I formed a resolution to never write a word I did not want to write; to think only of my own tastes and ideals, without a thought of those of editors or publishers.
— C. S. Forester, born in 1899
Take me home, country roads - The Australian
Cheap houses, growing jobs, a fabulous lifestyle: in the regions, people live where they love to be
Australia's regional agriculture and resources heartlands have continued to grow amid this year's national economic downturn, as country leaders hope the unprecedented shock will make more city dwellers consider a move. Regional economies - dominated by domestic food production, energy and mining - have added more than 20,000 new positions in June and July since May, more than the jobs added in the cities.
Advocates want to highlight the benefits of being out of the capitals, pointing to the lowerdensity living, availability of larger and cheaper homes, skilled-job availability, and people's sudden awareness that they can work remotely. Regional Australia Institute chief economist Dr Kim Houghton says some regions are performing well, but the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis and restrictions is highly varied across the country.
“Those places that are based in mining and agriculture, they've got those supply chains and they haven't been buffeted as much as other places, they really are very well placed to provide a major contribution (to future growth),” he says. “There are the haves and the have-nots.”
He points to other rural areas, such as southern NSW and eastern Victoria, facing deep and sustained economic declines after this year's twin disasters of bushfires and COVID-19.
We are collecting the sounds of woodlands and forests from all around the world, creating a growing soundmap bringing together aural tones and textures from the world’s woodlands.
The Best American Novelist Whose Name You May Not Know
“Thus, in ecologically valid real-world samples, people who do good are also likely to look good.”
Global citizens, Pararg and Ayesha Khanna
Sales Of America’s All-Time Bestselling Book Are Down, But Reading Of That Book Is Up
“More Americans are buying Bibles they read less — if ever — and reading Bibles they didn’t buy because they’re dipping into verses here and there online …, according to the findings in the 10th annual State of the Bible study from the American Bible Society and the Barna Group. And the report’s co-author … points optimistically to soaring use of digital apps and audio Bibles.” – Publishers Weekly
Powell’s Books Says It Will Stop Selling Through Amazon
“For too long, we have watched the detrimental impact of Amazon’s business on our communities and the independent bookselling world,” Powell wrote. “We understand that in many communities, Amazon — and big box retail chains — have become the only option. And yet when it comes to our local community and the community of independent bookstores around the U.S., we must take a stand.” – Geekwire
Why Do Writers Get So Little For Movie Rights?
How realistic is it for writers to get rich from selling adaptation rights? “It’s just not,” says Joanna Nadin, whose YA novel Joe All Alone was adapted into a Bafta-winning 2018 television series. “It’s unrealistic to think any aspect of writing can make you rich.” – The Guardian
Why Won’t Publishers Fact-Check Their Nonfiction Books?
“Without widespread consumer awareness that most books are not fact checked, or about which imprints publish which books, there’s no real reason for publishers to care about fact checking. If it comes to light that a book contains major errors, it’s the author, not the publisher, whose reputation takes the hit. … Meanwhile, the stakes of not fact checking books only continue to get higher, as it’s become easier and easier to destroy a book’s credibility with a few clicks.” – Esquire