The Guardian view on fiction vending machines: attention seekers | Editorial

If they succeed in distracting commuters from their smartphones, short story dispensers will be a welcome addition to the landscapeCan fiction miniatures dispensed through slots lure commuters away from their smartphone apps and social media feeds into the imaginary worlds created by authors including Virginia Woolf and Anthony Horowitz? We are about to find out. The French company Short Édition, which already has short-story vending machines in France, Hong Kong and the US, arrives in the UK this week, unveiling its first three terminals in London. Henceforth, travellers through Canary Wharf will have the option of forsaking news, email, Football Manager 2019 and every other temptation their handheld device can offer in favour of a story on a scroll of paper, printed on demand for free.It’s a modern twist on the idea of a free bookstall or swap scheme, already familiar to rail travellers across the UK. The cost is borne by businesses, which are encouraged to install the machines as a way of improving customer experiences and preventing people from getting cross or bored. The novelty lies in the dispenser, but also the brevity and portability of the reads on offer, which range from one minute to half an hour, and can also be viewed online. (Mr Horowitz has been commissioned to pen a 60-second whodunnit for the launch.) They demand far less time and energy than a book – in many cases, less effort to read even than a chapter – and will take up next to no space in a bag.... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2019-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hodder wins auction for Zoella's first non-fiction

Zoe Sugg, known as YouTube personality Zoella, has moved to Hodder & Stoughton for her first non-fiction book after the publisher won rights at auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fictional portrait of novelist Jean Rhys to Vintage

Vintage has acquired a "beautiful, heart-breaking" novel about the life of Jean Rhys by Booker-shortlisted novelist Caryl Phillips. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Transworld promotes Francesca Best to editorial director

Francesca Best has been promoted from senior commissioning editor to editorial director for Transworld. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Electric' historical fiction wins Caledonia Novel Award

Scottish novelist Elizabeth Macneal has won this year’s Caledonia Novel Award for her "masterful" historical fiction debut, The Doll Factory, set in Victorian London. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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2017 Bestselling Books in Germany: Translations Top the Fiction List

In 2017, the bestselling books in Germany show that readers are interested in translated fiction and thrillers. Nonfiction bestseller lists included more German authors than foreign authors. The post 2017 Bestselling Books in Germany: Translations Top the Fiction List appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Get 'Machine Learning For Dummies' ($13 value) FREE for a limited time

Without machine learning, fraud detection, web search results, real-time ads on web pages, credit scoring, automation, and email spam filtering wouldn't be possible. Covering the entry-level topics needed to get you familiar with the basic concepts of machine learning, Machine Learning For... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2018-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pan Mac celebrates women's fiction at 'timely' event

Pan Macmillan celebrated female writers at its annual women’s fiction party on Tuesday evening. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bloomberg’s Twitter network TicToc is getting 750,000 daily views

Along with platforms like Snapchat and Apple News, Twitter has an opportunity to cozy up to publishers where Facebook has disappointed them. The post Bloomberg’s Twitter network TicToc is getting 750,000 daily views appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-01-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Women write literary fiction’s big hitters. So where are their prizes? | Stephanie Merritt

The 2017 bestseller list was dominated by women, with Margaret Atwood at the top, but the Booker still favours menOn the face of it, the revelation that female writers dominated the UK literary bestseller lists in 2017 might seem cause for celebration, a long-overdue correction that seems... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-01-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Connal to spearhead new narrative non-fiction list at Octopus

Octopus has appointed Claudia Connal as publishing director to head up a new strand of narrative non-fiction within the business. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Popular Fiction Topped December International Bestseller Lists

Eric Vuillard’s Goncourt Prize–winner The Agenda, a historical novel about the Nazi annexation of Austria, remained at #1 in France. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-01-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Saving Christian Fiction

In a moribund market, faith-based publishers hunt for fresh voices and new genres. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-01-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Elena Ferrante to write weekly Guardian column

Elena Ferrante is to write a weekly newspaper column for the Guardian’s new look Weekend magazine. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Oneworld novel on International Prize for Arabic Fiction longlist

The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) has revealed its longlist of 16 novels in contention for the 2018 prize, including a novel soon to be published by independent UK publisher Oneworld. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mobile Referendum: How Native Advertising Can Close the New Attention Gap

[Partner Content] Not only do publishers need to ensure their readiness, they need to demand their tech partners support native component-based advertising. The post Mobile Referendum: How Native Advertising Can Close the New Attention Gap appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2018-01-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Man Booker Prize for Fiction Adds New Eligibility for Irish Publishers

The intent of the eligibility change, according to the Booker Prize Foundation, is to be sure that Irish independent publishers can be recognized as readily as Irish publishers headquartered in the UK. The post Man Booker Prize for Fiction Adds New Eligibility for Irish Publishers appeared first... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Literary fiction conveys the human character | Letters

Helen Cross, Andy Stelman, Mark Stewart and Richard Adams respond to a recent Guardian article by Tim LottAs someone whose tiny, grimy literary novels have attracted the interest of the film industry, the truth is the opposite of what Tim Lott (Why should we subsidise writers who’ve lost the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-01-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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John Murray celebrates 250 years with non-fiction prize

John Murray is launching an international non-fiction prize worth £20,000 to mark its 250th anniversary this year. At the same time, publisher Mark Richards has been given new responsibilities to lead the imprint. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jilly Cooper believes literary fiction should not receive state funding

Author Jilly Cooper has said that literary fiction should not receive state support, arguing instead that the money would be better spent on the declining newspaper industry. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S US releases editorial notes on Yiannopoulos draft manuscript

Milo Yiannopoulos’ original manuscript for his memoir Dangerous has been revealed along with critical notes from his Simon & Schuster US editor. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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