Waterstones says it can't pay living wage, as 1,300 authors support staff appeal

Managing director says book chain ‘simply not profitable enough’, as Sally Rooney, Val McDermid and other authors write to protestMore than 1,300 writers including Kerry Hudson, David Nicholls, Sally Rooney, Michael Rosen and Val McDermid have backed a campaign for Waterstones booksellers to be paid the living wage.The support follows a petition from staff at Waterstones, signed by more than 6,000 people, which calls on the book chain’s managing director, James Daunt, to pay booksellers a starting living wage of £9 an hour, or £10.55 for the Greater London area. “Working for a rate of pay that is below the living wage results in booksellers who are stressed, preoccupied and who have little spare time and energy to devote to buying books, reading them, and keeping up with news and trends in the industry – all of which activities are undertaken outside contracted hours, and which many staff consider to be (and are encouraged to view as) integral to their role,” says the petition. Related: Balancing the books: how Waterstones came back from the dead Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2019-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #sally rooney #val mcdermid #david nicholls #michael rosen #living wage #book chain #james daunt #spare time

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Middle Grade neglect risks isolating generation of readers, author warns

Authors and critics are warning that Middle Grade children’s books, for readers aged eight to 12 years, are failing to get the attention they merit from the media and book prize organisers because of the dominance of Young Adult titles. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Classics to offer schools sets of 100 books at £1 per title

Publisher responds to challenge from the schools minister to provide schoolchildren with affordable access to great books From Solomon Northrup’s 19th-century memoir about his years in captivity, Twelve Years a Slave, to classic novels such as Gulliver’s Travels and Madame Bovary, schools... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Waterstones three years from fiscal autonomy despite upturn, Daunt warns

Waterstones must sustain three years of consecutive profit-making before the company can “stand on its own two feet” and not rely on the “charity” of its owner, the chain’s m.d. James Daunt has said. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Staff Pick: 'Borderline' by Mishell Baker

Senior reviews editor Rose Fox recommends 'Borderline' by Mishell Baker, an urban fantasy novel featuring a protagonist who is entirely aware of her own mind’s distortions and doing her very best to keep in touch with reality. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Diverse' Waterstones Children's Book Prize shortlist revealed

Fiction books reflecting the “concerns and issues” of modern day children and teenagers have been highlighted in the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2016 shortlist. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Digital Arachnid: What Does Author Earnings Say to the Industry?

A new report from Author Earnings previews what the Digital Book World Conference audience is likely to hear in "Data Guy's" keynote address. The post Digital Arachnid: What Does Author Earnings Say to the Industry? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-02-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Remarkable' author Margaret Forster dies

Margaret Forster has died, aged 77, following a battle with cancer in her back.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air February 8, 2016: Lawrence Block

Lawrence Block, author of 'The Girl In the Deep Blue Eyes' (Titan, 978-1-7832-9750-4), will appear on BlogTalkRadio.com with 'Modern Signed Book' podcast host Rodger Nichols on Tuesday, February 9. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author publishes missing Hong Kong booksellers' title online

The author of a controversial book on China's president, believed to be the reason five booksellers from the Mighty Current publishing house in Hong Kong went missing between October and December 2015, has released the title online. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Communities rally together in support of National Libraries Day

Libraries across the country are hosting a range of events to encourage their communities to show "solidarity and support" in celebration of "our fantastic, vibrant libraries" to mark National Libraries Day tomorrow. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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International Author Buzz: Leena Krohn, Boualem Sansal, Peter Wohlleben

Sci-fi author Leena Krohn, political fiction writer Boualem Sansal, and nonfiction bestselling author Peter Wohlleben are on the global publishing radar these days in our Author Buzz. The post International Author Buzz: Leena Krohn, Boualem Sansal, Peter Wohlleben appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Trade praises 'fresh' new Waterstones store

Publishers, writers and agents praised the new Waterstones Tottenham Court Road as “fresh” and “funky” at its official opening last night. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HK booksellers 'author' attacks China

A Chinese writer tells the BBC he published a provocative book about President Xi Jinping, linked to five missing Hong Kong booksellers, as a challenge to China. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2016-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Staff Pick: 'Islamism' by Tarek Osman

Reviews editor Seth Satterlee recommends 'Islamism' by Tarek Osman, a fine primer on the rise of Islamism as a political movement. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scotsman staff threaten strike action over job cuts

More than 30 jobs set to be axed across parent company Johnston Press’s Scottish operationStaff at the Scotsman are gearing up for strike action as more than 30 jobs look set to go across parent company Johnston Press’s Scottish operation.The regional newspaper publisher is seeking to cut about... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Waterstones heading in 'right direction' after slashing losses

Waterstones is “moving in the right direction” but there is still “much more work to do,” the chain’s managing director James Daunt has said after the company significantly reduced its losses last year. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors call on governments to resettle more Syrian refugees

Victoria Hislop, Caitlin Moran, Mark Haddon and Tracy Chevalier have called on wealthy governments to resettle more Syrian refugees as Waterstones hits its £1m Buy Books for Syria fundraising target. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Winter Institute 2016: Children's Authors, Presses, Books Share the Stage

While the focus was primarily on the offerings for adult readers among the 625 booksellers attending this year's Winter Institute, children's publishers and authors also took their turns in the limelight at the annual gathering of publishers' reps, authors, and booksellers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA Adult Author Breakfast Speakers Announced

Comedian and journalist Faith Salie, from NPR's 'Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!,' will emcee the May 12 event, which will feature such authors as Colson Whitehead and Sebastian Junger. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors Guild's Paul Aiken Dead at Age 56

Paul Aiken, the former long-time executive director of the Authors Guild, died Friday January 29, one day shy of his 57th birthday. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-02-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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