Big news in Texas we blogged about earlier this week: Governor Perry vetoed a bill that would force online retailers such as Amazon to adhere to sales tax laws in the state. State Comptroller Susan Combs estimates that were the state to collect its due sales tax from Amazon, the online retailer would owe $269 million. But as Perry has his way, it doesn’t look like that check will be in the mail any time soon.
Texans aren’t alone in missing out on some much-needed sales tax from online retailers. South Carolina voted to give Amazon a five year exemption from paying sales tax (though they did insist Amazon create jobs for the state.) Things look more promising in California, however, where a bill to tax internet sales has advanced.
Nobel prize winner VS Naipul proved what an evolved, open minded, humble human being he is this week when he announced that no female writer is his equal. He said: “I read a piece of writing and within a paragraph or two I know whether it is by a woman or not. I think [it is] unequal to me.”
Oh can you really, now, Naipul? Well the Guardian says PROVE IT! The Naipul Test: Can You Tell an Author’s Sex?
And here’s your summer reading, Naipul, via Joyland: 250 Books By Women All Men Should Read.
The Moby Awards, celebrating the best and worst in book trailers, were announced this week. Congratulations to J. Franzen, who won for worst performance by an author (really, it’s painful) and to Mary Roach, who won for Best Big House for Packing for Mars.
DC Comics is relaunching its universe – classic titles are being renumbered and reissued, and they’re going digital. NPR had this take on it.
Actor Donald Sutherland was cast as Dr. Snow in The Hunger Games.
Glenn Beck now has his own publishing imprint over at Simon and Schuster.
And now for the biggest new of the week: we launched a MysteryPeople monthly newsletter to keep you up to date on all the news in the world of crime fiction and all of the great mystery authors coming to BookPeople (CJ Box, George Pelecanos, Jeff Abbott, Craig Johson….) Want to be in the know? Subscribe!
We also launched a Get to Know Your BookPerson series, beginning with our intrepid CEO, Steve Bercu!
Our Simon Pegg countdown begins on Monday. We’re counting down 10 Days to Pegg! Watch the blog for a video contest, an exclusive conversation with the main man, and more! In the mean time, stay cool this weekend. Remember to apply plenty of sunscreen. You don’t want to be sunburned when you meet Simon Pegg.
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