TV books programmes: if nobody watches them, make better ones

The novelist Robert Harris was right to call the BBC’s lack of a books show a ‘disgrace’. There’s plenty the corporation could do to make a popular literary programme on TVWith injury, there is always a little insult. When a BBC spokesperson, responding to Robert Harris’s complaints at the Costa book of the year ceremony about the absence of a dedicated book show on its television channels, pointed out that the corporation was responsible for introducing readers to books by way of adaptations such as Wolf Hall and The Casual Vacancy, one might feel that Harris’s comments – in which he called the absence of a BBC TV books show an ‘absolute disgrace’ – had been somewhat misunderstood.While Hilary Mantel and JK Rowling, their publishers, agents and the book industry doubtless benefit from book adaptations, the BBC’s motive in putting them on is not altruistic. It does not broadcast these adaptations to benefit poor, garret-bound writers, nor because it thinks the publishing industry is struggling to connect with potential readers, nor because it worries that amid the hubbub of rapid-fire entertainment opportunities, the novel is becoming marginalised. It does it because the best novels - whether classic or contemporary, comic or tragic, philosophical or political or romantic - are masterpieces of narrative and entertainment. The BBC is in the debt of writers of such novels as Parade’s End, Mapp and Lucia, South Riding, Death Comes to Pemberley and The Night Watch for... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #casual vacancy #hilary mantel #jk rowling #publishing industry #potential readers #night watch

Other Publishing stories related to: 'TV books programmes: if nobody watches them, make better ones'


Live event to mark final Skulduggery book

HarperCollins Children’s Books is celebrating the publication of the final Skulduggery... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #live event #harpercollins children


Smashwords Releases 2014 Indie E-book Sales Survey

In Smashwords' annual survey, CEO Mark Coker says that indie ebooks selling for $2.99-$3.99 earn as much for their authors as conventionally published ebooks selling for $7.99 or more, but generate "triple the readership." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #annual survey


Five-year-old writes book about fairies for British charity

Five-year-old Lydia Port-Burke has self-published a fairy tale now available in the UK. Proceeds for the book will go to BBC Children in Need. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #writes book #fairy tale #bbc children


Reviews of New and Forthcoming Religion and Spirituality Books, July 9, 2014

Alejandro Jodorowsky's film 'The Dance of Reality' is based on his unorthodox autobiography; Ernest Kurtz and Katherine Ketcham offer imperfectly wise stories and parables Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #forthcoming religion #spirituality books


Fourth Estate signs debut from The Book People's Glaister

Fourth Estate has signed a debut novel from the c.e.o. of The Book People, Seni Glaister. Clare... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #seni glaister #book people #fourth estate


Gallery Books in Deal with Omnific

Simon & Schuster’s Gallery Books division has entered into a co-publishing agreement with Omnific Publishing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #gallery books #simon schuster #co-publishing agreement


Hong Kong Book Fair Gets Professional, Goes Global

The Hong Kong Book Fair, now in its 25th year, remains firmly focused on the Chinese-language titles, but has begun to add professional elements and global authors. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-07-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #25th year


Bedtime stories for a teenager? One set of children's books brings a father and son together

Monitor contributor Danny Heitman enjoys reading a children's book series about a wealthy elephant named Uncle to his son. What's surprising about that? His son is a teenager. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bedtime stories #books brings #book series


Klassen, Magnason and Williams win UKLA book awards

Hard on the heels of his 2014 Kate Greenaway award, Jon Klassen has picked up a second UK... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jon klassen


Penguin donates Paxman book to UK schools

Penguin is donating a copy of Jeremy Paxman’s history of the First World War to every... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk schools #jeremy paxman #world war


How Tarted-Up Book Covers Belittle Women's Fiction

The publishing industry's packaging of women's literary fiction in stereotypically girly covers makes great books seem trashy.If you take a look at the cover of Alice Munro's latest Nobel Prize-winning short fiction collection, The View From Castle Rock, you probably wouldn't guess it includes... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary fiction #publishing industry #alice munro #includes stories #domestic abuse


Digital Video Ads That Make You Want to Click

Kraft, Nike, Target and Walmart are trialing new video technology that makes ads interactive. In the case of Kraft, a 15-second clip comes with pop-up information on the brand and its products. As the video runs, a click over one of the frames pulls up a pastry recipe or product details for... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #santa monica #raised $2 #growing segment #digital advertising #michael lazerow #ben barokas


Can the Indies Make 'California'?

With help from Stephen Colbert, this debut novel has become one of Little, Brown's most pre-ordered debuts ever. The title is now benefiting from a scramble by a rash of booksellers, big and small, looking to turn it into a bestseller. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #indies make #stephen colbert


Indiana's Viewpoint Books Is For Sale

Viewpoint Books in Columbus, Ind., which was founded in 1973, has been placed on the market by its current owners, Terry and Susan Whittaker. The Whittakers have owned the store since 1979 and want to retire. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Guadalajara Book Fair to Honor Argentine Literary Greats

The Guadalajara Book Fair's guest nation, Argentina, will honor literary greats and acknowledge Mexico as a haven for exiled writers during the Dirty War. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #guest nation


World Book Night U.S. is coming to an end, says organization

According to staff, World Book Night U.S. will be suspended due to lack of money. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Cable announces £16m creative skills programme

A publishing training programme led by Oxford Brookes University in partnership with publishers... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Yellow Jersey to publish 'revealing' Van Gaal book

Yellow Jersey Press has signed a book about the new Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal by... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #yellow jersey


World Book Night Suspends Operations

After a three year effort, World Book Night officials said this morning they are suspending its operations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


How to Stop Facebook From Making Us Pawns in Its Corporate Agenda

Facebook’s most recently published study is not unique. This is a call to action. We should work together to demand that companies promise not to make us involuntary accomplices in corporate activities that compromise other people’s autonomy and trust. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2014-07-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |