Publish and be branded: the new threat to literature's laboratory

Increasingly fixated on the stars of today, such as Hilary Mantel and JK Rowling, publishers are neglecting the experimenters who could save their industry tomorrow: the mid-list writersThe tickets sold out months ago. Long before the admiring reviews of the stage adaptation of Hilary Mantel's novels Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies hit the press at the end of last week, theatre-goers were in no doubt they wanted to see six hours of blazing Tudor intrigue.A £7m BBC adaptation beckons, with the actor Mark Rylance teaming up with Peter Kosminsky, director of The Government Inspector.The runaway success of Mantel's story could be seen as a heartwarming tale for the book industry, but it comes at a time when many insiders worry such a tale will become increasingly rare as talented authors find it ever harder break through.Authors with middling sales – like Mantel, before she led Thomas Cromwell up the bestseller list – are getting less care and attention from large publishers, with readers ever-more fixated on fantasy blockbusters, it is said.For HarperCollins, the publishing giant behind 4th Estate, the imprint that publishes Mantel, bestselling authors have become more important than ever. Charlie Redmayne, chief executive of HarperCollins, recently described Mantel as one of several writers, along with Michael Morpurgo and JK Rowling, "who have transcended being an author and are brands in their own right".He added: "In a digital world, they are going to create a huge... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #nathan filer #costa award

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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


Google Rolls Out New Tools for Publishers

Today on the official Google blog, VP of display advertising Neal Mohan announced the launch of two new tools aimed at helping publishers manage ads and maximize revenue. “Before now, it’s been difficult for publishers to manage all their video and mobile ad space from a single ad server—the... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2011-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #news publisher #ad space #select group


Canadian Publishing 2011: BookRiff Set for Launch

The long awaited launch of BookRiff, the system that promises to let people mix and match content from various sources to create their own book, is now slated for the end of September. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2011-09-16 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


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


Condé Nast college to offer Vogue-branded fashion course

Magazine publisher Condé Nast is launching a fashion and design college in central London next year, offering foundation and masters programmes named after its magazine brands, such as Vogue and House & Garden. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2011-09-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #central london #magazine brands


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 ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publish britain #title focuses


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


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 ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #chinese readers #literary gems #romance titles #european publisher


French Publishers Drop Lawsuits Against Google Book Scanning

Three French publishers have dropped lawsuits against Google alleging that the company infringed their copyright. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2011-09-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #french publishers


How Three Publishers Are Retooling for Growth

New opportunities abound for publishers but with that comes new challenges, including determining what’s worth the time and resource investment—and what’s not. Here, three very different publishers outline how they’re reinventing existing products. Government Executive Plans to Double Revenue in... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #opportunities abound


French publishers may drop claim against Google

Written By: Barbara Casassus Publication Date: Thu, 08/09/2011 - 09:00 French publishers Albin Michel, Flammarion and Gallimard appear to be dropping charges against Google for digitising copyrighted books without prior permission, at least for the moment, the trade weekly Livres Hebdo has... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #french publishers #prior permission


Adobe's Digital Publishing Suite Will Support IOS 5 Newsstand Feature

Adobe has announced that its Digital Publishing Suite will support the Newsstand feature in iOS. Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2011-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Faber to publish new Peter Carey novel

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Thu, 08/09/2011 - 08:45 Faber is to publish a new novel by Australian literary heavyweight Peter Carey next year, with the publisher already billing the dual-narrative title as a classic. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New publisher liaison team for Waterstone's

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Thu, 08/09/2011 - 16:15 Waterstone’s is understood to be setting up a publisher liaison team to manage its relationship with publishers. The team will be separate from the buying team and is thought to consist of around eight people. The Bookseller... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #buying team #bookseller understands #pan macmillan


Publishers Commemorate the 10th Anniversary of 9/11

This Sunday will mark a decade since the September 11, 2001 attacks against the United States transpired. Many publishers are marking the anniversary with cover treatments and feature stories that not only reflect on the tragedy, but share stories of its survivors. Here, FOLIO: shares how... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #10th anniversary #cover treatments #ten years


Nineteen libraries now under threat in Surrey

Written By: Bookseller Staff Publication Date: Wed, 07/09/2011 - 15:55 Surrey council now plans to hand 19 libraries over to community management, or close them, according to local news site Your Local Guardian. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #community management


How Independent Publishers Are Keeping Paper Costs Down

Despite enormous amounts of attention directed towards digital efforts in the magazine industry, many independent publishers still count print as their main business and most reliable source of revenue. As the paper market continues to fluctuate, publishers are finding new ways to keep the price... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #independent publishers #digital efforts #magazine industry #reliable source #print issues


Pack new authonomy.com publisher

Publication Date: Wed, 07/09/2011 - 08:23 The Friday Project publisher Scott Pack is to become publisher of HarperCollins' community writing site authonomy.com. Pack, who is also director of digital product development, will retain his role at TFP. Rachel Faulker, a former HC graduate trainee,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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French publishers back indie booksellers

Written By: Barbara Casassus Publication Date: Tue, 06/09/2011 - 08:55 Two French publishers have launched a public call to arms to defend independent booksellers, which continue to suffer from financial decline in the country. Le Seuil c.e.o. Oliver Bétourné wrote in Le Monde last week that... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #french publishers #public call #le seuil #le monde #indie booksellers #bigger share