Among unknowns facing the UK book industry this year, the idea of a Waterstones sale is among the most vexing. There’s one point of agreement: Industry players would like managing director James Daunt to stay in place.
Color It Confusing: Are Adult Coloring Books Not Books?
If Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs office can somehow categorize coloring books as not books—and “incomplete” because they’re not colored in—what might publishers have to pay in VAT?
Survey: Translated Fiction Outsells English Fiction in the UK
‘Currently 25 percent of our top 20 fiction titles are translated,’ we learn from Waterstones. It appears that UK readers are surprisingly into international books.
Quantum’s Quandary: London Book Fair’s Careful Conference
In a day of congenial panel discussions and reassuring pep talks, London Book Fair’s Quantum Conference threw an amber-warm light on tricky times for publishing.
Waterstones’ James Daunt: ‘Student of Bookshops’
From Brexit (no) to bookstore social space (yes) Waterstones’ managing director James Daunt is certain about one thing: He wants ‘to sell more books.’
Waterstones Begins Pulling Amazon Kindle From Its Shelves
According to reports in The Bookseller, many Waterstones bookstores have removed the Amazon Kindle from their shelves because of poor sales of the device.
UK Authors, Publishers Donate Book Sales to Syrian Refugees
Some of the UK’s most famous authors and publishers are donating their earnings from book sales to raise £1m for Syrian refugees.
Innovation Offers Hope to UK Indie Bookstores
Technology is giving UK booksellers hope in their battle against Amazon, including a new web extension, Bookindy, that finds a local book price for you.
Should UK Children’s Books Be Non Gender-Specific?
The Guardian reports that a UK campaign to stop children’s books being labeled for boys or for girls is gaining support in the publishing community.
Should Self-publishing Platforms Censor Objectionable Books?
Several self-publishing ebook platforms have censored rape, incest and other objectionable titles while others appear to continue profiting from them.