor in a groundswell of readers and authors demanding more diverse representationMan Booker winner Marlon James: ‘Writers of colour pander to the white woman’Authors Nikesh Shukla and Jon... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pew Survey Shows Adult Reading in Decline

Adult readership is down 4% from 2013, with 72% of American adults having read a book in the past year according to a new Pew survey. Young adults, meanwhile, were revealed as the nation's most avid readers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK-based Romanian author's first novel in English becomes a sensation

Murder mystery The Book of Mirrors, snapped up by publishers in 18 countries, is expected to make Eugene Chirovici a seven-figure sumHe came to live in Britain only three years ago, now Eugene Chirovici’s first attempt at writing a novel in English has become a global publishing phenomenon.The... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-10-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK authors join together with #BuyBooksForSyria

Profits from all books marked with the 'Buy Books for Syria' sticker in any of Waterstones' 280 UK locations will be part an initiative to raise one million pounds for Syrian refugees.. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-10-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK Authors, Publishers Donate Book Sales to Syrian Refugees

Some of the UK’s most famous authors and publishers are donating their earnings from book sales to raise £1m for Syrian refugees. The post UK Authors, Publishers Donate Book Sales to Syrian Refugees appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Guild Survey Reveals Majority of Authors Earn Below Poverty Line

In its first study on author income since 2009, the Authors Guild delivers some jarring, if unsurprising, data. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-09-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indies wary of the introduction of increased Minimum Wage

The proposed rise in the Minimum Wage announced by chancellor George Osborne in his recent budget will “hit indies hardest”, booksellers have said. Osborne said the Minimum Wage for people aged 25 and over would rise to £7.20 per hour in April 2016 (it is currently £6.50 per hour for those aged... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ebooks are unfamiliar waters for digital pirates, according to UK survey

Publishing sector has the lowest level of illegal downloads in the entertainment industry, with book piracy at half the rate of copyright theft in film and musicFor publishers, fresh from winning a landmark ruling forcing internet service providers to block illegal ebook download sites in Russia... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A TV Talk Show Appearance That Can Change an Author’s Future

Seth Meyers on Late Night, a US TV talk show, has embraced interviewing novelists and the result is often a boost in book sales following broadcast. The post A TV Talk Show Appearance That Can Change an Author’s Future appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-07-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK Group to Fight Bias Against Older Debut Authors

Authors can debut at any age — even after 40, the de facto cut off for young writers — and in the UK a new group is fighting the ageist bias. The post UK Group to Fight Bias Against Older Debut Authors appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK Society of Authors Advises “Always Compare Contracts”

Kate Pool of the UK Society of Authors warns authors to look at contracts from digital publishers carefully to compare terms with self-publishing options. The post UK Society of Authors Advises “Always Compare Contracts” appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Publisher Canelo Offers UK Authors Strong Incentives

Industry vet Michael Bhaskar's digital publisher Canelo launches this week with two titles and is offering 50-60% royalties, giving UK authors new options. The post New Publisher Canelo Offers UK Authors Strong Incentives appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-07-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK Sends Young Authors to 2015 Guadalajara Book Fair

28 UK authors will be setting up shop at the the Guadalajara Book Fair, this November 28-December 6, as part of Britain's 'guest nation' literary program. The post UK Sends Young Authors to 2015 Guadalajara Book Fair appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Latest UK Book Publishing Statistics Show Stable Market

The Publishers Association released statistics about the UK book publishing industry that show a stable market and increased digital and export sales. The post Latest UK Book Publishing Statistics Show Stable Market appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK Authors Force Clean Reader App to Stop Some Book Sales

Creators of the Clean Reader app will no longer sell books after receiving complaints from authors that their works were being altered without permission. The post UK Authors Force Clean Reader App to Stop Some Book Sales appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Minimum Wage, Diversity Top Concerns at Wi10

The high energy that has marked Winter Institute carried over into sessions where booksellers spoke about the challenges ahead, from dealing with minimum wage increase laws to creating a more equal partnership with publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hachette UK results show Ferguson fall-off

Hachette UK finished 2014 with a net sales decline of 10% in the final quarter, compared to the same period in 2013 which saw Sir Alex Ferguson claim the Christmas number one, according to annual results released by French parent company Lagardere. Across 2014 as a whole, Hachette UK saw a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Minimum Wage Law to Shutter SF Indie

With the law set to its increase its payroll by 39%, 18-year-old Borderlands Books said it will have to close its doors by March 31. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Many authors’ earnings fall below $500pa, survey finds

Research shows median income for all authors is now below $5,000, though ‘hybrid’ authors who use both traditional and self-publishing are doing bestAlmost a third of published authors make less than $500 (£350) a year from their writing, according to a new survey, with around a half of writers... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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