Strange Ads Promote an Author Who Isn't Real and a Book That Doesn't Exist

IFC's upcoming The Spoils of Bablyon, a comedy miniseries that spoofs serious miniseries, is based on a book that seems to be sold out in Hudson News stores around the country. The problem with keeping the book in stock, though, is that there were never any printed copies. Eric Jonrosh (and the jig will be up when he shows up on TV and looks a lot like Will Ferrell, who produces the series along with the rest of the Funny or Die crew) is the megalomaniacal author of the book, and his persona has become the avatar of IFC's marketing for the show. "[Andrew Steele and Matt Piedmont, who wrote the series] created a character—well, we don't even like to call him a character," head of marketing Blake Callaway tells AdFreak. "We like to pretend he's real. We've written the fake book reviews. He's committed to literacy, because if you can't read, you can't read Jonrosh." The writer's megalomaniacal streak is borne out in the ambitions of the miniseries, which appears to span a period from the 1930s to the 1980s, if the trailer (see below) is any indication. So IFC has an appropriately grandiose ad campaign, with the book-focused executions littering bookstores and branded Little Free Libraries installed in cities like Dallas and Minneapolis in partnership with that organization. Callaway says he hopes to entice writers from the blockbuster-ier end of the literary spectrum to turn out for the show's Los Angeles premiere in January. "[James Patterson] is on our wish list,"... Continue reading at 'AdWeek'

[ AdWeek | 2013-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookExpo 2019: Adult Editors Fired Up About Books That Get Real

Six editors pitched their favorite forthcoming books to an enraptured crowd of 300 booksellers, editors, and librarians who packed the Adult Book Editors' Buzz Panel on the opening afternoon of BookExpo. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-05-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Readers can’t get enough World War II fiction, and authors are happy to keep the books coming

Pamela Jenoff, Kate Quinn and other authors talk about how they find inspiration for their novels. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-05-24 13:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors talk #books coming #kate quinn #find inspiration


Debut author triumphs with Children’s Books Ireland awards hat-trick

Debut author Kelly McCaughrain has won a trio of prizes at the Children’s Books Ireland awards—a first in the 29 year history of the prize. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-05-22 12:44:25 UTC ]
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BookExpo's Librarians' Lounge 2019: Meet These Great Vesuvian Books Authors

On Wednesday, May 29, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., you can meet some of Vesuvian’s top authors in the Librarians' Lounge (booth 557) and grab some of your first signed copies of the show. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-05-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Dialogue Books to take authors on UK tour

Dialogue Books is taking eight of its authors on a tour of the UK in May and November, kicking off with dates in Bristol, Leeds and Glasgow. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author of Novel Pulled by Dzanc Books Makes It Available to Readers

Hesh Kestin, the author of 'Siege of Tel Aviv,' the controversial novel about the destruction of Israel that was pulled by Dzanc Books earlier this week, is making a digital edition of the book available to readers on his website. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Mueller report isn’t just a legal document. It’s also the best book on the Trump White House so far.

Review of “Report on the Investigation Into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election” by Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-04-19 20:30:51 UTC ]
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Author Sharna Jackson: Bringing diversity into children's books

The children's novelist inspiring BAME readers to see themselves positively in the stories they read. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2019-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Society of Authors Calls on UK Government to Fight Online Book Piracy

'Book piracy threatens authors' livelihoods' according to a new appeal from the Society of Authors to the British government to help protect copyright. The post Society of Authors Calls on UK Government to Fight Online Book Piracy appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk government #british government #protect copyright


If it's spring, authors are making their best pitches for baseball books

Baseball’s annual rite of literary passage each spring is never shy of more rewrites. To get a clear read on why book publishers put on their straw hat and usher back Major League Baseball with dozens of new titles, note that all sorts of revisionist history, personality-driven essays or bios... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The book industry isn't dead. That's just an excuse to keep salaries low

Poor working conditions for book editors are ingrained. It’s time for that to change – no matter how much we love our jobsBook editors love their jobs, perhaps more than the average worker. We work diligently with motivated and inspiring peers on projects we are proud of. You may not realise... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-03-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Greenhill Books Commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the Real-Life ‘Great Escape’

Military history publisher Michael Leventhal—whose father founded the London Book Fair—plans four titles to celebrate events portrayed in an iconic WWII film. The post Greenhill Books Commemorates the 75th Anniversary of the Real-Life ‘Great Escape’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Feminist Fairy Tales’: Authors Talk About Writing ‘Other Kinds of Books’

An interest in ‘how women reframe stories in a feminist framework’ and more was part of the discussion in a Market Focus Indonesia panel at the London Book Fair earlier this month. Editor’s Note: As we look today at comments from women authors, particularly in the Indonesian market, we’d like to... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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North Canterbury author up for best International business book award

A book written by a North Canterbury author is up for a special international business book award in London next week.  Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2019-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sheikh Zayed Book Award 2019 Winners: ‘World-Class Thinkers and Authors’

This year's recipients of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, as announced to date, come from Morocco, Kuwait, Algeria, Lebanon, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. The post Sheikh Zayed Book Award 2019 Winners: ‘World-Class Thinkers and Authors’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Popular Rang-Tan Character From Palm Oil Deforestation Ad Will Star in a Children’s Book

The idea of an advertising character becoming the focus of a children's book might normally feel a bit icky, but here's a worthwhile exception. The orangutan character from London agency Mother's "Rang-tan" ad--originally made for Greenpeace and later repurposed as grocer Iceland Foods'... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2019-03-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Issues and Authors at London Book Fair 2019: Women’s Voices

Many events at March's London Book Fair will feature authors and others focusing on women in the business and issues of diversity.  The post Issues and Authors at London Book Fair 2019: Women’s Voices appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mirror Books scoops real-life Breaking Bad

Reach plc (formerly Trinity Mirror) publishing imprint Mirror Books has acquired the true story of a man who discovers that his father is a drug-dealer: Breaking Dad by James Lubbock. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Beacon Nabs New Book by Its Fastest-Selling Author

Beacon Press has announced plans to release a new work by Robin DiAngelo, whose 2018 book 'White Fragility' has become the fastest-selling book in the house's history. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fastest-selling book #beacon press #announced plans #robin diangelo #white fragility


Publisher, Author Groups Protest Library Book Scanning Program

More than 36 organizations from around the world have spoken out against a library book scanning program known as "controlled digital lending," dubbing the practice "systematic infringement." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #systematic infringement