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Adventures in Publishing-land
AI Victory for Authors? Plus, US Import Chaos & James Patterson’s Giveaway for Authors
In this episode of Adventures in Publishing-land, we dive into three big stories shaking up the book world: Anthropic’s historic AI settlement with authors; the new US import rules that could hurt UK publishers and authors; and James Patterson’s latest initiative to help aspiring writers finish their books. Plus, in our Off Script section, we ask: how closely should TV and film adaptations stick to their source material?
00:00 Intro
02:40 Anthropic's AI settlement with authors - A victory for authors?
17:21 US Import Changes - not so Tariffic for Authors
25:46 James Patterson Giveaway - A Gift for Aspiring Authors
38:13 Off Script - Nadine finds another stranger than fiction story for inspiration
44:03 Off Script - Moore's Law - Is Prior Knowledge Vital for Adaptations?
Links:
Search the Libgen library for your book
Publishers worried about US tariffs
James Patterson's $50k giveaway
Nadine's dark inspiration story
Adventures in Publishing-land is brought to you by STET Podcasts - the one stop shop for all your writing podcast needs, featuring Page One - The Writer's Podcast, The Conversation with Nadine Matheson and more!
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8. Ireland’s UBI Experiment, Garlic Mayo Marketing & Indie Press Panic
55:00||Season 1, Ep. 8Watch as a full video on YouTubeOn this week's episode, we discuss Ireland's UBI experiment for artists and writers, and why we would love to see other countries follow suit (but aren't holding our breath). Plus, we look at why indie presses are pressing the panic button, and discuss the latest BookTok marketing scheme - theme-scented books (a topic Tariq gets very excited about!)00:00 Intro01:10 Luck of the Irish - UBI for writers13:45 Indie Presses - Time for trade support?24:34 Smell of Success? TikTok, Trends and Garlic Mayo39:56 Off Script - Nadine finds another stranger than fiction story for inspiration46:18 Off Script - Horror Movie updates and True Crime chatLinks:Ireland's Basic income for the Arts Scheme made permanentIndie Presses in existential crisis call for supportGarlic Mayo Book MarketingNadine's Stranger than Fiction storyAdventures in Publishing-land is brought to you by STET Podcasts - the one stop shop for all your writing podcast needs, featuring Page One - The Writer's Podcast, The Conversation with Nadine Matheson and more!Follow us on BlueskyFollow us on Instagram
7. Is Publishing Playing It Too Safe? The Booker, Fanfic & the Future of Fiction
54:30||Season 1, Ep. 7Watch as a full video on YouTubeOn this week's episode, we are talking about a scarcity of books for the Booker Prize and wondering if that is due to poor books or too narrow a category for prizes. Plus, we join the Alchemised train and wonder if fanfic turned to publishing gold shows publishers are unwilling to gamble on new stories, and more generally discuss how risk-averse the industry can be and why that narrows the chances for new authors.00:00 Intro01:04 Anthropic Settlement Update03:22 Booker Prize in crisis?17:46 Alchemised success - Turning FanFic into Gold24.20 Betting on Bestsellers - Do Publishers Play the Odds?36:56 Off Script - Nadine finds another stranger than fiction story for inspiration43:14 Off Script - Our Favourite Horror MoviesLinks:Sign up for Anthropic settlementDoyle says Booker Prize struggled to find good novelsAlchemised - Fan fiction turned into a bestsellerWhy Romance Readers can't quit DramioneThe Publishing Industry has a Gambling ProblemNadine's Stranger than Fiction storyAdventures in Publishing-land is brought to you by STET Podcasts - the one stop shop for all your writing podcast needs, featuring Page One - The Writer's Podcast, The Conversation with Nadine Matheson and more!Follow us on BlueskyFollow us on Instagram
6. AI Settlement in Trouble, Cosy Crime Debate & Publishing Gimmicks
52:03||Season 1, Ep. 6Watch as a full video on YouTubeOn this week's episode we share some exciting awards news involving Tariq and Marco (both winners at the recent Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival!), Nadine reveals a new cover (check her instagram to see it!), plus we discuss the latest in the Anthropic settlement, wonder about whether cosy crime is a reductive term, and in the wake of the Evelyn Clark author reveal, wonder whether marketing gimmicks work for the general public. Plus, Nadine finds another strange story to inspire some fiction, and we pay tribute to Robert Redford with a discussion of our favourite movies featuring him.00:00 Intro00:26 Bloody Scotland Prize Winners!05:26 Is the Anthropic AI settlement in trouble?17:38 Richard Osman says "cosy crime" is a reductive term - is he right?28:01 Evelyn Clark reveal - are hidden author reveals marketing genius or gimmicks?38:22 Off Script - Nadine finds another stranger than fiction story for inspiration44:56 Off Script - Robert Redford - Our Favourite MoviesLinks:Judge stalls Anthropic settlementSign up for Anthropic settlementRichard Osman says cosy crime is reductiveEvelyn Clark revealNadine's Stranger Than Fiction storyAdventures in Publishing-land is brought to you by STET Podcasts - the one stop shop for all your writing podcast needs, featuring Page One - The Writer's Podcast, The Conversation with Nadine Matheson and more!Follow us on BlueskyFollow us on Instagram
4. Are fans too entitled when it comes to expectations on creators? Plus - is AI writing a real threat?
49:31||Season 1, Ep. 4Watch as a full video episodeOn this episode, we discuss the George RR Martin Worldcon incident, and wonder if fans are growing too entitled when it comes to expectations from authors. Plus, we look at Mark Lawrence's AI vs human authors experiment and discuss the results and what it means for authors, plus as a book with admitted AI content wins a prestigious award, we wonder what it means for the future of writing.00:00 Intro01:25 AI v human authors - Mark Lawrence's test has surprising results11:16 AI-written award winning books - A Slippery Slope?24:18 Game of Groans - Has Fan Entitlement Gone Too Far?37:15 Off Script - Nadine finds another grisly real story for inspiration, plus Marco seeks sartorial adviceLinks:Mark Lawrence AI surveyRei Qudan novel storyGRRM gets rude question from fan at WorldconNadine's Stranger than fiction storyAdventures in Publishing-land is brought to you by STET Podcasts - the one stop shop for all your writing podcast needs, featuring Page One - The Writer's Podcast, The Conversation with Nadine Matheson and more!Follow us on BlueskyFollow us on Instagram
3. AI Slop: Will it drown out real writers? Plus: are male novelists really being forced out of publishing?
53:24||Season 1, Ep. 3Watch as a full video episode on YouTubeWill AI slop writing flood the market and drown out real authors? It's a legitimate concern that we discuss on this week's show. Plus, we ask if book awards need celebrity judges, and take a look at a story that has raised its head once again: the death of the male novelist. Is it greatly exaggerated? Then in Off Script, Nadine finds another "stranger than fiction" story for us, while we also have a quick chat about the latest movies we've seen.00:00 Intro01:38 The Final Chapter of Unbound?09:05 The Salt Path Scandal continues14:38 AI Slop writing drowning out real books?26:54 And Just Like That... Do Book Awards need celebrity judges?34:34 Chronicle of a Death Foretold? Are Male Novelists Really Being Forced Out?41:37 Off Script - Nadine finds another grisly real story for inspiration, plus movie chatLinks:Unbound goes into administrationNew Publisher appears for Unbound authorsAI slop books risk harming consumer confidenceSarah Jessica Parker and the Booker AwardsIs the Male Novelist dying out?Adventures in Publishing-land is brought to you by STET Podcasts - the one stop shop for all your writing podcast needs, featuring Page One - The Writer's Podcast, The Conversation with Nadine Matheson and more!Follow us on BlueskyFollow us on Instagram
2. Fake Memoir? What's going on with The Salt Path? Plus: Author deals and AI comes for translators
51:11||Season 1, Ep. 2Watch as a full video episode on YouTubeWe discuss the scandal surrounding The Salt Path, the bestselling book that was turned into a movie - but was it all too good to be true? Plus, as Sarah J. Maas pens a huge rights deal, we ask whether normal authors can ever dream of things like that, and we also discuss the launch of Globescribe.ai and whether AI translation could ever match humans. Plus, Nadine offers a grisly answer to the question "where do you get your ideas?"00:00 Intro01:11 McIlvanney Award Longlist01:53 New CWA Chair04:37 Sarah J. Maas Licensing Deal14:17 The Salt Path Scandal26:17 Lost in Translation: Can AI really replace translators35:51 Off Script - Nadine reveals a grisly answer to the question "where do you get your ideas?"47:17 Margin Notes - Listener MailLinks:Sarah J. Maas Deal in the Hollywood ReporterThe Salt Path scandal - The Observer StoryPenguin publishing respondsGlobescribe.ai storyAdventures in Publishing-land is brought to you by STET Podcasts - the one stop shop for all your writing podcast needs, featuring Page One - The Writer's Podcast, The Conversation with Nadine Matheson and more!Follow us on BlueskyFollow us on Instagram
1. The Unbound Saga; Authors and Social Media; Literary Estates & Copyright - and Superman
56:50||Season 1, Ep. 1Watch as a full video episode on YouTube!Welcome to the very first episode of Adventures in Publishing-land! Join us as we discuss some of the biggest (and strangest) stories in publishing over the past few weeks.This week:00:17 Intro01:32 The Unbound Saga continues15:19 Authors hounded off social media - is it worth it?24: 41 Literary Estates and copyright - how long should it last?38:05 James Frey - the self-proclaimed literary bad boy is back, but should anyone care?44:55 Off Script - Nadine and Marco argue over the latest cinematic iteration of SupermanUnboundhttps://www.thebookseller.com/news/unbound-authors-will-not-receive-unpaid-royalty-payments-until-new-publisher-boundless-is-cash-stablehttps://www.thebookseller.com/news/boundless-position-morally-and-financially-unacceptable-says-unbound-co-founder-john-mitchinsonSocial media bullyinghttps://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-buzz/ali-hazelwood-leaves-instagram-after-bullying-over-hunger-games-joke-controversy-explained-article-152076401Conan Doyle Literary Estate DealJames Freyhttps://www.centrepompidou.fr/en/pompidou-plus/magazine/article/james-frey-i-use-artificial-intelligence-because-i-want-to-write-the-best-book-possiblehttps://www.thetimes.com/culture/books/article/next-to-heaven-james-frey-review-zvg5mnftthttps://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/james-freys-new-cancelled-guy-sex-novel-is-as-bad-as-it-soundsAdventures in Publishing-land is brought to you by STET Podcasts - the one stop shop for all your writing podcast needs, featuring Page One - The Writer's Podcast, The Conversation with Nadine Matheson and more!Follow us on BlueskyFollow us on Instagram