Philip Pullman leads writers condemning 'pernicious' book discounts

His Dark Materials novelist says today’s steep price cuts devalue authors’ work and cheapen the experience of readingWith more than two months to go before Philip Pullman’s long-awaited new novel from the world of His Dark Materials is published, pre-orders have sent La Belle Sauvage flying up bestseller lists. But with booksellers already slashing the cover price in half, the award-winning author has spoken out about how cheap books devalue the experience of reading, and called for an end to the “pernicious” doctrine of “market fundamentalism” if literary culture is to survive.Pullman is president of the Society of Authors, which is launching a campaign for publishers to stop damaging authors’ earnings by discounting bulk sales to book clubs and supermarkets, and has slammed the cut-price culture in his trade. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2017-08-04 00:00:00 UTC ]

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Cosmopolitan magazine overtakes Glamour in battle of glossies

Hearst owned publication, which cut cover price and relaunched, has increased circulation to more than 400,000Cosmopolitan magazine has increased its circulation to more than 400,000 to overtake rival Glamour after slashing its cover price to £1 and upping the number of copies it gives away to... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Donald Trump, Flat Earthers, and Men in Book Clubs

Good afternoon! There’s nothing more exciting, in journalism, than when reality confounds your expectations in ways that make you feel genuinely afraid for the future of the world. That’s what’s happening in the Republican primary race, where pundits who dismissed Donald Trump as a clown are... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2016-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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International Bestsellers: Nobel Laureate Alexievich Tops Swedish List

Bestseller lists from France, Italy, and Sweden, where Svetlana Alexievich was the #1 nonfiction title in December. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Winners and losers: publishers pick the 2015 books they loved, missed and envied

Which books did well, which were left on the shelves, and which made editors green with envy?Visit bookshop.theguardian.com to browse all these books or call 0330 333 6846. 20p from every book you buy until Christmas will be donated to our Charity Appeal.The book that made my year: In a year... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How do I love thee? Let me Instagram it

Mobbed at signings, followed by millions and topping the bestseller lists: Instapoets such as Lang Leav, Rupi Kaur and Tyler Knott Gregson are poetry’s new superstars, publishing their love poems and haiku on social media. But are they any good? In 2013, Lang Leav self-published a small debut... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-11-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Television takes on film in the next chapter of book adaptations

Fungus the Bogeyman and Stick Man are latest book characters to go on the boxAdaptations of children’s and young adult literature are big news right now, both in film and, increasingly, on television. Mockingjay – Part 2, the climax of Lionsgate’s big screen adaptation of Suzanne Collins’ The... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Poets Move from Tumblr to the Bestseller List

Several poets including Tyler Knott Gregson have transitioned from Tumblr to bestseller lists, selling hundreds of thousand of books in the process. The post Poets Move from Tumblr to the Bestseller List appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-11-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Oprah Winfrey takes stake in Weight Watchers as company refocuses on wellness

Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement was once enough to boost books to bestseller lists and send sales soaring of products dubbed her “favorite things.”Now Weight Watchers International Inc. is counting on that influence to propel its waning weight-loss brand past the competition of free diet and fitness... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-10-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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News Briefs: Week of August 24, 2015

‘NYT’ changes kids’ bestseller lists and more in this week's publishing news briefs. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Haruki Murakami's agony uncle answers become eight-volume book

Bestselling Japanese novelist’s responses to readers’ queries published as a lengthy ebook, with an abridged version available in printHaruki Murakami is riding high in the charts again, after a digital edition of his latest work that stretches to eight volumes has raced up the bestseller... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With War, Literature Grows Even More Important in Ukraine

Book publishing and literary culture is playing a increasingly important role in the Ukraine's defense of its independence. The post With War, Literature Grows Even More Important in Ukraine appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ted Cruz wants to see his book on bestseller lists, denies bulk-buy allegations

Sen. Ted Cruz's memoir "A Time for Truth: Reigniting the Promise of America" has sold 12,000 copies, reports Time magazine, and is ranked at No. 16 on Amazon's list of bestselling books. Readers interested in the Texas Republican's autobiography can find it at most bookstores, but there's one... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-07-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scribd buys Librify

Scribd has acquired Librify, a social e-reading platform, for an undisclosed sum. Librify was founded in 2013 and launched publicly last summer as a social e-reading site for book clubs with a retail offer.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Coloring Book Phenomenon Takes Over Brazil

In Brazil this past April and May, 17.34% of all books sold were coloring books — a genre which has dominated the bestseller lists for months. The post The Coloring Book Phenomenon Takes Over Brazil appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Harlequin’s MIRA Launches BookClubbish

Harlequin's MIRA imprint has launched a new website, BookClubbish, aimed at promoting titles suitable for book clubs and discussing pop culture. The post Harlequin’s MIRA Launches BookClubbish appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mira Launches Book, Pop Culture Site

BookClubbish is a new site devoted to book-and-pop-culture-related content, from titles across all publishers, to be shared with with readers, booksellers, librarians, book bloggers and book clubs. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookCon 2015: Bestselling Authors Feel the Power of Grassroots

Three bestselling authors discussed how book clubs have helped propel their careers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Randall Munroe's upcoming book 'Thing Explainer' is already a bestseller

'Explainer,' the upcoming book by 'What If?' writer Munroe, is already near the top of bestseller lists despite not being published until November. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Transworld pair top fiction charts

Lee Child and Paula Hawkins have given Transworld two chart-toppers in this week's bestseller lists. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sara Gruen's 'At the Water's Edge' sells well despite mixed reviews

The book by the 'Water for Elephants' writer has held steady on bestseller lists, though some critics gave the book negative reviews. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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