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

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Waterstones says it can't pay living wage, as 1,300 authors support staff appeal'


Author Solutions Sold to Private Equity Firm

Penguin Random House has sold its Author Solutions division to an affiliate of the Najafi Companies, a private investment firm that at one point owned Bookspan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Museum asks for help finding 1,000 first editions of Theodore Roethke debut

Theodore Roethke Home museum in Michigan asks owners of hand-numbered copies of Open House to get in touch, for ‘census’ to mark 75th anniversary of poetry collectionGuardian Witness: Do you own any first, signed or otherwise special book editions? Share your pictures and storiesA quest to find... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-01-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #debut collection #75th anniversary


Authors Guild Begins Letter-Writing Campaign to Meet with Publishers

As part of its ongoing effort to raise writers’ income, the Authors Guild is sending an open letter to members of the Association of American Publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #american publishers #ongoing effort #authors guild #open letter


Authors Guild Petitions Supreme Court to Hear Google Case

Authors Guild executives say that the case represents an opportunity for the Supreme Court to clarify fair use for the digital age. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #supreme court #digital age


DOJ Urges Supreme Court to Deny Apple’s E-book Appeal

In an opposition brief filed on December 23, the U.S. Department of Justice urged the Supreme Court not to hear Apple’s appeal in the long-running ebook price-fixing case. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #e-book appeal #deny apple #supreme court #hear apple


Waterstones reveals New Year Book Club titles

Two Weidenfeld & Nicolson titles and the Desmond Elliott Prize winner are among the eight novels to have made it onto the Waterstones New Year Book Club, commencing in January. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #waterstones reveals


Cheryl Strayed and Elizabeth Gilbert help raise $1 million for Syrian refugees

There are still some people who believe it's better to give than receive. And thousands of them joined together this week to raise $1 million for Syrian refugees in just 31 hours, through a donation drive arranged by five bestselling authors. The Compassion Collective, comprised of writers Cheryl... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-12-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cheryl strayed #elizabeth gilbert #syrian refugees #bestselling authors


iBooks Bestsellers: ‘The Force Awakens’ Sweeps #1

As ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ dominates the box office following its December 18 premiere, the book tie-in by Alan Dean Foster came it at #1 in the iBooks bestseller list for the week ended December 20. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ibooks bestsellers #force awakens #star wars #box office #book tie-


Authors on the Air December 22, 2015: Burt Reynolds

Burt Reynolds, author of 'But Enough About Me' (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 978-0-399-17354-7), is appearing on NBC’s 'Access Hollywood' in a re-airing of his November 18 interview. The two-part interview will appear on NBC on Tuesday, December 22 and Wednesday, December 23. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #burt reynolds #access hollywood


Editors and agents give author appraisals to raise funds for charity

Helen Huthwaite, editorial director at HarperCollins, has launched a project to provide manuscript services for aspiring authors in order to raise £30,000 for charity. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #raise funds #helen huthwaite #aspiring authors


New Canadian Imprint Spotlights Quebec Authors

QC Fiction, from Montreal-based publisher Baraka Books, will release English translations of contemporary French novels by young Quebec authors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Bookseller's Christmas Trading Survey now live

The Bookseller's annual Christmas Trading Survey for independent bookshops is now live. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #independent bookshops


Author Peter Dickinson dies on 88th birthday

Author and poet Peter Dickinson OBE died yesterday on 16th December - his 88th birthday - in Winchester, following a brief illness. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #88th birthday


Local authorities risk 'breaking law' on libraries

A new nationwide library campaign will hold the government to account over its legal responsibilities towards libraries and has called on local authorities to put all changes to library services on hold or risk breaching the law. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #legal responsibilities #local authorities #library services


Amicus Briefs Support Apple's Supreme Court Bid

In all, seven briefs have been filed in the case, at least five of which support Apple’s contention that the lower courts erred in finding Apple had conspired with publishers to fix ebook prices. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Diversity drive on track in children's, but call for more BAME authors

Authors, agents and publishers have praised the increase in the number of books with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and mental health themes in 2015, but added that more needs to be done in terms of publishing BAME (black, Asian and minority ethnic) authors and books that feature... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bame authors #diversity drive #feature characters


Staff Pick: 'North 40' by Aaron Williams

Assistant editor Drucilla Shultz recommends 'North 40' by Aaron Williams about a metamorphosizing book in a small desert town. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


BBC's Nick Higham steps down from 'Meet the Author'

Presenter of the BBC's weekly "Meet the Author" programme, Nick Higham is leaving the show after six years at the show's helm on the BBC News Channel. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Authors on the Air December 9, 2015: Monica Parker

Monica Parker, author of 'OMG! How Children See God' (HCI, 978-0-7573-1864-1) will appear on 'Tough Talk Christian Radio' with Tony Gambone on Thursday, December 10, at 10:30 a.m. ET. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


iBooks Bestsellers: Baldacci Stays #1

‘The Guilty’ by David Baldacci remained at the top of the iBooks bestseller chart for the week ended December 6. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ibooks bestsellers