By John Bond
Self-publishing has been through quite an evolution in my lifetime. From decades being thought of as “vanity publishing,” to an emerging option for both print and then digital in the Nineties, to complete acceptance and preference in many genres of fiction, self-publishing has transformed how authors think about getting their ideas and thoughts out to the world.
On November 24, 2024, the federal district court in New York granted preliminary approval to a $20,990,000 settlement of claims of royalty underpayment by Cengage Learning, Inc., in a long-running lawsuit brought on behalf of Cengage textbook authors by the class action law firm Susman Godfrey. There is a January 22, 2025 deadline for any authors wish to opt out of the class or to object to the settlement.
Cengage authors have asked us various questions about the settlement. Zick Rubin, attorney at the Archstone Law Group and long-time TAA member (zrubin@archstonelaw.com), has provided some answers.
A big thank you to Top Hat for sponsoring the 2025 TAA Virtual Conference on Textbook & Academic Authoring at the Bronze level.
Top Hat’s mission is to spark better teaching and learning for a brighter world. Its dynamic courseware helps educators deliver more engaging, relevant and inclusive learning experiences in and outside of the classroom, so all students can succeed. Its extensive catalog of interactive eTexts features titles across all major disciplines, optimized for active learning. With Top Hat Custom Solutions, its experienced team helps you build the exact textbook you need, whether it’s by creating original material, customizing existing content, personalizing OER, or mixing and matching. Their instructional design and project management expertise makes for a smooth process to create interactive course materials that meet your affordability goals and timeline. With unparalleled support, Top Hat is your partner in transforming engagement wherever and whenever learning takes place. Managing Director Donna Battista is a TAA Board Member.
Cengage Group, a leading global education and technology company, reported its financial results for the second quarter and first half of Fiscal Year 2025, ended September 30, 2024.
Adjusted Cash Revenue for the first half of Fiscal Year 2025 was $841 million, flat against a high comparative which benefitted from earlier ordering and favorable timing of several large deals. Adjusted Cash EBITDA for the first half of Fiscal Year 2025 was $323 million, an increase of 8 percent over the first half of Fiscal Year 2024. Operating cash flow was $128 million, more than double the $60 million in the prior period.
TAA member Dr. Derrick Darden is seeking participants interested in completing a short, 3-minute, anonymous survey for his new book, Understanding Personality Traits and Decision-Making Styles. The purpose of the survey is “to explore people’s personality traits and decision-making styles. Our goal is to gather valuable insights to help individuals better understand their strengths and challenges in making choices and navigating life. Your participation in this survey will contribute to our understanding of human behavior and decision-making processes. Your input is valuable to us, and we appreciate your time and effort in helping us with our research.”
By Ken Saladin
Most authors may not want to index their own textbooks. Indexing has to be done quickly when paginated proofs become available, yet it comes at a time when we’re very busy proofreading the final pages, writing front matter, and getting the book to press. It also must look, to most, like a tedious chore. It may seem better left to a professional indexer, even if the cost is borne by the author.
Even aside from the cost, there are good reasons to leave it to the pros. Indexing is a complex skill that requires understanding of not just the book’s subject matter, but its audience, the publisher’s practices, and the stylistic mechanics of good versus amateurish and dysfunctional indexes.
