Salman Rushdie Gives a Nod to Independent Booksellers
In his new memoir Joseph Anton, celebrated Indian-British author Salman Rushdie chronicles his life after publishing the controversial The Satanic Verses which led to the issue of a fatwa by Iran’s Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989, calling for the author to be killed. Coinciding with the book’s release, Rushdie has issued a “letter to booksellers” thanking those who supported him during this time. He says, “The independent booksellers of America put the book in windows,mounted special displays, and courageously stood up for freedom against censorship, refusing to allow the choices of American readers to be limited by the threats of an angry despotic cleric far away. The bravery of independent booksellers influenced other stores to follow their lead, and in the end a key battle for free expression was won…” The entire letter can be found on the author’s website, www.salman-rushdie.com. Joseph Anton was released on September 18.
Adults Buying More Than Half of YA Books, Study Says
Publishers deem the target audience of young adult books kids to be ages 12 to 17. A new study from Bowker Market Research paints a different picture, however. According to “Understanding the Children’s Book Consumer in the Digital Age,” 55% of buyers of YA books are 18 or older, Publisher’s Weekly reports. “The investigation into who is reading YA books began when we noticed a disparity between the number of YA e-books being purchased and the relatively low number of kids who claim to read e-books,” Kelly Gallagher, Vice President of Bowker Market Research told the trade publication. The future will show if and how publishers rework their marketing efforts to further entice this coveted market segment of adults.
J.K. Rowling to Give Rare Television Interview
Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling can be found on US television screens on September 26 in her first interview about the upcoming release of The Casual Vacancy, ABC News reports. Cynthia McFadden will conduct the “exclusive” interview in Scotland to discuss the author’s first novel written for an adult audience. The highly anticipated The Casual Vacancy hits shelves September 27.
Celebrities Continue to Find Homes on Bookshelves
In a recent article Fast Company called books “the ultimate new business card.” This seems to be no secret to celebrities as putting out a book has become a viable source of prosperity for those with name recognition. New releases from familiar faces that have hit or are about to hit bookshelves include actress and autism activist Jenny McCarthy’s Bad Habits, singer-songwriter Jewel’s children’s book That’s What I’d Do, actress Molly Ringwald’s novel When It Happens to You, Ringwald’s fellow “brat pack” alumnus Andrew McCarthy’s The Longest Way Home, mother of pop star Justin Bieber’s memoir Nowhere but Up, and, recently announced, musician Carlos Santana’s memoirs coming in 2014 via Little, Brown and Co.
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