Do you like reading movie scripts? Check out Script Lit, a new series of unproduced screenplays that have been adapted as eBook novellas.

Here is more from the site: “There are many wonderful scripts written that are never produced and therefore aren’t shown to the world. This process of adapting those ‘lost gems’ into eBook novellas gives the writer a chance to be heard and loved by a wide audience. We are SL eBooks and are proud to present Script Lit, the new literary genre.”

The debut title from the collection is Mom of the Year by Denise Pischinger and is available through various eBook stores for $2.99. The second title from the collection, a horror/thriller title called Ambrose Fountain by Brian Sieve will publish next month.

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The second Hay Budapest festival promises an eclectic mix of speakers against a vibrant intellectual background    

The Fault in Our Stars author John Green delivered the commencement speech at the graduation ceremony for Butler University’s class of 2013. To read the entire speech, head to Green’s Tumblr page.

Watch the entire speech in the video embedded above (his talk begins at the 1:01:08 mark). Here’s an excerpt:

I would just note that the default assumption is that the point of human life is to be as successful as possible, to acquire lots of fame or glory or money as defined by quantifiable metrics: number of twitter followers, or facebook friends, or dollars in one’s 401k.

This is the hero’s journey, right? The hero starts out with no money and ends up with a lot of it, or starts out an ugly duckling and becomes a beautiful swan, or starts out an awkward girl and becomes a vampire mother, or grows up an orphan living under the staircase and then becomes the wizard who saves the world. We are taught that the hero’s journey is the journey from weakness to strength. But I am here today to tell you that those stories are wrong. The real hero’s journey is the journey from strength to weakness.

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As the shutdown of Google Reader nears, one reader has created a simple and free tool to replace Google’s soon-to-be discontinued tool.

You can explore the demo online or visit the simple sign-up page. CommaFeed inclues an easy organizational structure and simple settings. The interface will be easy for most Google Reader users to pick up quickly.  Here’s more about the free app:

When Google announced Reader shutdown, I started to work on a clone. It is now available. It’s simple, bloat-free, and it’s open-source. Say hello to CommaFeed … CommaFeed is a bloat-free feed reader. It aims to replace Google Reader while keeping things simple.

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Pivot by L.C. Barlow is today’s Free eBook of the Day.

The horror novel is the first book in a trilogy. Check it out:

For some, the Devil introduces himself as an average man. For others, he crushes their souls and makes them bleed. For Jack Harper, the Devil renders himself a savior. But things are changing. Once a loyal follower of Cyrus and an accomplished killer, Jack Harper now begins to question everything. There are new, strange forces at work that are intruding on Jack’s kills, abilities, and very being. Maybe, though, deep down Jack has been waiting for this intrusion, and maybe Cyrus is not as powerful as he seems.  Amazon has the free download through May 19th. For more free eBooks, check out our Free eBook of the Day archive.

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Video editing app Magisto, a tool that automatically edits video footage together into films and has been downloaded 8 million times across Android & iOS, announced two Google integrations this week. The app now has integration with Google+ and is now available as a native Chrome app.

As a Chrome app, the tool will work whether a user is online or offline, as it functions more like traditional desktop software. ”The value of the mobile ecosystem is growing, but not necessarily in the way people think,” stated Oren Boiman, CEO of Magisto. “People are looking for quality over quantity at this point.” The Chrome app will be  part of Google Chrome’s packaged app platform that launches later this year.

The Magisto Google+ Sign-in function lets online users remotely trigger a download of the mobile app onto their Android devices.

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From now until June 1st, 7,500 libraries around the world have joined the Big Library Read–allowing millions of patrons to check out and read a single digital book simultaneously.

OverDrive and Sourcebooks have teamed up to share The Four Corners of the Sky by Michael Malone. As libraries struggle to pay higher fees for some eBooks and some publishers limit the number of check-outs permitted for a book, this campaign could have an important impact. Here’s more from the release:

In addition to ongoing Facebook and Twitter (#BigLibraryRead) conversations during the pilot, Sourcebooks will host a live Facebook chat on May 23 with author Michael Malone.  Many of the largest library systems around the world are participating in the Big Library Read, including: Queens Library (NY), the U.S. Navy, Melbourne Library Service (Australia), Toronto Public Library (Canada), London Libraries Consortium (United Kingdom), and the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality (South Africa). The Big Library Read is the first event of its kind and may be replicated in the future to reach wider and more targeted audiences.

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Trying to sell your screenplay? If you donate to a worthy cause, a production company manager will consider your script.

Screenwriter Joe Nienalt and Benderspink manager Daniel Vang have launched a campaign to raise money for heart disease and stroke research. Vang as offered to ”consider you for representation” in exchange for a donation to their cause. Last year the duo raised $45,000 and helped a set of writers start their career. Check it out:

If you donate $25, Daniel will read the first ten pages of your script. If you donate $50, Daniel will read the first 50 pages (if it’s great, he won’t want to put it down after 10 or 50 pages). If you donate $100, Daniel will read your entire script (good or bad) … Numerous writers have obtained representation through our past campaigns including one talented writing team last year … You WILL hear back one way or another once you donate and submit. It may take awhile but you will definitely hear back one way or another. It may take awhile so be patient but again, you will hear back so feel free to follow up with me every so often once you submit.

(Link via)

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I'm delighted that LA-based Pixar story consultant Bobette Buster has agreed to speak at the FutureBook Innovation Workshop on 30th May. More here.

read more

ABC Studios has picked up a TV show based on poet Jason Mott‘s The Returned, months before Harlequin MIRA releases the novel. The show is scheduled for the “2013-2014 midseason” and the novel comes out in September.

The Killing and Damages writer Aaron Zelman will write the script and Charles McDougall will direct. The cast includes Omar Epps, Frances Fisher, Sam Hazeldine, Nicholas Gonzalez and others. Here’s more from the release:

A disquieting and wholly original narrative that spans the globe and embraces the full range of humanity, The Returned is primarily centered around one family that gets caught up in a worldwide event. Harold and Lucille Hargrave lost their eight-year-old son when he drowned on his birthday nearly fifty years ago, but now Jacob has returned, exactly as he was that fateful day. Jacob is just one of the thousands of Returned who are reappearing on earth and being reunited with their families, a phenomenon that inspires mass hysteria among many. The Hargraves become caught up in the madness that engulfs their community as it navigates this strange new reality—a reality the origins and meaning of which remain unclear.

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AT Williams wins with his book about the death of Baha Mousa in Iraq.    

Sameer Rahim joins John Sessions to celebrate James Boswell meeting Samuel Johnson 250 years ago today.    

Are you looking for a writers group? Writers groups can motivate you to write more, critique your work or even help you publicize your work.

We have created an experimental project to connect writers around the globe, helping hundreds of GalleyCat readers create writers groups both online and in the real world.

Sign up to join our free directory here. Once you fill out the simple form, you will be able to access our complete directory of GalleyCat readers who are looking for a writers group–contact them directly to build a new group.

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Audubon, one of the oldest continuously published magazines in the country, has been harvesting some of the best earth-minded writing for more than a century. The pub appeals to the well educated, politically active nature lover. Though the mag is the only pure nature magazine on the market, EIC David Seideman admits that the publication aspires to the reach and commercial success of National Geographic, while still maintaining its commitment to the thought-provoking, long-form type journalism of The Atlantic and The New Yorker.

Audubon regularly publishes eco-themed book reviews, and the website offers a unique promotional opportunity for authors. “If there are authors who have written books about environmental or nature subjects, and they would like to blog on our site to promote their book or run excerpts on the site, we would explore that opportunity with them,” explained Seideman.

For more info, read How To Pitch: Audubon.
The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

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Google’s latest vision for Google Plus is focused on images – and the use of artificial intelligence. Imagine a team of Google robots meticulously fixing your wrinkles, making everyone smile in photos they didn’t actually smile in, and changing the sky to make it a tad more perfect. Am I the only one who thinks it’s borderline creepy?

Let’s take a closer look at the major changes coming to Google Plus Photos.

Auto Backup

Google is expanding its free data storage and that’s a great thing. Just like Gmail, the company is using its vast supply of servers to maintain your data for you, and if you are comfortable with that, you can get it 15GB for free (with free backup). Given the increase in resolution of new phone cameras and digital cameras, 15GB might not be a lot for serious photographers. continued…

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Apple has recorded more than 50 billion app downloads from the App Store. The person that was lucky enough to download the 50 billionth app will get a $10,000 gift card to the App Store gift. The 50 people who downloaded apps after the big winner will each get  that each a $500 gift card.

Apple tweeted the news yesterday afternoon, after they hit their goal.

We just hit 50 billion app downloads. Thank you. It couldn’t have happened without you. #50BillionApps tw.appstore.com/hgE

— App Store(@AppStore) May 15, 2013

 

The company hit this benchmark the same day that Google announced that Google Play has just crossed 48 billion app installs.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

The jazz bass player could be violent and nasty, but as a musical maestro he was full of grace.    

Longtime Barnes & Noble employee Brenda Marsh has left her position as vp, author relations, Publishing Trends reports. She can be reached at brendasmarsh@gmail.com. Founder of Hanser Berlin Elisabeth Ruge will leave the company at the end of 2013 for what she characterized as "personal reasons." Ruge, who founded the imprint at…