News
- A federal judge is set to weigh in on the Audible Captions case. The publishers argue it’s a quintessential case of copyright infringement. Audible says it’s fair use. The outcome remains uncertain, but a preliminary decision should arrive soon. Read Andrew Albanese in Publishers Weekly. Read our earlier coverage if you need a primer on the perspective of both sides.
- The new CEO of Barnes & Noble discusses how he’ll rejuvenate the largest US bookseller. James Daunt plans to empower store managers to serve their communities. Read Jim Milliot in Publishers Weekly.
- The New York Times expands its bestseller lists. Every month, they will now feature mass-market paperbacks (which should benefit romance authors) a combined graphic books list (fiction, nonfiction, children’s, adult, manga), plus two children’s lists: one for middle-grade paperbacks and another for YA paperbacks. Read the announcement.
- The executive director of the Authors Guild makes the argument for the CASE Act and its ability to provide an inexpensive way for creators to defend their copyright. (Some worry that bad actors could take advantage of the new process; we cover that here.) Read Mary Rasenberger in Publishers Weekly.
- Penguin Random House Audio released a free audio edition of the recent whistleblower complaint against Donald Trump. Saskia Maarleveld narrates. Listen (about 30 minutes) at SoundCloud.
Amazon
- Amazon is retiring Amazon Giveaways. Authors who still have credits from previous giveaways can use them until October 10; customers can enter giveaways until October 17. Alternatively, authors can download any remaining ebook credits as Kindle claim codes from the Amazon Giveaway dashboard. Claim codes do not expire and can be gifted to anyone. Any unused credits that are not downloaded as claim codes will be refunded by November 30. Authors can still buy ebooks as a gift to share with readers at an event, via social media, or through a newsletter. To learn about alternative promotional programs from Amazon, visit KDP.
- Amazon is also ending Kindle MatchBook at the end of the month. MatchBook allowed Amazon customers who had purchased a print edition of a book to buy the ebook at $2.99 or less—even get it free. Amazon has given no reason for nixing this feature or Giveaways. Read Matthew Humphries in PCMag.
- Amazon is testing a one-tap review system for product feedback. If you’ve noticed that Amazon now shows a ratings count (not just a reviews count) on your books, then you’re part of the testing. Read Sarah Perez in TechCrunch.
- Amazon’s search algorithm favors its own products. In news that is surprising to perhaps no one, The Wall Street Journal reports that Amazon’s search more prominently features listings that are more profitable for the company.
Trends
- Who doesn’t read books in America? The latest research shows that 27 percent of adults haven’t read a book in the past year. Read Andrew Perrin at Pew Research.
- Meanwhile, one in five Americans now listen to audiobooks. The percentage has grown from 14 percent in 2016 to 20 percent in 2018. Again, read Andrew Perrin at Pew.
- According to Publishers Marketplace, Chinese publishers have been licensing fewer books. The decline is possibly linked to the trade dispute between the US and China as well as increased censorship, among other factors. PM has logged 60 percent fewer deals to Chinese imprints in the last four months, and the sharpest decline is in children’s books. Read Erin Somers (subscription required).
- Publishers don’t typically fact-check books, which newly concerns some. The New York Times examines the long-standing practice of publishers not fact-checking the books they publish—and the growing consequences. Read Alexandra Alter.
- We’re experiencing a Golden Age detective fiction renaissance. Learn how Agatha Christie and her cohorts have come back into fashion and how they’re reviving the traditional mystery. Read Martin Edwards at CrimeReads.
- For millennials, self-help is more about we than me. Learn how some people are turning to ancient philosophy for guidance to deal with today’s economic and climate crises. Read Kathryn Watson at LitHub.
- Publishers Weekly Superstar Jenn Baker discusses diversity in publishing. The recent award winner comments on the difficulty of changing the industry to be more diverse, including: “People aren’t getting paid enough. People are doing 18 jobs instead of two.” Read in Publishers Weekly.
Canada
- Book sales are flat in Canada, but there’s a more “activist brand” of publishing. Publishers Weekly offers a deep dive into current stats and trends in the Canadian publishing market. Read Ed Nawotka.
- How does winning the Booker affect book sales in Canada? The answer: it depends on the title. Read Pamela Millar at BookNet Canada.
- Stranger Things boosted book sales in Canada. When season two was released in October 2017, print unit sales increased by 149 percent in the role-playing and fantasy category. Read Pamela Millar at BookNet Canada.
Bookselling
- How big is the pre-order market in the UK? Whatever its size, it distinctly favors Amazon, just as it does in the US. Read Philip Jones in The Bookseller (subscription required).
- Oprah’s book club isn’t as powerful as it once was. Currently, Oprah features about six picks per year, and she now has a retail partnership with Apple Books. Read Rachel Deahl in Publishers Weekly.
Marketing Toolbox
- Authors offer middle-grade marketing tips. Yes, social media is mentioned. Read the roundup compiled by Shannon Maughan at Publishers Weekly.
- There’s now a nonfiction podcast publicity agency. It builds podcast publicity campaigns for writers. Read Adam Rowe at Forbes.
- Instagram generates higher engagement than Facebook. The top 50 brands on Instagram now have the same audience size as the top 50 brands on Facebook. However, while the audience sizes are identical, the majority of user engagement happens on Instagram. Learn more at What’s New in Publishing.
New Imprint Alert
- Reycraft Books launches this fall with a focus on diversity. The new children’s book imprint will be largely devoted to picture books. Read Pamela Brill in Publishers Weekly.
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.