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.
Premium Content
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.
Do you prefer the full finger or a covered finger?
Fran Littlewood’s Amazing Grace Adams has two different ISBNs: one for a cover showing a full middle finger;, and one with a quote burst.
Book sales update: September 27, 2023
According to NPD BookScan, US print book sales are down about 4 percent versus last year.
A Summary of the AI Lawsuits Now Underway—Specific to Writers
The Authors Guild class-action suit is the latest action against OpenAI and also the most narrow in its claims.
Bookshop to begin testing ebook sales this year
Bookshop, the online retailer that competes against Amazon for print book sales, will begin beta testing ebook sales in November 2023.
IngramSpark now requires 40 percent minimum discount for US titles
The change is prompted by demands from some booksellers and online retailers that purchase through Ingram’s wholesale distribution network.
Book sales update: September 13, 2023
Penguin Random House saw sales increase nearly 10% in the first half of 2023 due to acquisitions, international growth, and a royal memoir.
The Challenge of Driving Demand for Books: Interview with Peter Hildick-Smith
Big publishers find it hard to change long-held processes for bringing books to market.
Spotify to test audiobook program
The Wall Street Journal reports that Spotify will test a free audiobook trial in the coming months.
New agent at Martin Literary Management
Mara Cobb has joined as junior agent and is accepting queries as of Sept. 5. She is looking for adult nonfiction and women’s fiction.
New resource: Pacific Islanders in Publishing
Launched by a group of authors, Pacific Islanders in Publishing offers resources for breaking into publishing.
New podcast: Cover Meeting
Designer Steve Leard has launched a book cover design podcast called Cover Meeting.
Links of Interest: September 13, 2023
The latest in traditional publishing, AI, trends, Amazon, libraries, and culture & politics.
Amazon issues new AI guidelines for KDP
Amazon permits authors and publishers to sell AI-generated books, but that fact must now be disclosed when uploading work to Amazon KDP.
Overlooked: Kindle Unlimited increases monthly subscription price by $2
In May 2023, Amazon raised prices on Kindle Unlimited from $9.99 per month to $11.99 per month for readers.
Book sales update: August 30, 2023
Overall, fiction sales are noticeably slowing from last year’s heated volume, when Colleen Hoover and BookTok were driving gains.
Can Bindery’s Business Model Succeed?
Agents and industry veterans aren’t sure if an influencer- and member-driven publishing model is sustainable or desirable for authors.
Top AI Tools for Marketing and Promotion
If you’re willing to spend time on quality prompts and a bit of research, you can get usable marketing copy from AI tools.
On the List: Hi Honey, I’m Homo! by Matt Baume
Matt Baume—whose work focuses on queer culture, geeks, and all things strange and wonderful—is a writer, podcaster, and video-maker based in Seattle.
New agent alert at Curious Minds
Marissa Koors was previously associate editor at Basic Books and Seal Press.
Author Michelle Tea launches Dopamine Books
Tea’s imprint, which will publish queer authors, is part of independent publisher Semiotext(e).
Links of Interest: August 30, 2023
The latest in legal issues, AI, marketing & promotion, and culture & politics.
The Internet Archive and traditional publishers come to a proposed agreement
The Internet Archive has long scanned print works then lent them as ebooks through its website.
HarperCollins had a rough year
At the end of its fiscal year 2023, HarperCollins sales are down 10 percent; earnings are down 45 percent.
Book sales update: August 16, 2023
According to Circana BookScan, print sales for new releases (frontlist) have reached a “new benchmark” of 30 percent of overall book sales.
Private Equity Firm Buys Simon & Schuster: Yay?
KKR’s history as a private equity investor clarifies little about its intent for Simon & Schuster.
On the List: Save What’s Left by Elizabeth Castellano
Castellano’s debut novel and was selected as one of People magazine’s Best Books of Summer and Good Morning America’s July Book Club Pick.
New true crime imprint: Crime Ink
The imprint will launch with six titles in its first year, starting in winter 2024.
Links of Interest: August 16, 2023
The latest in AI, the creator economy, TikTok, marketing & promotion, and culture & politics.
IMHO: What Remedies Do Authors Have When Fraudulent Work Appears on Amazon?
Authors ultimately need Amazon’s cooperation to remove fraudulent titles, yet its current systems fall short.
Prosecraft shut down by its creator after author outrage
Computer scientist and computational linguist Benji Smith took down his site Prosecraft after authors expressed outrage at its existence.
US Federal Trade Commission readies lawsuit against Amazon
This is just the latest salvo from the FTC, which has been particularly focused on challenging the dominance of Big Tech companies.
Book sales update: August 2, 2023
Adult book sales are flat versus 2022 across all formats, while children’s and YA sales fell by nearly 8 percent versus last year.
Why Do Publishers Close Imprints?
Insufficient sales are the primary reason that imprints close, in addition to greater efficiency and even corporate politics.
Draft2Digital Establishes Author Success Division
D2D is dipping its toes into paid services for authors.
On the List: Crowned by Kahran and Regis Bethencourt
The husband-and-wife team are on a mission to empower kids of color through stunning photography that showcases their beauty.
Bindery: a new startup that turns influencers into publishers
The startup is launching with nine inaugural imprints, each associated with a social media influencer who selects titles for publication.
US audiobook distributor Libro.fm goes international
Best known for partnering with independent bookstores to sell digital audiobooks, Libro.fm has added more than 130 international stores.
UK’s Canelo launches Canelo Horror
The imprint will publish a mix of re-issues and new publications starting in October 2023.
HarperCollins Focus launches Spanish-language imprint
Based in Nashville, HarperEnfoque will publish projects that are a natural extension of HarperCollins Focus.
Marvel Crime launches at Hyperion/Disney
The new imprint Marvel Crime will publish crime fiction for adults, with its first releases based on Marvel characters.
DPLA Banned Book Club offers free ebook lending
The DPLA Banned Book Club makes ebook copies of banned titles available in the places where those books have been banned.
Ebook distributor StreetLib partners with Dreamscape Media
Authors who distribute their ebooks through StreetLib now have access to 44 online audiobook platforms.
New USPS shipping service: USPS Ground Advantage
For authors and publishers who don’t use USPS Media Mail, USPS has a new shipping service that replaces first-class packages.
Links of Interest: August 2, 2023
The latest in traditional publishing, current trends, the creator economy, AI, and cultre & politics.
No more frontlist business books at McGraw-Hill Professional
McGraw-Hill Professional announced last month that it will no longer acquire new titles in the business category.
Authors and other creative workers sue or speak out against OpenAI
The first authors’ lawsuit against OpenAI/ChatGPT, seeking class-action status, was filed by authors Paul Tremblay and Mona Awad.