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.
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High-profile layoffs at Penguin Random House spark media coverage
The CEO wrote in an announcement to employees that while the book market has grown, so have inflation and costs.
SAG-AFTRA goes on strike alongside the WGA
Primary concerns are like those of the WGA: the problematic economics of streaming and the use of AI.
Bookstat launches its own bestseller lists
Bookstat, an industry data service that tracks online book sales, has launched its own monthly bestseller lists, available via LinkedIn.
IMHO: Threads Is Fine, Just Fine
Twitter’s decline and the emergence of alternatives highlights the ephemeral nature of social media for platform building.
Top AI Tools for Writing, Reviewed by an Author
To be effective, storybuilding AI requires careful and high-quality input from writers.
On the List: Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
Wrong Place Wrong Time released in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook in August 2022 and is McAllister’s first New York Times bestseller.
New Harlequin imprint inspired by TikTok
Aimed at the under-35 romance reader, Afterglow will build on TikTok’s #spicytok content, releasing two trade paperback titles a month.
Wattpad now offers a scheduling tool
Authors can now plan and schedule when new chapters go live at Wattpad.
New agency arises out of Irene Goodman departures
Formerly a senior agent at Irene Goodman Literary Agency, Natalie Lakosil has founded Looking Glass Literary & Media Management.
New promo stacking service at Written Word Media
Written Word Media, a book marketing service primarily for authors, now offers promo stacks to help schedule and run book promotions.
New Canadian publisher: Assembly Press
Assembly Press will be an independent publisher of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry, with its first list releasing in spring 2024.
New pop-comics imprint from Penguin Random House
Inklore will publish manga, manhua, manhwa, webcomics adaptations, and light novels in collaboration with Del Rey UK.
Fox Chapel starts children’s nonfiction imprint
Fox Chapel is mainly known as an enthusiast publisher of craft and activity books.
Links of Interest: July 5, 2023
The latest on AI, traditional publishing, the creator economy, legal concerns, and culture & politics.
Authors sue OpenAI for copyright infringement
The inevitable has occurred: There’s a lawsuit against OpenAI’s ChatGPT that seeks class action status on behalf of authors.
Amazon & Kindle Unlimited filling with AI-generated nonsense
Lately spam books on Amazon and included in Kindle Unlimited have been visibly infiltrating category bestseller lists.
United Arab Emirates investment fund among bidders for Simon & Schuster
Last month, we noted that HarperCollins and KKR (a private equity firm) are among the bidders for Simon & Schuster.
Bookforum is back
After shutting down in December, book review outlet Bookforum will relaunch this summer under the umbrella of the Nation magazine.
Book sales update: July 5, 2023
For the week ending June 17, Circana BookScan’s top 10 bestseller list was comprised entirely of adult fiction, with six romance titles.
The USA Today Bestseller List Has Returned
The list most likely to feature indie authors will also include prominent links to Bookshop.
How Big Publishers Are Using Generative AI
The key considerations for ethical use of AI in publishing are author consent and human supervision.
On the List: The Spectacular by Fiona Davis
Fiona Davis writes historical fiction novels set in iconic New York City buildings. Her previous novels include two New York Times bestsellers.
New agent at Triangle House Literary
Emma Dries is seeking literary and upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction, climate writing, and academic crossover works.
Irene Goodman agents to start new agencies
As of July 1, senior agents at the Irene Goodman Literary Agency will be transitioning into a variety of new agencies.
How Authors and Publishers Can Collaborate on Book Launches
Good relationship building—both with your publisher and your readers—is key to a successful launch.
On the List: The Senator’s Wife by Liv Constantine
Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine, who have sold more than a million copies worldwide.
Literary agencies Kneerim & Williams and Zoë Pagnamenta merge
Katherine Flynn, formerly managing partner at Kneerim & Williams, and Zoë Pagnamenta will head up Calligraph.
New agency: The Weis Agency
Jennifer Weis founded the eponymous agency after departing Ross Yoon. (Ross Yoon was recently acquired by William Morris Endeavor.)
Newly announced ByteDance publishing imprint has an editor
Allison Moore has started as an acquisition editor at 8th Note Press, launched recently by ByteDance (owner of TikTok).
Links of Interest: June 21, 2023
The latest in traditional publishing, children’s publishing, self-publishing, the WGA strike, scandals, book banning, AI, and more.
Storytel has launched an AI initiative for audiobook narration
Storytel will develop AI voices tailored to Storytel’s market and offer its customers a new feature called VoiceSwitcher.
HarperCollins and KKR make bids for Simon & Schuster
According to the Wall Street Journal, the two current frontrunners to buy Simon & Schuster are HarperCollins and private-equity firm KKR.
Elizabeth Gilbert pulls her forthcoming 2024 novel set in Siberia
Some Ukrainian readers were alleging the novel romanticizes Russia, even though they had not read the book.
Indigo directors resign and former CEO retires
One of them said she was resigning because she had lost confidence in board leadership.
Book sales update: June 21, 2023
For the week ending June 10, Circana BookScan reports that print unit sales are down 3 percent compared to 2022.
How Publishers Use Data to Inform What They Publish
Publishers love to see authors provide data that offers marketing insights they would otherwise not have.
Book sales update: June 7, 2023
Circana BookScan reports that print unit sales for LBGTQ fiction grew 11 percent between June 2022 and May 2023 versus the previous year.
Barnes & Noble’s Strategy: It’s All about the Books
CEO James Daunt discusses the necessarily slow journey to improve, store by store, after the chain was run by “numpties.”
Audio Originals: Not a Backup Plan for the Print Book You Couldn’t Sell
Editors look for stories most compellingly told on audio; quicker time to market can play a role, too.
New agent at Lucinda Literary
Previously an editor in academia, Kelly Bergh has joined Lucinda Literary as an agent.
New children’s imprint from Baker & Taylor
Paw Prints Readers will publish works exploring diverse cultures and backgrounds.
Ten Speed Press launches graphic imprint
Ten Speed Graphic will publish literary adaptations, global webcomics, biography, memoir, history, how-to, fiction, and licensed entertainment titles.
Book sales declined 6.6 percent for US publishers in 2022
According to the Association of American Publishers, overall consumer book sales declined 6.6 percent in 2022.
New bookish podcast
Lifestyle publication N Magazine, focused on Nantucket Island, has launched a new podcast: Books, Beach & Beyond.
Amazon KDP rolls out major changes in book category selection
The changes are expected to reduce abuse by authors who have been adding their book to inappropriate categories for visibility and ranking.
Links of Interest: June 7, 2023
The latest in traditional publishing, the WGA strike, AI, book promotion, book banning, and culture & politics.