Category: publishing

“Let me suggest that Chick Lit is what we used to call the ‘Beach Book.’ And that it is its own genre, like mysteries or sci-fi; interesting to a specific audience primarily because of the nature and form of the genre itself.”

“At the expansive Barnes & Noble store in Manhattan’s Union Square, the changes sweeping the company and the industry are on full display. Shelves have been stripped bare to make room for toys and games.” And this fall, the chain “will begin building 1,000-square-foot boutiques to showcase the Nook in all of its outlets.”

The law will give US federal courts the power to refuse to recognise or enforce a foreign judgment for defamation against a US citizen when “inconsistent with the free speech guaranteed in the constitution”.

“Camden’s libraries, which received national attention last week when it appeared that budget cuts would force them out of business permanently, are to be saved. Camden City Council is expected to approve a resolution allowing the Camden County library system to take over the three facilities without a citywide vote, officials said.”

When Waldo Hunt and Bennett Cerf revived the pop-up book in the mid-1960s, “[their] guiding belief was that these books were more interactive and thus more engaging to young readers. … [Yet] new research finds youngsters learn more by leafing through traditional books – ones where the illustrations stay on the page.”

“The Dostoevskaya station – which opened this summer in memory of Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky – met a fair share of opposition when psychologists expressed concern that dark murals of the violent scenes from Dostoevsky’s books could put riders in gloomy moods – or, worse, even encourage suicidal impulses.”

“But 21st-century business models seem more various: some are straight self-publishing, requiring a writer to finance the book. At least one publisher, however, offers stipends to authors. And others partner with nonprofits, companies or individuals.”

“Counting only things that are printed and bound, we arrive at about 146 million. This is our best answer today. It will change as we get more data and become more adept at interpreting what we already have.”

“The library board in Camden, one of the nation’s poorest cities, is preparing to close all three of its libraries by the end of the year, saying its funding has been slashed so drastically that it cannot afford to keep operating.”

“Dorchester Publishing Inc., a closely held book and magazine house, said it is making the switch after its book unit sales fell 25% last year, in part because of declining orders from some of its key retail accounts, including Wal-Mart Stores Inc.”