Authors John Updike, Irish Pornographer? By Jason Boog on Jan. 30, 2009 - 4:23 PM Granta has marshaled an army of John Updike supporters from all over the literary world, building a growing online memorial to the late author. Contributors include Jane Smiley, Garrison Keillor, and Susan Minot. While many added ...
Reviews Authors Respond To the WaPo Book World Closure By Jason Boog on Jan. 30, 2009 - 3:23 PM One hundred authors, ranging from novelist Tony D’Souza to Salon.com editor Joy Press, signed the National Book Critics Circle petition to save the Washington Post Book World’s stand-alone section. Nevertheless, as Gal ...
Events Spoon Lead Singer Rocks the Book Party Crowd By Neal on Jan. 30, 2009 - 2:04 PM While we were out partying with the business book bigwigs Monday night, Brian Raftery was throwing a party downtown to celebrate the publication of Don’t Stop Believing, his account of “how karaoke conquered the world ...
Authors Memorial Services for John Leonard, Ellen Miller By Neal on Jan. 30, 2009 - 1:18 PM The literary community was saddened last November by the death of essayist John Leonard. A memorial service has been planned for Monday, March 2, at 6:00 PM at Landmark on the Park (160 Central Park West); among those scheduled to ...
Book Biz AvantGuild: This Agent Keeps Pitching After Deals Are Done By Neal on Jan. 30, 2009 - 12:55 PM Earlier this week, mediabistro.com’s “Pitching an Agent” series featured Regina Brooks of the Serendipity Literary Agency, who takes an active role in the marketing and publicity for her clients, including an ong ...
Digital Small Presses Lead Digital Push By Jason Boog on Jan. 30, 2009 - 12:23 PM Bestselling author Tom Clancy is the latest brand-name author to create digital copies of his work. At the same time, smaller companies like Soft Skull Press, Akashic Books, and Ugly Duckling Presse are all building e-book platfor ...
Authors John Grisham’s Law School Confusion By Jason Boog on Jan. 30, 2009 - 11:23 AM Novelist John Grisham had to revise one hundred pages in his new novel after he discovered that Princeton has no law school. The bestselling author told Above the Law that his Ivy League setting for The Associate was disrupted whe ...
Book Biz To Brand or Not To Brand By Jason Boog on Jan. 30, 2009 - 10:23 AM Should authors have a brand? The debate has raged for years from conglomerate publishing house boardrooms to poetry dive bars. Over at Slate’s business magazine Big Money, Jill Priluck takes a look at the state of the brande ...
Publishing Amazon Sales Rise 18 Percent in 4Q By Jason Boog on Jan. 30, 2009 - 9:23 AM Against all odds–beating a publishing recession and a lukewarm gift-buying season–Amazon’s sales climbed 18 percent compared to 2007 in the fourth quarter. Net sales were up to $6.7 billion for that period, surpa ...
Events Biz Book Community Bonds Over 800-CEO-READ By Neal on Jan. 30, 2009 - 8:01 AM As Portfolio publisher Adrian Zackheim (right) began his contribution to an impromptu “This Is Your Life” celebration of 800-CEO-READ founder Jack Covert (left) at the launch party for The 100 Best Business Books of Al ...