Pay-back time for publishers: authors forced to return their advances

This week, it emerged that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies author Seth Grahame-Smith was being sued by his publisher to return his advance. From Julian Assange to Amy Schumer, he isn’t alone...Though he’s fallen out spectacularly with his publisher, Seth Grahame-Smith at least has the consolation of joining a stellar club of writers whose deals for much-anticipated books were terminated. It emerged this week that Grahame-Smith, the man behind Pride and Prejudice and Zombies and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, is being sued in the United States for breach of contract by Hachette, which wants half his $1m advance for a two-book deal returned. Hachette claims the second book’s typescript was eventually submitted “34 months” late, and was too short and substandard, “in large part an appropriation of a 120-year-old public domain work” (unnamed, but presumably 1897’s Dracula).Among Grahame-Smith’s new confrères are the 12 non-fiction authors including Elizabeth Wurtzel sued four years ago by Penguin USA, which sought to recoup the advances plus interest for books it said they had failed to deliver; Withnail And I writer-director Bruce Robinson, whose missed deadlines during his 15-year quest to identify Jack the Ripper meant his original publisher cancelled his contract and asked for its advance back (although he found a new one and They All Love Jack appeared in 2015); and the award-winning novelist and poet Vikram Seth, who was at loggerheads with Penguin after it... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #award-winning novelist #jane austen #$1m advance

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Pay-back time for publishers: authors forced to return their advances'


Pay-back time for publishers: authors forced to return their advances

This week, it emerged that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies author Seth Grahame-Smith was being sued by his publisher to return his advance. From Julian Assange to Amy Schumer, he isn’t alone...Though he’s fallen out spectacularly with his publisher, Seth Grahame-Smith at least has the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #award-winning novelist #jane austen #$1m advance


PA backs filing against Maryland law forcing publishers to license library e-books

The Publishers Association and the Federation of European Publishers have voiced their support for the Association of American Publishers’ challenge of an “unprecedented, unjustified” Maryland law which could force publishers both in the US and abroad to license e-books to the state's public... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-12-20 16:08:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #european publishers #american publishers #force publishers #license e-books #public libraries #publishers association


Incest story by Pinocchio author published in English for the first time

Carlo Collodi’s version of Donkey Skin, by French author Charles Perrault, will appear in a new collection of Italian fairytalesCarlo Collodi is remembered today for Pinocchio, his 1881 children’s story about a puppet who turns into a real boy, immortalised on screen by Disney. Now another... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-10-01 13:46:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #donkey skin #real boy #20th century #nobel prize #french author


Los Angeles Times Book Club is back, virtually, with L.A. noir authors

Join author Steph Cha and Joe Ide for a streaming conversation about new L.A. noir. The March 30 event will be live. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-03-25 19:15:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #joe ide #times book


Authors Guild and AAR back publishers in Audible Captions lawsuit

The Authors Guild and the Association of Authors' Representatives have filed a joint brief supporting publishers' calls for a preliminary injuction to stop their works being included in Audible's Captions programme. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-24 19:58:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #supporting publishers #captions programme #authors guild


EU copyright law may force tech giants to pay billions to publishers

Legislation opposed by firms like Facebook and Google and groups warning of detrimental consequences for the internetMusic companies, film-makers and media publishers could be in line for billions in payouts after EU lawmakers voted to accept controversial changes to copyright rules that aim to... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #proposed legislation #digital age #paul mccartney #european parliament #news article


Writers and publishers trade blows over plummeting author pay levels

Responding to a survey that found the median author income had dropped to £10,500, Publishers Association said the figures were ‘unrecognisable’The Society of Authors has issued a sharply worded challenge to the UK’s biggest publishers after the chief executive of the Publishers Association... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #paying writers #publishers association #biggest publishers


Publishers are paying writers a pittance, say bestselling authors

Philip Pullman, Antony Beevor and Sally Gardner call for fairer share of profits, as survey shows full-time writers earn below minimum wagePhilip Pullman, Antony Beevor and Sally Gardner are calling on publishers to increase payments to authors, after a survey of more than 5,500 professional... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #antony beevor #sally gardner #latest report #professional writers #male counterparts #3% drop


SoA challenges publishers to reveal how much they pay authors

The chief executive of the Society of Authors has challenged publishers to reveal how much they pay writers in their annual financial accounts. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pay authors #challenged publishers #pay writers


Time Inc. Unifies Sales Force, Eliminates Publishers

Latest reorganization focuses on category, brand and digital sales, to make Time Inc. a "one-stop shop" for advertisers. The post Time Inc. Unifies Sales Force, Eliminates Publishers appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2016-07-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post time #digital sales #one-stop shop


Author, Publisher Join Forces to Give Away Cookbook Contract

As part of the publication of Kimberly Yorio's 'The Joy of Writing a Great Cookbook,' Yorio and her publisher, Page Street, have launched a contest featuring a cookbook contract with Page Street as the main prize. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-07-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #great cookbook #main prize


Amazon set to pay self-published authors as little as $0.006 per page read

Writers of shorter works could lose out on revenue as company’s Kindle Owners Lending Library and Kindle Unlimited no longer pay per copy downloadedSelf-published authors could be paid as little as $0.006 per page read under new rules planned by Amazon.Writers who make their works available... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon set #page read #kindle unlimited


Amazon May Pay Self-Published Authors No More Than $0.006 Per Page Read

So much for writing short.Last month, Amazon took a page out of Spotify's playbook, electing to start paying its self-published authors by the page rather than per download. The new model was put into action Wednesday—and it looks like the e-commerce giant may now pay writers no more than $0.006... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2015-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #page read #start paying #self-published authors #e-commerce giant #pay writers


Digiday Podcast Ep 2. Make or break time for VC-backed publishers

This week on the Digiday Podcast we give the digital media world a reality check. The post Digiday Podcast Ep 2. Make or break time for VC-backed publishers appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digiday podcast #vc-backed publishers #reality check


Digital Publishers: It's Time to Think About Paying to Promote Content

There is a long-held belief among content publishers -- including many we are partnered with -- that they shouldn't pay to amplify their content. Their clear aversion most often comes from some dogmatic belief that quality content doesn't require paid promotion. For them, paying to promote... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #core part #largest advertisers #online publisher


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


From Crowdfunding to Author Advances: German Self-Publishing Experimentation

The self-publishing ecosystem in Germany is expanding into more dramatic experimentation, from crowdsourcing to offering author advances. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ether for Authors: Can Turning Publishing Into a Competition Pay?

Our weekly round-up of web buzz looks at Italy's RCS Libri / Rizzoli Lab effort in co-publishing; self-publishing in Germany; author contracts; and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-11-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #weekly round- #web buzz #author contracts


Ether for Authors: Is It Time for Publishing to Call a Truce?

Porter Anderson looks at the Frankfurt Book Fair, at Sprint Beyond the Book and Book Sprints, at pen names, and more in Ether for Authors this week. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #porter anderson


When Can I Go Back to School? Self-published lockdown story lands major publisher

‘Gentle, honest’ book, written by Anna Friend in response to her seven-year-old son’s worries, wins five-figure deal with ScholasticA self-published children’s picture book that was written to help the author’s son deal with being kept home from school during lockdown has been snapped up by a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-02-20 07:00:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #five-figure sum #major publisher #picture book