Two HarperCollins Imprints Shut Down

Just add this to the list of Casualties of a Shitty Economy.

HarperCollins Publishers is shutting down two of its imprints, Collins and Bowen Books. Collins published nonfiction, and Bowen was a children’s publisher. Both divisions had reported lackluster sales at the close of last quarter.

HarperCollins CEO Brian Murray wrote the following in a memo distributed today: ”Over the last several months, the unstable economy has had a significant impact on businesses and consumer spending. Our industry is not immune to these market forces, and there is increasing pressure on us, along with our retail and wholesale partners, to adjust.”

Dayum.

Layoffs were also announced. Exiting the company are Steve Ross, who worked previously at Crown, and Barbara Bowen, a former Disney executive who headed her namesake divison at HC. Several other employees were laid off, but an exact number was not disclosed.

This is so goddamn depressing. Why is it that decent, book-lovin’ folks like Ross and Bowen have to lose their jobs, while illiterates like Paris Hilton continue to make money? I just don’t understand.

 

Story Source  Yahoo  |  Image Source  Babble

February 10, 2009 | Filed Under Newsies | 1 Comment 

The Literary Shitlist

SB Sarah over at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books has written an excellent post about what she terms the Never-Buy Line. The Never-Buy Line is that invisible line we all draw when we say, “<INSERT AUTHOR’S NAME HERE> has really fucked up, and I’m not reading any of his/her books EVAHHHHHHHH AGAIN!!!” (it is imperative you say EVAHHHHHHHH AGAIN in your best Alexis Carrington voice). The fuck-up in question could be of any variety: the author has expressed an opinion you don’t like, the author has confessed to plagiarism, the author has confessed to backing over a toothless hillbilly’s shack with her Hummer, the author has admitted his cat, Sprinkles, is the mastermind behind his USA Today-bestselling novels. Whatever the reason, the Never-Buy is reserved for authors you won’t read, either ever again or ever at all.

Sarah mentions an excellent example of an author she would Never-Buy because of the author’s stance on homosexuality. I’m not going to link to the author in question here, or even mention her name, because homegirl is batshit crazy and ass-backwards in her thinking (visit SBTB to read the filthy details), but I proudly admit that I am with Sarah on this one (as I usually am): I will never, ever read that author. It isn’t about not giving the author money; it’s not even about the fact that the author has stated on her website her views on homosexuality: it’s about the proclamations of so-called “morality” and “good Christian ethics” that she clearly feels are intrinsic to her character, which means it affects everything she does. Even the books she writes. Especially the books she writes. And I’m not supporting them, financially or intellectually. And I ain’t readin’ ‘em.

In the same vein, I won’t read or buy Stephenie Meyer, and I am ashamed to admit that I saw the film version of Twilight. Not because I hated it (surprisingly, I didn’t), but because Meyer is Mormon (which I didn’t know till after I saw the movie). She is a devoted Mormon, in fact, and a part of being a good devoted Mormon is tithing a certain amount of one’s salary to the Mormon Church. Which means Ms. Meyer directly supports the church’s initiatives through her tithes — one of which, of course, was Prop 8. Let’s make it clear: Meyer has never made a public statement on this issue one way or another. But does she really have to? She’s a gazillionaire, and if she’s giving 10% of that to the Mormon Church every year, a lot of her money is going right into the hands of some really repulsive church initiatives. All I know is that I am not adding to Ms. Meyer’s gazillions.

There are, of course, other authors I would Never-Buy. Some for political reasons, others because they just aren’t my style, and still others because I find them shady. The list isn’t terribly long, but there is indeed a list. My literary shitlist.

How’s about you? Who’s on your literary shitlist?

 

Story Source  Smart Bitches, Trashy Books  |  Image Source  Risto Pakarinen

February 9, 2009 | Filed Under Authors | 6 Comments 

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