Getting Down To Business
By Densie Webb | March 11, 2023 |
February was an incredibly busy news month for books, audiobooks, bookstores, and publishers, but AI and its potential impact on authors and publishing was in the forefront. Where AI stops nobody knows, but it definitely warrants paying close attention. It was impossible to include every newsworthy item, but here are some highlights.
AI
Is AI all that? It’s too soon to tell, but lots of people in the biz have lots to say about it, from chatbots that argue with you to creating original book covers, and a surge in AI-generated submissions that caused one publication to stop accepting submissions. Can AI be sued for copyright infringement? Is AI artwork protectable? We’ll see on both counts.
https://www.authormedia.com/ai-book-covers/
https://www.thepassivevoice.com/does-ai-art-affect-indie-authors/
https://link.wired.com/view/5c17ef9b2ddf9c4e2963e6c8i75is.gc6/471e7abf
https://www.thepassivevoice.com/getty-images-sues-stability-ai-for-copyright-infringement/
https://www.thepassivevoice.com/u-s-copyright-office-tells-judge-that-ai-artwork-isnt-protectable/
Amazon
The book monolith Amazon has been criticized for its liberal return policy for ebooks, allowing enough time for a book to be read and then returned, leaving authors without compensation. It would seem that a recent policy change will help clamp down on ebook abusers.
Diversity in Publishing
Movements to increase diversity in publishing (both on the author and publishing side of the equation) continue, but disagreements exist on exactly how to define diversity.
https://www.thepassivevoice.com/the-state-of-diversity-in-the-publishing-industry/
https://www.thepassivevoice.com/the-state-of-social-media-as-it-pertains-to-writers-in-particular/
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/pw-select/article/91501-what-s-in-a-label.html
Bookstores
Barnes & Noble’s numbers are looking up, and bookshop.org will soon begin selling ebooks.
Audiobooks
A Stockholm-based audiobook subscription company is going gangbusters. Check out this stellar panel on the art of creating an audiobook from the National Book Festival,
https://publishingperspectives.com/2023/02/storytel-touts-q4-results-in-a-truly-remarkable-year/
Book Sales
It’s up, it’s down. The sales numbers don’t always paint a clear picture.
https://publishingperspectives.com/2023/02/npd-bookscan-sees-2023-us-market-off-to-a-solid-start/
Children’s Books
A look back at 2022 children’s books bestsellers, a look ahead to 2023, plus the pushback on proposed inclusive edits to Roald Dahl’s children’s books.
International News
Indie retail numbers are at a 10-year high in Britain, China’s books sales were down, anti-LGBT law in Russia narrows choices, and long-running literary debate show in Canada, “Canada Reads,” is back.
https://publishingperspectives.com/2023/02/canada-reads-returns-featuring-station-eleven/
https://publishingperspectives.com/2023/02/chinas-book-market-in-2022-an-11-77-percent-decline/
Publishers Big and Small
Harper-Collins strike ends, McMillan Publishing is increasing employees’ base pay, hybrid publisher takes a stand, and lamentations from an insider over the shifting sands in the publishing world.
https://www.idealog.com/blog/running-a-big-publishing-house-is-not-as-much-fun-as-it-used-to-be/
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html?record=4088
Any news from the month that you’d like to share?
Densie Webb has spent a long career as a freelance nonfiction writer and editor, specializing in health and nutrition and has published several books and tons of articles on the topic over the years. She is a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and Red Adept Publishing released her debut women’s fiction novel titled, “When Robins Appear” in 2020. It is available in ebook, audiobook, and paperback formats. Her second novel, best categorized as romantic/domestic suspense, “Breathing in Reverse” was published in 2023, also with Red Adept Publishing. She is currently working (but not fast enough) on novel #3. She grew up in Louisiana, spent 13 years in New York, and settled in Austin, TX, where it’s summer nine months of the year. She’s an avid walker (not of the dead variety, though she loves anything to do with zombies, vampires, or post-apocalyptic worlds), drinks way too much coffee, and has a small “devil dog” that keep her on her toes. And she is thrilled to be a part of the Writer Unboxed family!
Thank you for this comprehensive and informative post, Denise. You are gold!
Book banning should be included in the next round-up. It’s getting scary
So right. I have a good friend who lives in Florida and teaches at the local high school. This is the last straw for her. She’s packing up her family and leaving the state. In short, book banning is a horrific reality for Florida teachers.
Maggie, there was something about book banning in last month’s column, but I’ll be sure to include more for April! Thanks for the nudge.
Thanks for the heavy lifting, Densie. No way would I go down all these rabbit holes on my own.
Densie, thank you! I’ve spent the week listening to auditions from people interested in narrating one of my mysteries. I will definitely send the link to the panel of pro readers to the person I choose. Really instructive–thanks again.