Update on that Fadel whitepaper on AI use by publishers
Fadel quietly revised their white paper after our reporting. No longer will you find any mention of PRH using AI for acquisitions.
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Book sales update: November 22, 2023
Financial results are in for the first nine months of 2023 for Hachette, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster.
20Booksto50k: Direct Sales and AI Take Center Stage
The 20Books conference will also change hands and undergo a rebrand in the US.
On the List: This Spells Disaster by Tori Anne Martin
Under two pen names, the author has published eight novels to date in dark paranormal romance and contemporary romance.
Indigo will pivot back to books
After Indigo’s recent board upheaval and sad earnings report, the CEO is returning to bookselling after a costly detour into lifestyle retail.
Is Penguin Random House using AI in acquisitions?
Fadel (a cloud-based software for rights and royalty management) released a white paper on the role of AI in the publishing industry.
Book sales update: November 8, 2023
Simon & Schuster’s last public earnings report revealed an earnings dip of 13 percent in the most recent quarter.
Audiobook Market Update: Slower Growth Than Usual
But ongoing innovation and opportunities promise to maintain growth.
IMHO: We Are Years Away from Legal Clarity on AI
Most agree that regulation is necessary, but discussion continues around what regulation should look like.
On the List: The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
With bestseller lists in mind, Randall began promoting the book the week the deal was announced in Publishers Marketplace.
New graphic novel imprint: KugaliInk
Disney Hyperion and pan-African entertainment company Kugali have launched KugaliInk, a graphic novel imprint focused on middle-grade readers.
New storytelling platform: Dashtoon
Startup company Dashtoon uses generative AI to help anyone become a comics artist, even if they can’t draw.
New publisher: WayWord Books
The subscription-based publisher sells print editions direct to reader and pays authors higher royalties than most traditional deals.
Links of Interest: November 8, 2023
The latest in traditional publishing, audio, legal issues, culture & politics, marketing, and libraries.
Wall Street Journal stops publishing bestseller lists
The Wall Street Journal is no longer publishing its weekly bestseller lists based on Circana BookScan data.
Amazon sues publishing services that claim an affiliation with Amazon
Amazon has filed suit against 20 individuals who run publishing services that deceive authors into thinking they are endorsed by Amazon.
Goodreads tackles review bombing
Amazon-owned Goodreads has announced that it will now try to combat review bombing, where books are barraged with negative reviews.
Another AI lawsuit brought by authors
In a departure from most lawsuits, this one isn’t being brought against OpenAI but rather Meta, Microsoft, Bloomberg, and others.
Highlights from 2023 Frankfurt Book Fair
The world’s largest trade show was seen as having come back fairly strong following three tough pandemic years.
Book sales update: children’s market
As the end of 2023 comes into view, the year looks like a disappointing one for children’s book sales across all categories.
IMHO: The Most Interesting Parts of the Authors Guild Income Survey
One key takeaway: There isn’t a clear financial advantage to traditional publishing for commercial fiction. Another takeaway: author hustle matters.
On the List: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Legends & Lattes, Baldree’s first novel, is a cozy, low-stakes novel of found family and reinventing oneself.
New crime imprint in UK at HarperCollins
Starting in spring 2024, Hemlock Press will publish espionage fiction, literary crime thrillers, and historical suspense.
New agent at Sanford Greenburger
Previously at the publisher Europa, Clare Mao has joined Sanford Greenburger Associates as an agent.
New agent at David Black Agency
Mark Tavani will represent both fiction and nonfiction; most recently, he was an editor at Putnam (PRH).
New agents at The Rights Factory (Canada)
Kat Foxx is seeking commercial and book club fiction as well as upper middle-grade and select nonfiction projects.
New agent at Creative Artists Agency (UK)
Harriet Poland, previously at Hodder & Stoughton, has joined as an agent in the London office.
New agent at Blair Partnership (UK)
Emily Barrett has joined The Blair Partnership as an agent after working on nonfiction at Little, Brown.
Links of Interest: October 25, 2023
The latest in traditional publishing, bookselling, the creator economy, AI, culture and politics, and libraries.
Links of Interest: October 11, 2023
The latest in traditional publishing, Amazon, AI, culture & politics, and marketing.
The Revamped USA Today Bestseller List Isn’t What It Used to Be
The USA Today list was once an important bestseller list for self-publishing authors. The revamp has so far changed that.
Big publishers agree to Spotify subscription deal; agents and authors worry about compensation
Last week Spotify announced that it will start giving its premium subscribers 15 hours of audiobook listening at no additional charge.
Amazon KDP finally allows you to schedule your print release
Amazon KDP now allows authors to decide when their print book’s detail page becomes available to readers.
Wattpad Originals now replaces Wattpad Paid Stories
Last week, Wattpad announced a new model known as Wattpad Originals for readers to enjoy paid stories published on their platform.
Pitch event DVpit moves to Discord
Given the uncertain future of X/Twitter, DVpit has decided to permanently move its pitching events for underrepresented authors to Discord.
The Authors Guild releases a new author income survey
Those familiar with past Authors Guild income surveys may be tempted to write off this latest edition, but it’s worth a closer look.
Book sales update: October 11, 2023
During the first nine months of 2023, US print book sales fell about 4 percent versus 2022, according to Circana BookScan.
The Intersection of AI and Creativity
Two novelists discuss why they don’t fear AI itself, but the companies that control its future.
On the List: Black AF History by Michael Harriot
Combining provocative storytelling with meticulous research, Black AF History places Black people squarely at the center of American history.
New agent at Transatlantic Agency
Pieter Swinkels joins as director of operations and literary agent, representing nonfiction and literary fiction.
Perfect Bound matches publishers and printers
Two independent publishers have launched an online marketplace that matches publishers with printers.
Amazon expands Kindle book sharing
Readers can now share their Kindle content on iOS, Android, and Fire tablets with Amazon Household.
New children’s imprint: Hatch Press (UK)
Bonnier Books UK is launching the nonfiction children’s imprint Hatch Press, planning to publish about 30 titles a year.
The first award for ghostwriters
The Andy Awards honor nonfiction book writing by ghostwriters and paid collaborators.
In case you missed this new publisher (because we did): Sibylline Press
Based in California, Sibylline Press focuses on publishing novels and memoirs by women over 50.
Links of Interest: September 27, 2023
The latest in traditional publishing, AI, TikTok, trends, Amazon, and culture & politics.
WGA strike has an end in sight
After five months on strike, the Writers Guild of America has reached a tentative deal with studios, with good news for writers.
Amazon KDP limits how many books can be uploaded per day
In an indication that Amazon is attempting to limit abuse by AI-driven accounts, it has instituted a three-book-a-day limit for new titles.
Former Indigo CEO returns to her job; Markus Dohle joins board
Indigo founder and former CEO Heather Reisman has returned to Indigo as CEO and board member.
There’s now a decision in the Bad Art Friend case: everyone loses
Remember the 2021 New York Times Magazine piece “Bad Art Friend”? The upshot is that two writers ended up suing one another in court.