Latest Book News from The Bookseller

'Huge inequality' in writer earnings There is a “huge inequality” in earnings between writers, with a small number – 10% - earning most of the money made by professional authors, research released today (20th April) has found. The Business of Being an Author: A Survey of Authors Earnings and Contracts was commissioned by the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society (ALCS), with research carried out by Queen Mary University of London.

SoA and HC back call for more diversity in publishing The Society of Authors has said that a “publishing industry which does not reflect society fails writers, readers and itself”. Nicola Solomon, the organisation’s chief executive, and HarperCollins’ director of people John Athanasiou have backed a new report calling for improved diversity across the trade.

Trade turns out for 'superman' Master memorial Simon Master was both Clark Kent and Superman, passionate about books with a penchant for “career threatening” lunches, and possessed of a wicked and irreverent sense of humour. The comments were made at a memorial service for the former Random House group deputy chairman held last Friday (17th April) at St Luke’s Church, Sydney Street, Chelsea.

Moran condemns 'weepingly few books' in local library Caitlin Moran has written about austerity and libraries in her column for the Times Magazine in which she has said libraries are being starved of funding so they will become "weak mutant ghosts."

Slew of second novels set for this summer This summer sees the release of a slew of second novels with reactions to débuts informing publishers’ strategies for that tricky second book.   Editorial director at Picador Francesca Main has several second novels coming out this year: “I think the key is to build on the success you already have—who are the people who loved and championed the first book and making sure they feel connected. The most important step is thinking about the author more widely, moving from launching them as a brand new talent to becoming a career novelist.”

Gaiman, Rankin and Waters join SoA council Authors including Joanne Harris, Malorie Blackman and Neil Gaiman have joined the council of the Society of Authors (SoA). Other new members are Roger McGough, Ian Rankin, Anne Sebba and Sarah Waters.

Goebbels estate sues Random House Germany The estate of Joseph Goebbels, Adolf Hitler’s minister for propaganda during the Second World War, is suing publisher Random House Germany for using an extract from his diaries. The biography Goebbels, published in Germany in 2010 under the Siedler imprint, is by Peter Longerich, professor of modern German history at Royal Holloway University. Random House did not pay a fee to the Goebbel’s estate, run by Cordula Schacht, for using the diary extracts.

Authors withdraw from Hugo Awards Two authors and a fanzine have withdrawn their work from the Hugo science fiction awards, claiming alleged right-wing activists are skewing the voting process. The annual awards honour the best science fiction and fantasy works and achievements of the previous year across a number of categories, including books, television, film, and fanworks. They are voted on by anyone who is a member of (i.e. has paid to attend) the 2014, 2015, or 2016 WorldCons.

Rickman's Merrily Watkins novels set for TV ITV has commissioned a drama series based on the Merrily Watkins novels by Phil Rickman. Following a country vicar with a sideline in exorcism, the latest in the series of cult novels, The Magus of Hay, was published by Corvus in 2013. The next in the series, Friends of the Dusk, will be published in March 2015. Drama channel ITV Encore will now create a three-part series, "Midwinter of the Spirit", based on the series, starring double BAFTA winner Anna Maxwell-Martin as Watkins and David Threlfall as her mentor, Rev Huw Owen.

Four for Harper on Hessayon shortlist HarperImpulse has four novels on the shortlist for The Romantic Novelists' Association’s Joan Hessayon Award for new writers. The publisher’s four titles on the shortlist are: Brigid Coady’s No one Wants to be Miss Havisham; What If He's The One by Kathy Jay; Nikki Moore’s Crazy Undercover Love; and The Torn Up Marriage by Caroline Roberts. They are joined by 11 other books on the list (see below).

Scarthin Books raises over £10,000 for repairs Derbyshire bookshop Scarthin Books has raised more than £10,000 in an appeal to fund urgent structural repairs. Proprietor Dave Mitchell said an engineer has told him he needs to install four steel columns to support 1,000 feet of bookshelves, and has turned to Crowdfunder because he would struggle to generate the extra funds needed using other methods.

FT Business Book Award opens for submissions The Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award is inviting submissions for this year’s prize. The award highlights the book that “provides the most compelling and enjoyable insight into modern business issues, including management, finance and economics”. Books submitted for this year’s award have to have been first published in English between 16th November 2014 and 15th November 2015. The deadline for entries is 30th June 2015 and the entry form is available online.