Readers Respond
Yiannopoulos Controversy Continues
The controversy over Simon & Schuster imprint Threshold Editions’ deal to publish Dangerous by Milo Yiannopoulos, a Breitbart editor, continued throughout last week. We published several stories, and comments showed our readers to be fairly divided on whether the publishing community ought to protest the publication of the book or whether that would amount to censorship.
We reported that many booksellers are planning not to stock the book but would special order it for customers who want it. This offended one reader, Neil McCaffrey, who said, “This is censorship plain and simple.”
Later in the week, we reported on a letter of protest sent to S&S CEO and president Carolyn Reidy signed by more than 160 children’s authors and illustrators. A bookstore owner praised the “eloquence” with which this stance was taken:
“This is another reason why I so love the children’s book author and artist community. Not only have these incredibly talented folks taken a principled stance, but they have done so with eloquence, integrity, and dignity. I am both elated and humbled by their action.”
—Peter Glassman (founder/owner, Books of Wonder)
From the Newsletters
Derek B. Miller, author of The Girl in Green (HMH) and an international affairs specialist, selects five books on the complex relationship between media and government.
More than 160 children’s book authors and illustrators have signed a letter protesting Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos’s deal with Threshold Editions.
Talking with Wm. Paul Young about the film adaptation of his blockbuster book The Shack (Windblown), due in theaters in March.
BookLife Report
The indie author’s guide to Amazon reader reviews. publishersweekly.com/amazonguide
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The most-read review on publishersweekly.com last week was The Most Dangerous Place on Earth by Lindsey Lee Johnson (Random House).
Blogs
ShelfTalker
Elizabeth Bluemle of Vermont’s Flying Pig Bookstore on some lessons she’s learned since she became the store’s sole proprietor.
Podcasts
PW senior writer Andrew Albanese discusses the AAP’s hiring of former register of copyrights Maria Pallante and previews the upcoming ALA Midwinter Meeting in Atlanta.
The More to Come crew on the rise in print graphic novel sales last year, the end of Scribd’s subscription comics service, and DC’s plan for new Watchmen stories.
James Kwak discusses his new book Economism: Bad Economics and the Rise of Inequality Pantheon), and PW editorial director Jim Milliot takes a look at 2016 in numbers.
