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'


At LBF, Authors Encouraged to Think Like Entrepreneurs

Self-publishing has taken hold in the UK and two authors at the London Book Fair encouraged writers to consider DIY, offering observations and advice applicable to all. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


The Silent Wife author dies

Canadian writer A S A Harrison, whose debut novel The Silent Wife (Headline) is due for worldwide... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Ether for Authors: A Mighty Metaphor Is Our Industry

Porter Anderson assesses the Digital Minds Conference at the London Book Fair, where metaphors were in vogue, the end of copyright debated, and "speed" was the word of the day. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Fifty Shades of Grey pays dividends for publishing

Book publishing is a business of high stakes gambles—and trade book publishers continue to make the right bets.Helped by blockbuster titles Fifty Shades of Grey and The Hunger Games, the industry posted net revenue of $7.1 billion in 2012, up 6.2% from the prior year, according to the... Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2013-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Authors campaign to save Venice's bookshops

British novelist Michelle Lovric and Strega Prize-winner Tiziano Scarpa are among a large group... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors campaign #save venice #large group


Lebanese-Canadian Author Rawi Hage’s Winding Road to Success

Lebanese-Canadian author Rawi Hage, a featured speaker at this year's Abu Dhabi Book Fair, discusses his long, transcontinental path to becoming a novelist. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #winding road #featured speaker


Medium's New Collaborative Publishing Feature Encourages Authors To Create Better Things, Together

Medium's hypothesis has always been that people create better things when they work together. The publishing platform's newest tool helps its authors do just that. Biz Stone and Ev Williams' founding mantra for Medium, the publishing platform they launched last August, was, "People create... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing platform #biz stone #ev williams #sea change


Online translation tools changing lives

You might use Google Translate to read a hard-to-find Manga comic book or to decipher an obscure recipe for authentic Polish blintzes. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2013-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


5 Tips for Self-published Authors to Maximize Rights and Licensing Deals

Hannah Sheppard, creative director at IPR License, reminds self-publishers that getting the basics right are key when pursuing international rights deals. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #self-published authors #licensing deals #hannah sheppard #creative director #ipr license


Robyn Carr: Growing a Midlist Author

Robyn Carr might not be a household name, but she’s certainly a force to be reckoned with on the bestseller lists. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2013-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #robyn carr #midlist author #bestseller lists


PublishNews Brazil: Breakfast at LBF, Int’l Authors to Attend Rio Fair

Publishing news from Brazil: The London Book Fair will host a networking breakfast for those interested in Brazil, numerous international authors confirmed for Rio's book fair, and more. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-04-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishnews brazil #publishing news #book fair


Non-fiction appeals before opening of LBF

Non-fiction projects with an international reach are in high demand ahead of this year’s... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #international reach


S&S brings author Faulkner to commuters

Simon & Schuster has partnered with CBS Outdoor to bring its author chef Lisa Faulkner’... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simon schuster


SOA criticises new Pearson author payment scheme

The Society of Authors has criticised a decision by Pearson to change the way it pays some of its... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Nook for iOS adds support for high-res iPad magazines, Nook Comics

Barnes & Noble may have saved most of the limelight today for in-app purchasing on Nook hardware, but it's not leaving other platforms by the wayside. Its Nook 3.4 update for iOS focuses heavily on visuals, with new support for both Nook Comics as well as "HD" magazines on Retina... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2013-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #barnes noble #in-app purchasing #app store


Pay as you read site hoping to raise $50,000

A start-up is hoping to create a new digital publishing platform for independent authors that... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #raise $50 #independent authors


Pitcher wins Waterstones Children's Book Prize

Annabel Pitcher was named a "genuine literary star" this evening as she won the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book prize #annabel pitcher


French author survey: digital still not a factor

Just 4% of French authors have signed digital contracts for their most recent books and a third... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-03-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #french authors #recent books


Amazon's new imprints give opportunities to debut authors, short story writers

Amazon's Little A imprint will release novels, memoirs, and story collections, while Day One will focus on short stories and new writers. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #debut authors #short stories


The Book Is Dead, Long Live the Book

Publishing houses are Germany's intellectual backbone. For many years, they created a culture of literary abundance and generated healthy profits. But in the age of Amazon, ebooks and self-publishing, they could be facing demise. Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2013-03-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #long live #publishing houses