As far as moments in publishing go, the launch of Pottermore is massive. But what makes it momentous is that, for the first time in contemporary publishing, an author has dictated to the biggest names in book-retailing. To put not too fine a point on them, she has told Amazon, Apple and Barnes and Noble exactly where…
Tag: authors
The Price of Books
Everyone loves to complain about the price of things without really thinking about what it costs to make it happen. How can a book cost R200, wails the consumer (nearly always while spending the same amount on silly cocktails). How dare the bookstore charge this! How disgusting, knowledge and stories should be free to all!…
Publisher on Author Crime
Because I’m almost permanently wired into the world of books, publishing and writing, I am coming across more and more stories of writers being malaligned by their publishers. More writers being strong-armed into ridiculous contracts and made to feel grateful for it. It is ridiculously competitive and based less on quality as marketability. As Sarah…
Sorry, straights only
Unfortunately, we often forget that the publishing industry is as much a gatekeeper as it is a place of rebellion. It can be both, but it is sad when it is the former. Two authors wrote about their book being rejected because they would not change a gay character into a straight one. Mail and…
For the love of the (e)Book
An interesting article on the potential change that eBooks will bring to reading: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/aug/14/kindle-books I truly enjoy digital reading. If one is to be fussy about the format of the book, then that is to be selective about reading altogether. I am currently working my way through all of the Sherlock Holmes stories, of which…
