Thank you, JK Rowling

Sometime ago, I pledged to wait on reading the Harry Potter series until it came out as ebooks. I was ready and willing for October's planned debut on Google Books, but that was cancelled last minute. What happened instead mindboggles. In late March, author JK Rowling opened the Pottermore Shop to sell the ebooks directly -- in formats for most any device and with no onerous digital rights management. Let me emphasize that last bit: no DRM. I've meant to opine since buying the Harry Potter ebooks as a set -- and affordably priced at that -- when Pottermore Shop… [Continue Reading] Continue reading at 'Betanews'

[ Betanews | 2012-04-22 00:00:00 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Thank you, JK Rowling"


Authors' brands: a case of doublethink?

JK Rowling is. John le Carré isn’t. Albert Camus and F. Scott Fitzgerald are. George Orwell might or might not be.  I’m talking about registered trade marks. Authors make copyright works, and their agents’ job is to maximise revenues from those intangibles. End of story, right? Kind of. A... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-26 12:24:33 UTC ]
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The magic question: can a Harry Potter TV show work?

News of a Harry Potter show in early development at HBO Max begs the question: what can justify another extension to an already stretched universe?When I saw the news, reported by the Hollywood Reporter, that HBO Max was in talks to develop live-action Harry Potter television series, all details... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-01-25 21:19:03 UTC ]
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Resisting censorship

Last month, 58 writers, journalists and artists signed a letter in the Sunday Times in support of JK Rowling, condemning the ‘onslaught of abuse’ she has received regarding her views on sex, gender and trans rights. Signatories included Tom Stoppard, Ian McEwan and Lionel Shriver. Three days... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-04 20:35:25 UTC ]
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Children's news website apologises to JK Rowling over trans tweet row

The Day faced legal action from author after implying that her comments on gender harmed trans peopleA news website aimed at British schoolchildren has agreed to pay an unsubstantiated amount after it implied that JK Rowling’s comments on gender caused harm to trans people.The Day, which is... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-07-23 16:33:19 UTC ]
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"Let’s clarify what free speech is and is not": An open letter to the industry from Pride in Publishing

Being a book publisher comes with a set of tough moral responsibilities. You provide livelihoods for authors and booksellers, your hiring decisions can greatly influence how UK culture is shaped, and you’re also a company with a duty of care towards your staff. Sometimes these duties come into... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-06-23 03:23:48 UTC ]
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Your Guide To Free Google Books (And Its Limitations)

This is your guide to discovering free Google books and creating your own Google books library, with both classic and contemporary titles. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2020-04-13 10:34:51 UTC ]
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Rowling, Smith and Oliver make British Book Awards '30 from 30' shortlist

JK Rowling, Zadie Smith and Jamie Oliver have made the shortlist for the British Book Awards "30 from 30" trophy that will crown one book the “best” of the past three decades. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-18 13:31:41 UTC ]
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Library petition hits 20k signatures after Rowling support

JK Rowling's endorsement of a petition fighting to protect libraries by ringfencing government funding has prompted an additional 10,000 signatures to be added in just four days. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Universal credit could silence working-class writers, MPs told

All-party inquiry into authors’ incomes hears new benefit’s rules could mean only the wealthy will write. Meanwhile booksellers welcomed budget business-rate changesMPs have been warned that the rollout of universal credit championed in Monday’s budget will further undermine professional... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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JK Rowling's Harry Potter fuels Bloomsbury profit rise

Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential also helps boost publisher’s profits by 13% A surge in sales of Anthony Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential and growing demand for the perennial favourite Harry Potter has helped to fuel a rise in first-half profits and revenue for the book publisher... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-10-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A Star Is Born: Tatiana Maslany turns 33 today

JK Rowling once surprised readers by telling them that all along, without mention in her books, one of her "Harry Potter" characters was gay. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How do I get my book published? You asked Google – here’s the answer | Katy Guest

Every day millions of people ask Google life’s most difficult questions. Our writers answer some of the commonest queriesBefore trying to answer this very important question, it is useful to ask yourself another one: “Why should I get my book published?” What do you hope to achieve by releasing... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It’s surprisingly easy to make government records public on Google Books

While working on a recent story about hate speech spread by telephone in the ’60s and ’70s, I came across an interesting book that had been digitized by Google Books. Unfortunately, while it was a transcript of a Congressional hearing, and therefore should be in the public domain and not subject... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2018-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Finalists Named for the 2018 PW Bookstore of the Year

Publishers Weekly named the top five bookstores from around the country and sales representatives. Each is vying for the 2018 PW award for Bookstore of the Year and Sales Rep of the Year to be announced in late March. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-01-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Harry Potter's magic: Documentary looks at 20 years since the boy who lived revived magic

In the 20 years since Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone – the first novel in JK Rowling's global publishing phenomenon – was released, the bespectacled boy wizard has achieved many, many revolutionary things. Most importantly, he has transformed children's passion for reading – and... Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2018-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Good Immigrant's editor plans new journal and agency for writers of colour

Nikesh Shukla and literary agent Julia Kingsford have launched Kickstarter appeal to fund The Good Journal, with further plans for an affiliated agencyAfter selling more than 50,000 copies and being named the British public’s favourite book of 2016, the success of anthology The Good Immigrant... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lucky Strike: BBC hopes JK Rowling's sleuth will steal Victoria's crown

Series based on Harry Potter author’s novels written under pseudonym will face ITV’s hit period drama on Sunday nightsThe BBC is banking on JK Rowling’s magic touch in a Sunday night ratings battle between the sumptuous ITV costume drama Victoria and its own thriller, Strike, adapted from crime... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-08-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What JK Rowling said about the first Harry Potter book

The author said it was "wonderful" seeing the first Harry Potter book in the shops. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2017-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Misprint the legends: famous typos from James Joyce to JK Rowling

A proof of the first Harry Potter novel, which got the author’s name wrong, is only the latest example of an ungainly tradition stretching back centuriesProofreaders may be worth their weight in gold to authors, but their oversights have proved lucrative for some lucky readers of JK Rowling. On... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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