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 ]

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


Time to detox

One issue that causes the most stress for many employees, including those in the publishing industry, is the dread of simply arriving at work. Far too many people know they will face a negative atmosphere the moment they walk (or rather Zoom) into their workspace. The job we are employed to do... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-09 15:02:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Authors' brands: a case of doublethink?

JK Rowling is. John le Carré isn’t. Albert Camus and F. Scott Fitzgerald are. George Orwell might or might not be.  I’m talking about registered trade marks. Authors make copyright works, and their agents’ job is to maximise revenues from those intangibles. End of story, right? Kind of. A... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-26 12:24:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Bright moves back into books with Midas

Hannah Bright is returning to the publishing industry, joining the Midas books team as senior accounts manager from mid February.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-26 01:26:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The magic question: can a Harry Potter TV show work?

News of a Harry Potter show in early development at HBO Max begs the question: what can justify another extension to an already stretched universe?When I saw the news, reported by the Hollywood Reporter, that HBO Max was in talks to develop live-action Harry Potter television series, all details... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-01-25 21:19:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Industry heads predict resurgence in 2021 and urge support for bookshops

Senior figures from across the publishing industry have shared their predictions for the year ahead with The Bookseller, with support for high-street retailers and further implementation of diversity practices cited as essential steps. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-07 21:52:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this


A Year of Scandals and Self-Questioning for France’s Top Publishers

The release of “Consent” put France’s literary establishment under a harsh spotlight. The publishing industry is grappling with a nation that it resembles less and less. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-01-03 16:49:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Newton and Browne make New Year's Honours list

Bloomsbury founder and chief executive Nigel Newton and former Children's Laureate Anthony Browne have been awarded CBEs for services to the publishing industry and to literature respectively in the New Year's Honours list.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-30 02:25:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Obituary: Roland Elgey, 65

Publishing industry veteran Roland Elgey died recently at his home in Scottsdale, Ariz., after an 18-month battle with colorectal cancer. He was 65. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-12-29 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


All I want for Christmas is the death of lazy 'diversity' language

In light of last week’s Penguin ethnicity pay gap report, their first-ever following in the footsteps of Hachette’s 2019 iteration, it seems like the perfect moment to reconsider the publishing industry’s approach to those vague, catch-all acronyms and terms that are so often used... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-10 06:31:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Green Book Supply Chain Alliance launches industry survey

The International Green Book Supply Chain Alliance has this week launched a global industry survey, to gather data about the publishing industry's environmental intiatives.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-03 20:48:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Does Twitter pitching work?

As this week’s FutureBook20 conference has shown, this is a year where change is at the top of the agenda for the publishing industry. And when it comes to changing the sort of books that get published and the sort of authors whose voices are heard, broadening the acquisition process is crucial. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-20 22:39:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this


50 notable works of fiction in 2020

The novels that captivated us include James McBride’s “Deacon King Kong” and Hilary Mantel’s “The Mirror and the Light.” Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-11-19 13:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Lauren Oyler on America’s Alienating Literary Culture

The book critic and Fake Accounts author says that smart readers are not being served by the publishing industry. The post Lauren Oyler on America’s Alienating Literary Culture appeared first on The Millions. Continue reading at The Millions

[ The Millions | 2020-11-18 21:30:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Hilary Mantel’s next book will be a short story collection about her childhood.

This morning, Publishers Marketplace reported that two-time Booker Prize winner and historical fiction supremo Hilary Mantel has a new short story collection on the horizon. Learning to Talk, which will be released by Holt at some point next year, is billed as “a collection of loosely... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-11-18 18:07:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Orion to run 'demystifying publishing' webinars

Orion is offering webinars "to demystify the publishing industry", starting this month.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-18 12:50:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Use the 'great power' of comms to reach more readers, industry PRs advise

The publishing industry should trust and listen to its communications teams to see greater change and audience growth, PR professionals said at The Bookseller's FutureBook conference on Tuesday (17th November). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-18 06:55:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Harry Potter publisher says Covid has weaved magic over book sales

After shaky start in lockdown, Bloomsbury sales soar as people pick books over box setsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe Harry Potter publisher, Bloomsbury, has reported its most profitable first half in more than a decade, after a nation tiring of box sets fuelled... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-10-27 12:22:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Bärbel Becker’s Frankfurt Event Picks: International Publishing

Bärbel Becker’s selection of events at the 2020 Frankfurt Book Fair, ranging from rights presentations to book prize ceremonies and introductions to international literature. By Hannah Johnson | @hannahsjohnson Noteworthy Sessions in and Around the Trade Show ublishing Perspectives has asked... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-10-12 02:08:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Brought to book: how a publishing gold rush pinned Trump to the page

Wade through the vast library and a horrifying picture emerges: an ignorant, narcissistic, racist liar with a strange relationship with his daughter and senior adviserDonald Trump is not a reader but to the publishing industry he is the gift that keeps on giving. His time in the White House has... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2020-10-11 05:00:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Resisting censorship

Last month, 58 writers, journalists and artists signed a letter in the Sunday Times in support of JK Rowling, condemning the ‘onslaught of abuse’ she has received regarding her views on sex, gender and trans rights. Signatories included Tom Stoppard, Ian McEwan and Lionel Shriver. Three days... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-04 20:35:25 UTC ]
More news stories like this