In February 2026, a dark romance novel, a genre of narratives depicting violent or transgressive love affairs, sparked outrage in a segment of the literary world. The novel, Corps à cœurs (Body to Heart ), written by French author Jessie Auryann and self-published in 2023 and 2024 on Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) platform, was suddenly and […] … learn more→
Blog Archives
Self-publishing on Amazon: when the mechanics of scandal spiral out of control
Hundreds of thousands of scientific articles are published each year: How to maintain quality amidst the surge in publications?
• The number of scientific publications in Indonesia is growing very rapidly. ● The surge in the number of journal articles risks reducing the quality of reviews and triggering the practice of mass manuscript production. ● Academic integrity demands strict journal governance and a shift in focus from quantity to quality of research. Over the […] … learn more→
I’ve just been published and I feel…
When Dr. Sarah’s first peer-reviewed article appeared in the Journal of Sustainability and Urban Policy, her social media announcements said: “Delighted to share my latest research on urban sustainability frameworks! Grateful to the reviewers and editors who helped strengthen this work. #Academia #Research” The response was immediate and positive. Congratulations from colleagues, re-posts from her department, […] … learn more→
What is peer review? The role anonymous experts play in scrutinizing research before it gets published
Reviewer 1: “This manuscript is a timely and important contribution to the field, with clear methodology and compelling results. I recommend publication with only minor revisions.” Reviewer 2: “This manuscript is deeply flawed. The authors’ conclusions are not supported by data, and key literature is ignored. Major revisions are required before it can be considered.” […] … learn more→
A new publisher will focus on books by men. Are male writers and readers under threat?
A new publisher, Conduit Books, founded by UK novelist and critic Jude Cook, will focus on publishing literary fiction and memoirs by men: at least initially. Conduit is currently seeking its launch title, “preferably a debut novel by a male UK novelist under 35”. It aims to publish three books a year from 2026. Diminishing attention […] … learn more→
An academic publisher has struck an AI data deal with Microsoft – without their authors’ knowledge
In May, a multibillion-dollar UK-based multinational called Informa announced in a trading update that it had signed a deal with Microsoft involving “access to advanced learning content and data, and a partnership to explore AI expert applications”. Informa is the parent company of Taylor & Francis, which publishes a wide range of academic and technical books and journals, […] … learn more→
Prestigious journals make it hard for scientists who don’t speak English to get published. And we all lose out
For the first time in history, a single language dominates global scientific communication. But the actual production of knowledge continues to be a multilingual enterprise. The use of English as the norm poses challenges for scholars from regions where English is not widely spoken. They must decide whether to publish in English for global visibility, […] … learn more→
ChatGPT: our study shows AI can produce academic papers good enough for journals – just as some ban it
Some of the world’s biggest academic journal publishers have banned or curbed their authors from using the advanced chatbot, ChatGPT. Because the bot uses information from the internet to produce highly readable answers to questions, the publishers are worried that inaccurate or plagiarised work could enter the pages of academic literature. Several researchers have already listed the […] … learn more→
