Plagiarism, ‘book-stuffing’, clickfarms ... the rotten side of self-publishing

Scams are rife, particularly when some authors can rake in thousands each month – but high-profile victims of plagiarism warn ‘day of reckoning is coming’Nora Roberts is one of the world’s most popular authors. She’s written more than 200 novels, tackled topics from romance to murder and sold more than 500m books around the world. And now she’s really, really angry.Roberts is one of dozens of authors who discovered last month that their work had been allegedly plagiarised by a Brazilian romance novelist called Cristiane Serruya. “Leisurely, he began to loosen her hair, working his fingers through it until it pooled over her shoulders. ‘I’ve wanted to do that since the first time I saw you. It’s hair to get lost in,’” runs Roberts’ novel Untamed. Serruya’s Forevermore has it that: “Leisurely, he began to loosen her hair, working his fingers through it until it pooled over her shoulders and cascaded down over her back. ‘I’ve wanted to do that since the first time I saw you.’”This culture, this ugly underbelly of legitimate self-publishing is all about content. More, more, more, fast, fast, fastYou are responsible for ensuring that no tactics used to promote your book manipulate the Kindle publishing serviceThere’s a running joke in romance-land about how we might as well have a drinking game every time a plagiarism scandal pops up Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2019-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Canadian Publishing 2011: Challenges and Changes

This year Canadian publishers face a triple challenge—tough economic conditions, the first big surge of ebook sales, and a dramatic shift in strategy at Indigo Books & Music, Canada’s largest book retailer. But, as is often said, no one goes into publishing unless he or she is an optimist,... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook sales #dramatic shift


‘Business as usual’ for Frankfurt Book Fair

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Fri, 16/09/2011 - 16:21 Publishers are predicting a busy Frankfurt, reporting full meeting schedules. However, given the tough economic climate, there was a prevailing mood of caution. Hachette UK rights director Jason Bartholomew said: “Every year... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Six on "stimulating" business book shortlist

Publication Date: Thu, 15/09/2011 - 08:45 Titles exploring the rise and fall of the American dollar, the boom in cities and the economics of poverty have been shortlisted for the Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #american dollar


French publishers drop charges against Google

Written By: Barbara Casassus Publication Date: Thu, 15/09/2011 - 09:00 French publishers Albin Michel, Flammarion and Gallimard have confirmed they have dropped charges against Google for digitising copyrighted books from their catalogues without prior permission. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #prior permission


Discussions Continue in Google Books Lawsuit, Attorneys Say

Google and representatives for authors and publishers told a U.S. District Court judge Thursday that they would like to continue discussions on a revised... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2011-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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ACE publishes first library strategy document

Written By: Benedicte Page Publication Date: Thu, 15/09/2011 - 08:55 Arts Council England (ACE) has released a document outlining its approach to library strategy. Culture, Knowledge and Understanding: Great Museums and Libraries for Everyone is said by ACE to be designed to provide certainty... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #long term


Disney 'Furious' at NBC for Breaking Embargo on Kennedy Book

Disney execs are “furious” that the world exclusive on the embargoed Jackie Kennedy book and audiotapes was broken by NBC, and not ABC, according to the New York Post’s Keith Kelly. Both ABC and the book’s publisher, Hyperion, are owned by Disney. The book, “Jacqueline Kennedy: Historic... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2011-09-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tuesday morning #bookstore owner #exclusive rights #day ahead #diane sawyer


Waterstone's add new categories to children's book prize

Written By: Caroline Horn Publication Date: Wed, 14/09/2011 - 09:28 Waterstone’s has extended its children’s book prize to include teen fiction and picture books, in addition to books for five to 12 year olds. Waterstone’s spokesman Jon Howells said: “The children’s award had done very well... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Waterstone's adds new categories to kid's book prize

Written By: Caroline Horn Publication Date: Wed, 14/09/2011 - 09:28 Waterstone’s has extended its children’s book prize to include teen fiction and picture books, in addition to books for five to 12 year olds. Waterstone’s spokesman Jon Howells said: “The children’s award had done very well... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #picture books #book prize #childrens award #childrens publishing


Hodder buys official Lady Gaga photo book

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Tue, 13/09/2011 - 09:05 Hodder & Stoughton will publish the first official book by Lady Gaga this November after signing a deal for a book of photographs by fashion photographer Terry Richardson. Editorial director Fenella Bates bought British and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sales surge for Man Booker shortlist books

Written By: Tom Tivnan Publication Date: Tue, 13/09/2011 - 16:30 A D Miller and Carol Birch's novels are the big winners of the Man Booker Prize shortlist so far, with sales across the six books surging 290% by volume on last week. The six books on the list shifted 18,496 copies for the week... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Six Ways Amazon Book Streaming Could Help Small Business

Amazon's rumoured streaming-book service would be great for businesses, students, and educators. Here's why. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2011-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors Guild Sues Universities Over Google Book Scanning

The Authors Guild has sued five universities and a library partnership organization alleging copyright infringement over their use of certain digitized copies of... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2011-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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E-Book Prices Prop Up Print Siblings

Even as readers grow more comfortable with digital books, some continue to question why so many of the most popular new ebooks are priced so high. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2011-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon in Talks to Launch Digital-Book Library

Amazon.com Inc. is talking with book publishers about launching a Netflix Inc.-like service for digital books, in which customers would pay an annual fee to access a library of content, according to people familiar with the matter. Continue reading at AllThingsD

[ AllThingsD | 2011-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Kindle E-Book Lending Program: What It Needs to Succeed

Amazon's "Netflix for E-Books" lending program is still a rumor, and not popular with book publishers, but here are some ways it could work. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2011-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Gollancz buys self-published adventure series

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Mon, 12/09/2011 - 15:41 Gollancz is hoping to reignite interest in the adventure game books of the 1980s after buying two books by a self-published author. Editor Marcus Gipps bought world rights to two books in the DestinyQuest series by Michael J... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #self-published author


Francis Frith to publish Britain's First Photo Album

Written By: Katie Allen Publication Date: Mon, 12/09/2011 - 15:50 Photograph specialist and publisher The Francis Frith Collection is to publish a tie-in title to forthcoming BBC series “Britain’s First Photo Album”. The BBC2 10-part daytime series will be fronted by John Sergeant and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing in Taiwan 2011

Ask any Chinese readers for their impression of books from Taiwan, and most likely they will cite meticulous editing and beautiful covers while reeling off the names of authors of literary gems, romance titles, and martial art novels. Turn to any American or European publisher, and chances are... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-09-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Virgin buys Palin book

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Fri, 09/09/2011 - 11:17 Virgin Books has acquired a title about US political firebrand Sarah Palin, written by Joe McGinniss. Publishing director Ed Faulkner bought UK and Commonwealth rights from Crown Publishers in the US to The Rogue, with... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #crown publishers #personal life