All articles tagged with #publishing
The New York Times profiles Coral Hart, a Cape Town writer who uses AI to mass‑produce 200+ romance novels sold on Amazon without disclosing AI authorship, while running a coaching business called Plot Prose and developing software to generate a book from an outline in under an hour, raising questions about transparency and stigma in AI publishing.
A romance author experiments with AI to rapidly churn out novels, discovering that bots can speed production but struggle with emotional nuance, sexual tension, and authentic representation. While some writers embrace AI to publish dozens of titles under multiple pen names, industry leaders warn of market floods and readers’ desire for human connection, highlighting ongoing debates over ethics, disclosure, and the evolving romance landscape as AI-generated books gain traction.
Mass market paperbacks—once ubiquitous in airport racks and grocery aisles—are fading as ebooks, audiobooks, and more expensive formats erode sales, with ReaderLink announcing it will stop stocking mass markets, signaling the format’s likely extinction after nearly a century.
The piece argues that fanfiction has become a powerful, transformative force in mainstream publishing: sparked by Fifty Shades of Grey, it has influenced romance, YA, and fantasy by grafting fan culture’s techniques and audiences onto traditional publishing, while training writers, drawing agents, and driving adaptations. It also examines tensions around monetization, representation, and prestige, suggesting that fanwork’s pleasures and methods can both empower and complicate what counts as literature today.
Gayle Feldman's biography of Bennett Cerf explores his influential role in 20th-century publishing, his flamboyant personality, and his relationships with major literary and entertainment figures, painting a vivid picture of a glamorous yet complex era in New York's literary scene.
Former Call of Duty developer Glen Schofield expresses sadness over the decline of Activision and EA as dominant publishers, but sees an opportunity for new industry leaders to emerge and continue the legacy of growth and talent development.
Preordering the book 'Planet Money: A Guide to the Economic Forces That Shape Your Life' is crucial for authors as it boosts visibility, helps secure better placement in bookstores, and increases the chances of becoming a bestseller, while also offering readers exclusive gifts and early access.
Poncle's Luca Galante criticizes many publishers for exploiting platforms and prioritizing profits over genuine, complete games with real value. He emphasizes the importance of transparency, community engagement, and supporting developers' visions, especially for smaller, affordable indie titles, and reflects on sharing his own industry lessons to help other indie developers succeed.
Fan fiction is significantly influencing publishing and reading, with works inspired by popular books and media, including Pulitzer-winning adaptations, expanding the scope of storytelling and cultural influence, and gaining recognition from traditional publishers.
Dotdash Meredith has rebranded itself as People Inc., emphasizing its focus on content created by and for people, and honoring its historic roots with a new name and logo that pays homage to its legacy in media history. The company, now called People Inc., owns major brands like PEOPLE, Food & Wine, and Travel + Leisure, and aims to reflect its vibrant, human-centered approach to publishing.
A group of authors, including Lauren Groff and Lev Grossman, have issued an open letter urging publishers to limit the use of AI in book creation, advocating for the exclusive use of human narrators and opposing AI replacing human staff, amid ongoing legal disputes over AI training on copyrighted works.
The article highlights five outstanding but lesser-known books from 2024 that likely didn't make it onto popular 'Best Books' lists. These include a variety of genres, such as nonfiction about hidden libraries, SFF short stories by Palestinian authors, and a queer folklore-inspired graphic novel, showcasing brilliant works that deserve more attention.
Fans of Taylor Swift have expressed disappointment over numerous errors in her 'Eras Tour' photo book, released exclusively through Target. The book, intended as a keepsake of her record-breaking tour, contains grammatical mistakes, factual inaccuracies, and poor-quality images. Despite these issues, the book remains a top seller at Target. Swift's decision to bypass traditional publishers has sparked discussions about the future of celebrity publishing, though the errors highlight the challenges of self-publishing.
Taylor Swift fans, known as Swifties, are expressing disappointment over the quality of her self-published 'Eras Tour Book,' priced at $40. Criticisms include typos, low-quality images, poor graphic design, and missing pages, leading some to dub it the 'Errors Tour Book.' Fans have taken to social media platforms like Reddit and TikTok to voice their concerns, with some comparing the book's quality to a high school yearbook and questioning the lack of professional editing.
Costco is set to remove books from the majority of its 600+ stores starting January, citing the labor-intensive process of stocking them. This decision will affect around 500 stores, with books only available during the holiday season. The move has surprised publishers, as Costco has been a significant outlet for book sales, sometimes accounting for hundreds of thousands of copies sold. Shoppers will now need to turn to other retailers like Amazon for their book purchases.