Archives: May 2010

As we head out for a three-day weekend, here’s an extra-long list of Weekend Reading to keep you busy over the holiday.

Author Neil Gaiman provided photographic evidence that he has written a Dr. Who episode.

In the video embedded above, a Marvel executive talked about how the iPad is changing the comics business: “digital books are actually leading to physical purchases.”

Vector Group, Ltd. chairman Bennett S. LeBow will invest $25 million in the struggling bookseller, Borders.

The CEO of Figment explored the art of cellphone fiction.

We asked the burning question: What Would James Ellroy Do?

The CEO of Shanda Literature explained the staggering size of his company’s Chinese reading community. Read more here.

J.K. Rowling‘s agent said they are “actively” exploring eBook options for Harry Potter.

Bob Marley‘s son played a set at the HCI booth, promoting his upcoming book.

Novelist Jennifer Egan explored the future of PowerPoint fiction.

Missed these stories? Email GalleyCat to get all our publishing stories, book deal news, videos, podcasts, interviews, and writing advice in a simple email newsletter.

Launch a social media campaign that will build your brand and deliver results in our online Social Media Marketing Boot Camp starting June 7. Speakers include Abigail Cusick (Bravo Digital), Gregory Galant (Sawhorse Media), Alex Leo (Thomson Reuters Digital), Jim Tobin (Ignite Social Media), and many more. Read the reviews.

Thousands of Netflix users enjoy the “Watch Instantly” section of the popular DVD rental website–streaming movies straight to their computers or televisions. Still, it can be difficult to find the perfect movie amid the overwhelming selection.

To help literary minded movie fans with Netflix accounts surf through the overwhelming selection, here are our ten favorite Dramas Based on Contemporary Literature from the “Watch Instantly” section of Netflix. We also made a list of the ten best plays adapted into films that you can watch instantly on Netflix. Add your favorites from the Dramas Based on Contemporary Literature in the comments–we’ll do more lists for other adaptation categories soon.

Starting Out in the Evening: This Brian Morton novel adaptation stars the brilliant Frank Langella

Devil in a Blue Dress: Denzel Washington stars in this smoking adaptation of Walter Mosley‘s novel.

Iris: A critically-acclaimed adaptation of John Bayley‘s memoir about author Iris Murdoch.

Read more

Four major UK publishers struck last minute deals with Apple today, stocking the international iBookstore with new eBooks.

Today’s guest on the Morning Media Menu was Ed Nawotka, the editor-in-chief of Publishing Perspectives–a news site dedicated to covering the global publishing industry. He discussed socially networked reading in China, international launch of the Apple iPad, and the evolving role eBooks play in the European publishing industry.

Press play below to listen.

Here’s an excerpt from the interview: “For Europeans this is a really big device. It will be a unifying device. The eBook market over there has been a lot more fragmented than the States. There wasn’t a single, defining device like the Kindle. I think iPad is the first iteration of that [single, defining device] overseas.”

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At a BookExpo America speech yesterday, author and television host Jon Stewart exposed a common problem that plagues literary readings: long-winded questions from the audience.

New York magazine reporter Boris Kachka wrote about the event, capturing the key moment: “‘Do you have a question,’ Stewart slowly groaned into the mike at one long-winded guest. ‘You’re killing us.’ After a few more questions, he said, ‘Does anyone have a question where we don’t end up having to help you people? Is anyone here okay with what’s going on at this point in their careers, and maybe just curious about the s*** we do?’”

This GalleyCat editor can think of plenty of readings ruined by painful questions. Share your worst long-winded reading question in the comments–we’ll round them up in a future post.

In July, the Syfy channel will release an adaptation of a Stephen King story, a spooky little show based on King’s novella, The Colorado Kid. The promo is embedded above.

IGN interviewed Syfy channel’s Executive VP of original content, Mark Stern about the show.

Here’s more from the article: “[The story] revolves around an FBI Agent, Audrey Parker (Rose), who arrives in the small Maine town of Haven to investigate a murder and discovers that the townsfolk have special powers. Those who have read the novella will recognize very little in the series from the actual story, but Stern insisted that there was much more to this series than just slapping King’s name on a project.” (io9)

New York Times bestselling author, David Baldacci is the author of the new novel Deliver Us From Evil. He was gracious enough to give GalleyCat listeners a glimpse into his world. In today’s interview, Baldacci give his advice to aspiring writers.

As the iPad and iBookstore launches in the UK, the agency representing bestselling Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has said they are exploring eBook options for the beloved series–possibly taking off one of the most prominent global authors off the No eBooks list.

Rowling (pictured, via) has held a spot on eBookNewser’s list of readers’ favorite authors who are lacking eBook versions.

Here’s more from The Bookseller: “Neil Blair, partner at the Christopher Little Agency (CLA) which represents Rowling, said the agency was ‘currently considering all the options and opportunities that this evolving space provides.’ The agency was ‘actively’ looking, whereas previously it had just been ‘monitoring the developing area,’ he said.”

At at the HCI Books booth at BookExpo America today, Bob Marley‘s son Ky-Mani Marley played a set to support his upcoming book, Dear Dad: Where the Family in Our Family Today?

Watch him sing a BEA-directed song in the video embedded above.

Here’s more from the site: “Reggae icon Bob Marley’s son tells his story of life as an exiled child of his famous father. Published by HCI Books.”

Submissions for the World’s Longest Literary Remix contest are rolling in, including Wizard of Oz-themed entry from novelist Laura Hill. Read her ruby slipper-ed submission after the jump.

Hill joined a brave crew of readers in rewriting one page from a Horatio Alger novel for fun and prizes–read his entry after the jump. 150 pre-registered GalleyCat Reviews readers have signed up to rewrite one page of Joe’s Luck: Always Wide Awake (cover pictured, via).

We will publish the remixed text as a free digital book. Each remix contributor will be eligible for a random drawing of special giveaway prizes. Three excellent sponsors have donated prizes:

1-Scribd.com and Blurb.com are donating 10 printed copies of the completely remixed novel, using the company’s new print-on-demand service.

2- The remixing experts at Quirk Books will give one lucky winner an assortment of Quirk Classics books, posters, and audiobooks–a prize package worth over $100.

3-The multimedia literary journal Electric Literature will donate “Electric Literature: Year One”–a complete set of the first four issues of the journal–a $40 value.

Read more

After surviving a round of publishing parties last night, GalleyCat returned with more BookExpo America coverage.

In the video embedded above, the CEO of Shanda Literature explained the staggering size of his company’s Chinese reading community. Read more here.

A Marvel executive talked about how the iPad was changing the comics business: “digital books are actually leading to physical purchases.”

Three thriller writers discussed fans, book deals, and the unique pressures of writing a series.

Bob Marley’s son played a set at the HCI booth.

We linked out to a crew of creative and friendly publishing folk during last night’s busy BEA party scene.

Finally, BEA revealed that they will return to a three-day format next year.

Even after BEA, keep following all the publishing action on eBookNewser and our GalleyCat Twitter feed.