Industry & Advocacy News
April 23, 2021
In this week’s edition, we include a list of 365 books related to climate change and environmental health and justice in honor of Earth Day; some of today’s most respected romance novelists reflect on how the modern romance novel came to be; The New York Times asks if the pandemic has changed book publishing forever; how to better market your book on Amazon; authors need to be aware of literary prize scams; a little animated poetry to soothe our souls; and more.
Every Day is Earth Day: 365 Books to Start Your Climate Change LibraryLiterary HubThis four-part series was first published in 2019, but every day and every year should be Earth Day, so we are sharing it here again starting with Part I.
How the Romance Genre Found Its Happily Ever AfterThe Washington PostCrediting Kathleen Woodiwiss’ The Flame and the Flower as the starting point in 1972, LaVyrle Spencer, Loretta Chase, Vivian Stephens, Fabio, and others recount how the modern romance industry came to be.S&S Employees Protest Pence Book DealKirkus Reviews“An open letter credited to “the workforce” of Simon and Schuster urges the publishing company to cancel the two-book deal it signed with former Vice President Mike Pence.”What Snoop Dogg’s Success Says About the Book IndustryThe New York Times“Will the shifts brought on by the pandemic, favoring online retailers over bookstores and established authors over new ones, change publishing forever?”
$40,000 Swindle Puts Spotlight on Literary Prize ScamsThe New York Times“The organizers of at least five British awards received emails asking them to transfer prize money to a PayPal account. One of them paid out.”
How Book Publishers Can Balance Paid and Organic Efforts on AmazonIngram Content GroupThis blog tells authors and book publishers how to maximize your marketing efforts on Amazon by walking them through how readers search for books/content.
Philip Roth Biographer Blake Bailey Dropped by Agent over ‘Grooming’ AllegationsLos Angeles TimesBlake Bailey, author of a polarizing new biography of writer Philip Roth, was dropped Sunday by his agency, the Story Factory, following allegations of sexual misconduct made in the comments section of a literary blog — allegations Bailey denies.
Thank Goodness for PoetryThe New York TimesVideo artist Sindha Agha create an animated video series for National Poetry Month drawing on the works of Langston Hughes, Muriel Rukeyser and Toyo Suyemoto. This will make you feel uplifted and calm.