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 ]
News tagged with: #book discounts #dark materials #bestseller lists #cover price #award-winning author #literary culture #book clubs

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Obituary: George Blagowidow, Hippocrene Books Founder

George Blagowidow, founder of Hippocrene Books, died on September 18. He was 90. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What Makes for a Brilliant Book Cover? A Master Explains

If you find yourself in a bookstore, Peter Mendelsund can be hard to avoid. The post What Makes for a Brilliant Book Cover? A Master Explains appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2014-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Reviews of New and Forthcoming Religion and Spirituality Books, September 24, 2014

A dying woman writes a book about life's end; a psychotherapist explores the untapped power of the will. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BISG Annual Meeting Looks Beyond the Book

The Book Industry Study Group Annual Meeting highlighted the growing benefits of data capture and feedback, among other trends. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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UK author James Dawson chimes in on debate over 'white faces' in children's books

UK children’s laureate Malorie Blackman faced racist comments after Sky News misquoted her as saying there were 'too many white faces' in children's literature.  Now young adult author James Dawson has stepped into the fray, saying, "Malorie did not say there are too many white faces in... Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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E-book Sales Level Off: Canadian Publishing 2014

E-book Sales Level OffFor the moment, publishers say that ebook sales in Canada have plateaued. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Discovering Writers in Sicily

For every 15 titles that Italian publishers import from the U.S., American publishers import one from Italy; a new program aims to change that. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A Book Festival Grows in Portland

Wordstock, one of the largest celebrations of literature and literacy in the Pacific Northwest, is gaining a new parent. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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National Book Award 2014 nominees for fiction, nonfiction, poetry and young people's literature are announced

Works that were nominated include 'The Innovators' by Walter Isaacson and 'Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?' by Roz Chast for the nonfiction prize as well as 'All the Light We Cannot See' by Anthony Doerr and 'Station Eleven' by Emily St. John Mandel for the fiction award. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The latest message for female writers dont think, just spill | Hadley Freeman

Not That Kind of Girl is a reminder of the publishing obsession with women divulging their private livesA week or so ago, I went to LA to interview a ridiculously talented young woman. Despite being only in her 20s, she has achieved the kind of success that most people multiple times her age... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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AAP Numbers Show Drop in Book Sales for May

Book sales fell 1.6% in May, to $1.09 billion, compared to the same month last year. However, sales rose 2.3%, to $4.29 billion, for the first five months of the year, as compared to same period in 2013, according to the AAP’s monthly StatShot program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Anders Leaving Prometheus Books

Lou Anders, editorial director and art director of Prometheus's Pyr imprint since its inception 10 years ago, will be leaving the company. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW Picks: Books of the Week, September 22, 2014

This week, the definitive Tennessee Williams biography, how Aristotle invented science, and Lauren Oliver's creepy ghost story. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Two ISIS Books Coming

As fears about the expansion of ISIS, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, continue to mount, two publishers are rushing books about the militant terrorist group to market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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European court rules that libraries can digitize books

The European Union's highest court has ruled that libraries can digitize books without the permission of copyright holders. The court argues that libraries have the right to provide free information to the public and don't need to obtain licensing if they want to make books available to users... Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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2014 National Book Award Fiction Longlist Announced

The list of 10 finalists includes a previous National Book Award winner, two finalists for the award, two Pulitzer Prize winners, and two first time authors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Agatha Christie: What one writer discovered in her personal notebooks

Author John Curran discusses Christie's writing approach and her never-ending appeal. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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National Book Award 2014 Nonfiction Finalists

Among this year's nominees are the first cartoonist to be considered for the prize (Roz Chast), a Pulitzer Prize winner (Edward O. Wilson), and a Tony winner (John Lahr). Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Four Questions for...Brooklyn Book Festival Host Johnny Temple

Publisher Johnny Temple might be Brooklyn's biggest cheerleader. In addition to overseeing one of Brooklyn's best known publishing houses, Temple is also the host of the borough's flourishing book festival. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fat Fox acquires debut picture book author Tan

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[ The Bookseller | 2014-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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