Breaking news on authors, publishers, and book-related topics

Google wins digital library legal battle

Nov 14 2013: Google has defeated a legal action mounted to stop it scanning and uploading millions of books.

In 2005, the US Authors Guild sued Google alleging that its plans to create a digital library amounted to massive copyright infringement.

In its defense, Google said ...

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Amazon offers indie booksellers commission to sell Kindles!

Nov 07 2013: To the astonishment of many independent booksellers, yesterday Amazon announced a program whereby indies and other retailers can sell Kindle e-readers and accessories and, in some cases, receive a percentage of sales of e-books bought on devices purchased at stores...A ...

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Chef and author Charlie Trotter dies aged 54

Nov 06 2013: Charlie Trotter, author of many cookbooks whose eponymous Chicago restaurant was considered one of the finest in the world, has died of a brain aneurysm aged 54.

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Michael Palmer dies aged 71

Nov 01 2013: Michael Palmer, physician and best-selling suspense author whose "Extreme Measures" was adapted into a 1996 film of the same name starring Hugh Grant and Gene Hackman, has died aged 71 from complications relating to a stroke and a heart attack.

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August bookstore sales fall 4.5% year on year

Oct 30 2013: August bookstore sales fell 4.5% compared to August 2012, according to preliminary estimates from the Census Bureau, which were delayed two weeks because of the government shutdown. For the year to date, bookstore sales have fallen 2.6%. So far this year, sales improved...

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Amazon's editorial head, Larry Kirshbaum, leaving; company scales back publishing business

Oct 25 2013: Larry Kirshbaum, editorial head of Amazon's New York and Seattle adult imprints and children's publishing, is leaving the company early next year. In connection with his departure, the most ambitious part of Amazon's publishing operations will be scaled back. Already ...

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Scribd launches new ebook subscription service

Oct 25 2013: Scribd has launched an updated subscription service that lets you read unlimited books for $8.99/month with the first month free. In their email to existing Scribd users they claim to have available "thousands of bestsellers and new releases, including titles by well-...

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35 titles for World Book Night 2014. titles announced. Half a million copies to be given away on October 23 2014

Oct 24 2013: World Book Night 2014 will be on October 23 in both the UK and USA. Half a million copies will be given away for free in the USA. The 35 World Book Night U.S. titles for 2014 are:

• The Zookeeper’s Wife, Diane Ackerman (W.W. Norton)
• Kitchen Confidential, Anthony ...

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