News and Trends
- Book printing capacity is tight, which may affect holiday supplies and sales. American Booksellers Association CEO Oren Teicher wrote to bookstore members: “In recent weeks, it’s become clear that many publishers are concerned about potential inventory shortages in November and December because of difficulties in securing print time due to significantly reduced capacity in the book manufacturing sector. I know they are hard at work to ensure that this doesn’t happen, and, hopefully, the anxieties will not become realities. But I do want you to know that ABA will continue our outreach and strong advocacy with publishing partners to communicate that all key titles should be equitably distributed if there are any inventory shortages.” For background on the printing situation, read D. Eadward Tree in Publishing Executive.
- These new tiny books fit in one hand and have pages that flip upward. While we don’t expect them to “reshape publishing,” they look like nice gift items this season. Read Alexandra Alter in The New York Times.
- Yet another YA book club. HarperCollins’s online YA community, Epic Reads, is partnering with Belletrist to launch a virtual book club. Learn more from Emma Kantor in Publishers Weekly.
Culture and Politics
- Now that the midterms are behind us, more political book deals lie ahead in the run-up to the US presidential election. Expect book deals from fresh faces arriving in Congress as well as from notable losers such as Beto O’Rourke. Read Ron Charles in The Washington Post.
- How to write consent in romance novels. In the #metoo era, look for enthusiastic consent, rather than nos that imply yes. Read Hannah Giorgis in The Atlantic.
- The coming of age of transgender literature. The New York Times looks at authors at the vanguard of the genre. Read Peter Haldeman.
- What writing fanfic taught an editor. Read closely, this piece by Tor editor Diana M. Pho reflects how fan fiction has affected writers, editors, and readers of commercial and mainstream fiction. Read at Uncanny.
Bookselling
- Antiquarian and rare booksellers successfully protest Amazon changes. An unprecedented protest from booksellers around the world—those who sell through AbeBooks (owned by Amazon)—led to a policy reversal. Read Corinne Segal at LitHub.
- A new retail holiday: Love Your Bookstore. It’s the first annual Love Your Bookstore week, sponsored by several industry figures. Customers can win prizes; use the hashtag #loveyourbookstore. Learn more from the press release.
- A heart-warming story about moving a bookstore with a human chain. A bookstore in England used volunteer help to move its stock. Laurel Wamsley describes the event, with video of the action, at NPR.
- Barnes & Noble is launching an ad campaign for the holidays. It’s the first campaign in years. After watching each of the four spots, we notice that half aren’t necessarily about book purchases. Oliver McAteer at US Campaign provides an overview of the effort.
Amazon
- Amazon H2Q will be divided between Crystal City, Virginia, and New York City. That means the anticipated workforce of some 50,000 people will be divided between the two venues. Read about it in The Washington Post.
- Amazon’s ambitious drive into digital advertising. The Economist takes note of the rapidly expanding fortunes and outsize effects of Amazon advertising. Read.
- Amazon launches a book-review podcast. It’s hosted by Amazon Books editors and includes author interviews. Learn more.
- Amazon has made selling books super easy. Third-party selling of books on Amazon is a gig pursued even by new immigrants to the US. Read Ed Nawotka in Publishers Weekly.
- Has Amazon Prime plateaued? As membership prices have increased, there’s evidence of fewer signups. Read Dennis Green in Business Insider.
Marketing Toolbox
- Amazon and the also-bought apocalypse. The rise of Amazon advertising is making the free cross-merchandising spots less effective and hard to come by. Read David Gaughran.
- How to reach readers through Instagram. In the latest episode of Mark Dawson’s podcast, he discusses #Bookstagrammers with Bex Gorsuch. Listen.
Legal Issues
- Some online and magazine contracts bar freelancers from discussing pay. However, it is possible to push back by negotiating with your editor. Read Adina Solomon in the Columbia Journalism Review.
- Also: keep an eye on all types of rights grabs in freelance contracts. Again, CJR looks at current trends and how to deal with unreasonable demands. Read Jack Davies.
New Publishing Efforts
- Soho Friday Media has launched from three experienced UK publishing execs with connections to Bonnier Publishing. They plan to focus on commercial adult nonfiction. Read Katherine Cowdrey in The Bookseller.
- Kobe Bryant’s entertainment company is getting into book publishing. First up: five middle-grade and YA novels, each conceptualized by Bryant and written with well-known authors. Read Anthony D’Alessandro in Deadline.
- Simon & Schuster is launching Avid Reader Press. The imprint will include both fiction and nonfiction. Read the announcement.
- Introducing Electric Eel, a newsletter about storytelling. This free weekly email looks at the work of artists, activists, and organizations through the lens of storytelling. Learn more.
Jane Friedman has spent her entire career working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry professionals; in 2023, she was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.
Jane’s expertise regularly features in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Today Show, Wired, The Guardian, Fox News, and BBC. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (The University of Chicago Press), is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. She reaches thousands through speaking engagements and workshops at diverse venues worldwide, including NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute, Frankfurt Book Fair, and numerous MFA programs.