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

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Publishers like The Guardian become conscientious FLoC objectors, as The New York Times and others open to testing the controversial tech

The drumbeat against Google's cookieless tracking and ad targeting method gets louder as publishers including The Guardian and The Markup block FLoC. The post Publishers like The Guardian become conscientious FLoC objectors, as The New York Times and others open to testing the controversial tech... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2021-04-26 04:01:00 UTC ]
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In-Person Author Tours Won't Be Back Anytime Soon

There are a number of big questions to be answered and logistics to be ironed out before authors hit the road again. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-04-23 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors Guild, HMH Partner to Publish Benefit Collaborative Novel

The Authors Guild Foundation has reached a deal with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt to publish a collaborative novel edited by the acclaimed novelist Margaret Atwood that will feature the writing of more than a dozen notable authors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-03-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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‘I’m afraid of repercussions’: Publishing industry members question Google’s motives in paying off News Corp

Google's News Corp deal may pacify Australian lawmakers, but publishing industry members worry about repercussions for smaller publishers. The post ‘I’m afraid of repercussions’: Publishing industry members question Google’s motives in paying off News Corp appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2021-02-18 05:01:00 UTC ]
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‘I’m afraid of repercussions’: Publishing industry members question Google’s motives in paying off News Corp

Google's News Corp deal may pacify Australian lawmakers, but publishing industry members worry about repercussions for smaller publishers. The post ‘I’m afraid of repercussions’: Publishing industry members question Google’s motives in paying off News Corp appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2021-02-18 05:01:00 UTC ]
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‘Remarkable Adaptability’: Children’s Publishing in the Time of Covid

With 2021 well underway, Publishers Weekly spoke with the heads of several children’s publishing divisions to see how the industry weathered the storm of last year, and to discuss what comes next in the midst of persistent uncertainty. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-02-12 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Frankfurt’s Publishers Training Program Returns to Taipei’s Book Exhibition

Rights and licensing are part of the Taipei Book Fair's Publishers Training Program, produced digitally with Frankfurter Buchmesse. The post Frankfurt’s Publishers Training Program Returns to Taipei’s Book Exhibition appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-01-22 21:19:09 UTC ]
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‘A force to be reckoned with’– fantasy world pays tribute to Storm Constantine

A pioneering novelist, she was also a passionate publisher, highlighting voices neglected by the mainstream. My life was one of many changed by her enthusiasmStorm Constantine, the fantasy author and book publisher who has died at the age of 64, was a prolific novelist and short-story writer.... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-01-19 11:41:44 UTC ]
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Authors and publishers support NLT campaign championing literacy in regions

The National Literacy Trust's Connecting Stories campaign, championing literacy in diverse communities in need of support, has attracted the support of 18 publishers and 32 authors, including children's writers Sathnam Sanghera, Konnie Huq and Steve Antony. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-18 23:09:03 UTC ]
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BiblioBoard, PW’s BookLife Launch New Library E-book Program for Self-Published Authors

BookLife Elite will offer public libraries access to a curated collection of unlimited, simultaneous-use indie e-books, meaning library readers can access the books instantly—no holds lists. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-01-13 05:00:00 UTC ]
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'Bridgerton's' author doesn't want you to pay $800 for her books

Since the Netflix adaptation of the revisionist Regency drama "Bridgerton" premiered on Christmas, Julia Quinn's original book series is in very high demand. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-01-12 18:36:35 UTC ]
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Their Publishing Imprint Closed. Now They’re Bringing It Back.

In a literary landscape dominated by the biggest players, Cindy Spiegel and Julie Grau are among the executives rejecting the corporate publishing model and instead starting their own companies. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2020-12-18 10:00:29 UTC ]
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Wellcome and Profile to publish Mosse's 'timely' exploration of carer role

Wellcome Collection and Profile Books will publish An Extra Pair of Hands by Kate Mosse, her own "deeply personal" story of finding herself, in middle age, caring for her relatives.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-02 21:14:32 UTC ]
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Publishers Would Back a Reinvented BookExpo

With Tuesday's news that ReedPop was pulling the plug on the current version of BookExpo and BookCon, most people contacted by 'PW' expressed little interest in returning to the same kind of show—but nearly all hoped some type of annual event could be created. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-12-02 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers join forces for children's Christmas present campaign

A group of publishers are donating thousands of books to The Childhood Trust’s campaign, to ensure disadvantaged children in London receive a present this Christmas. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-29 18:36:18 UTC ]
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Authors Guild demands changes to Audible's returns policy

US writers' body The Authors Guild has sent an open letter to Audible, demanding the company make changes to its policy on returns. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-24 08:16:59 UTC ]
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Mostly Books podcast to return in new year after publisher support

Mostly Books has lined up a second series of its podcast, featuring a host of authors talking about their favourite books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-22 12:48:47 UTC ]
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Self-Published Author Moves Brand into Consumer Products

Popular self-published children's author-illustrator Diane Alber is partnering with Surge Licensing to expand her brand and characters globally. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-11-17 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Pandemic drives ebook and audiobook sales by UK publishers to all-time high

Printed book sales plunge in first six months of 2020 on back of shop and school closuresSee all our coronavirus coverageSales of digital books by British publishers are set to hit an all-time high this year as the public turns to reading to escape pandemic cabin fever.However, the ebook and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-11-14 07:00:02 UTC ]
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Cockleberry Bay author Nicola May moves to traditional publishing with Hodder

Bestselling self-published author Nicola May has signed with Hodder & Stoughton to publish a new character-driven series, based around a fictitious street market in Cornwall. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-12 13:40:29 UTC ]
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