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

Amazon Shorts Unveiled

Sep 01 2005: Amazon have unveiled their long talked of program to sell magazine-style short stories from established authors - their first foray into publishing per se.  'Amazon Shorts' allows customers to to buy and then download or print out short stories for 49 cents (...

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Google Expands Google Print

Sep 01 2005: Google is expanding its controversial Google Print program (which allows users to search the full text of books) into France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. To date, Google Print has been limited to English speaking books. However, Google ...

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James Patterson To Donate $75,000 To Promote Books

Sep 01 2005: James Patterson plans to give out $75,000 each year to libraries, bookstores, schools, or even individuals, who 'find original and effective ways to promote the excitement of books and reading. Applications must be received by October 15th.

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PublishAmerica Back In The News

Sep 01 2005: After months of accusations from unhappy authors who believe the company is deceptive and engages in gouging (complaints include non-payment of royalties, false promises about distribution etc.) PublishAmerica is back in the news, but in the words of Publishers ...

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John Harold Johnson dies aged 87

Aug 17 2005: John Harold Johnson, publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines and the most influential black publisher in history, died last week aged 87.  Born in Arkansas City, his family struggled to save enough money so that his mother, Gertrude Johnson, could take him to ...

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The saga of Google's Print for Libraries program continues.

Aug 17 2005: According to Publishers Weekly, the saga of Google's Print for Libraries program continues. Google has announced that it will make changes to accomodate publishers' concerns, but many publishers are not appeased. Earlier Google said that all books would be a part of ...

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The Playaway

Aug 03 2005: Findaway World, a privately held company based in Cleveland, OH., will launch the Playaway in October, a new product billed as the first "self-playing digital audio book." The Playaway is a ready-for-action digital audio player sized smaller than a deck of cards that ...

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According to Publishers Weekly...

Jul 20 2005:

• 39% of USA adults need help with everyday literacy tasks.
• 20% read at a 5th grade level or below.
• 53% of 3-5 year-olds are read to daily.
• The average household income of those with the highest literacy levels is $45,610, the average for those with the lowest ...

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