When it comes to making a bestseller, algorithms are good, but money is better
Neil Balthaser, whose start-up Intellogo we’ve covered on MobyLives before, has heard about The Bestseller Code, the recent book by book-tech duo Jodie Archer and Matthew Jockers that takes as its… Read more »
Boston bookstore supports writers with new anthology
As Amazon encroaches ever further into the book business with their own publishing arm and, now, a slew of brick-and-mortar stores, there’s nothing more heartening than watching independent bookstores thinking… Read more »
Lena Dunham publishes extracts from her college diary for charity
As we recently wrote on MobyLives, Lena Dunham has been making forays into publishing, launching an online mag and newsletter, Lenny Letter, and starting her own imprint at Random House, also… Read more »
Civil servant arrested for publishing book of already-public information
Further dispatches from Australia, the Florida of the world It’s not hard to get arrested for writing (or publishing) books. It happens when the government doesn’t like the cut of your… Read more »
Book tech startup renounces traditional publishing, offers to sell your book to a traditional publisher
In the “philosophy” section of book tech startup Inkitt’s website, the “data-driven agent and publisher” confirms the failure of traditional publishing by citing the essence-of-worn-leather fact that Harry Potter was,… Read more »
Wildly successful self-published author starts her own publishing house
Empowered by digital markets such as Amazon, Google Books, Lulu.com and Wattpad, self-publishing has surged into relevance. Andy Weir (The Martian), Hugh Howey (Wool), Jamie McGuire (Beautiful Redemption), and Paul… Read more »
Serial scammers prey on aspiring authors with fraudulent publishing services
In the latest dispatch from the world of publishing fraud, a California couple has pled not guilty after being charged with, among other things, a publishing services scam that allegedly netted them $300,000.… Read more »
Couple files lawsuit after their engagement photo appears on an erotic novel, A Gronking to Remember
A book called A Gronking to Remember is causing a stir, and not because of its title. The self-published erotic novel is about a woman who falls in love with… Read more »
How can authors partner with indie bookstores? Ask a bookseller
Recently at the Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) conference in Minneapolis, Melville House publisher Dennis Johnson organized and moderated a panel about the many partnership opportunities for authors and independent… Read more »
The Atlanta fire chief who wrote the homophobic book has been fired
In a previous MobyLives investigation, we focused on the unfortunate tale of Kelvin J. Cochran. Cochran, as you recall, was Atlanta’s fire chief, and had served in the position since… Read more »