Category: News

  • Amazon self-published authors suspended ‘without sufficient explanation of wrongdoing’

    In the US, self-published authors have claimed Amazon removed their ebooks from sale without sufficient explanation of wrongdoing, reports Yahoo Finance. Amazon has reportedly been cracking down on authors who abuse the Kindle Direct Publishing Select program, which offers authors enrolment in Kindle Unlimited and the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library in exchange for exclusivity with…

  • DC Public Library to add self-published authors’ ebooks to their collection

    In the US, the District of Columbia (DC) Public Library is looking to add ebooks written by local authors to its online collection, reports NBC News. Electronic resources librarian April DeRome said she hopes the library can add 10-20 new titles from the submissions, which will be reviewed by library employees with ‘a wide range…

  • Upcoming events

    April Sydney Writers’ Festival (29 April–5 May), Carriageworks, Eveleigh, NSW May Clunes Booktown Festival (4–5 May), Clunes, Vic Scribblers Festival (8–12 May), The Goods Shed, Claremont, WA Institute of Professional Editors conference (8–10 May), Pullman Melbourne on the Park, Melbourne, Vic Queenscliffe Literary Festival (11–26 May), Queenscliff, Vic Children’s Book Council of Australia National Conference (31 May–2 June), Canberra, ACT June StoryFest (21–23…

  • John Reed Books offers bookseller distribution to ASA members

    John Reed Books will provide sales and distribution for new print books by Australian Society of Authors (ASA) members, under an agreement negotiated by the distributor and the ASA. The agreement is an extension of the temporary arrangement put in place following the liquidation of Dennis Jones & Associates last year. The service only covers…

  • Self-published authors among winners of the ANZ Photobook Awards 2018

    A number of self-published titles were among the winners of the Australia and New Zealand Photobook Awards 2018, presented at a ceremony in Melbourne on 16 March. Photobook winner Second Sight (Sarah Walker & Perimeter Books) Photobook commended Huon (Noah Thompson) Student winner ROYGBIV (Kira Sampurno) Student commended Craigieburn, it’s not the same (Yask Desai) Finalists…

  • Upcoming events

    April International Military Writers’ Festival (5–7 April), Darwin, NT Sydney Writers’ Festival (29 April–5 May), Carriageworks, Eveleigh, NSW May Clunes Booktown Festival (4–5 May), Clunes, Vic Scribblers Festival (8–10 May), The Goods Shed, Claremont, WA Institute of Professional Editors conference (8–10 May), Pullman Melbourne on the Park, Melbourne, Vic Queenscliffe Literary Festival (11–26 May), Queenscliffe, Vic Children’s Book Council of Australia National…

  • Self-publishers among Aurealis Awards finalists

    Three self-published books are among the finalists for the Aurealis Awards, presented for science fiction, fantasy and horror writing in Australia. We Ride the Storm by Devin Madson is one of six finalists in the best fantasy novel category; Deathship Jenny by Rob O’Connor is one of three finalists up for best graphic novel/illustrated work;…

  • Davis wins inaugural £1500 Selfies Award for a self-published novel

    In the UK, Jane Davis’ self-published novel Smash All the Windows has won the inaugural Selfies Award for a self-published work of fiction. Smash All the Windows explores the emotional lives of the families of victims in the wake of a disaster. It is Davis’ eighth novel. The judging panel was ‘impressed not only with the quality of…

  • Self-publishing marketplace Reedsy launches new marketing platform for authors

    In the UK, self-publishing marketplace Reedsy has launched a new marketing platform for authors, Reedsy Discovery, reports Forbes. The book review portal will alert readers to new books its expert reviewers have recommended each week. Users will also have access to curated digital bookshelves, preview chapters, a weekly newsletter of top books across genres, and…

  • More than 1000 authors earned over US$100K in 2018 says Amazon

    Amazon has reported that authors earned more than US$260 million (A$359m) from the Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) Select Global Fund in 2018, totalling more than US$840m (A$1.16bn) since the launch of Kindle Unlimited. Amazon said, ‘hundreds of thousands of authors have self-published millions of books through KDP since launching the service in 2007’. It added that ‘thousands’ of authors…