In his column today, Richard Charkin’s ‘Dear Jeff’ letter captures the publishing industry’s perennially conflicted viewpoints on Amazon.
Richard Charkin: Book Clubs and Other Cannibalization Scares
‘We’d be cannibalizing our own business,’ is usually wrong, writes Richard Charkin in London. He advises publishers to say yes first, worry later.
Richard Charkin: Ten Publishing Things That Will Never Be The Same
Richard Charkin even takes aim at publishing’s parties as he reviews some of the practical lessons of the pandemic–and revisits the hairstyle of his youth.
Richard Charkin: Let’s Hear It for Book Rights Sales People Worldwide
‘Rights departments of publishing houses invariably seem the poor relation of the sales team,’ says Richard Charkin. The pandemic is a prompt to reconsider.
Richard Charkin: We’re All in It Together
Appealing to Amazon, Google, Apple, and other online book retailers, Richard Charkin asks for a change in how quickly publishers are paid in the pandemic.
Richard Charkin: In All Fairness
Visiting the Society of Authors’ offices, Richard Charkin looks at issues of perceived fairness—and otherwise—in how publishers and authors work together.
Richard Charkin: On Memory Lane
‘Walking past former offices brings back fond—and sometimes not so fond—recollections,’ Richard Charkin writes, ‘of old times.’
Richard Charkin: A Publishing Christmas Carol
Three ghosts later, publisher Gerald Hambledon posts a new message to the worldwide staff of Hambledon Global Publishing–about ‘the future of our industry.’
Richard Charkin: Three Books, Three Lessons
In decluttering his library, Richard Charkin is reminded of unexpected returns in publishing.
Richard Charkin: A Little Grumble and a Big Hurrah
Richard Charkin wonders if the winners of rights auctions are, in fact, winners. And he considers whether Nigel Beale is right to say there’s more to the book business than money.