News Bits, In Brief

Starbucks Strikes Back: 'You Sell Coffee In Your Bookstores, We'll Sell Books In Our Coffee Shops'

Concerned that caffeine is no longer providing enough of a pick-me-up for their clientèle, Starbucks is making the next selection in their book program a collection of 50 inspirational stories. Listening Is An Act of Love, along with its accompanying CD, will be sold in US Starbucks locations beginning on November 8, 2007.
While bookstores the world over lament this newest corporate competitor, what the hell were they expecting? If we had all just stuck to books and left the coffee and pastries to the coffee and pastry people, maybe none of this would be happening.


Big Deal Means Big Dollars For Big Eyed Comics Characters

The William Morris Agency has signed Tokyopop to represent the publisher's original intellectual property for film, television, digital, merchandising, and game development. Stu Levy, Tokyopop's CEO and Chief Creative Officer says, "We are excited to join forces with WMA as we further develop the Tokyopop brand worldwide. This partnership takes us one step closer to realizing our dream of merging the leading edge of manga entertainment with Hollywood."
Well, just so long as they don't make a movie of that awful Courtney Love comic book.


Tired Of Their Good Reputation & Critical Accolades, Penguin Asks Rock Stars To Design Their Book Covers

The results are, quite predictably, horrid. The Guardian UK has the details.