Monthly Archives: February 2007

Author Cussler sues over film treatment of Sahara

Posted on February 4, 2007 by Keren

Best-selling writer Cussler, who has featured Pitt in 19 of his 32 books, is suing Crusader Entertainment, owned by Denver billionaire Phil Anschutz, for making so many script and plot changes to the film version of his book “Sahara” that it was doomed to box-office failure.

“This was not the dramatic, gripping story Clive Cussler told. As a result, the audience just didn’t care,” Fields said in his opening statement. He added that the movie “Sahara” released in 2005 with Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz lost between $60 million and $70 million.

In a countersuit, Crusader said Cussler had overstated by tens of millions the number of books he had sold to induce them to enter the agreement.

Cussler is seeking millions of dollars in damages.

Link to the Yahoo News article

Posted in Articles, Authors, Film, Movie Adaptations |

Penguin launches wiki novel project

Posted on February 4, 2007 by Keren

Based on the principles of Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, the novel, called A Million Penguins, is open to anyone to join in, write and edit. None of the words, characters or plot twists will be attributed to any individual and – and this is the element of the project most likely to bruise delicate egos – participants are free to edit, chop and change other writers’ work.

“To be honest, we don’t know exactly what is going to happen or how this will turn out,” says Jeremy Ettinghausen, Penguin’s digital publisher. “We hope people will enter into it in the spirit we intend and leave their egos at the door. It’s not about individual work and individual brilliance – it’s about people working together as a community”.

Link to the Guardian article; link to the A Million Penguins wiki.

Posted in Articles, Publishers, Websites |

Harry Potter deluxe edition selling well

Posted on February 3, 2007 by Mark

AP reports:

It’s months away from being on bookshelves, but fans can’t get enough of the seventh – and final – Harry Potter book, no matter the cost.

Not only is “Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows” topping the charts of Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com, a deluxe edition, priced at $65, is No. 2, outselling the “You” diet book, Sen. Barack Obama and an Oprah Winfrey-endorsed memoir by Sidney Poitier.

Full article can be found here.

Posted in Booksellers, Upcoming releases, Young Adult |

Deathly Hallows too expensive?

Posted on February 3, 2007 by Mark

The Wall Street Journal notes:

The price is $5 higher than author J.K. Rowling’s most recent book, and a sign that Scholastic is intent on maximizing its profits on what is expected to be the last in the Potter series.

Aggressive price discounting by big book retailers such as Amazon.com Inc. and Barnes & Noble Inc. means many consumers will be able to buy the book for $20 or less, however. Amazon.com is now taking preorders for $18.89, as is Barnes & Noble, which will charge $20.99 or $18.89 for members of its book club.

Carl Howe posted a few thoughts relating to the price on SeekingAlpha. An excerpt:

I find it ironic that this whining about book prices is being run the Friday before the Super Bowl, when attendees will an average of $5,540 per ticket for an afternoon’s entertainment. That’s just me, though.

More seriously, however, pricing the Harry Potter books is a serious marketing challenge.

View the full article here.

Posted in Booksellers, Upcoming releases, Young Adult |

Legendary novelist Sidney Sheldon dies at 89

Posted on February 1, 2007 by Keren

Legendary author Sidney Sheldon has died from pneumonia, his publicist told AFP, after a prolific career that saw him pen Oscar-winning screenplays and sell over 300 million books. He was 89.

Sheldon would also become the only writer to have won an Oscar, a Tony and an Edgar award, and was eventually the recipient of several prestigious honors which included a writing prize at France’s Deauville film festival.

Link to the full Yahoo! News article.

Posted in Articles, Authors, Obituaries |

Harry Potter 7 date announced

Posted on February 1, 2007 by Keren

Anticipation over the ending of the best-selling Harry Potter series reached new heights today as J. K. Rowling announced today on her site that:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be published on Saturday 21st July 2007 at 00:01 BST in the UK and at 00:01 in the USA. It will also be released at 00:01 BST on Saturday 21st July in other English speaking countries around the world.

BBC News says:

[Bloomsbury] said it would publish a children’s hardback edition, an adult hardback, a special gift edition and an audio book on the same day.

As well as making Rowling a dollar billionaire, the books have been credited with bringing children back to reading and reviving the British film industry.

Posted in Articles, Authors, Book Release, Children's books, Reading, Science fiction/fantasy, Upcoming releases, Young Adult |