Overlook has filed suit against the grandchildren of Russian author Mikhail Bulgakov claiming that the ebook edition of MASTER AND MARGARITA does not violate copyright, Courthouse News reports. (The full complaint is not yet available in any federal court docket.) Overlook acquired the US copyright to Bulgakov’s classic novel (written in 1937 but not published until 1967, more than 25 years after Bulgakov’s death) in 2001 when it bought Ardis Press, which originally commissioned the book’s current English-language translation in 1995. Though Overlook “acknowledges that Bulgakov’s grandchildren own rights to the underlying copyright,” they dispute the heirs’ contention that the […]
Authors
Bill Bryson Sues Former Agent For “Misconduct and Profound Neglect”, Including Years of Lost Royalties
Bestselling author Bill Bryson filed suit November 30 in New York Supreme Court against his former literary agent, Fred Morris of Jed Mattes Inc., alleging “misconduct and profound neglect” over a period of years, and charging that Morris “failed to perform some of the most fundamental duties of an agent” including royalty remittance and processing contracts for review and signature. The suit also claims the defendant “insisted that JMI is entitled to continue collecting a commission of fifteen percent of Bryson’s earnings on the very works Morris has neglected” and seeks to sever once and for all any connection between […]
People, Awards, Etc.
At Abrams, publisher Steve Tager takes on the new role of chief marketing and business development officer, focused on driving new business initiatives, including exploiting company’s digital assets. The marketing and publicity departments will also report to him. Deborah Aaronson takes over as vp, publisher for the adult trade group. She has been with the company since 2000. Elisa Urbanelli returns to the company as associate publisher for the adult group, also acquiring in categories including art and museum publications. She was previously a managing editor for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and most recently was a freelance […]
Author News: Roth Is Finished; Wiesel Book Claim Is Denied
Philip Roth has suggested in the past that he was finished writing new novels even though he published four works between 2006 and 2010, but last Friday a spokesperson for publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt confirmed to the New York Times a remark Roth originally made to a French publication: “To tell you the truth, I’m done,” Roth had said. “‘Nemesis’ will be my last book.” HMH’s Lori Glazer told the Times, “I spoke to Philip today and he confirmed that Nemesis is his last book.” But another story making the rounds last week can be debunked. In early November Israel’s […]
CIA Director Petraeus Resigns After Affair With Biographer Broadwell Disclosed
As you may have already noted, publishing has been featured in the fallout from CIA director David Petraeus’ resignation Friday afternoon,when he disclosed an extramarital affair with a woman later revealed to be Paula Broadwell, author (with Vernon Loeb) of the authorized biography ALL IN: The Education of General David Petraeus. Published by Penguin Press in January with modest results (it was No. 13 on the NYT nonfiction bestseller list for a week in February and fell off the list two weeks later), book sales rose online over the weekend, and the paperback is due for release next month. Penguin […]
Two Short Bradbury Pieces, and Book On Man Freed After 38 Years for Murders He Denies Committing
As the AP reports, two short works from Ray Bradbury will be published posthumously this fall: A three-page intro to The Best American Nonrequired Reading called “The Book and the Butterfly,” and a piece called “Dear Santa,” in the holiday issue of Strand Magazine. Bill Macumber was released from jail earlier this week after serving 38 years in prison for two murders he maintains he did not commit, and Holt is moving up publication of a related book to January 2013. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Barry Siegel‘s MAINFEST INJUSTICE: The True Story of a Convicted Murderer and the Lawyers Who Fought […]