Good Morning America chose Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzsas its book club pick for June.
Archives for May 2023
Bertelsmann CEO “Seeking to Promote Understanding of AI”
Bertelsman ceo Thomas Rabe told the Financial Times that, for creative industries, generative AI could be “very positive provided we…understand its potential and threats.” Overall, he sees the technology as “on balance . . . probably more of an opportunity.” For example, “He said there were even opportunities for authors to augment their output by feeding software with their previous output to generate new content.” Rabe added, “If it’s your content, for which you own the copyright, and then you use it to train the software, you can in theory generate content like never before,” he said. Plus, “Rabe also argued that a proliferation […]
B&N in Hadley, MA Votes to Unionize; Park Slope Employees Are the Next to Try
Eleven booksellers and baristas at the Barnes & Noble in Hadley, MA voted unanimously to unionize on Thursday. They will join United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1459 and move on to negotiating a contract with management. This marks the first union at a Barnes & Noble retail store. In April, the workers sent a letter to B&N ceo James Daunt, citing low pay, inconsistent schedules, lack of communication from management, and lack of accessibility in the store. Separately, approximately 30 employees at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Park Slope notified management of their intention to unionize and join the Retail, Wholesale […]
People 5/30
Agency News: Bernstein to Take Over for Bergholz
Agent Susan Bergholz at Susan Bergholz Literary Services will retire as of June 1 and transfer control of her agency to Stuart Bernstein Representation for Artists. A number of Bergholz’s authors, including Julia Alvarez and Sandra Cisneros, had already begun working with Bernstein on new projects in recent years, and now control of their backlists will follow. Separately, “A number of authors who already have new representation will transfer backlist to those agents or take control themselves.” Bernstein said in the announcement, “Meeting Susan Bergholz helped me plan the direction of my life and shape my approach to working with […]
Scribe Media Clarifies Layoffs, Says Assets Will Be Sold
Further to our reporting about Scribe Media, the company responded to PL’s inquiries and clarified that while Scribe Media, LLC is officially ceasing operations, due to an Article 9 sale, the company will continue to operate as its assets are transferred to new ownership. (Article 9 is part of the Uniform Commercial Code, which provides for a secured lender to repossess the secured property in the event of a default.) Scribe’s chief experience officer Meghan McCracken tells PL that a buyer has not been determined, saying: “There are many interested buyers at the moment.” The company confirms they laid off […]