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 ]
News tagged with: #modern twist

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The Guardian view on fiction vending machines: attention seekers | Editorial'


Novelicious to launch fiction imprint

Women’s fiction blog Novelicious is to launch a new digital imprint. Novelicious Books... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital imprint


Saud Alsanousi wins International Prize for Arabic Fiction

A "daring" novel which explores the plight of foreign workers in Gulf countries has won... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #arabic fiction


African fiction prize chooses longlist

The Kwani? Manuscript Project, a new one-off literary prize for unpublished fiction from African... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary prize #unpublished fiction


Discover A Foreign City Through Its Fiction Via New Gimbal App

The new Gimbal app, launching Tuesday at the London Book Fair, features translated short stories for commuters that allows you to explore a city through fiction. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Translated fiction boost on IMPAC shortlist

Half of the novels shortlisted for this year's International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #novels shortlisted


Shortlist revealed for radical children's fiction prize

Titles from Frances Lincoln, Templar, Walker and Random House UK have been shortlisted for the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #shortlist revealed #radical children #fiction prize #frances lincoln


Fiction rules 2012 ebook sales

A new report on the ebook market in 2012 shows the continuing dominance of fiction, with fiction... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook market


Non-fiction appeals before opening of LBF

Non-fiction projects with an international reach are in high demand ahead of this year’s... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #international reach


The Beijing-to-Bologna Time Machine

In China children's books are for indoctrinating good citizens and instilling morals, but elsewhere, kids books are becoming increasingly entertaining, enticing and personal. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kids books #china children


Corvus buys Haynes fiction debut

Classicist Natalie Haynes has turned her hand to novels, with Atlantic imprint Corvus set to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


DK moves into narrative non-fiction

Dorling Kindersley is taking a new direction, publishing a list of narrative non-fiction books... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #narrative non-fiction #dorling kindersley


Women's Fiction prize returns, announces longlist

Hilary Mantel, Zadie Smith and Barbara Kingsolver are among the finalists for the $45,000 Women's Prize, known formerly as the Orange Prize, which released its longlist today. Hilary Mantel, Zadie Smith and Barbara Kingsolver are among the finalists for the $45,000 Women's Prize, known formerly... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #orange prize #hilary mantel #zadie smith #barbara kingsolver


New award targets Scandinavian crime fiction

A new prize for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year, the Petrona Award, has announced its... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #scandinavian crime


Small Publishers Rule Pen/Faulkner Fiction Award Shortlist

Coffee House Press, with two finalists, and Cinco Puntos Press join FSG and Pantheon with titles on the shortlist for this year's prestigious PEN Faulkner Award for fiction. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Infographic: A Five-Year Look at Magazine Editorial Salaries

Every year FOLIO: conducts a nationwide survey with mid and executive-level editors. The survey maps out salary ranges across a number of demographics including gender, age, location, company size, education and more. The infographic below provides an interactive breakdown on several key trends... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2013-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #company size #key trends


Jim Gavin talks about the mix of fact and fiction in 'Middle Men'

The Southern California author's first story collection draws from his experiences in high school basketball, plumbing sales and more.There's a subtle arc to Jim Gavin's first book, "Middle Men" (Simon & Schuster: 224 pp., $23). Gathering seven stories largely set in Southern California, it... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simon schuster #southern california


Anger over Deary library views

Library supporters have responded with anger to author Terry Deary"s comments that "... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #library supporters


HarperCollins merges non-fiction divisions

HarperCollins is to merge its three non-fiction divisions into two imprints, creating a new... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Publishers need to directly monetise content to sustain editorial

Just as the TV industry has developed to directly monetise content through interactive services, product placement and sponsored programmes, online publishers need to explore innovations that use more than just the space around the content, says Vibrant Media's Fiona Salmon. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2013-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online publishers #tv industry #vibrant media


Editorial Leadership Shuffle at Wired.com

 Through a pair of tweets yesterday Mark McClusky and Evan Hansen announced a transition at the top editor spot at Condé Nast's Wired.com. Hansen is departing and McClusky, formerly the editorial development director, will be taking over the position, a role that Hansen had filled since 2005. 

 Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2013-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |