‘A smorgasbord of unlikability’: the authors helping ‘sad girl lit’ grow up

In this post-Fleabag world, publishing has become obsessed with the inner turmoils of messy millennials – but isn’t it time they pulled themselves together? Meet the novelists subverting the clichesYou’ve probably come across this woman: she is unfulfilled in her career, has been abandoned by at least one man, she is aimless and lamenting the obstacles in her life (of which, in reality, there don’t appear to be many). She is not just miserable, she’s a mess; self-absorbed and full of self-loathing.If you’ve read a book by a woman, about a woman, that has been published in the last five years, then it’s overwhelmingly likely that this woman was the protagonist. The narrative likely circled around this character’s sadness, her passive struggle to overcome it, and little else. Typically, such stories have notes of darkness but will rarely deliver the actual thing. Usually the main character (like the author) will be middle-class, if not incredibly wealthy. Almost always she will be white. The book’s cover will probably feature a devastated-looking woman with her hair covering her face or her head cradled in her hands. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2023-08-08 15:19:43 UTC ]
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Other Publishing stories related to: '‘A smorgasbord of unlikability’: the authors helping ‘sad girl lit’ grow up'

Publishers may hate Amazon, but the retailer may be helping us read more books

Amazon.com's negotiations with publisher Hachette Books Group have sparked a wave of anger toward the e-commerce giant from authors and readers alike. Several authors and analysts have spoken out, saying Amazon is a threat to traditional publishers. Perhaps. But whatever is going on in the... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2014-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S Adds InkedIn to Author Portal

Simon & Schuster has launched InkedIn, a new online community for S&S authors that lets them hold one-on-one or group discussions on publishing related topics. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #author portal #simon schuster #online community

Authors on the Air June 5, 2014: Thom Shea

Thom Shea, author of "Unbreakable: A Navy Seal’s Way of Life" (Clovercroft Publishing, 9781940262376), will appear on the "Sean Hannity Show" on Thursday, June 5. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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One Direction fanfic author inks worldwide book deal

Following the success of Anna Todd's After series, the wildly popular stories starring the boy band will be published at the end of the year Is fan fiction something to be feared? And where did it all begin?Simon & Schuster have inked a deal for worldwide rights to One Direction fanfic.... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #simon schuster #worldwide rights #wildly popular #jane austen

“A Footprint on the Convention Floor”: BEA’s Author Hub

BookExpo America's uPublishU Author Hub created self-published authors' own 'footprint on the convention floor' for the first time, setting a strong precedent. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'The Girls of Atomic City': a bestselling WWII tale

'Girls,' by Denise Kiernan, continues to hold steady on bestseller lists more than a year after its initial publication. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hold steady #bestseller lists #initial publication

'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' author Jeff Kinney says he will open a bookstore

Jeff Kinney says he plans to open a bookstore in his town of Plainville, Mass., aimed at breaking even within five years. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Smorgasbord: Links of Note, June 2, 2014

This week, we’re reading about the cookbook legacy of Dr. Maya Angelou, Michael Ruhlman’s top egg dishes in New York City, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Minecraft helps to build sales of kids' non-fiction in Q1

This year is set to be a strong one for children’s non-fiction, with retailers reporting... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air June 2, 2014: A.J. Baime

A.J. Baime, author of "The Arsenal of Democracy: FDR, Detroit, and an Epic Quest to Arm an America at War" (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 9780547719283), will appear on NPR’s "The Takeaway" on Tuesday, June 3. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Buyer's Guide: The Growing Importance of Audience Data Tracking

By Denis Wilson This article is from the Publishing Executive Buyer's Guide which is a publisher's reference on emerging technology in the media industry. You can find other Buyer's Guide Sections here: ... Continue reading at Publishing Executive

[ Publishing Executive | 2014-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2014: Stan Lee: From Comic Book Legend To Children’s Author

With X-Men: Days of Future Past and The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man 2 taking top box-office this month, one might presume that the co-creator of all these classic superheros is sitting by a pool somewhere sipping mai tais. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2014: Lena Dunham: Where the Girls Are

Golden Globe winner Lena Dunham is best known as the creator and star of the hit HBO series Girls, where she plays 20-something aspiring writer Hannah Horvath. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Support for statutory school libraries grows

Authors, librarians and trade bodies have spoken out in support of the campaign to make school... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2014: Big Helpings of Imagination at Children's Breakfast

The power of the imagination was the theme of the Children's Book and Author Breakfast Friday morning, beginning with the awarding of the WNBA Pannell Awards to this year's winners: Devaney Doak & Garrett Booksellers in Framingham, Maine, in the general bookstore category, and 4 Kids Books... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors on the Air May 30, 2014: Jessye Norman and Joseph Hallinan

Jessye Norman, author of "Stand Up Straight and Sing!" (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 9780544003408) will appear on "PBS Newshour" on Friday, May 30. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2014: New Opportunities for Agents and Authors in Today’s Publishing

A panel of veteran literary agents discussed the ways in which they now approach their jobs in the Thursday BookExpo panel “Beyond Authors: Self-Publishing & the 'New' Agents.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2014: Jacqueline Woodson: Remembering a Brown Girl’s Childhood

Even though Jacqueline Woodson’s latest release, Brown Girl Dreaming (Penguin/Paulsen, Aug.), is set during the 1960s and ’70s, its themes are still relevant today, especially after a controversy erupted last month over the lack of diversity in BookCon’s initial lineup of authors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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