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'


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 |


WHS boss Clarke gets 56% pay rise to nearly £4m

WH Smith boss Stephen Clarke has been awarded a 56% pay rise this year, taking home £3.9m including bonuses in 2015. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Islamic State calls San Bernardino shooters 'supporters' as terrorism probe continues

President Obama vowed Saturday that investigators would "get to the bottom" of the San Bernardino massacre as new details emerged about the woman at the center of the terrorism investigation. One of the two assailants, Tashfeen Malik, pledged allegiance to an Islamic State leader in a Facebook... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tashfeen malik #pledged allegiance


Pakistani authorities probe shooter Tashfeen Malik's possible ties to militants

Authorities in Pakistan are investigating whether Tashfeen Malik, one of the attackers in a San Bernardino shooting, had ties to Islamic militant organizations amid reports that she had pledged allegiance to an Islamic State leader on Facebook, Pakistani intelligence sources said... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tashfeen malik #pledged allegiance


'Reject authors constructively or face alienating them'

The founder of 'author-centric' independent publisher September Publishing has said publishers should find time to “constructively” reject authors or they will “abandon the industry” and become self-published. Speaking on a panel entitled ‘Writing the future: author-centric publishing’ at... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #find time #hannah macdonald #provide feedback


'The Wiz Live!' eases on down road to strong ratings for NBC

"The Wiz Live!" got NBC pretty close to the Emerald City, at least ratings-wise. NBC's nearly three-hour telecast of the 1974 Broadway musical -- a soul-tinged retelling of "The Wizard of Oz" -- delivered 11.4 million total viewers, according to Nielsen. Queen Latifah starred in the title role,... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #title role


Authors’ way

In the late 1990s the venerable book trade chronicler Ian Norrie wrote to The Bookseller’s then-editor Louis Baum to complain about the inclusion of an author in the magazine’s series of The Great and the Good. “Authors are not part of the book trade per se,” Norrie wrote. This week The... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book trade #author day #late 1990s


Staff Pick: 'What Belongs to You' by Garth Greenwell

Fiction reviews editor Gabe Habash recommends 'What Belongs to You,' the brilliantly structured story of an American teacher in Bulgaria caught in a love affair with a young man. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #garth greenwell #love affair #young man


A One-of-a-Kind Celebration for Turkish Author Ahmed Umit

Kalem literary agency and Turkish publisher Everest gathering global publishers and translators in Istanbul to launch Farewell My Beautiful Motherland by Ahmed Umit. The post A One-of-a-Kind Celebration for Turkish Author Ahmed Umit appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


The creators of 'The Martian' and 'XKCD' will chat live on Facebook today

It's been a big year for Andy Weir, author of acclaimed sci-fi novel The Martian. His bestselling book -- originally published serially for free on his personal website -- was turned into a similarly excellent movie starring Matt Damon and Jessica Ch... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #facebook today #big year #andy weir


Struggling authors applying for emergency funds in record numbers

The Society of Authors reveals 2015 saw the highest number of applications for financial assistance, with more well-known authors beginning to ask for helpA record number of struggling authors applied for emergency financial assistance in 2015, the Society of Authors has revealed, with... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #highest number #median earnings #books don #traditional publishing #longer fair #literary launches


Popular U.K. Band Taps Author for Promotional Push

Author Stuart Evers recently collaborated with U.K. folk trio Daughter, writing three short stories that provide the visuals for three music videos promoting Daughter's second album. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #short stories


Pay Humble Bundle $15, get $276 worth of maker know-how

Humble Bundle unveiled its latest book pack on Wednesday and, hoo boy, is it a doozy. The pay-what-you-want charity is teaming up with Make for a huge book pack that teaches the basics of Arduino and Pi programming. Pay anything you want for six Make... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Black authors don’t write only for white women | Dreda Say Mitchell

Yes, book publishers have a problem with writers of colour – it’s just not the one Man Booker prizewinner Marlon James describesThere are so few ethnic minority voices in publishing and the media that when one criticises another it has come to be regarded as a form of strike-breaking. Knowing... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #colour pander #book publishers #black author #major publishers #white women #evidence suggests #white woman #marlon james


iBooks Bestsellers: David Baldacci Nabs #1

‘The Guilty’ by David Baldacci, released on November 17, landed at #1 on Apple’s iBooks bestseller list for the week ended November 29. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ibooks bestsellers #david baldacci


In Amicus Brief, Authors Guild, ABA, B&N Back Apple

A coalition of authors groups and booksellers is urging the Supreme Court to reverse the verdict in Apple's ebook price-fixing case. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors guild #supreme court


CIF to support opportunities for student-athletes with disabilities

The California Interscholastic Federation announced Monday that it has formed a partnership with Special Olympics in Northern and Southern California and the California Department of Education to promote opportunities for student-athletes with disabilities. The partnership is designed to help... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #southern california #california department


Franzen Lives In Denial of His Fame, Or Tries To

Speaking at the Guadalajara Book Fair, Jonathan Franzen was self-deprecating about his global literary fame. The post Franzen Lives In Denial of His Fame, Or Tries To appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jonathan franzen


Smart: 'publishers do invest long-term in authors'

Ebury m.d. Rebecca Smart said that traditional publishers need to “shout from the rooftops” more about the value and investment they provide for authors. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rebecca smart #traditional publishers


Children's 'elegant fable' wins Waterstones Book of the Year

Children’s book The Fox and the Star by aPenguin cover designer Coralie Bickford-Smith has beaten Harper Lee and Paula Hawkins to be crowned The Waterstones Book of the Year 2015. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #waterstones book #paula hawkins