Friday Midday Links: Tributes to Monica Jackson; S&S Settles with State AGs
Karen Scott wrote a lovely tribute to Monica Jackson as did Laura Vivanco. They are worth reading and remembering.
- Monica Jackson, Author, Warrior…Friend by Karen Scott
- Monica Jackson…in her own words by Laura Vivanco
Amazon to Sell Ads on Kindle Fire Welcome Screen | Digital – Advertising Age – “Amazon is pitching ads on the device’s welcome screen, according to an executive at an agency that Amazon has pitched. The company has been telling ad agency execs that they must spend about $600,000 for any package that includes such an ad. The ad campaigns would run for two months and also include inventory from Amazon’s “Special Offers” product. For $1 million, advertisers would get more ad inventory and be included in Amazon’s public-relations push, according to this executive and an exec at another ad agency.” “ AdAge
Hammond File Sharing Leak – ” The results strongly suggest that an album benefits from increased file sharing: an album that became available in file-sharingnetworks one month earlier would sell 60 additional units. This increase is sales is small relative to other factors that have been found to affect album sales. I conclude with an investigationof the distributional effects of file sharing on sales and find that file sharing benefits more established and popular artists but not newer and smaller artists.” Pre-Release File Sharing and the Music Industry by Robert G. Hammond Personal Note: This surprises me. I would have thought it helps smaller artists and hurts more established ones.
Simon & Schuster settles e-book antitrust suit with state AGs | Apple – CNET News – “Simon & Schuster, one of the five major book publishers accused in multiple lawsuits of conspiring with Apple to fix e-book prices, has settled the complaint filed by numerous states’ attorney generals, CNET has learned… The terms of the settlement weren’t provided in court documents. A Simon & Schuster spokesman declined to comment. Spokespeople for Apple and the Texas AGs office did not immediately respond to a request for comment but we will update as soon as we hear back.” CNET Personal Note. I tweeted about this and someone sent me an email asking whether the details of the settlement would ever be known. Yes absolutely. All government settlements are public. My guess is that the parties are waiting to see whether all the states are going to be involved in the settlement and what all publishers are going to be involved. It could be up to 30 or 60 days before we see the terms. Based on other reports, however, it is likely that the settlement will involve some rebate to customers and change in the existing contracts the publishers have with retailers.
MGM film studio options desert island romance novel set in the Maldives | Minivan News – “A best-selling novel based on the captivating love story of a mismatched pair deserted on an uninhabited island of the Maldives is to be made into a feature-length film. According to reports, leading Hollywood production company Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) has optioned the rights to Tracey Garvis-Graves‘ best-selling castaway novel “On the Island”, a five-week inhabitant of the New York Times bestseller list.” Mini Van News Personal Note: This is the second self published book to be optioned for a movie in as many weeks.
An Annotated Bibliography of Contemporary Romance Scholarship on Romance Readers | Blog | Smart Bitches, Trashy Books | Romance Novel Reviews | All of the Romance, None of the Bullshit. – “The process of creating a bibliography about romance readers forces the obvious question: Who are romance readers? On the surface, the answer is equally obvious: those who read romance fiction. But this answer becomes more complicated when you consider the various identities belonging to a romance reader inform who reads romance, how they read romance, and what kinds of romances they read. Gender, geography, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion, cultural heritage, and socio-political ideologies are some examples of factors that affect reading habits. The types of romances –genre, format, etc. also are influencing factors of reading habits, as well as factors that are themselves influenced by the identities of romance readers. “ SmartBitches
Deals
- Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes * $1.59 * A | BN | K | S – these two books are YA stories featuring a female alpha.
- Trial by Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barnes * $1.59 * A | BN | K | S
- The Duchess of Love by Sally MacKenzie * $1.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Dark Whispers by Samantha Garver * $1.99 * A | BN | K | S
- What A Woman Needs by Caroline Linden * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
Which one was the first?
@Brie: It was probably Hugh Howey’s WOOL. Which is, incidentally, really good. It reminded me of post-apocalyptic Ray Bradbury.
@Courtney Milan: @Brie: Yes, it was Wool. I never reported it because it wasn’t a romance. Wool was optioned by none other than Ridley Scott:
http://screencrush.com/ridley-scott-wool/
I know Monica struggled with various health issues over the years, but, as others have pointed out, her life force seemed so expansive that it’s difficult to believe she would die, let alone so prematurely. True activists are rare, I think, in part because it takes an incredible, almost myopic focus, and also because it keeps you so unremittingly in an provocative, even adversarial position, sometimes with those who share your general views. Monica was a genuine activist, one of the very, very few in the genre, I think. Definitely a unique and powerful voice.
Condolences to her daughter and her family.
How about some sweeping historical epics adapted from romances? Espionage movies adapted from romances? Gritty crime adapted from romances? I’d amputate a finger for a big screen adaptation of “Silent in the Grave.”
Has anyone here read On the Island? (Didn’t find a review, sorry if I missed it.) I’d never heard of it and am surprised to see so much interest in a 30 year old heroine with an “almost 17 year old” hero. Not sure I care what the circumstances are…still find it kinda sqwicky. The writing must be hella good.
I just bought the novella The Duchess of Love by Sally MacKenzie because I’ve never read anything of hers.
I don’t normally care much what another author says about a book she recommends but Lisa Kleypas said it was “The romance equivalent of chocolate cake…” and honestly, at least it will be calorie free. Thanks for the link.
@Lada: I’m pretty sure they’re stuck on the island for a while and he’s 18 before anything significant happens. I haven’t read it yet but I enjoyed the Kindle sample enough to buy it. There are several reviews at Goodreads.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/276502974
There’s another one I liked but now I can’t find it. Wish Goodreads would let me see what I’ve “liked.”
I read On the Island and it was amazing. I was squeamish about starting it but my online bookclub was RAVING about it so I finally started and just fell in love. Emotional and awesome!
Makes me glad that I try new things once in awhile!
On The Island was amazing, one of the BEST books I’ve read in years, and definitely the best self pubbed book I’ve ever read. The story was excellent, I loved the characters, and the editing was rock solid. It made me laugh, it made me cry.
I was kinda iffy too at first, on the age thing, but the way the story unfolded was just beautiful. I hope the movie gets the proper treatment.
@Courtney Milan: @Jane: thanks! WOOL sounds like a great book.
@MaryK: Found it when I got home.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/318469340