This week’s fiction releases include new novels by Louise Penny and Paula Hawkins, while Glory Edim publishes a memoir. 10 works of fiction https://bookshop.org/lists/new-fiction-publishing-october-29 5 works of nonfiction https://bookshop.org/lists/new-nonfiction-publishing-october-29 We consult a number of sources in compiling our weekly lists and PM members can see our lists for the coming months on Bookshop. Check out October‘s 36 fiction releases, 31 works of nonfiction, and 50 children’s titles; November‘s 80 fiction releases, 39 works of nonfiction, and 20 children’s titles; and December‘s 48 fiction releases, 14 works of nonfiction, and 15 children’s titles. […]
YA Authors Cross Over With “Adult Debuts”
One of the biggest acquisitions of 2024 was a seven-figure, three-book deal for YA author Adalyn Grace’s THE WRETCHED DIVINE by Feiwel and Friends. Grace’s book highlights a growing trend of authors who historically published in the children’s/YA market selling their first books marketed for adults. While many authors, such as Jacqueline Woodson and Victoria/VE Schwab, have long published books for kids and adults, PM deal reports show that there’s a marked uptick in what editors and agents are calling “adult debuts.” So far this year, PM has recorded at least 30 such acquisitions, almost a quarter of which were […]
Rutgers University Press Partners with Springsteen’s Archive
Rutgers University Press has partnered with the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music (BSACAM), to publish a series of books about Springsteen and American music and culture more generally. BSACAM is located at Monmouth University in New Jersey and is the repository for Springsteen’s written works, photographs, periodicals, and artifacts. RUP executive editor Peter Mickulas, who will handle the series, said, “We’re quite excited to formalize our relationship with the Springsteen Archives—the preeminent center for archival research in New Jersey on popular music, including, of course that of New Jersey’s own most famous son, Bruce Springsteen. Given Rutgers University Press’s […]
People 10/24
Former OpenAI Staffer Claims AI Training Is Not Fair Use
A former researcher at OpenAI has spoken out against the company’s use of copyrighted data in a detailed, publicly posted analysis, reported on further by the NYT (which is suing OpenAI for copyright infringement). Suchir Balaji left OpenAI in protest “because he no longer wanted to contribute to technologies that he believed would bring society more harm than benefit.” Early versions of the company’s technology were treated as research projects, which meant employees felt free to train them on any data without worrying about permissions and usage, Balaji told the Times. But as ChatGPT-4 became a commercial product, OpenAI failed […]
Maas Continues to Drive Big Gains at Bloomsbury
Bloomsbury reported sales for the first half of their fiscal year ended August 31, with sales continuing their rise—due in particular to Sarah J. Maas—to £180 million, up 32 percent, or £43 million. Profits were up 50 percent to £26.6 million. Essentially all of the gains came from the consumer division, where sales were up 47 percent (or £42 million) to £131.3 million, with profit before taxation and highlighted items gaining 91 percent to £21.4 million. We can’t talk about the consumer division without talking about Maas. According to the publisher, her sales more than doubled again in the period, […]