Both Clare and Scott update with what little they can share.
The Telegraph has the full story and so too does The Bookseller:
HarperCollins, the book publishing giant owned by News Corporation, is poised to buy out of administration a small publishing house co-run by Scott Pack, the controversial former head buyer at Waterstone’s.
I hope the deal goes through, and that the people involved come out happy!
Eoin
In case you thought Irish publishers were not at the races with the future
You should have gone along to the debate on that very topic at the Dublin Book Festival on Friday. Seán Ó Cearnaigh chaired the panel with: Michael Gill (Gill & Macmillan) and Michael O’Brien (The O’Brien Press), Conor Kostick (Author and Chair of the Irish Writers’ Union).
Although the format was a little staid (Seán Ó Cearnaigh posed questions directly to the panel) and a little ruined for me by the fact that the question I asked was stupidly phrased and didn’t get across the point I wanted, it was still a fascinating experience. Given that the Festival is in its first year, I can see this getting better and better. There is real value in panel discussions like this one.
Unlikely Revolutionary
Michael Gill especially came across well and was a revelation to me. I’ve seen Michael O’Brien in action before. It would be a rare person who would deny that he is a forceful proponent of whatever position he is supporting and his record as a publisher speaks for itself. But it was Michael Gill who seemed the revolutionary to me, pushing Irish publishers to explore the digital opportunities and to overcome the barriers and challenges.
Both he and Michael O’Brien seemed certain of the dangers Microsoft’s and Google’s scanning and digitisation of books pose to publishers. I think their views are beginning to win me over (this is helping too).
No more Net Book, EVER
The only real area of conflict arose from the suggestion that perhaps selling price contracts might make a return, this from Connor Kostick, the only author on the panel. Michael Gill gave an emphatic smack down to this and left little doubt about his position on the matter. He also seemed reluctant to countenance a return to any kind of Price Maintenance, something both Connor Kostick and Michael O’Brien seemed keen on.
I have to say, I dislike price maintenance instinctively, it just doesn’t feel right and the happy capitalist in me resents any pricing tools.
I’ve some more notes on the discussion but I need to think them over a little more before I write them up!
Enjoyed the day at the Festival,
Eoin
UPDATE: SAMANTHA POWER HAD TO RESIGN TODAY OVER SOME UNFORTUNATE REMARKS. IT COULDN’T BE A MORE SAD OUTCOME FOR HER! BLATHNAID HAS SOME MORE.
Distracted
Frankly, it’s amazing I’ve done anything this week. I’ve been busy obsessing over this. But I have somehow, including this.
Lectures
I left work early and drove to Dublin (a relatively limited distance I think, but I wish the road was better) and went to see a lecture by one of Barak Obama’s chief policy advisers, Samantha Power who has just release a very interesting book and one a pulitzer for this one! She didn’t change my mind on Obama, if I had a vote it’d go to Clinton, but I’d vote for Power for sure! An excellent speaker with a fine sense of the world she hammered points I have felt myself for some time about the Rule of Law and what not. It went too quickly!
The Book Festival
I’ve a breakfast meeting tomorrow then loads of Book Festival Stuff I want to do. It’ll be a good day.
Tired but looking forward to tomorrow
Eoin
Hachette in the US distributes Sony readers to its staff: forward I hear you say?
Here
Not directly book relevant but genius so I cannot resist: The Art of Manliness.
Here
Communities. Warning: a dash of cold water and some common sense.
Here
Is it a game: yes it is. Bow Street Runner from Channel 4. [Hat tip to The Digitalist blog for the link]
Here
Monday, bloody Monday!
Mondays have been getting busier for some reason and today was no different. On the plus side Good Times & Bad was put @ No. 4 in the Irish Times paperback Non-Fiction Bestseller List. It’s a really great read and well worth it at only €19.99.
Blog Awards
Well done to two/three soon to be Mercier Author’s; The Brother’s Murphy who were named best business blog for Ice Cream Ireland and Grandad who won joint best personal blog for Head Rambles at the Irish Blog Awards in Dublin over the weekend.
LibraryThing
Librarything have been doing some excellent stuff and doing it well for a good while now. I remain amazed that a publisher hasn’t bought the remaining shares (assuming they could be bought) or even just bought Abeboooks to get the share they own of the company. They are really doing exciitng work in two areas right now and have today launched a third. The newest is called LibraryThing Local and it allows users to add pretty flexible information about everything from fairs to bookstores:
LibraryThing Local is a handy reference, but it’s also interactive. You can show off your favorite bookstores and libraries (eg., mine include the Harvard Bookstore, Shakespeare and Company and the Boston Athenaeum) and keep track of interesting events. Then you can find out who else loves the places you do, and who else is going to events. You can also find local members, write comments about the places you love and more.
You can see an example here where I have added information about the Dublin Book Festival which is on at the end of the week.
Although it will be a while before this feature builds into the rich stream of information and knowledge it has the potential too, it, like the recent Common Knowledge feature they rolled out are excellent ways to harness and pool the minds, thoughts and knowledge of their members to everyones advantage.
More pleased heading to sleep than I was waking up, is that good or bad?
Eoin
