Around the Bookish World: Week-in-Review

Welcome to this weeks news post and we have lots of news and updates, including a class action suite against Harlequin Enterprises, adaptations based on books from Diana Gabaldon and Gail Carriger and much more!

A group of authors are embarking on a lawsuit against Harlequin Enterprises (the company behind Harlequin books and others) due to royalty payments. They state that Harlequin has underpaid them in ebook royalties which date back from 1990 to 2004. Jane from Dear Author has a great summary on the legalese and outcome of the suit.

This actually took me by surprised when the news that ebooks overtook hardback titles for the first time. I suspected it would have been a few more years to go. However, print books still outsell ebooks when it is combined with the other formats such as trade or mass market. But the growth and popularity of ebooks  it seems isn’t …

Around the Bookish World: News-In-Review

Welcome to this week’s news post  and so much happened this week, I am having trouble keeping up with the events. There is book and author news galore, as well more dramallama over reviewers.

First up, I wasn’t sure whether to post this or not but since I wont be linking to the site another chapter in the saga of reviewers who are evil mean girls and poor authors who feel the need to combat this new nefarious underground group.   Earlier this week a site called Stop GR Bullies was launched, which is run by a group of anonymous authors who feel the need to out and identify reviewers (oh the irony!) who they deemed to be part of a mean girl group. This thread on Goodreads sums up with the screen caps with what they have stated which is pretty laughable on how they have twisted posts and …

Around the Bookish World: Week-in-Review

Welcome to this week’s news post and oh my there is a lot that is happening with leaks and rumours of more tablets coming out from Apple and Amazon, Piracy rulings and more updates and news on upcoming books!

There have been reports earlier this week reporting that both Apple and Amazon are gearing up for new tablets over the summer and fall. A report from Marketwatch states that Apple may launch an  8 inch screen tablet around October which incidentially is the rumoured date for the iphone 5. Although this isn’t confirmed but I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the case especially with the recent releases from Google and Amazon .

And Amazon has reportedly ordered two milling Kindles which will be available for pre-order sometime later this month or next. There is also another rumour that Amazon may be tackling Apple head on with their own Smartphone. …

Around the Bookish World: Week-In-Review

Welcome to this week’s news post and this week has is full of tidbits and updates from the world of publishing – with more news about Google’s new tablet device which was unveiled this week as well as books to look out for!

Last week I reported on Microsoft’s new tablet – the Surface, well hot on its heels Google has launched their own tablet called the Nexus 7  this week. And I have to say it looks mighty tempting especially with the specs which boasts of a fast processor and great graphics as well as top of the range screen at an attractive price of around $200. Google has already laid out its Play platform,  which hosts movies, music and apps and will also offer a cloud service to its users. For more info and detailed specs, check out the Nexus site here. It is also  rumoured that Amazon …

Around the Bookish World: Week-in-Review

Welcome to this week’s news post! With the news of Microsoft entering the tablet market and more book news and publishing development!

The biggest news this week was the announcement by Microsoft who launched their own tablet device called the Surface, which will be released with the upcoming Windows 8 OS. The Surface also comes with an attached light keyboard and stand and the specs are pretty impressive and it looks like its entry is going to make a splash in the crowded tablet and ultrabook market. For more information although details pretty sketchy in terms of price  click here.

Penguin has allowed their e-books for online digital library downloads for a pilot scheme in New York. It is only for two city branches and each ebook is licensed for only one year which will then have to be renewed for the following year. I really hope they expand this scheme because …

Around the Bookish World: Week-in-review

Welcome to this week’s news post! We have news and updates from the world of publishing such as the news of fantasy author, Terry Goodkind self published book, Kobo’s Vox opening up to Google Play and shenanigans with name fakery.

It is no secret that self published books on the Kindle, Smashwords and other digital platforms, have brought some major successes however there have been some drawbacks like spammy scraped ebooks which Amazon have recently made some headway into clearing that up.  Nonetheless, this week, the curious case of a Nora A. Roberts who claims to be the best selling self published author on the Nook, but wait up this isn’t the popular mega-selling Nora Roberts behind the Chesapeake Bay Saga and the In Death series. This is an author who has added an initial to ride on the coattails of Nora Roberts so people may get confuse and mistakenly buy …

Around the Bookish World: Week-In-Review

Welcome to this week’s news post and it has been pretty eventful, with the sad passing of Ray Bradbury, more publishing news as well as new covers/books to watch out for!

The major news this week in the world of publishing was the sad passing of Sci Fi author Ray Bradbury, the author behind Fahrenheit 451 and other classics died earlier this week at the age of 91. Neil Gaiman has written a wonderful article on the life of the prolific and influential author. This year has been pretty bad with the passing of some great authors.

And in a way the news that Harper Collins is preparing to publish quite a few of his backlist books in ebook format over the coming months will be fitting. Although Bradbury was against publishing his books in e-book format but did allow some short stories and his classic Fahrenheit 541 to be allowed to be published, …

Around the Bookish World: Week-In-Review

Welcome to this week’s news post, and we have more news on the DOJ and publishers over agency pricing, Stephen King’s new book and more wtfery about authors behaving badly again.

The remaining two publishers, Penguin and Macmillan are facing a lawsuit with the Department of Justice in the US over alleged collusion about Agency pricing, have submitted more information about their defence. Both Penguin and Macmillan have stated that their meetings with other publishers were part of social gatherings and had nothing to do with collusion. Apple will also be facing a lawsuit with the DOJ – Random House is the only publisher who isn’t facing an investigation and a lawsuit since they never initially joined the other Big 5 publishers when they adopted Agency pricing.

Because of the ruling that this was deemed  unlawful, it looks like remaining 3 publishers who did settle with the DOJ, Simon and Schuster, Hachette …

Around the Bookish World: Week-in-Review

Welcome to this week’s news post! This week have news of  a new tablet coming from Google, more wtfery on plagiarism and a book being published via tweets on twitter as well more tidbits from upcoming books!

As I reported a few weeks ago, it looks like the competition for tablets is really heating up with rumoured devices coming out from Amazon and Apple which will be more affordable and having a 7 inch screen.  Well it looks like Google is entering the fray with its own 7 inch model  which is slated for release this July, although it hasn’t been fully confirmed. The specs are also rumoured to be close to either the Kindle Fire or the Ipad 3 and with a price range for $200 to $250 with the android Ice-cream platform. If any of you have held out to get one or is thinking of getting a …

Around the Bookish World: News-In-Review

Welcome to this week’s news post! It’s been pretty eventful with a ruling from the  US judge who has decreed that Agency pricing is unlawful in the US, more rumours of new Kindles and Apple tablets and the sad passing of Monica Jackson who died earlier this week.

Well, things seem to be hotting up with the Anti-trust lawsuit against the Big five publishers. The judge ruling over the suit, has stated that the DOJ does have a case about the allegations of collusion and price-fixing and that a trial will go ahead. In addition to this another 17  states will be suing also, although it looks like that Simon and Schuster will be settling with  them along with Hachette and Harper Collins who have settled previously. Jane from Dear Author has summarised and explain the new developments with this fantastic  post and it is pretty amazing because it looks …