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 ]
News tagged with: #wall street #fifty shades #makes sense

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10 Books by Native Authors That Left Their Mark on Me

Poet and memoirist Sasha taqʷšəblu LaPointe recommends 10 books by Indigenous writers that influenced her. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-20 05:00:00 UTC ]
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8 Brilliant Dark Academia Books by Authors of Color

Want to read more dark and twisty stories with academic settings? Dive into 8 brilliant dark academia books written by authors of color! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-01-12 11:32:00 UTC ]
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Book Genres That Don’t Exist But We Wish They Did

Imagine walking into a bookstore looking for books with a bonkers plot when you see it: the Bananapants Plot section. A dream! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-12-27 11:35:00 UTC ]
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French comic book author Fabcaro to pen next Asterix

Author says he will remain faithful to the characters in 40th volume of series, due out next yearThe French comic book series Asterix will turn a new page for its forthcoming 40th volume, with a new writer chosen to pen next year’s instalment, the publisher has said.The French novelist and comic... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-12-20 08:21:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #french novelist #comic book


Authors Guild Urges New York Governor to Sign Freelance Isn’t Free Act into Law

The bill is a crucial step to protect freelancers based in New York and hired by New York-based companies from wage theft, said Authors Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger in a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-15 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #free act #wage theft #authors guild


Children’s Book Author Tomie dePaola and Activist Icon John Lewis on 2023 USPS Stamps

The U.S. Postal Service announced new subjects for 2023 stamps: children's book author Tomie dePaola and civil rights activist John Lewis. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-12-14 18:11:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #children's book #book author


Authors Guild Applauds Arrest, Indictment of Major E-Book Pirates

Two Russian nationals are now facing criminal charges in the U.S. for their role in running Z-Library, one of the world's most notorious e-book pirate sites before its domains were seized by U.S. officials earlier this fall. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-17 05:00:00 UTC ]
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10 Picture Book Biographies of Authors to Show Kids How to Use Their Words

These picture book biographies of authors, including John Ronald's Dragons: The Story of J.R.R. Tolkien, show children how they can use their words to describe their inner and outer worlds. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-11-15 11:31:00 UTC ]
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Would you let a real-life vendor stalk you like an Instagram ad?

And other questions asked in ‘Algorithmic Reality,’ a new graphic novel by WeTransfer’s cofounder, Damian Bradfield. You’re in a shoe store, trying on a pair of Nikes. The vendor is going on about how great the shoes are, but you’re not convinced, so you walk out empty handed. Sometime later,... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2022-11-15 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Hachette Book Group Works to Diversify Slate of Authors

Hachette Book Group took another step toward bringing more BIPOC writers to the table in an equitable way by cohosting a Hurston/Wright Writers Week Workshop retreat for the first time this summer. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-10-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon's updated e-book return policy looks like a big win for authors

Anyone who has been taking advantage of Amazon's liberal return policy regarding e-books could soon be in for a shock. That's because following discussions with the Authors Guild, Amazon has agreed to block automatic returns on digital books that are more than 10 percent read. Currently, the... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-09-23 19:10:20 UTC ]
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UAE: Sharjah Book Authority’s New Awards Honor Rights Professionals

During this year's Sharjah International Book Fair Publishers Conference, rights professionals will win two new awards. The post UAE: Sharjah Book Authority’s New Awards Honor Rights Professionals appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-09-21 00:42:21 UTC ]
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Jean-Luc Godard disliked e-books before they even existed.

The revolutionary—and highly literary—filmmaker Jean-Luc Godard died today at the age of 91. Thinking about him, and about all the books in his films (sometimes held sexily by Jean-Paul Belmondo), I was reminded of an anecdote reported by Richard Brody, in which Godard, in 2000, imagined and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-09-13 14:28:12 UTC ]
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‘Maus’ Author Art Spiegelman Honored by US National Book Foundation

Art Spiegelman, whose 'Maus' is an example of his groundbreaking work, is to be introduced at the National Book Awards by Neil Gaiman. The post ‘Maus’ Author Art Spiegelman Honored by US National Book Foundation appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-09-12 04:09:42 UTC ]
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The UK’s Society of Authors Adds a New Disability-Focused Book Award

The Society of Authors in London opens its 2023 submission program, having awarded 32 writers and illustrators with 2022 prizes. The post The UK’s Society of Authors Adds a New Disability-Focused Book Award appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-08-05 13:37:47 UTC ]
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Charlotte Pomerantz, Inventive Children’s Book Author, Dies at 92

Her imaginative use of words and lively rhymes entertained young readers, sometimes with a subtle message included, drawn from her own life. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-07-29 21:25:32 UTC ]
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How do you organize your books? 9 authors share their favorite shelves.

Shelfies by Elin Hilderbrand, Diana Gabaldon, Garrett Graff, Vanessa Riley, Emma Straub, Hernan Diaz, Jennifer Weiner, Chris Bohjalian and Christopher Buckley Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-07-28 11:00:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #elin hilderbrand #diana gabaldon #emma straub #hernan diaz #jennifer weiner #chris bohjalian #christopher buckley


Diana Kennedy, cookbook author who promoted Mexican cuisine, dies at 99

In defense of authenticity, she influenced generations of chefs and deplored Americans’ fast-food experience of wan tacos and overseasoned enchiladas. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-07-24 17:44:03 UTC ]
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New and Forthcoming Books by Latinx Authors

This fall, publishers will deliver a bounty of new books on the diverse communities that make up the Latinx diaspora. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S Launches Banned Books Promotion for Bookstores

In response to growing book censorship, Simon & Schuster has launched a “Read banned books!” promotion that provides information on challenged titles, in-store displays, and social media materials. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simon schuster #challenged titles