Hello writers and happy August! As per usual, I am flummoxed by the passage of time and can't believe summer 2021 is already half over. I hope everyone is managing to both enjoy the warmer weather while also staying cool depending on where you are in the world.

Let's take a quick look at what's been happening in the book world recently.

Amazon has opened A+ content to indie authors.

https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/help/topic/GHL7P99B7AA543CN

OR/M has purchased Bloodhound Books.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210727005403/en/ORM-Announces-the-Acquisition-of-Independent-UK-Publisher-Bloodhound-Books/?feedref=JjAwJuNHiystnCoBq_hl-d2-_-DMJyMm3uYmtOy2XFwcvlLbwpKQTgkxGMXSeZO97dI9_69nqXXndEkzoNy31peBvhKXN8xoKDPrCnMXhC58cMd5Jhr97vTYoLZQbGkSxJ0LM3ryl-yrNKrvMa0Wtg==

Marysue Rucci will be moving to Scibner to head a new imprint.

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/87080-marysue-rucci-to-head-eponymous-imprint-at-scribner.html

In an attempt to encourage more readers to purchase books written by women, a bookstore in Scotland will only stock books by female authors.

This new Scottish bookstore will only stock books written by women.

The National Book Awards plan to be held in person this year.

This year's National Book Awards will be held in person.

The Longlist for the 2021 Booker Prize has been announced.

https://www.vulture.com/2021/07/booker-prize-announces-2021-longlist.html

We're all pretty familiar with the bestselling books of all time, but what about the fastest selling books?

What Are the Fastest Selling Books in U.S. Publishing History?

Book censorship is nothing new, and this is an interest look at censorship trends in recent book banning history.

https://www.npr.org/2021/07/25/1020488416/censorship-scholar-on-book-bans-and-critical-race-theory?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Lit%20Hub%20Daily:%20July%2027%2C%202021&utm_term=lithub_master_list

Releasing a new book is always stressful, but releasing during a global pandemic is a whole different ball game.

https://www.npr.org/2021/07/23/1015967612/when-your-book-publishes-in-a-pandemic-authors-talk-about-terrible-timing?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Lit%20Hub%20Daily:%20July%2026%2C%202021&utm_term=lithub_master_list

Merriam-Webster is launching new children's books.

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/08/03/2273684/0/en/Merriam-Webster-Launches-New-Children-s-Books.html

Reese Witherspoon has sold her production company, Hello Sunshine, which has brought us excellent literary adaptation such as Gone Girl and Big Little Lies.

https://variety.com/2021/film/news/reese-witherspoon-hello-sunshine-sold-1235032618/

Mel Brooks is set to his first memoir.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/aug/04/mel-brooks-announces-his-first-memoir-at-the-age-of-95

Colson Whitehead's Sag Harbor is being adapted by HBO.

https://www.vulture.com/2021/08/colson-whitehead-novel-sag-harbor-in-development-at-hbo-max.html

A fake Cormac McCarthy Twitter account managed to get verified.

The obviously fake Cormac McCarthy Twitter account has been verified, for some reason.

We are halfway through summer (*sob*), which is a perfect time to look at the history of summer reading.

There has been some discussion as of late about using AI in indie publishing. This article looks at the possible inherent biases that AI might have since they will be programed by the inherent bias humans.

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-chatbot-problem?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Lit%20Hub%20Daily:%20July%2026%2C%202021&utm_term=lithub_master_list

Have a great weekend!

Staff Pick

Laura, Author Engagement Specialist

"If you're in the mood for a memoir, I highly recommend Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford. It is a beautifully written story that covers her life from childhood to present day. She writes openly about the ups and downs of her family, and the absence of her Dad, incarcerated for most of her life. The raw emotion of her memories really comes through in her writing - this book is one I will revisit again. TW: rape, assault, family trauma"

Somebody's Daughter