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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Are African Writers Trumping African-American Authors?

In the NYTimes, Felicia R. Lee asks if the 'new wave of African writers' with an international appeal are drawing attention away from African-American voices. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How Tarted-Up Book Covers Belittle Women's Fiction

The publishing industry's packaging of women's literary fiction in stereotypically girly covers makes great books seem trashy.If you take a look at the cover of Alice Munro's latest Nobel Prize-winning short fiction collection, The View From Castle Rock, you probably wouldn't guess it includes... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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World Book Night U.S. is coming to an end, says organization

According to staff, World Book Night U.S. will be suspended due to lack of money. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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World Book Night Suspends Operations

After a three year effort, World Book Night officials said this morning they are suspending its operations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Yellow Jersey to publish 'revealing' Van Gaal book

Yellow Jersey Press has signed a book about the new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal by... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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German Writers Rely on Readings, Fellowships for Income

It may surprise many Americans, but German authors are paid to read in bookstores, have access to numerous fellowships and discounted health insurance. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Schultz, Chandrasekaran Team Up on Vet Book

Knopf will release "For Love of Country: What Our Veterans Can Teach Us About Citizenship, Heroism, and Sacrifice" by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and Rajiv Chandrasekaran, senior correspondent and associate editor of the "Washington Post," on November 4. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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US book publishers now make more money from online sales than physical stores

Brick-and-mortar book stores have clearly been on the decline for a while -- just look at Barnes & Noble's rocky finances. However, there's now some tangible evidence that the pendulum has swung in favor of internet-based sales. BookStats estimates... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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2014 Self-Publishing Book Expo Set

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Deals: Week of June 30, 2014

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Are authors running out of book titles?

Novels by Kate Atkinson, Stephen King and Muriel Spark have all had namesakes. Should writers adopt the imitator-proof JK Rowling approach instead?People first started to notice last year when Kate Atkinson's Life After Life coincided in the US with Jill McCorkle's Life After Life, which had... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Daniel Handler (also known as Lemony Snicket) will host the National Book Awards

According to the National Book Foundation, the writer will be the first master of ceremonies to have published books in both the children's and adult fiction categories. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW Picks: Books of the Week, June 30, 2014

This week, a spy thriller retelling of "King Lear," Francisco Goldman explores Mexico City, and a feminist spin on "Tom Sawyer." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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CBLDF Debuts 'Banned Books Handbook' at ALA Las Vegas

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has released its first 'Banned Books Week Handbook,' a free resource for librarians, retailers and fans to use during this year's Banned Books Week, which will focus on comics and graphic novels. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The World's 56 Largest Book Publishers, 2014

International wheeling and dealing has had little impact on the standing of the world's largest publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Sales Dipped in 2013

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Perseus Books Group, 1996-2014

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S Opens E-Book Lending to All Libraries

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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National Book Foundation Taps Snicket as 2014 NBA Ceremony Emcee

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Three­-dimensional picture books are now available for visually impaired children

CU­-Boulder's Tactile Picture Books Project is using three­-dimensional-printing to bring the joy of picture books to the blind and visually impaired. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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