‘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'


Tributes to author Paul Reizin after death, aged 67

Tributes have been paid to author Paul Reizin, who has passed away at the age of 67. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-05 06:01:52 UTC ]
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Chef and Cookbook Author Bryant Terry Looks to Preserve Black Food Stories

The chef and cookbook author is heading up a new imprint to give chefs of color a leg up in the historically insular publishing industry. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-10-04 18:09:38 UTC ]
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Incest story by Pinocchio author published in English for the first time

Carlo Collodi’s version of Donkey Skin, by French author Charles Perrault, will appear in a new collection of Italian fairytalesCarlo Collodi is remembered today for Pinocchio, his 1881 children’s story about a puppet who turns into a real boy, immortalised on screen by Disney. Now another... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-10-01 13:46:15 UTC ]
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IAB Europe suspends consent management firms as global privacy authorities signal tougher action

Regulators have doubts that promises of consent-based data collection by digital publishers and advertisers is based on genuine user consent. The post IAB Europe suspends consent management firms as global privacy authorities signal tougher action appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2021-09-30 04:01:00 UTC ]
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Author of 'My Monticello' on Writing a Debut Book With Buzz

Jocelyn Nicole Johnson, at 50, is not the average age of a debut author. But the public school teacher describes herself as a “literary debutante” with the October publication of “My Monticello.” Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-09-28 13:06:03 UTC ]
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John Murray signs Gallen's Factory Girls

John Murray senior commissioning editor Becky Walsh has acquired Michelle Gallen's second novel Factory Girls.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-28 04:02:44 UTC ]
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‘I have these stories to tell’: the authors trying to diversify children’s books

Schemes provide mentors and funding to help aspiring writers on low incomes enter market dominated by white celebritiesA programme that aims to tackle the lack of diversity in children’s books has been launched after its founder said the practice of richer authors paying for support to get... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-09-26 06:15:04 UTC ]
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Rock Stars and Author Trading Cards: Tales from a Decade of Bookstore Events

For more than 20 years, I worked at the Booksmith, an independent bookstore located in the Haight Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco. For half that time, I ran the events program. I worked with publishers in selecting authors, creating a monthly schedule, and banging the drum to make sure... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-09-24 08:50:35 UTC ]
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Scholastic Employees, Authors, and Others Remember Dick Robinson

A virtual memorial service for Scholastic's beloved chairman, president, and CEO, Dick Robinson, featured a mix of speakers eulogizing him, including celebrities, authors, company executives, and employees. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-09-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Indie publisher Zando taps Gillian Flynn and Lena Waithe to find your new favorite authors

Book publisher powerhouse Molly Stern started her own company on the premise of using influential creators to surface overlooked talent. Author Gillian Flynn and writer-producer Lena Waithe are curating what could be the next wave of notable authors through their partnership with indie publisher... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2021-09-21 09:00:03 UTC ]
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This book explains actually helpful actions you can take to fight climate change

You may be sick of hearing over and over to recycle more or use a reusable bag. A new book called ‘Regeneration’ explains how you can support the changes that are truly needed. There’s one clear antidote for climate anxiety: If you can take strategic steps to address climate change, it begins to... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2021-09-21 07:00:55 UTC ]
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Viking scoops 'illuminating' new work from Quiet author Cain

Viking has scooped an 'illuminating' new work from Susan Cain, author of the bestseller Quiet (Penguin). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-20 15:44:32 UTC ]
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Non-fiction and TikTok-boosted YA help children’s book market surge

​The children’s book market has increased by more than 11% this year, boosted by picture books, non-fiction and a remarkable 61% growth in YA sales.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-20 01:05:47 UTC ]
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Begum reflects on Lit in Colour’s first year as initiative looks to push systemic change

Launched a year ago in a collaboration between Penguin Random House and The Runnymede Trust, Lit in Colour seeks to make the books taught in classrooms more representative of modern life in Britain Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-17 18:08:18 UTC ]
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Stories That Wrestle With Black Girls’ Coming of Age

The flash fiction literary community is like an extended family. If you are a writer and reader of flash, it is in all likelihood that your inner circle of literary peeps are other flash fiction folks or, you at least, know of one another. Six degrees is more like one or two in this community.... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2021-09-17 11:00:00 UTC ]
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PA launches guidance on author data collection

The Publishers Association has released guidance for publishers seeking to collect data about the protected characteristics of authors, illustrators and translators after a report found many companies were reluctant to engage in diversity auditing. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-17 03:26:51 UTC ]
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Fairlight Moderns grows with two more for 2022

Fairlight Books is expanding its Fairlight Moderns collection with two new titles publishing in spring 2022. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-15 21:47:27 UTC ]
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Lit Hub Daily: September 13, 2021

“Feeling afraid to obey the demands of your own heart? Is there anything more human?” Jennifer Finney Boylan considers Henry David Thoreau and the risks we take to live our full truth. | Lit Hub Memoir Who was Laurie Colwin, and what makes her (newly reissued) fiction so relevant today? | Lit... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-09-13 10:30:34 UTC ]
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Nicaragua has ordered the arrest of award-winning author Sergio Ramírez.

State prosecutors in Nicaragua have ordered the arrest of one of the country’s most prominent writers, Sergio Ramírez, accusing the 78-year-old novelist of inspiring hatred and conspiring to destabilize Nicaragua. With only two months to go until the presidential elections in November, dozens of... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-09-10 15:58:45 UTC ]
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Growing Up in Ireland report reveals impact of library funding’s 2008 scrapping

In 2008, as the global financial crisis peaked and Ireland faced a long period of austerity, the government announced that the primary school library fund would be cut in its entirety. The €2.2m annual investment from the then-Department of Education & Science had been in place for 37 years;... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-09-10 10:30:52 UTC ]
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