Court Orders WeLib to Pay Publishers $19,500,000
Judge Victor Marrero entered a default judgment ordering WeLib to pay 13 publishers $19,500,000 for willful copyright infringement. The operators did not respond.
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Simon & Schuster in The Publishing Times
One of the Big Five publishers. Official site: www.simonandschuster.com
FLASHBACK: Stephen King's warning, and the publishing numbers behind it
The 2022 Penguin Random House case exposed concentrated profits, unearned advances and unequal marketing budgets. Four years later, the distinctions still matter for authors.
The Farmer's Code by Mike C. Young: Lessons on Legacy From Four Generations of Farming
Mike C. Young's The Farmer's Code: How Legacies Are Built, published by Forbes Books, draws on four generations of a farming family to explain values, relationships and lasting legacy.
He Who Fights With Monsters: Outworlder Gets a 2026 Reissue From Penguin
Shirtaloon's web-serial hit He Who Fights With Monsters, Book 1: Outworlder, returned in 2026 as a deluxe hardcover in the US and a Michael Joseph edition in the UK and Commonwealth.
The Renoir Girls by Catherine Ostler: The Sisters Behind Renoir's Portraits
Catherine Ostler's The Renoir Girls follows the Cahen d'Anvers sisters, painted by Renoir as children, from Belle Epoque Paris through the Dreyfus affair and Nazi occupation.
Blizzard of Lies by Dave Wedge: What the Karen Read Book Covers
Boston journalist Dave Wedge's Blizzard of Lies, published by BenBella on July 28, 2026, reconstructs the 2022 death of Boston police officer John O'Keefe and the trials of Karen Read.
The Week in Global Publishing, July 27, 2026: Anthropic Payouts, Simon Stream and Attacks on Books
Our recap of the international publishing news for the week of July 27, 2026: Bloomsbury's Anthropic settlement estimate, S&S's new imprint for indie authors, strikes on Ukrainian publishers and more.
Miriam Toews, Kim Fu and Kyo Maclear Among the 2026 Governor General's Literary Awards Finalists
The Canada Council named 69 finalist books across seven categories in English and French for the awards' 90th year. The 14 winners, who get $25,000 each, will be named Nov. 12.
Reading Agency Will Put Nearly 500,000 Quick Reads Books Into UK Prisons
Eleven short books chosen with prisoners and staff, from Lee Child, Lemn Sissay, AA Dhand and more, will go to every cell in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Frankfurt Book Fair Closes Its 78th Edition With 236,000 Visitors
Frankfurter Buchmesse reports 236,000 visitors from 137 countries for the 78th fair, and names Chile as guest of honour for 6–10 October 2027.
Big Five Staff Tell WIRED AI Is Quietly Writing Publicity Copy and Agent Emails
WIRED reports that HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Hachette staff are using LLMs for publicity copy, agent emails and marketing, often at executives' urging.
Amazon Ebook Antitrust Case: Judge Recommends a 30 Million-Buyer Class
A magistrate judge has recommended certifying a class of more than 30 million Amazon ebook buyers. A less-redacted version of his report was refiled in early October, and Amazon has objected.
SOCKS & SECRET QUESTS
Triona Murphy's Socks & Secret Quests turns the traditional hero's journey upside down with its magical realism and community-driven narrative.
Authors Guild Asks Publishers to Share More of the Anthropic Settlement
The Authors Guild wants publishers to drop claims on long out-of-print books and to pay authors when a house failed to register the copyright in time.
AI and the Publishing Industry: How Major Publishers Are Using and Fighting Artificial Intelligence in 2026
The intersection of artificial intelligence and commercial publishing has created a complex landscape where traditional houses act as both eager adopters and fi…
How to Get a Traditional Publishing Deal in 2026: Query Letters, Agents, and Advances
The publishing industry has undergone massive digital transformation over the last decade. While platforms like Amazon KDP
The State of Traditional Publishing in 2026: Big Five Mergers, Layoffs, and What Authors Need to Know
The traditional publishing ecosystem has undergone a radical structural transformation.
Celebrity Book Deals 2026: Why Publishers Pay Millions for Memoirs That May Not Sell
The traditional publishing landscape has undergone a radical transformation. When major houses like Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster fo…
How Indie Authors Have Sold Film Rights in 2026: Real Success Stories and Strategies
The barrier between self-publishing and Hollywood has completely dissolved. In the past, studios relied exclusively on literary agents pitching Big Five manuscr…
Big Five Publishers vs Amazon: How Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster Are Competing in 2026
The retail battlefield between the traditional publishing conglomerates—Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, and Simon & Schuster—and Amazon has evolved past si…
Big Publishers' Senior Talent Tests New Models: What the Documented Moves Show
Large publishers have spent the past several years consolidating, restructuring and, at times, reducing staff. Over the same period, some of the industry's most senior figures have left those companies to build alternatives.
Benjamin Alire Sáenz, PEN/Faulkner Winner and YA Novelist, Dies at 71
Benjamin Alire Sáenz, the first Latino writer to win the PEN/Faulkner and the author of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, died in El Paso on July 28. He was 71.
The Enduring Popularity of ‘the Surrendered Wife’
Laura Doyle's 'The Surrendered Wife' began as a self-published phenomenon, proving that grassroots momentum can lead to major traditional publishing deals and widespread impact for indie authors.
The Decline of the Midlist Author: Why Traditional Publishing Is Abandoning Mid-Tier Books
The midlist — once the backbone of traditional publishing — is disappearing. Major publishers are concentrating advances on celebrity memoirs and proven bestsel…
The History of American Publishing Houses: From Harper to Penguin Random House
The American publishing industry is, at its core, a story of family businesses that became cultural institutions, then corporate assets.
The History of Global Publishing: From Gutenberg to the Digital Age
The history of publishing is the history of information control — who could produce it, who could distribute it, and who could profit from it.
The Big Five in Crisis: How AI and the New Economy Are Reshaping Traditional Publishing
The five conglomerates that control approximately 80% of the traditional publishing market — Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hachette Boo…
Is Crushing on a Cover the New Way to Get Better Book Covers?
We live in a swipe-left/swipe-right world, and book covers are no exception. This article explores how dating app mechanics can revolutionize book cover testing…
NetGalley Review 2026: Is It Worth It for Indie Authors?
A complete review of NetGalley for indie authors in 2026. Covers pricing, co-op options, what NetGalley does well, its limitations, and how it compares to Story…
The Indie Press Revolution: How Small Publishers Are Fighting Back
Independent publishers are growing faster than the Big Five. Here's how small presses are carving out profitable niches, signing authors the majors ignore, and …
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