Latest News from The Bookseller

CUP backs down over China censorship
Cambridge University Press has back-pedalled on its decision to censor hundreds of articles from one of its flagship journals in China.



Tributes paid to 'extraordinary' Brian Aldiss
“Extraordinary” science fiction writer Brian Aldiss died on Saturday (19th August) after celebrating his 92nd birthday the previous day.


Australia to tax online overseas book orders
Australia will reportedly begin a 10% tax on books ordered online from within Australia and shipped from abroad.


Bloomsbury to launch China imprint; Charkin honoured in Beijing
Bloomsbury has announced the launch of an English language imprint in China next year, while its executive director Richard Charkin has been given a major honour in Beijing for his contribution to the promotion of Chinese publishing overseas.



Amazon.com book sales up 46% in 2017, says report
Amazon.com's book sales grew 46% to $3bn (£2.33bn) in the first half of 2017, while e-book sales increased 6% to $750m, making the book sector a "stable contributor" to the company's overall success.


Twitter will render children illiterate in 20 years says Jacobson
Novelist Howard Jacobson has said children may be illiterate in 20 years' time, thanks to the rise of smartphones and social media platforms such as Twitter.

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Loop snaps up film rights to YA debut Birdy
Film rights have been sold for Birdy, a debut YA novel published by Hot Key Books in 2015, portraying a claustrophobic and menacing friendship between two young women.


Flower-pressed plants feature in Templar debut
Big Picture Press, an imprint of Templar Publishing, has acquired A Year in the Wild, a debut non-fiction title by illustrator Helen Ahpornsiri using nothing but pressed plants.



Comic novel on divorce and badgers to Sandstone
Sandstone Press has acquired a comic literary novel about divorce, mortality and badgers by Rob Palk.


ACE launches library podcast series
Arts Council England (ACE) is launching a series of podcasts to highlight the "positive impact" libraries have on the community.