Denver literary community demands that Tattered Cover do more than apologize
After owners of a Denver bookstore made—then apologized for—a controversial statement regarding Black Lives Matter, two of its booksellers resigned.
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American Booksellers Association says it will address issues of race
Next steps include diversifying the board and examining the organization’s policies.
The Poetry Foundation responds to criticism
In our last issue, we wrote about the criticism of the very wealthy Poetry Foundation by its own fellows.
Red Sofa Literary owner threatens to sue departed agents and author
Agent Dawn Frederick has issued a cease-and-desist letter to those who described her actions—calling police on looters—as racist.
The Internet Archive caves and shuts down National Emergency Library
After four publishers filed a lawsuit for copyright infringement, the Internet Archive has closed its National Emergency Library.
“A Really Exciting Time”: Publishing during a Time of Crisis
The best business books have a long shelf life and hold value over the long-term. That message was frequently repeated.
The government files a suit against John Bolton
Bolton’s book, The Room Where It Happened, released yesterday without approval from the US government.
Diversity in Children’s Publishing: Pushing for Change
From staffing to acquisition to marketing, children’s book publishers examine their own diversity deficits.
Fallout continues as JK Rowling is accused of transphobic comments
A few employees at Hachette UK do not want to work on Rowling’s new children’s book due to her remarks about the transgender community.
Kobo expands reach to libraries for its self-published authors
Those distributing their ebooks through Kobo Writing Life will find a new option available for library distribution through OverDrive.
UK publisher Head of Zeus launches a new imprint
Aries is a new action and adventure fiction imprint at Head of Zeus, which publishes genre fiction, narrative nonfiction, and children’s books.
Medium launches an email newsletter feature for writers; it’s best avoided
Creators don’t appear to get access to subscribers’ email addresses, which makes it a no-go for anyone serious about platform building.
Hot Sheet Index: June 10, 2020
The Hot Sheet Index reviewed Amazon bestsellers. New Hunger Games book Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Sells More Than 500,000 Copies.
Closing Image: June 10, 2020
The US children’s publisher Lee & Low Books first started researching diversity in the book-publishing industry in 2015.
The US protests have directly affected book sales and bookstores
In response to George Floyd’s death, people are seeking information and resources to better understand race, civil rights, and protests.
PublishingPaidMe goes viral as authors reveal book advances
On Saturday night, author LL McKinney called on white authors to reveal their book advances on Twitter using the hashtag #PublishingPaidMe.
Book publishing and media workers protest the industry’s role in systemic racism
Workers says the industry has failed to hire and retain Black employees or publish a significant number of Black authors.
Fellows of the Poetry Foundation send a list of demands to the board and staff
Thirty former fellows have written and signed a letter expressing dissatisfaction with the organization’s support of the Black community.
Tattered Cover bookstore apologizes for its initial stance of non-engagement
The store has a history of refusing to engage in public debate regarding social issues, and it considered this latest issue no different.
Tweets about the US protests lead to resignations and firings at two literary agencies
Agents parted ways with St. Paul–based Red Sofa Literary, while Corvisiero Literary Agency in New York City fired its entire staff.
Publishers sue the Internet Archive for copyright infringement
Several US publishers have filed a lawsuit against the Internet Archive due to its move earlier this year to establish a National Emergency Library.
Meanwhile, hearings on the DMCA system take place in Congress
Recently, the Senate heard testimony on the question “Is the DMCA’s Notice-and-Takedown System Working in the 21st Century?”
John Bolton’s book about the Trump administration will publish June 23
The book has been delayed for months, awaiting clearance from the government, but apparently Bolton is moving ahead without any approval.
Jonathan Karp named CEO of Simon & Schuster
Following Carolyn Reidy’s death, the president and publisher of Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Jonathan Karp, was named CEO and president.
Coronavirus Update: June 10, 2020
Print book sales are down only half a percent versus 2019, but booksellers and publishers alike worry the worst is still ahead.
Libraries Managing through Lockdown—and Beyond
Librarians struggle with prioritizing and meeting needs of their communities—including vulnerable populations—as digital lending increases.
Trends and Innovations in Audiobook Publishing
Expansion into additional genres, media, and markets may further boost the already robust audiobook trade.
The RITAs are gone, to be replaced by the Vivian
Retiring an award that’s been accused of racist outcomes might be the first step in a new future for the RWA.
A new James Patterson–Bill Clinton novel is coming in June 2021
It’s not a sequel but a standalone novel about a former president whose daughter is kidnapped.
New Authors Guild survey: majority of respondents have seen income decline
These declines are primarily due to a loss of speaking engagements and freelance journalism assignments.
A new adult imprint, Astra House, joins a children’s publishing operation
It will publish 20 to 25 adult titles a year across literary fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.
Penguin Random House launches a secondary education website
The resource is designed specifically for middle- and high-school educators and administrators
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing restructures
The children’s market is seeing growth in brand licensing in kids’ books, and sales are reliably driven by what’s popular on streaming video.
Sophie Bradshaw establishes literary agency
The agency will focus on developing undiscovered and first-time authors of memoir; history; mind, body, and spirit; self-help; and business.
Coronavirus Update: May 27, 2020
Print book sales approach a normal sales distribution in May; bookstores and libraries struggle with how to reopen safely.
Hot Sheet Index: May 27, 2020
The Hot Sheet Index reviewed Traditional publishers’ sales estimates for March 2020. Publishing Industry sales are Flat Year to Date.
Red Wheel Weiser launches new imprint
With plans to publish eight to 10 titles per year, Dharma Spring will focus on Buddhist teachings and publish books on meditation techniques
#MSWL in a Pandemic Age: Make Me Laugh (Preferably with Pictures)
In a round-up of calls from agents and editors using the Twitter hashtag #MSWL we focus on manuscript solicitations through a pandemic lens.
Closing Image: May 27, 2020
Ebook distributor PublishDrive—which attracts self-publishing genre fiction authors—posted detailed report on springtime sales during COVID.
Authorship and Artificial Intelligence: Watch for Legal Battles Ahead
Free tools are available for anyone to feed a published text into a piece of software or AI language model and produce a new work.
Draft2Digital welcomes Vivlio
Ebook distributor Draft2Digital is now partnered with Vivlio, a company owned by large French booksellers and publishers.
Simon & Schuster CEO Carolyn Reidy dies
She had worked at Simon & Schuster for more than 30 years and had been in the position of CEO since 2008.
After being canceled, BookExpo and BookCon move online
All sessions are free and open to the public and will be broadcast through the organization’s Facebook pages.
McGraw-Hill and Cengage cancel merger
Meanwhile, both companies carry significant debt, and K-12 and university textbook sales during coronavirus are anything but stable.
UK government eliminates taxes early on digital publications
Physical reading materials in the UK are not taxed, so the change brings tax equitability between the two formats.
Publishers Weekly launches a trade magazine in Spanish
Publishers Weekly en Español (PWeE) is a joint partnership between US-based Publishers Weekly and Seville, Spain–based Lantia.
A literary agent association forms in Italy
Several dozen literary agents and agencies in Italy have formed ADALI to “ensure professional competence and ethical procedures” for clients.