Children's writer, Alan Gibbons is launching an author's campaign against planned UK library closures by the government. Over 300 writers have so far pledged their support. Last year some 60 libraries closed in the UK and the number of professional library staff has fallen by 13% since 1985.
The best-seller lists are getting even more shallow and now operating like an extension of the celebrity culture. Sphere have signed up Sharon Osbourne for a series of Jackie Collins style throwaway blockbuster novels. This despite the fact that Ms. Osbourne is not a writer and so far has not delivered anything. Still it probably makes good business sense since fellow glamour queen, Katie Price's books are selling by the shed load. Makes any struggling writer despair, though when they realise maybe the only way to get a book deal is to become a media whore.
Who is to blame for the preponderance of badly written celebrity penned blockbusters? Is it the publishers who foist them on the market? Or is it the readers who actually buy this sort of thing?
TOP FIVE UK SELLERS W/E 30 08 08
1 Second Glance by Jodi Picoult
2 No time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay
3 Exit Music by Ian Rankin (Nice to see this one climbing the charts. I love Rankin)
4 Filthy Rich by Wendy Holden
5 The Final Reckoning by Sam Bourne
The total UK market for the week ending 30 08 08 was worth £28.7 million
(Data from The Bookseller www.thebookseller.com)
It is rumoured that Clint Eastwood is to finally write his autobiography which has a tentative publication date of summer 2010. It's probably a safe bet that big mouth director, Spike lee (who hasn't made a good movie for years) won't get a mention.
2 comments:
Thanks for the info on HarperCollins. Interesting concept.
Excited about the Eastwood autobiography! I respectfully disagree on the Spike Lee tip, though. I find something to like in all of his movies. What is your cut-off point for him? I've enjoyed "Inside Man, "The 25th Hour," even "She Hate Me," which I know got panned, though you should check out Roger Ebert's review. To be honest, and this may sound strange, I've enjoyed his films more and more with each new entry!
I just fine Lee too preachy and of course his recent spat with Eastwood was absurd.
Post a Comment