I had the absurdly awesome opportunity to attend a small MySpace-organized private lunch with author Paulo Coelho this afternoon in Paris before he spoke at the Le Web conference. Coelho, who has sold 135 million copies of The Alchemist, announced his new movie project, The Experimental Witch, in partnership with MySpace. He’s pictured to the left with MySpace COO Amit Kapur, who was also at the lunch.
The movie is based on his book The Witch of Portobello and it marks the the first time he has granted movie rights for any of his creations. Hollywood producers have been clamoring for years to make a film version of The Alchemist, but so far he has declined.
The Experimental Witch project invited MySpace users to contribute original video and music content. 6,000 entries were submitted and 15 winners were selected for the final film, which is currently in production.
Coelho is an unabashed MySpace fan, he told me today. He has been active on the site for three years and has over 38,000 friends there. He says MySpace is among his favorite websites, and says that it is a great way to connect with fans.
But I also asked Coelho if he uses Facebook, and what he thinks of it. He said that he loves Facebook too. When I pressed as to which site was his favorite, he said “I love MySpace like a wife, I’ve been there for a long time. But Facebook is my mistress.”
Coelho’s website is here. He also updates a personal blog daily here, where he links to a site that has pointers to pirated copies of all of his books. When I asked him why, he says it’s because it helps sell more books. People like to read a little of the pirated versions, he tells me, but then they buy the book.
Since he’s one of the best selling authors of all time, who am I to disagree.
O Alquilmista loves you.
http://www.iamlittle.net/?p=89
I believe I speak for many when I say “fuck off spammer”
Agreed Durr.
Is he implying FB is more fun than MySpace? Not that I would know about the whole mistress thing.
So that pretty much just means its only a matter of time before he dumps myspace for the cooler younger facebook, right? haha that is really cool that you got to meet him though.
Peter Epstein
http://www.thew...war.com/myspace
Ha ha great post, well done Mike, just amazing how social media is changing everything
So Facebook is younger, better looking, and better in bed. Where do I sign up?
What a fantastic experience. Lucky you. I completely agree that Facebook is more fun. Something has happened with FB recently where just about every friend and colleague I want to be in touch with is using it. Interesting trend. People have joined the last few months at a phenomenal rate.
NYTimes had an article listing books that were mostly purchased but rarely read.
the Alchemist came in first, as the book that people mostly buy but rarely finish reading.
I try to read the book but was dragging my feet at the end. Not worth it. I still don’t know what’s the big fuss the media makes about this book.
So is Twitter his ho?
I dont know about that, but at least he is on it.
http://twitter.com/paulocoelho
It is fantastic how intouch with the web he is, considering he is froma different generation and does not make a living in the tech/web industry.
NY Times NEVER published such a list (you should leave the link here, if you ever mention this – I just went to their archives and I found nothing). That said, this is not about Paulo Coelho books. I’ve been following him since the Eigthies, and – honestly – to be a totally unknown writer by then, and to be the most widely read author by now, you should be born in US, not in Brasil, if you are talking about marketing strategies
any serious reader, brazilian or not, will tell you that paulo coelho’s books are just easy reading, something that could be read in a crowded elevator (a simile to easy-listening music). Not literature, not amazing, just populistic, new age crap.
I must agree that they are pretty light reads, nothing amazing and quite a bit new age. Just what the population ordered!
That being said, I think its possible to enjoy them while not taking them so seriously.
Good stuff Mike. The Alchemist should be on everyone’s reading list.
You must be kidding, that book is awful!
Have a look at these reviews:
http://www.onli...16b&t=27870
On a more serious note, no wonder why Coelho doesn’t care about copyright, look at this for some plagiarism accusations:
http://translat...lagio%26hl%3Den
Again! Instead of commenting the post, this bunch of frustrated people starts attacking Paulo Coelho’s books. If he as accused of plagiarism, don’t you think he would already being sued?????? It is easy to post some crap, just because he is famous, widely read, and intellingent. Keep on voicing your frustrations out! Paulo wil continue to write his wonderful books. And the person who said that The Alchemist was not read (according to NY Times) did not POST THE LINK!!!
Then, here are some good fresh POSITIVE REVIEWS on Paulo’s work (links posted today):
http://test-vee...portobello.html
and
http://www.ocpi...lho-techie.html
According to Wikipedia, it seems that Coelho DID sell the rights to his book – so which is the truth?
“MySpace Is My Wife, Facebook Is My Mistress”
I suppose it can be interrupted several ways, but I think it should be reversed. It’s more likely your wife is on Facebook and more likely you would look for a mistress on MySpace.
The Alchemist is a horrible sappy waste of time
I met Paulo last year in Germany. He is an amazing guy and it’s even more amazing to see how open he is to try new things around the web.
He said that he actually encourage people to “pirate” his books and for a good reason:
people who read his books for free on the web will probably won’t buy the book anyway.
People who really love reading will always prefer buying and reading the book in the old fashion way.
But getting more distribution to more people, builds his name and brand – and even better – all for free.
If only the music industry would have thought about that a few years ago…
exactly. He is not a writer (from a serious perspective), he’s a dummy, a merchant who plays with the fact that most of the people has absolutely no criteria when choosing what to read (and, since you mentioned the music industry, what to listen).
he’s smart, just that — but not ever a Writer (with capital “w”).
valleymonger, you did not understand shahar’s comment. Why don’t you go and write a book yourself, instead of attacking Paulo Coelho?
Comment
He is also on Friendfeed (and as previously mentioned, Twitter) which I presume are his booty calls.
I just recieved his new hardcover from Brazil in the mail, its called ‘The Winner Is Alone’ (O Vencedor Está Só) and its quite good even though I’m only 50 pages into it. I’m sure they’ll translate it to English next year.
Anyways, whether Mr. Coelho loves being online or not, its great for marketing.
For being such a great author, many Brazilians despise his work, which is interesting. The joke in Brazil is that he sells so well worldwide because his translators are better writers than he is.
when you say “Since he’s one of the best selling authors of all time, who am I to disagree”, I cannot contain my laugh.
the fact that Britney Spears is one of the best selling “singers” of all time should not stop us from thinking that her taste or opinions about music should (must) be rebated/disagreed…
paulo coelho is pure crap from a literary perspective –and i am saying this trying not to sound snob–. The fact that he writes for the masses makes him a “pop” author, but again, the literary quality of his books is far from even mediocre.
i will accept that he is smart, that he figured out a way of talking to the masses in a new age, post-modern way that is compelling and that “sounds” meaningful.
as adam mentions above, brazilians think he’s crap, as so do I and millions of serious readers and writers…
typical stuff that surrounds loic le miur, one of the most self-absorbed, egotistical and mediocre people around.
serious readers and writers…. ?
@valleymonger: you seem to be missing the point that Michael didn’t make any reference to Coelho’s quality as an author. He was only pointing out that
a) Coelho is a bestselling author
b) Coelho is pirating his books online
c) Coelho does so because he realized it sells him more books
Even if you don’t like his books you cannot disagree that they are bestsellers.
As you might notice, the judgement on literary quality doesn’t even matter when Michael is not disagreeing with Coelho on the sales lift by pirated books, as it is a purely quantitative observation, not a qualitative argument.
Check out this article for more background on the offline impact of free ebooks:
http://blog.qui...ing_sell-books/
Valleymonger: why don’t you learn how to read? Read the post, read the comments, and keep your frustation for yourself.
@valleymonger: you want to be in his place, right?
I guess Paulo Coelho has a Mistress
well said paulo i agree truly , its just the same how feel about my limo car and limo party bus
wife and mistress can never go together.
lol…title captured my attention. finished reading the Witch…Alchemist should have been first movie.
he is everywhere on the net. yes, good marketing strategy. but i’ve never seen an author who has loads of time online. he’s the first to my knowledge.
the book is easy reading in the way that the bible is, basic morals set in a rather simplistic storytelling narrative, but the book is still a great, light read.
And one that should never, imho, be made into a movie. That and The Road. No no no, just no.
You didn’t really read the Bible, did you?
I hope Facebook doesn’t boil the family bunny.
when you sell 135 million copies of a book I guess you can afford mistresses
well said Mr. Paulo you know how and when to touch the reader’s pulse right.