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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Ebook sales drop as readers favour non-fiction books

Total book sales including physical and digital books rose 6% to £3.5bn, propped up by non-fiction. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2017-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sphere acquires 'feel-good book club' fiction by Sophie Green

Little, Brown imprint Sphere has acquired The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club by Sophie Green from Hachette Australia. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why Brit crime fiction is paying international dividends

After the Scandi noir boom, dark tales from British authors are making waves abroad. Publishers, agents and authors take up the caseWhen ex-paramedic Daniel Cole signed with agent Sue Armstrong, he was “delighted”. When Armstrong bagged him a six-figure, three-book deal from a British publisher... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Alwan's A Small Death wins $50k Arabic fiction prize

A Small Death (Dar Al Saqi) by Mohammed Hasan Alwan has won the 10th International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Not just William: Richmal Crompton's adult fiction republished

Reissues aim to restore her darker stories of village intrigue for grownups to the popularity they once enjoyedRichmal Crompton has long been overshadowed by her creation Just William, but the darker side of her imagination is set to be rediscovered, with several of her lesser-known adult novels... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-04-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cosmopolitan Recruits Editorial Talent From Entertainment Weekly and O Magazine

There's a fun bit of terminology in today's announcement by Cosmopolitan magazine. Meredith Bryan, who started late last month at the Hearst publication as senior deputy editor, news, counts among her duties the creation of 'big "zeitgeist-y" packages.' Love it. Bryan, who spent seven years with... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2017-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New platform uses machine learning to find the next big thing in entertainment

Anyone involved in writing books or TV and film scripts knows that whilst the entertainment and publishing sectors are constantly on the look out for the next blockbuster, nobody is quite sure what one actually looks like. A new AI platform called AUTHORS is looking to use machine learning... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2017-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Colson Whitehead wins the Pulitzer Prize in fiction for 'The Underground Railroad'

Colson Whitehead won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in fiction Monday for “The Underground Railroad.” It caps a sweep of accolades that the book has received since its publication by Doubleday in August 2016, including winning the National Book Award in November and being selected by Oprah Winfrey for... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Five Ways Reading Fiction Makes You Better At Your Job

It’s no secret that successful people are readers. Reading helps you stay on top of new trends and learn techniques you can use in your career. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett each share their favorite books at the end of the year, and they’re filled with nonfiction titles. But what about... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2017-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Equal billing given to novels and non-fiction on Rathbones Folio Prize shortlist

Four works of non-fiction, including Hisham Matar's award-winning biography The Return (Viking), have been shortlisted for the £20,000 Rathbones Folio Prize. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial Is Acquiring Spain’s Ediciones B

The biggest of the Big Five widens its footprint in Spanish-language markets with the Ediciones B group, expanding PRH Grupo Editorial. The post Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial Is Acquiring Spain’s Ediciones B appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Toby Jones joins Headline as editorial director

Toby Jones, formerly group marketing and publicity director at Simon & Schuster UK, is joining Headline's commercial fiction team next month as editorial director.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cathy Glass turns to crime fiction for Avon

HarperCollins' bestselling non-fiction author Cathy Glass is to turn her hand to crime fiction with Avon. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Machine Learning Will Give Publishing Visual, Interactive Content on a Big Scale

Every day, digital publishers are challenged by the fragmentation of media. Third-party and social platforms appropriating content, mobile "snacking," low-quality "clickbait" competition and content recommendation services that drive visitors off-site are just some of the factors depressing... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2017-03-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Thriller-seekers strike big deals

The popularity of psychological thrillers shows little sign of abating, with commissioning editors at the London Book Fair signing up many such titles. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Abrams unveils new non-fiction imprint Abrams Press

Illustrated book publisher Abrams is to launch a new text-driven imprint with a focus on narrative non-fiction called Abrams Press. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Orion relaunches non-fiction list

Orion Non-fiction will be relaunched as Seven Dials in September, with a remit to increase its global profile. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Publishing at London Book Fair: Literary Fiction, Suspense, Memoir

Amazon Publishing, the largest publisher of translations, will be at the London Book Fair with a rights list of suspense, memoir and literary titles. The post Amazon Publishing at London Book Fair: Literary Fiction, Suspense, Memoir appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fiction Is the Most Popular Category at Audiobooks.com

General fiction accounted for 23% of audiobook downloads on the site, followed by mystery/thriller. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-03-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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February Religion Bestsellers: ‘Divine Direction’ Debuts at #1; Amish Fiction Takes Over

Craig Groeschel’s how-to on decision making, ‘Divine Direction,’ debuted at #1 on our Religion Nonfiction Bestsellers list. Plus, Wanda Brunstetter returns with her new Amish Cooking series. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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