By encouraging the young to publish fan fiction, story-sharing startup Movellas is tackling English children's low literacy levelsLiteracy levels among English young adults compare poorly with those in other industrialised countries, according to an OECD survey last autumn which ranked England a "must try harder" 22nd out of 24 in tests for literacy.Turning this around is a challenge that appeals to Movellas, an online story-sharing startup. Taking to heart the maxim that "reading for pleasure" is vital to a child's educational attainment, the company's founders believe that encouraging young people to write about their passions and share those stories with others can have a positive effect on literacy.In other words, if your daughter's writing One Direction fan fiction on her phone, she could be on her way to an A* at English GCSE. Or, at the very least, a book deal. "Movellian" Emily Baker's 1D-inspired Loving the Band was snapped up by Penguin. Helen Hiorns's The Name on Your Wrist was published by Random House after she won the inaugural young movellist of the year, sponsored by Sony and judged by children's laureate Malorie Blackman.High-profile success stories can help build its user base (200,000 and growing), but Movellas does more than sell the dream of literary fame.When surveyed, 50% of respondents said Movellas had made them enjoy reading more; 70% enjoyed writing more. Importantly, 20% of its users get free school meals (about the national average). Only 25%... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2014-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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By making it a key marketing message, the brand is hoping to win over consumers that, according to consumer research, favor environmentally friendly brands. Sixty-six percent of consumers say they are willing to pay more for sustainable brands, up from 55% in 2014 and 50% in 2013, according to... Continue reading at Advertising Age
[ Advertising Age | 2017-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The author Fredrik Colting, whose KinderGuide books are based on classic novels. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2017-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors including Jilly Cooper, David Nicholls, Robert Harris and Rosamund Lupton turned out at a party to celebrate the success of the Richard and Judy Book Club with W H Smith. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As Sourcebooks acquires March 4th's Little Pickle canon of children's books, Idea Architects names London's Marsh Agency for worldwide translation rights. The post Industry Partnerships: Sourcebooks and March 4th, Idea Architects and Marsh Agency appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Vintage is launching a new series, Vintage Minis, designed to celebrate the publisher’s extensive backlist by turning snippets from great contemporary and classic writers into small but compelling titles on "big" subjects, such as death, eating and love. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Milo Yiannopoulos, an editor at the conservative news site Breitbart News, received a six-figure publishing contract from Threshold Editions, a conservative imprint at Simon & Schuster. The move prompted criticism from some of Simon & Schuster’s authors and calls for a boycott. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2017-01-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With ebook libraries, Amazon Prime Reading and the plethora of online services available putting free publications in your various devices, it's a wonder that people still pay any money for books anymore. But a new website called Honest Few is found... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2016-12-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For those upset after hearing Google senior vice president Hiroshi Lockheimer dispel the long-circulated rumors that the two operating systems would one day merge, there may be a sliver of hope that doesn't involve Google.Lenovo's Yoga Book is a 2-in-1 tablet/laptop hybrid that runs either... Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2016-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A BookNet Canada study reveals growing sales and library circulation of audiobooks, but consumers are having some problems finding the audiobooks they want. The post Turning Up the Volume on Audiobooks in Canada appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Oxford Literary Festival has changed its mind over paying authors to appear at the event. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Crowdfunding publisher Unbound is to expand into the US next year. The press, which was founded in 2011 by writers Dan Kieran, John Mitchinson and Justin Pollard, is planning to hire US editors to source Stateside projects as part of its global expansion. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Years ago, brands like Viral Nova, Distractify and Diply rode the power of Facebook influencer traffic to relevance with advertisers. Today, hundreds of publishers have dipped their toes in the water, and companies like The Social Edge drive well over 100 million pageviews every month for them.... Continue reading at Digiday
[ Digiday | 2016-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Increasingly, companies like Google are hiring writers to give their AI a more human edge. Companies building bots for platforms like Facebook and Kik can’t really compete with the resource of these tech giants. But giving bots a personality is becoming more of a competitive advantage, companies... Continue reading at Digiday
[ Digiday | 2016-10-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Don’t count out the power of the “What time does the Super Bowl” and other SEO tricks just yet. Facebook may have been all the rage these past few years, but now there's a renewed focus by publishers on Google search. Facebook has turned out to be a fickle partner, and Google's own shifting... Continue reading at Digiday
[ Digiday | 2016-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It’s unclear if publishers will bounce back by year’s end, but there are encouraging signs. There have been some prominent best sellers, including “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2016-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Former justice secretary Michael Gove is set to return to the Times newspaper as a book reviewer and columnist. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Booksellers around the world have been enduring tough times in recent years. But it seems that the tide is finally turning—not only in the UK, but throughout Europe. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Children's reviews editor John Sellers recommends 'Turn on the Night' by Geraldo Valério, a picture book about a sleeping girl who transforms into a giant wolflike dog and embarks on a midnight mission with a pair of animal accomplices. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-09-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Morton Schindel in his home office in 1985. His illustrations turned beloved children’s books into animated films. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2016-08-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Maybe four years ago, I read that your and my grandchildren will not see elephants in the wild,' Pearson told Monitor contributor Erik Spanberg. 'I kind of got passionate about it and I decided to make it the topic of [my] book.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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