As a black literary agent, I despair at UK publishing's lack of diversity | Natalie Jerome

For decades, I sat in meetings with all-white teams. The industry needs an independent body to advise on equalityI’m a literary agent and at the height of last year’s Black Lives Matter protests I was sent a list, with accompanying photographs, of the top editors working across the major publishing houses in the UK. When I read it I burst into tears. It showed a sea of almost totally white faces, some of whom had been approaching retirement when I started out as an editorial assistant 20 years earlier. The stagnation in the industry was stark and filled me with despair.Analysis of the industry since then, partly led by pressure from BLM and an open letter from the Black Writers Guild, has only further highlighted this imbalance. Two of the biggest global publishers, Penguin Random House and Hachette, revealed that just 2.7% of their staff – in both cases – are black; and the Guardian reported that you are eight times more likely to see an animal as lead character in a children’s book than a person of colour.Natalie Jerome is a literary agent, deputy chair of Literature Wales, and a former publisher Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2022-01-01 10:00:46 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "As a black literary agent, I despair at UK publishing's lack of diversity | Natalie Jerome"


A PRH-Kalimat Partnership: South and Southeast Asian, Arabic, English

Leveraging a translation-exchange model, Kalimat Group and Penguin Random House India and Southeast Asia open a partnership. The post A PRH-Kalimat Partnership: South and Southeast Asian, Arabic, English appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-07-31 16:57:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Arthur children’s book faces potential Florida ban over claim it ‘damaged souls’

School district member files challenge to Arthur’s Birthday, 1989 book by Marc Brown, which is among 45 titles pending reviewA title in the Arthur children’s book series is facing a potential ban after a conservative activist claimed that it “damaged souls”.On 12 July, Bruce Friedman, a member... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-07-28 16:22:54 UTC ]
More news stories like this


At Frankfurt: PRH’s Nihar Malaviya Headlines Publishing Perspectives Forum

The 2023 Publishing Perspectives Forum opens on October 18 with an onstage conversation with Penguin Random House CEO Nihar Malaviya. The post At Frankfurt: PRH’s Nihar Malaviya Headlines Publishing Perspectives Forum appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-07-27 14:15:46 UTC ]
More news stories like this


My big Birmingham bookshop crawl: why booksellers are suddenly thriving

In 2009, two bookshops a week were closing in the UK and the days of physical books seemed numbered. Now, indie stores are booming. What explains the turnaround – and can it be sustained?When Sarah Mullen was asked to set up a children’s book festival in a leafy suburb of Birmingham in 2012, she... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-07-27 09:00:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Amazon’s Kindle Kids e-reader is $40 off right now

Amazon has the company’s Kindle Kids e-reader on sale for 33 percent off right now. Its $80 price (usually $120) is nearly as low as it was on Prime Day, making it an ideal time to surprise your little one(s) with the gift of distraction-free reading. The device is an Engadget recommendation in... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-07-25 19:20:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Carol Smith obituary

My cousin Carol Smith, who has died aged 84, was a literary agent and author best known for her thrillers Kensington Court (1996) and Unfinished Business (2000).Born in London to Winifred (nee Mapleston), a teacher, and David Smith, a businessman, Carol attended the North London Collegiate,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-07-25 15:31:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Abrams Announces Marketing and Publicity Groups Restructuring

With the company's marketing and publicity teams unified across adult and children’s book imprints, Abrams aims to create a more efficient way to reach readers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-07-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Margaret Atwood among thousands of authors demanding compensation from AI companies

Margaret Atwood, James Patterson and Suzanne Collins are among thousands of writers endorsing an open letter from the Authors Guild urging AI companies to obtain permission before incorporating copyrighted work into their technologies. ... Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-07-18 21:52:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this


James Patterson, Margaret Atwood among thousands of writers urging AI companies to honor copyrights

James Patterson, Suzanne Collins and Margaret Atwood are among thousands of writers endorsing an open letter from the Authors Guild urging AI companies to obtain permission before incorporating copyrighted work into their technologies Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2023-07-18 20:54:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Finding Her #ownvoice: A Conversation with Ivy Ngeow, by Susan Blumberg-Kason

Finding Her #ownvoice: A Conversation with Ivy Ngeow, by Susan Blumberg-Kason Interviews [email protected] Tue, 07/18/2023 - 15:46 Ivy Ngeow grew up in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, and now makes her home in London. An architect and interior designer by... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2023-07-18 20:46:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Layoffs Begin at Penguin Random House as Buyout Departures Come into Focus

Names of some employees who have accepted the publisher's "voluntary separation offer" are beginning to come out—even as a letter from Penguin Random House CEO Nihar Malaviya confirmed that long-rumored layoffs have become a reality. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-07-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Several top editors at Penguin Random House accept buyout offers

Some of publishing’s most celebrated and enduring editors are leaving their posts at Penguin Random House after accepting buyout packages Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2023-07-17 23:33:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Christine Baker obituary

Editor with the Paris-based publisher Gallimard Jeunesse who was determined to give British children’s books a presence in FranceChristine Baker, who has died aged 71 of cancer, did much to give British children’s books a presence in France, making them readily available to families and schools... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-07-10 16:54:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this


12 Of The Best New Children’s Books Out July 2023

New children’s book releases include clever nonfiction picture books, thrilling middle grade fantasies, and more. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-07-07 10:32:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Letting a Wild Ride Be a Wild Ride: A Conversation with Amy Spangler, by Ipek Sahinler & Iclal Vanwesenbeeck

Letting a Wild Ride Be a Wild Ride: A Conversation with Amy Spangler, by Ipek Sahinler & Iclal Vanwesenbeeck Interviews [email protected] Wed, 07/05/2023 - 14:43 Amy Spangler is the co-translator (with Nermin Menemencioğlu) of Leylâ Erbil’s A... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2023-07-05 19:43:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this


A rare Maurice Sendak story will be published next year.

Almost 60 years after the publication of Where The Wild Things Are (November 23 will mark the rumpus), the world is getting a new children’s book from the late Maurice Sendak. HarperCollins Publishers will be releasing Ten Little Rabbits: A Counting Story with Mino the Magician, a count-along... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-06-22 13:53:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Hitting the Books: Why AI won't be taking our cosmology jobs

The problem with studying the universe around us is that it is simply too big. The stars overhead remain too far away to interact with directly, so we are relegated to testing our theories on the formation of the galaxies based on observable data. Simulating these celestial bodies on computers... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-06-18 15:30:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Get a call or a critique from a high-powered agent AND do good in the world.

Sound too good to be true? Well I have news for you, dear aspiring writer, you can get yourself a phone call or a manuscript critique from a fancy literary agent by bidding at this year’s Literary Agents of Change Auction.  The LAOC is an organization that believes that advancing the publishing... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-06-15 17:12:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this


HarperCollins, KKR Said to Be Eyeing Simon & Schuster

In a bit of déjà vu, HarperCollins and the private equity firm KRR, which both lost out to Penguin Random House when Simon & Schuster was initially put up for sale, are reported among the leading contenders to buy the publisher this time around. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


‘Eat, pray, pander’: mixed reactions after Elizabeth Gilbert pulls Russia-set novel

Author’s decision to remove The Snow Forest from publication because of Russia-Ukraine war sparks intense debateMixed reactions have met the decision by the US novelist Elizabeth Gilbert to withdraw her forthcoming novel The Snow Forest from publication after receiving criticism for its Russian... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-06-13 13:48:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this