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

Online sales tax for New York State

Apr 10 2008: The New York State legislature has approved a budget that includes a a provision that requires out-of-state online retailers to collect and remit sales tax on purchases by state residents. Governor David Paterson has said he will sign the budget.

"Independent ...

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Pulitzer Prize Awards

Apr 08 2008: This year's Pulitzer Prize winners include

• Fiction: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz (Riverhead Books)
• Biography: Eden's Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father by John Matteson (Norton)
• General Nonfiction: The Years...

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Authors Guild Looking at Antitrust Issue of Amazon’s POD Plan

Apr 07 2008: Saying it is reviewing the antitrust and other legal implications of Amazon’s “bold move,” the Authors Guild sent an e-mail late Friday to its membership questioning the motives—and implications—of the e-tailer’s new position on print-on-demand that makes publishers use...

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Bartender Wins Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award

Apr 07 2008: The winner of the first Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award was announced today: Former high school English teacher Bill Loehfelm, author of Fresh Kills, a noir mystery about lower-middle-class life in Staten Island, home to the famous garbage dump Fresh Kills. Loehfelm ...

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Clintons Made $109 Million in Last 8 Years, $40 million from book sales

Apr 07 2008: The New York Times reports that Bill and Hillary Clinton have earned $109 million over the last eight years, an ascent into the uppermost tier of American taxpayers that seemed unimaginable in 2001, when they left the White House with little money and facing millions ...

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Publishing world shake-up

Apr 07 2008: Robert S. Miller, founder and president of Hyperion, announced on Thursday that he was leaving the company to head up a new imprint for HarperCollins. The new division will reportedly focus on publishing short, “popular-priced” books; pay authors low advances—or none at...

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Kindle boosts e-book market

Apr 04 2008: The Associated Press reports that, more than four months after Amazon.com released the Kindle, the jury is still out on whether the latest e-book reader is really hot - or not. But publishers believe that the Kindle has helped, if not revolutionized, the tiny electronic...

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Edith Wharton's house faced with foreclosure

Apr 03 2008: The Lenox, Mass., estate where Edith Wharton wrote The House of Mirth and other novels is faced with imminent foreclosure due to financial difficulties. Trustees have launched a fundraising campaign with $3 million needed before April 24. Pledges can be made at www....

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