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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S&S Children’s Books promotes Wersocki Morris, Horrox and Wilson

Simon & Schuster Children’s Books has announced promotions for Eve Wersocki Morris, Olivia Horrox and Danielle Wilson in its sales, marketing and publicity teams. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-19 18:19:02 UTC ]
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Author of 'My Monticello' on Writing a Debut Book With Buzz

Jocelyn Nicole Johnson, at 50, is not the average age of a debut author. But the public school teacher describes herself as a “literary debutante” with the October publication of “My Monticello.” Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-09-28 13:06:03 UTC ]
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‘I have these stories to tell’: the authors trying to diversify children’s books

Schemes provide mentors and funding to help aspiring writers on low incomes enter market dominated by white celebritiesA programme that aims to tackle the lack of diversity in children’s books has been launched after its founder said the practice of richer authors paying for support to get... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-09-26 06:15:04 UTC ]
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Eloise Greenfield, author whose picture books uplifted Black children, dies at 92

Her dozens of works helped broaden children’s literature so that young African Americans could see themselves, their history and their hopes in the pages of their picture books. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-08-18 06:43:01 UTC ]
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German Book Prize: ‘Nationwide Blind Date Readings’ With Authors

The German Book Prize announces a series of author readings running through October 1 and set in many parts of Germany. The post German Book Prize: ‘Nationwide Blind Date Readings’ With Authors appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-08-17 18:09:08 UTC ]
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Author Szereto 'horrified and angry' over Amazon fake e-book scam

American author Mitzi Szereto says she has been plagued by fake pornographic e-books listed under her name on Amazon in a similar scam to one which previously targeted commercial women’s writers in the UK. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-11 21:51:56 UTC ]
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Authors Guild Diversity Webinar Asks: Can Book Publishing Change?

The Authors Guild's virtual panel "Centering Black Voices: Short-Term Progress or Sustainable Change?," held on July 27, offered a wide-ranging examination of the history and potential of the book industry’s continuing struggle to address diversity. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-07-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Fantasy Author Scarlett St. Clair Joins Bloom Books

Dark fantasy author Scarlett St. Clair will join Bloom Books, which will publish her new novel 'King of Battle and Blood,' along with her complete backlist and forthcoming new books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-07-23 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The American Booksellers Association promoted an anti-trans book, apologized, and then deleted it.

The American Booksellers Association has made their Twitter account private after promoting a scientifically inaccurate anti-trans book, apologizing, and then deleting the apology. The controversy started when the ABA, as part of their July “white box” promotional mailing, sent 750 bookstores a... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-07-16 17:06:17 UTC ]
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Booksellers Denounce ABA Promotion of Anti-Trans Book

The American Booksellers Association is facing withering criticism from booksellers after walking back its promotion of Abigail Shrier's anti-trans title 'Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters' to member bookstores. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-07-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Promoting Cooperation and Cultural Exchange: Spotlight on the Sheikh Zayed Book Award

Growing American participation, record-breaking submissions, and the expansion of translation grants are among the highlights for 2021. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-06-07 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Tayari Jones on Timing at Abu Dhabi International Book Fair

The author speaks with Emirates Airline Festival of Literature director Ahlam Bolooki, asserting 'You don't have to write every day.' The post Author Tayari Jones on Timing at Abu Dhabi International Book Fair appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-05-26 14:44:41 UTC ]
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Top Arab-World Authors at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair

The cultural program at this year’s Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, curated by the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, features a strong roster of writers from the Arab world. (Sponsored) By Publishing Perspectives Staff s Publishing Perspectives readers will remember, the Emirates... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-05-25 01:43:54 UTC ]
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Her Book Doesn’t Go Easy on Publishing. Publishers Ate It Up.

Zakiya Dalila Harris, a former editorial assistant, is making a splash with “The Other Black Girl,” her debut novel about an African-American woman navigating a nearly all-white workplace. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-05-23 20:21:45 UTC ]
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Indian authors speak out over plan to reissue Narendra Modi exam book

Pankaj Mishra and Arundhati Roy attack Penguin Random House India for putting out book by a prime minister they say has mishandled Covid and persecuted writersLeading Indian authors Pankaj Mishra and Arundhati Roy have spoken out against Penguin Random House India’s decision to publish and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-05-20 12:53:37 UTC ]
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'I believe in romance': remembering Valerie Parv, the Australian author who sold 34 million books

The author of 70 novels translated into 29 languages, Valerie Parv has passed away just before her 70th birthday. Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2021-04-30 05:02:04 UTC ]
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Captain Underpants author withdraws book over 'passive racism'

Publisher Scholastic says it will no longer distribute The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the FutureCaptain Underpants author Dav Pilkey has apologised for “harmful racial stereotypes and passively racist imagery” in one of his graphic novels for children, which has been... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-03-29 12:33:28 UTC ]
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Beverly Cleary, Beloved Children’s Book Author, Dies at 104

Her funny stories about Henry Huggins and his dog Ribsy, the sisters Ramona and Beezus Quimby, and a motorcycling mouse named Ralph never talked down to readers. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-03-27 22:33:26 UTC ]
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Glennon Doyle doesn’t work alone: The ‘Untamed’ author and agent Margaret Riley King discuss their creative process

“Our collaboration is like a river,” Doyle says of working with her agent. “We’re in it all the time together.” Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-03-24 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Sheikh Zayed Book Award Shortlists: Literature, Children’s Literature, and Young Author

The three shortlists announced today comprise nine titles selected from a total 39 longlisted works. Winners are to be named in May. The post Sheikh Zayed Book Award Shortlists: Literature, Children’s Literature, and Young Author appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-03-16 16:41:14 UTC ]
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