Broadcast on September 16th on Bloomberg TV, Roxana Robinson, president of the Authors Guild, and Bloomberg’s Contributing Editor Paul Kedrosky, talk about the dispute between Hachette Book Group and Amazon over e-book pricing and distribution. Alas, Robinson’s rehearsed Douglas Preston lines like ‘a book is not like a brick’ and ‘don’t you call me a…
When Douglas Preston Put His Vest On | End The Sanctions
Over the weekend, Authors United published its latest letter in the media sideshow that seems to be accompanying the on-going and protracted negotiations between Amazon and big-five publisher Hachette. While Preston’s letter(s)—on behalf of more than a thousand Hachette and non-Hachette authors— become increasingly emotive, surreal and downright laughable and embarrassing, New York Times and Authors…
When Douglas Preston Put His Vest On, Again
And Douglas Preston’s real second letter to Authors United members: Dear Author, I want to thank you for signing the letter, and I would also like to welcome those of you who have recently added your name to our effort. As you may have noticed, the letter we published in the Times generated a great…
Writing Postcards in Blood: The Economics of Community
Irish award-winning writer Julian Gough has decided to use crowdfunding for his forthcoming book in an unusual way. We are becoming used to some writers turning to crowdfunding sites like Pubslush, Authr, Unbound (crowdfunder and publisher), and of course one of the most familiar sites, Kickstarter—though Kickstarter is not specifically aimed at writers. However, Gough…
Author Lee Child takes Amazon to task | BBC Newsnight
The Amazon and Hachette dispute is now beginning to generate a great deal of coverage on global TV networks. For US readers of TIPM, you may not have heard what author Lee Child said on the BBC’s current affairs programme Newsnight yesterday. Mick Rooney – Publishing Consultant If you found this review or article helpful,…
Publishers Aren’t Paying Authors Enough: Howey and Coker | Bloomberg TV
Broadcast on Bloomberg TV on July 30th, hybrid author Hugh Howey and Smashwords founder Mark Coker discuss Amazon’s e-book pricing in light of its current dispute with Hachette. (Read More for Video) Mick Rooney – Publishing Consultant If you found this review or article helpful, but you’re still looking for a suitable self-publishing provider to…
When Douglas Preston Put His Vest On…
Douglas Preston, the author who penned an open letter to loyal readers calling on them to email Amazon C.E.O. Jeff Bezos and ask him to ‘change his mind’ and resolve their contractual dispute with Hachette Book Group without hurting authors, has spoken in a detailed FutureBook interview this week with Porter Anderson. Preston’s July letter…
Authors Divided on Amazon Issue
Hachette author Douglas Preston has launched a campaign against the actions of Amazon through an open letter posted to book readers. The open letter has gathered support from some of the cream of the literary world, including Stephen King, James Patterson and JK Rowling. Preston urged Amazon not to make Hachette authors a victim of…
Amazon: Business As Usual? New York Public Library Industry Debate | VIDEO
If you follow the latest news in the publishing world, you can’t escape the current debate surrounding the fractured negotiations between Hachette and Amazon. In April this year, Amazon and Hachette began discussions and despite limited comment from the pair, and one or two leaks to the media, the public and industry alike still have…