9/20/10 Writing and Publishing Headlines

My guest blog post at the New England Job Show about age discrimination is up: http://nejs.org/2010/09/20/state-of-the-market-age-discrimination-and-harassment/




Where the Law and Literature Meet

Plagiarism plagues Chinese science: http://newhumanist.org.uk/2365/lies-damn-lies-and-chinese-science

Embargoed book lands briefly on Google Books: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/political-bookworm/2010/09/embargoed_carter_book_lands_on.html

DRM keeps library books off Kindle: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/lifestyle/50260537-80/kindle-books-library-libraries.html.csp

Book burning stunt costs pastor $150,000+: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1313420/Preacher-Terry-Jones-vowed-burn-Koran-9-11-hit-100k-security-bill.html

More Amazon price wars: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/128694-amazon-using-price-for-e-book-land-grab.html



Other Headlines

Is Twilight altering young minds?: http://www.livescience.com/culture/twilight-books-altering-teen-brains-100903.html

Want buzz? Appeal to librarians: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/11/1817511/a-sly-comment-on-modern-times.html

12 people who are changing publishing: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-pinter/12-game-changers-in-publi_b_718198.html

Some ways to instant rejection by an agent (for god’s sake, get the name right): http://www.andrewlownie.co.uk/2010/09/09/addressing-me

Vietnam publisher struggles to issue Western classics: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hyF5VdwSMJSUIqN0BSDU74NXCTOg

Why Kindle books aren’t up to snuff: http://www.zdnet.com/blog/hardware/the-problem-with-kindle-app-ebooks/9678

Why Stephen King deserves the Nobel Prize: http://www.journal-news.net/page/blogs.detail/display/368/Stephen-King-Deserves-a-Nobel-Prize.html

Glenn Beck books jacket quotes Jon Stewart negative comment: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/16/glenn-beck-book-stewart-time_n_720159.html

BFF, bromance, hockey mom and LMAO are new dictionary entries: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/editors/new_oxford_american_dictionary_adds_bff_bromance_hockey_mom_lmao_entries_173768.asp

iBooks more popular than Facebook (on the iPad): http://www.thebookseller.com/news/128673-ibooks-more-popular-than-facebook-and-twitter.html

9 apps for word junkies: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/18/apps-for-word-junkies_n_718527.html

7 words you probably screw up: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/14/mangled-words-american-heritage_n_715170.html

9/13/10 Writing and Publishing Headlines

Where the Law and Literature Meet


Lawyers demand author remove details of prime minister’s affairs from novel (it’s fiction, guys!): http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/7996634/Lawyers-step-in-over-Kay-Burleys-account-of-prime-ministers-affairs.html

Pentagon’s attempt to buy out all copies of counterterrorism book to destroy it turns it into a bestseller: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/keith-thomson/counterterrorism-memoir-ebay_b_714999.html  and http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/09/AR2010090907747.html 

6-year-old’s book deal is a hoax: http://publishingperspectives.com/2010/09/a-book-deal-that-was-too-good-to-be-true/

Iranian woman faces deportation, stoning for distributing banned book: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/sep/13/iran-deportation-woman-stoning-mp



Other Headlines

Teen lit festival cancelled after post-censorship author boycott: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/sep/07/authors-boycott-cancels-teen-lit-fest?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Just in case you thought you were too old to write your debut novel: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/randy-susan-meyers/41-over-40-novelists-debuting_b_706576.html#s135678

Is Google Book Search so full of errors that it’s useless for research?: http://www.salon.com/books/laura_miller/2010/09/09/google_books/index.html?

Behind the scenes with the Espresso Book Machine: http://www.bookbusinessmag.com/article/coo-tom-allen-on-demand-books-espresso-book-machine/2

How to handle (and not to handle) a holy book: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-09-08/story/handling-holy-books-such-quran-or-bible-touchy-subject

Protester thwarts Quran burning by stealing the book: http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2010-09-12/protester-steals-quran-thwarts-burning?cmon-this-is-a-totally-awesome-story!

Atheist smokes Bible and Quran pages on YouTube. Nobody protests: http://www.news.com.au/national/lawyer-alex-stewart-smokes-pages-from-the-koran-and-bible-and-says-we-should-get-over-book-burning/story-e6frfkvr-1225919970728

Will publishers start picking their midlist from the ranks of the successful self-published?: http://blogs.forbes.com/booked/2010/09/08/if-self-published-authors-owned-the-midlist/?

Why bestsellers are choosing to self-publish: http://gizmodo.com/5629812/5-reasons-why-best+selling-authors-are-going-direct

Do present-tense novels suck?: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/7994914/Philip-Pullman-and-Philip-Hensher-criticise-Booker-Prize-for-including-present-tense-novels.html

This is your brain on Google: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/7999081/Google-damages-users-brains-author-claims.html

WSJ starts book review section: http://gawker.com/5633760/wall-street-journal-starting-a-book-review-section

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

6/22/10 Writing and Publishing News

How can you protect your ideas before submitting? Should you sign a one-book or multi-book deal? How did Amazon almost put an indie publisher out of business? Are the British courts trying to fix libel law? When will the Google decision issue? Does age matter in Hollywood? These and other stories are in this week’s Write Report.


Where the law and literature meet:

Amazon nearly causes indie bookstore to shut down after it cuts off online store over customer satisfaction levels: http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2072859_amazon_cutoff_left_bookshop_out_of_pocket

Amazon to give fewer services to distributors and publishers who pay less: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/43488-new-amazon-program-spurs-complaints.html

Court gives no indication of when Google settlement decision will issue: http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-20008346-265.html

Tales from the Shakespeare book thief trial: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/7844716/Librarians-heart-sank-on-seeing-damaged-Shakespeare-first-edition.html

British court raises standard for bringing libel claims in landmark ruling: http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=45595&c=1

12 most bizarre comedian lawsuits: http://comedy.com/2010/06/21/12-most-bizarre-comedian-lawsuits/

Writers Guild asks IMDB to remove ages from listings because, surprise, Hollywood discriminates based on age: http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2010/06/writers-guild-pressures-imdb-to-remove-age-info.html

Attorney answers how you can protect your ideas before submitting: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/publishing/ask_a_lawyer_how_do_i_keep_them_from_stealing_my_idea_164032.asp

Hong Kong publisher halts Tiananmen Square book over copyright concerns: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jTDwszLhsGMN1NQAicjbOwjm5qCgD9GEP7J80

Agent talks about advantages of one book vs. multi-book contracts: http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2010/06/one-book-or-two-maybe-three.html



More headlines:

Very silly things heard at bookshops: http://www.responsesource.com/releases/rel_display.php?relid=57303

Ebooks: Royalties vs. respect: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/06/21/ebooks-self-publishing-luminato.html

Geoffrey Hill wins Oxford Professor of Poetry slot in a landslide: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/jun/18/oxford-professor-poetry-geoffrey-hill

How gadgets are affecting your brain: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/technology/07brain.html?scp=1&sq=brain%20computer&st=cse

Here’s a poll on which craze will be the new vampires in YA lit: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/22/the-new-vampires-9-possib_n_620202.html

5/12/10 Writing and Publishing News

Which book just got banned in New Jersey? Which gardening book author is accused of plagiarism? What are TV execs scared of more than bad ratings? And why did a mom turn into a library book thief? These and other stories are right here in The Write Report.


Where the law and literature meet:

Book banning in NJ led by Glenn Beck: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/10/gay-anthology-revolutionary-voices-censored

Plagiarized gardening book: http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/books/3667586/Gardening-book-plagiarism-claim?

TV execs ban Islam as a topic due to threats, bomb scare, proving that threats let the bad guys win: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2010/05/07/islam-taboo-topic-tv-wake-south-park-threats-times-square-bomb-scare/ Lawyer argues for the Google book settlement: http://broadbandbreakfast.com/2010/05/google-book-search-settlement-agreement-is-fair-argue-author-and-publisher-groups/

Why Australians can’t get most Kindle books: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/opinion/ways-around-e-book-blockade-copyright-issues/story-e6frgb0o-1225864694693

Objections to the Google settlement summarized in “only” 55 pages: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/copyright/article/43105-revised-summary-of-google-settlement-objections-issued.html

Mom turns book thief, refuses to return Gossip Girl to library: http://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Mom-refuses-to-return-racy-teen-books-to-library/JnEsNEFkKEC1s7dG5_Mwfg.cspx

Publishers still in limbo after CPSIA hearing: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/43054-latest-cpsia-hearing-leaves-publishers-empty.html?utm_source=Publishers+Weekly%27s+Children%27s+Bookshelf&utm_campaign=82e1447fdb-UA-15906914-1&utm_medium=email

Where will Kagan be on 1st Amendment issues?: http://www.tv.com/concerns-about-kagans-first-amendment-position/webnews/79026.html

More headlines:

Is English becoming the global language?: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/may/09/globish-english-language-robert-mccrum

Which e-reader is best? http://www.abcactionnews.com/content/taking_action_for_you/story/Comparing-e-book-readers/Jbg5o0c25UysHKgGoBRaSw.cspx

Wanna be a bestseller? Offer the book for free: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2010/05/top-10-kindle-ebooks-all-free.html

5/5/10 Writing and Publishing News

Where the law and literature meet:

Grand jury subpoenas author for book sources: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-us-times-reporter-cia,0,322365.story

Appeals court tells trial judge to take a second look at the Salinger sequel/spoof, still thinks Salinger estate likely to win: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100430-717011.html

Amazon cuts Penguin hardback prices in tiff over e-books: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703572504575214492194024292.html

Apple faces antitrust inquiry over apps: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/117724-apple-to-face-antitrust-inquiry-over-app-development.html

Hate-filled venomous speech is still protected speech: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/05/federal-judge-orders-9-members-of-christian-militia-freed-from-custody/1

Authors, songwriters unite to address gap in copyright law: http://www.authorsguild.org/advocacy/articles/songwriters-and-authors-unite-to-protect.html

Now that Google scanned all those books for free, it plans to sell them: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703866704575224232417931818.html


More headlines:

Ve know vhat you’re highlighting: http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2010/0503/Is-it-creepy-that-Amazon-is-tracking-most-highlighted-Kindle-passages?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+feeds%2Fbooks+%28Christian+Science+Monitor++Books%29

Can erotica save the publishing industry?: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36835812/ns/health-sexual_health/

Authors against SATs: http://alangibbons.net/?p=936

A peek at China’s largest literary agency: http://www.forbes.com/global/2010/0510/companies-literary-agencies-lily-chen-book-drive-in-china.html?

Oxford poetry professor race heats up. This is about as exciting as it gets in Oxford: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/apr/29/michael-horovitz-oxford-poetry-professor

4/12/10 Writing and Publishing News

Where the law and literature meet:

Suit by photographers says Google is a brazen content thief: http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/web_services/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=224202351

Sacha Baron Cohen wins libel suit for insulting ex-girlfriend while in character: http://www.metnews.com/articles/2010/doe040810.htm

Publishers put the squeeze on booksellers over credit: http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/455978-Publishers_Squeezing_Booksellers_on_Credit.php

How will returns work with agency model? Anyone?: http://pubrants.blogspot.com/2010/04/burning-question-about-agency.html

Penguin India decides that releasing digital books will reduce piracy. I wonder if they’re talking with the U.S. branch of the company: http://www.watblog.com/2010/04/12/penguin-india-goes-digita/



More headlines:

Does it matter if good writers are lousy human beings?: http://incharacter.org/review/good-writers-bad-men-does-it-matter/

iPhone apps make reading easier for dyslexics: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/apr/06/iphone-makes-reading-books-easier

Where mobile libraries are thriving: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/apr/07/mobile-libraries

Wuthering Heights sales double thanks to Twilight: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/7570922/Wuthering-Heights-quadruple-double-thanks-to-Twilight-effect.html

Chinese writer calls internet literature “garbage”: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/6945890.html

Academics predict 1/3 of books will be read on e-reading devices in the next 5 years: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/aussie-academics-say-third-of-books-will-be-read-on-ipad-style-devices-within-five-years/story-e6frf7ko-1225851480531

Where you can get a degree in Vampire Lit: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/trends/vampire_lit_gets_its_scholarly_due_157516.asp

50 best book people to follow in Twitter: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/04/09/50-best-book-people-to-fo_n_529295.html

Life magazine covers famous literary drunks and addicts: http://www.life.com/image/72383915/in-gallery/38742/famous-literary-drunks--addicts

Some Spring rays of hope in lousy bookselling market: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/115976-publishers-point-to-green-shoots-after-worrying-first-quarter.html

Why the iPad won’t save newspapers: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2010/apr/12/ipad-rupert-murdoch

Children’s booksellers want more stand-alone books: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/115987-childrens-retailers-clamour-for-stand-alone-titles-.html

3/30/10 Writing and Publishing News

Where the law and literature meet:

The battle lines are drawn - Ingram won’t distribute books for publishers using agency model: http://www.quillandquire.com/blog/index.php/2010/03/25/ingram-draws-line-in-sand-over-agency-model/

Run into Prince Charles while jogging? Best not blog about the experience. New proposed law imposes gag order on anything about the royals: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7069750.ece

Lawyer sues when HBO promotes his movie then plays porn movie with same name instead: http://www.abajournal.com/weekly/article/lawyer_sues_after_film_contained_more_thighs_than_anticipated

Amazon reported in Scotland for bullying: http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment/Bookshops-hit-back-at-Amazon.6186211.jp

Trouble for Google in France: http://www.thebookseller.com/news/115133-french-publisher-gallimard-to-sue-google.html

Simon Singh, champion of libel reform, freedom to sport really hideous haircuts: http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article7078008.ece

Blame libel tourism on Arnold, and more on the history of libel tourism, libel reform: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jwKRQVu4JPYuCjr3U1CcZPfE0NxgD9EKG0901
More headlines:

Book tourus interruptus: http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2010/0330/Like-Sarah-Palin-Karl-Rove-faces-book-tour-disruption?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+feeds%2Fbooks+%28Christian+Science+Monitor++Books%29

Don’t give up your day job and other realties in the current publishing market: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/7523153/Apoca-lit-Now.html

Stephen King doesn’t need no stinkin’ iPad: http://publishingperspectives.com/?p=13636

Five lessons Apple can learn from Amazon: http://government.zdnet.com/?p=8271

Romance heroes are as sexy as socks: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1262162/Heroes-The-new-men-modern-romantic-fiction-sexy-socks.html

Has Gerald Posner set world plagiarism record?: http://gawker.com/5505620/gerald-posner-may-set-world-plagiarism-record

Margaret Atwood is a Twitter addict: http://gawker.com/5505244/the-real-margaret-atwood-is-a-twitter-addict

As a sign of the apocalypse, Glenn Beck is signed to write a novel. But will it make him cry?: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/celebrities/glenn_beck_unveils_his_upcoming_novel_156793.asp

Stephenie Meyer to release new book, free e-version: http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/authors/stephenie_meyer_to_release_first_new_book_in_almost_two_years_156730.asp