I’m interviewed here on preventing workplace violence: http://blog.ebosswatch.com/2010/08/how-to-prevent-workplace-violence/
Where the Law and Literature Meet
Wylie deal with Random leaves issue of who owns ebook rights in older books unanswered: http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/company-news/random-house-andrew-wylie-backlist-ebook-amazon-kindle-rights-deal/19607446/
Does NYT discriminate in its reviews?Jodi Picoult weighs in: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/aug/20/jodi-picoult-white-male-literary-darlings
95% of political books reviewed in NYT are by white authors and 87% male: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129324346&ft=1&f=1008
How publishing really works, and the realities of ebook publishing: http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2010/08/23/seth-godin-and-print-publishing/#
More writing and publishing links
Why vampires aren’t fading as the latest rage: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=11476109
Dick and Jane and Vampires: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/book_jackets/dick_and_jane_and_vampires_behind_the_scenes_172133.asp (I predicted the mashup trend would head to children’s books a year ago)
Are the Disney princesses turning girls into narcissists?: http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Princess+culture+turning+girls+into+overspending+narcissists/3403856/story.html
Will ads soon appear in iBooks?: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-19512_7-20014626-233.html
Why do we need publishers?: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/philip-goldberg/who-needs-publishers-we-a_b_689763.html
Book’s FB page with almost 700,000 fans doesn’t increase sales: http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/29/a-book-attracts-loads-of-facebook-fans-but-why/
Print dictionaries go the way of the dinosaurs: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/7970391/Oxford-English-Dictionary-will-not-be-printed-again.html
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
In Entourage, Ari Gold Should Have the B---- Arrested
If you’re following Entourage, you’re familiar with the latest plotline where an agent left Ari Gold’s talent agency along with a bunch of tapes of his inappropriate comments. And if you know anything about the Ari Gold character, you can just imagine that there were a ton of inappropriate slurs, jokes and disgusting comments. Frankly, someone should have sued his agency for sex, race, national origin, and sexual orientation harassment long ago. But my sympathies here are with Ari, and the whole plotline is making me squirm.
That’s because the agent taped the conversations illegally, and this is one of my pet peeves in commonly used lazy plotlines. California, along with 11 other states, requires two-party consent to taping, meaning all parties to the conversation have to agree to be taped. Otherwise, it’s a crime. The tapes wouldn’t be admissible in court other than the criminal prosecution against the illegal eavesdropper.
It’s probably too late for this plotline, but what I think Ari should have done is have her hauled out in handcuffs. Instead of having the perps arrested, most TV and book writers have the taping victim quiver and shake at the prospect of their words being used against them. Wouldn’t it have been fun to see Ari’s conversation with her in the jail visiting room? I’d have loved to see him crow to his staff that if they cross him he’ll have them arrested too. Classic Ari.
So this season I’m a little ticked off at one of my favorite shows for lazy writing. Still, if you’re not watching Entourage (and don’t mind foul language and nudity) you’re missing one of the best, funniest shows on TV.
That’s because the agent taped the conversations illegally, and this is one of my pet peeves in commonly used lazy plotlines. California, along with 11 other states, requires two-party consent to taping, meaning all parties to the conversation have to agree to be taped. Otherwise, it’s a crime. The tapes wouldn’t be admissible in court other than the criminal prosecution against the illegal eavesdropper.
It’s probably too late for this plotline, but what I think Ari should have done is have her hauled out in handcuffs. Instead of having the perps arrested, most TV and book writers have the taping victim quiver and shake at the prospect of their words being used against them. Wouldn’t it have been fun to see Ari’s conversation with her in the jail visiting room? I’d have loved to see him crow to his staff that if they cross him he’ll have them arrested too. Classic Ari.
So this season I’m a little ticked off at one of my favorite shows for lazy writing. Still, if you’re not watching Entourage (and don’t mind foul language and nudity) you’re missing one of the best, funniest shows on TV.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
8/22/10 Writing and Publishing News
Where the Law and Literature Meet
16 authors sue vanity publisher for deceptive practices: http://www.indystar.com/article/20100818/BUSINESS/8180323/1003/BUSINESS/Suit-by-16-authors-claims-deception-by-book-publisher
Libel tourism bill signed into law: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jeNqZbaTbimE1aUCRkkqHq1kl2xQ
Is ignorance of the copyright violation a defense? We’ll find out soon: http://www.betanews.com/article/Innocent-Infringer-copyright-defense-for-downloaders-goes-to-US-Supreme-Court/1282317133
BBC wants to keep driver from revealing his secret identity in a book. Legal stuff ensues: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/7953303/BBC-lawyers-fight-to-keep-Top-Gears-The-Stig-secret.html
If you’re a Macmillan author, don’t sign that e-rights amendment without getting advice from your agent or lawyer: http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2010/08/publishers-behaving-badly-again.html
More writing and publishing links
Wanna be a bestseller? Announce the proceeds are going to charity: http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/aug/17/tony-blair-book-preorder-sales
The art of book thievery: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/7903230/The-love-of-the-high-end-heist.html
Who are the 10 best paid authors? Pretty much who you’d think: http://www.forbes.com/2010/08/19/patterson-meyer-king-business-media-highest-paid-authors.html
Writers get revenge: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704554104575435531552525078.html?mod=WSJ_LifeStyle_LeadStoryNA
Seth Godin to go completely digital, abandon traditional publishing: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/authors/new_york_times_bestseller_seth_godin_to_no_longer_publish_books_traditionally_171395.asp
Authors oppose censorship of Blair signing: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/126323-free-speech-campaigners-back-waterstones-over-blair.html
Ellen Hopkins uninvited due to censorship: http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/books-and-literature/book-blog/article_65e5a834-ab19-11df-8f0b-00127992bc8b.html
Was a well-known children’s author a baby murderer?: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/20/mummified-babies-peter-pan_n_689052.html
Sunday, August 8, 2010
8/8/10 Writing and Publishing News
Where the Law and Literature Meet
Connecticut joins other state attorneys’ general in investigating Apple and Amazon’s most favored nation deals with publishers: http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?Q=463892&A=3869
Apple’s agency model comes under more scrutiny in the UK: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/125214-apples-agency-model-scrutinised.html
Glenn Beck followers convince library that gay literature is child pornography: http://gawker.com/5604429/glenn-becks-minions-convince-new-jersey-library-a-gay-book-is-child-pornography
Paperback publisher goes all digital: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703309704575413611289773690.html
Paul Levine, on how legal thrillers fall short, legally speaking: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-levine/legal-thrillers-trial-and_b_670856.html
The art of the book thief: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/7903230/The-love-of-the-high-end-heist.html
Both houses of Congress have passed libel tourism bill to protect free speech against foreign suits: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/07/30/libel_tourism_bill/
More writing and publishing links
How many books are there in the world? Google claims to have counted: http://booksearch.blogspot.com/2010/08/books-of-world-stand-up-and-be-counted.html
Connecticut joins other state attorneys’ general in investigating Apple and Amazon’s most favored nation deals with publishers: http://www.ct.gov/ag/cwp/view.asp?Q=463892&A=3869
Apple’s agency model comes under more scrutiny in the UK: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/125214-apples-agency-model-scrutinised.html
Glenn Beck followers convince library that gay literature is child pornography: http://gawker.com/5604429/glenn-becks-minions-convince-new-jersey-library-a-gay-book-is-child-pornography
Paperback publisher goes all digital: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703309704575413611289773690.html
Paul Levine, on how legal thrillers fall short, legally speaking: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-levine/legal-thrillers-trial-and_b_670856.html
The art of the book thief: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/7903230/The-love-of-the-high-end-heist.html
Both houses of Congress have passed libel tourism bill to protect free speech against foreign suits: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/07/30/libel_tourism_bill/
More writing and publishing links
How many books are there in the world? Google claims to have counted: http://booksearch.blogspot.com/2010/08/books-of-world-stand-up-and-be-counted.html
Sunday, August 1, 2010
8/1/10 Writing and Publishing News
My first review for The Writer’s Guide to the Courtroom: http://traveltheages.blogspot.com/2010/07/book-review-for-writers-guide-to.html
I’ve been interviewed on Selling Books: http://www.sellingbooks.com/donna-ballman-author-interview
Where the Law and Literature Meet
Literary agent bypasses traditional publishers, cuts deal with Amazon to publish books, outcry ensues: http://news.bookweb.org/news/literary-agents-e-book-publishing-arrangement-sparks-strong-industry-reaction
Author’s Guild comments on Odyssey/Amazon deal: http://authorsguild.org/advocacy/articles/wylie-amazon-and-random-house-battle.html and http://authorsguild.org/advocacy/articles/what-its-all-about----economics.html
JK Rowling strikes back at plagiarism allegations: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/88ec2606-9a79-11df-87fd-00144feab49a.html
More news:
11-year-old raises tons of books for needy kids in Ghana: http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_ghana19.1d11629.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+Children%27s+Bookshelf&utm_campaign=153b290a44-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email
How to be a good copy editor: http://andyrossagency.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/copy-editing-at-the-new-yorker-with-mary-norris/
I’ve been interviewed on Selling Books: http://www.sellingbooks.com/donna-ballman-author-interview
Where the Law and Literature Meet
Literary agent bypasses traditional publishers, cuts deal with Amazon to publish books, outcry ensues: http://news.bookweb.org/news/literary-agents-e-book-publishing-arrangement-sparks-strong-industry-reaction
Author’s Guild comments on Odyssey/Amazon deal: http://authorsguild.org/advocacy/articles/wylie-amazon-and-random-house-battle.html and http://authorsguild.org/advocacy/articles/what-its-all-about----economics.html
JK Rowling strikes back at plagiarism allegations: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/88ec2606-9a79-11df-87fd-00144feab49a.html
More news:
11-year-old raises tons of books for needy kids in Ghana: http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_ghana19.1d11629.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+Children%27s+Bookshelf&utm_campaign=153b290a44-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email
How to be a good copy editor: http://andyrossagency.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/copy-editing-at-the-new-yorker-with-mary-norris/
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