I wasn’t able to make one of these last week because it was the start of a busy week for me and I just spent the whole of last day just trying to recuperate. But now I’m back although I am literally still feeling tired from my week.
National Alliance of Reading Advocates Conference
If you were in the National Museum of the Philippines yesterday, you probably were able to see the National Alliance of Reading Advocates Conference. I wasn’t there myself but the National Book Development Board said the energy was “beyond inspiring”. Let’s hope the energy is infectious!
Microsoft publishing imprint and possible AI involvement
The Guardian reports that Microsoft will be launching an imprint named 8080 Books that will be publishing titles focused on technology, science, and business. The Guardian also quotes the company as saying that 8080 Books will “accelerate the publishing process, shortening the lag between the final manuscript and the book’s arrival in the marketplace”. It’s already got one book out and is set to publish another one later this year, both written by former Microsoft employees.
It’s also important to note that Bloomberg has reported on Microsoft’s three-year deal with HarperCollins to use the publishing company’s “select nonfiction backlist titles” to train the company’s AI model. The Verge quotes author Daniel Kibblesmith as saying that if his work is going to be used for this, he better get paid a billion dollars. And I don’t blame him!
Bologna Children’s Book Fair
The National Book Developement Board is headed to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair next year and the organization has issued a call for titles that the organization can take to the book fair next year. Links to the guidelines and application form are included in their Facebook post.
The organization is also accepting applications for the Creative Nation Grant for the fair. The grant will allow successful applicants to be part of the Philippine Delegation to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair.
Haruki Murakami interview
There’s a new interview with Haruki Murakami in The Guardian that some of his fans might find interesting. Although to be honest, he gives a rather unsatisfying answer to the question about how Mieko Kawakami’s criticism of the women in his books has affected his writing.
Death of Sonia “Breezy” Santiago
If you’ve gone to school in the Philippines, Rex is a publisher you’re probably aware of, since they publish a lot of the textbooks that are used in schools around the country. Its general manager, Sonia “Breezy” Santiago passed away this week. She was laid to rest yesterday at the Manila Memorial.
Angoulême International Comics Festival
Aside from the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the National Book Development Board will also be headed to the Angoulême International Comics Festival. And just like the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the organization is calling for titles that they can bring to the fair next year. A Creative Nation grant is also up for grabs for those who want to be part of the delegation.
Ron Does Stuff 
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