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

Novelist & screenwriter Budd Schulberg dies, aged 95

Aug 06 2009: Budd Schulberg, who wrote the award-winning screenplay for On the Waterfront and created a classic American archetype of naked ambition, Sammy Glick, in his novel What Makes Sammy Run?, died on Wednesday. He was 95.

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Philippa Gregory to tweet latest novel

Aug 06 2009: Philippa Gregory will serialise her latest novel on Twitter in the week preceding The White Queen's publication later this month.

Gregory has written the tweets of Elizabeth Woodville, the main protagonist of the novel. The tweets can be viewed at www.twitter.com/...

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Sony introduces new ebook readers and cuts ebook prices

Aug 05 2009: Sony is introducing two new electronic reading devices and cut prices for new and bestselling e-books. The Wall Street Journal reported that the Reader Pocket Edition and Reader Touch Edition "will sell for $199 and $299 respectively and will go on sale at the end of ...

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Ben & Jerry's considering a library-themed ice-cream flavor

Aug 03 2009: Ben & Jerry's is considering launching a library-themed ice-cream flavor, after a campaign by New Jersey librarian, Andy Woodworth, gathered over 4000 supporters in just a few days. Woodworth hopes this will raise awareness of libraries "in the face of stagnant or ...

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91 year-old woman believed to be UK most prolific library book borrower

Aug 03 2009: A 91-year-old woman from Stranraer in south-west Scotland is believed to be Britain's most prolific library book reader after staff at her local library realized she is on the brink of borrowing her 25,000th book - having borrowed her first in 1946.

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Library groups endorse Google settlement

Aug 03 2009: The American Library Association (ALA), the Association of College and Research Libraries, and the Association of Research Libraries have reiterated their support for the proposed Google Books settlement, while repeating concerns that the settlement live up to its ...

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Publishers Weekly & Library Journal up for sale - again

Jul 30 2009: Reed Business Information is putting Publishers Weekly and its affiliated publications, Library Journal and School Library Journal, up for sale. Last year, Reed Elsevier, parent company of RBI, tried to sell all of RBI but dropped the sale when it couldn’t get the price...

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The Booker Prize longlist

Jul 28 2009: The Booker Prize Longlist (13 titles known as the Man Booker Dozen) has been announced:

• The Children's Book, AS Byatt. (Chatto and Windus). Byatt won previously with Possession in 1990
• Summertime, JM Coetzee. (Harvill Secker). Coetzee has won twice for Life & ...

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