Welcome to this week’s Buzz Worthy News! Penguin and Random House merging, Janet Reid gives Indies authors hard numbers, and movie news for several books! All this and much, much more. Read on to find out everything that’s been happening in the book world this week.
Buzz Worthy News is Cuddlebuggery’s weekly Monday news post. Bringing you all the most interesting, relevant and fun news from the publishing and book blogging world.
Publishing News
Penguin Going Random?
Just when you thought the publishing industry couldn’t get any more spontaneous, the inter-webs exploded when a possible merger between Penguin and Random House was announced.
“Bertelsmann and Pearson are in talks about combining their publishing divisions, Random House and Penguin, to create a global market leader in response to the strategic challenges of the fast-growing ebook business. Discussions have focused on a merger in which Bertelsmann would have a stake of more than 50 per cent, according to three people familiar with the negotiations, who warned that talks could still fall apart.”
But that’s not the most important thing. Oh, noooooo! What we really need to discuss is a new name. The most obvious choices would be Penguin House (which I am personally fond of) or Random Penguin. Brilliant, amirite? And if they get a new name then of course they’d need a new logo! Thankfully, the People of Twitter have responded to this utmost important issue:
New #PenguinHouse logo revealed. twitter.com/EvanJGregory/s…
— Evan Gregory (@EvanJGregory) October 25, 2012
I propose this confused penguin doing a backwards Egyptian publishing ceremony dance as the #RandomPenguin logo. twitter.com/BookaliciousPa…
— Pam van Hylckama(@BookaliciousPam) October 25, 2012
Ok, last #randompenguin twitter.com/KameronHurley/…
— Kameron Hurley (@KameronHurley) October 25, 2012
Simon and Schuster “Spring Cleaning”
So apparently Penguin and Random House are not the only publishers adopting the motto “change is good.” Simon and Schuster recently announced that they are reconstructing, bringing all their imprints together in four publishing groups. This included both Martha Levin (free press publisher) and Dominik Anfuso (free press editor-in-chief) leaving the publishing house along with the following changes:
Judith Curr will helm Atria Publishing Group, and the Howard Books Christian imprint will be part of this new group. Susan Moldow will lead the Scribner Publishing Group, which now includes Touchstone Books. Touchstone publisher Stacy Creamer will report to Moldow.
Jonathan Karp will direct the Simon & Schuster Publishing Group, adding the Free Press into this new group. Louise Burke will lead the Gallery Publishing Group, a group that now includes Gallery Books, Threshold Editions, Pocket Books, Pocket Star, MTV Books, and Karen Hunter Publishing.
Sony Launches “The Sony Readers”
Looking for a new book club to join? Sony may have your answer. By joining the vitual book club, at the end of every month you can chat with the author of that month’s chosen book and other book lovers. So far their line up includes Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke and Bone), Barbara Kingsolver (Flight Behavior), Michael Connelly (The Black Box) and Molly Ringwald (When it Happens to You).
The best part of the club is the VIP membership where Sony attempted to sweeten the deal with an offer that screamed desperation.
And wait, there’s more, we are also looking for 25 VIP members to join ‘Sony Readers Book Club’ who will each receive a Sony Reader device and cover with light, as well as the first four Book of the Month ebooks for free. In February, the 25 VIP members will also be invited to an in-person book club and meet-and-greet with author Michael Connelly in Los Angeles. The VIPs will receive airfare, hotel, transportation and meals for the duration of the weekend – pretty sweet deal. All we ask is that you read the books and participate in the chats.
Literary Agent Janet Reid Gives Advice on Self-Publishing
There seems to be an upcoming trend with success stories of great books like Easy by Tammara Webber and not-so-great books like Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James being picked up by traditional publishing companies. With self-publshing on the rise and ebook availability more easier than ever, agents and publishers are watching. But not while you sleep because that would be creepy. So what does it take to get noticed by an agent or publishing house? On her popular blog, Janet Reid advised indie authors to be realistic.
“We watch those stories very carefully of course. We’re in this biz for money, not love, and if there’s a place to find projects we can sell, you bet we’re there.
If you’re thinking of doing this, here’s what to consider:
1. To get noticed, you have to sell a lot of books. By a lot I mean more than 20,000.”
Whoa! 20,000 books?! No wonder Snoopy spent most of his time typing away on his dog house. This all may seem a little of-putting to some with all the tough love oozing from that blog post – wait, scratch that… not love, just potential $$ – but she does end saying this:
“This post is not to dissuade you from self-publishing. Have at it with all your might. BUT be realistic about what self-publishing is, and what it can accomplish. And more important what it can NOT accomplish.”
TV & Movie News
MTV Picks Up Elizabeth Norris’ Unraveling
Usually, we’d see this sort of news coming from the CW network, but it seems MTV has decided to join the party when it comes to adapting YA novels to teen TV sensations. And with their success of both Teen Wolf and Awkward, why stop there? While it’s only in the development stages, Michele Cornish, co-producer of Are We Done Yet? has been attached to executive produce.
The young-adult novel revolves around Janelle Tenner, who, after being hit by a car, is convinced she died and that her sexy and mysterious classmate Ben is responsible for her miraculous resuscitation. As she searches for answers, Janelle discovers that Ben might be linked to an ongoing FBI investigation that has catastrophic consequences.
Our Worst Nightmares Could Be Realized
Just when I’m about to party like it’s 1999 over the conlusion of the Twilight movies, the rumor mills starts ruining my fun. I can understand the urge to make even more money off a franchise that is doing extremely well sales wise, but c’mon! Have mercy! I’m not sure what scares me most, the fact that this could actually happen or that people WANT it to happen. Both. Definitely both.
Now a new source has come about offering a couple more particulars.
Moviehole.net, who we discovered through Bloody Disgusting, heard today that “they’re onto the [Breaking Dawn] follow-up,” but a decision hasn’t been made as to on what type of medium it will be created.
The aforementioned source says they’ve heard it could be a television show or a film spin-off set in the same world as the Twilight Saga but not centering upon three lead characters Edward, Bella, and Jacob. One idea currently being tossed around would focus on the Wolf Pack.
Does the possibilty of a Twilight spin-odd leave you cowering with fear in a corner of your bedroom? So… not just me? Awesome. Let’s hold onto each other tight into the night.
Animal Farm Adaptation
It’s been announced that Andy Serkis is set to direct and act in Geroge Orwell’s Animal Farm. Serkis, who starred in Lord of the Rings as Gollum, is the co-founder of The Imaginarium, a performance capture studio that acquired the rights.
”We are delighted to officially announce our involvement in bringing this classic yet controversial fable to life, hopefully allowing it to resonate for our times with a combination of a fresh perspective, real emotional heart, a great deal of humor and satire … By utilizing performance capture, a deeply talented and committed cast of actors will be able to explore and fully inhabit Orwell’s fairy tale world where ‘some animals are more equal than others.’”
Divergent Casting
Have you been waiting to hear who would play the lead role of Tris Prior in Veronica Roth’s best-selliing YA novel Divergent? Well, the wait is over. Earlier it was confirmed that Shailene Woodley was in the final negotiations with Summit. She is most well known for her character, Amy Jergins, on the hit ABC Family show, Secret Life of the American Teenager and starring alongside George Clooney in The Decedents.
“From the moment I heard that she was being considered, I have been nothing but enthusiastic. My priority has always been, first and foremost, that the role of Tris be well-acted, and Shailene has proven how talented she is, as anyone who has seen The Descendants can attest. And physically, what’s most important to me, far and away more important than other aspects of her appearance, is that Tris does not look like an action hero– she looks like a slight person with youthful, delicate features, someone who shocks you with how strong and capable she becomes.”
Neil Burger (The Illusionist and Limitless) was also hired to direct. Divergent is slated to be released March 24, 2014.
What do you think of the selection for Tris?
LOL
Seriously, Where Can I Get One of These?
Okay, so this has to be the oddest trailer for a book that I’ve ever seen, but I can totally see the practicality here. I mean, hands free reading and an umbrella just in case you get rained on? Genius! Give that guy a Klondike bar, I say! The trailer features a book sling that resembles the ever popular Baby Bjorn. But instead of holding your baby, it holds your personal copy of The Onion Book Of Known Knowledge!
[tube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhnaO67xYpY[/tube]
“Replete with an astonishing assemblage of facts, illustrations, maps, charts, threats, blood and additional fees to edify even the most simple-minded book-buyer, The Onion Book Of Known Knowledge is packed with valuable information–such as the life stages of an Aunt; places to kill one’s self in Utica, New York; and the dimensions of a female bucket, or ‘pail.’ With more than 1,500 entries spanning all 27 letters of the alphabet, The Onion Book Of Known Knowledge must be purchased immediately to avoid the sting of eternal ignorance.”
Children’s Theatre Critic Critiques The Very Hungry Caterpillar
In a video that goes to show you that criticism really suck ass, Funny or Die spoofed a Children’s Theatre critic giving his opinions on children’s performances. Check it out and laugh a little!
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