As celebrity books boom, professional authors are driven out of full-time work

Novelist Donal Ryan is the latest name forced to seek an income outside books, while children’s writers complain that stars from other media monopolise advancesDespite scoring three bestsellers in five years and a clutch of awards, The Spinning Heart author Donal Ryan has been forced to return to his day job in the Irish civil service in order to pay his mortgage.Ryan has become the latest casualty of tumbling incomes for writers. Despite receiving advances and signing a deal to write three more books with his publisher, the Irish novelist said he had found it impossible to earn a living wage as a full-time writer. “You need to have something else on the go,” he told the Irish Sunday Independent. “You could take a chance and scrape a living through bursaries and writing books, but I’d get too stressed out. It just isn’t worth it. I have two kids in school and I have a mortgage to pay.” Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2017-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #living wage #day job #irish novelist #full-time writer

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Sheikh Zayed Book Award Shortlists: Literature, Children’s Literature, and Young Author

The three shortlists announced today comprise nine titles selected from a total 39 longlisted works. Winners are to be named in May. The post Sheikh Zayed Book Award Shortlists: Literature, Children’s Literature, and Young Author appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-03-16 16:41:14 UTC ]
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Watch Viet Thanh Nguyen discuss 'The Committed' at the L.A. Times Book Club

Watch author Viet Thanh Nguyen talk about "The Committed" at the L.A. Times Book Club. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-03-11 00:19:23 UTC ]
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If writing’s got you down, remember that James Patterson’s first book was rejected 31 times.

Unless you’re a disgraced politician, trying to get a book published can be difficult, nerve-wracking, soul-denting work. If you’re anything like me, though, it really helps to hear that rejection is the rule in the publishing industry, rather than the exception. When my novel was out on... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-03-10 17:04:17 UTC ]
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Isabel Wilkerson, Jacob Soboroff, Akwaeke Emezi among L.A. Times Book Prize finalists

The awards recognize outstanding literary achievements in 12 categories, including the Ray Bradbury Prize for Science Fiction, with winners to be announced April 16. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-03-02 15:00:14 UTC ]
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The time is right to cancel Dr. Seuss’s racist books

Anyone shocked by the cancellation of six Dr. Seuss books hasn’t been paying attention. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-03-02 06:26:28 UTC ]
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Boldwood Books reports £1.6m revenues in first full year

Boldwood Books has reported revenues of £1.6m in 2020, its first full financial year, and added five new authors to its now 50-strong list. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-03-01 16:36:03 UTC ]
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A library staffer has been fired for burning Trump and Ann Coulter books in his free time.

Cameron Williams, a former staffer at Chattanooga Public Library and a local Black Lives Matter activist, has been fired from his library job three months after being accused of “improperly” burning books written by Donald Trump and Ann Coulter. In December, as the Chattanooga Times Free Press... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-02-17 17:26:28 UTC ]
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6 Caribbean Children’s and YA Book Authors

Get to know the works of some of the best Caribbean authors writing classic and contemporary books for young readers. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-02-09 11:36:00 UTC ]
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50 years later, ‘The Monster at the End of This Book’ is still selling — and inspiring authors

The children’s book has influence out of proportion with its 24 pages and its cardboard cover devoid of medallions. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2021-01-27 13:00:00 UTC ]
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A Captivating New Picture Book Celebrates the ‘British Schindler’

In “Nicky & Vera,” Peter Sís tells the story of Nicholas Winton, who rescued 669 children from Czechoslovakia as World War II loomed. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-01-27 06:39:32 UTC ]
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Young Authors Associated with President Biden Land Book Deals

Amanda Gorman, who wrote and recited the official Biden Inaugural Poem, and Brayden Harrington, the teen who spoke at the Democratic Convention of bonding with Biden over stuttering, both landed book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-01-20 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Read an open letter from publishing professionals condemning Trump enablers’ book deals.

As you may remember, about a week ago, Senator Josh Hawley challenged the results of the election, encouraged the storming of the Capitol, and then complained about Simon & Schuster canceling his book deal, calling the publisher’s decision “Orwellian” (how?) and “a direct assault on the... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-01-19 16:20:57 UTC ]
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This gorgeous new children’s book celebrates Black Lives Matter

“As a graphic designer, we can play a role in standing up for something.” During the protests for racial justice this past summer and over the past few years, Black Lives Matter became a movement and rallying cry, a message of optimism and hope, and a simple statement of affirmation: the lives... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2021-01-19 08:00:06 UTC ]
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Self-Improvement Boom Sets Book Sales Off on Fast Start in 2021

More than 17.1 million print units were sold in the week ended January 9, 2021 at outlets that report to NPD BookScan, marking the first time in the history of the service that units topped the 17 million mark in the first week in January. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-01-14 05:00:00 UTC ]
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BiblioBoard, PW’s BookLife Launch New Library E-book Program for Self-Published Authors

BookLife Elite will offer public libraries access to a curated collection of unlimited, simultaneous-use indie e-books, meaning library readers can access the books instantly—no holds lists. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-01-13 05:00:00 UTC ]
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'Bridgerton's' author doesn't want you to pay $800 for her books

Since the Netflix adaptation of the revisionist Regency drama "Bridgerton" premiered on Christmas, Julia Quinn's original book series is in very high demand. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-01-12 18:36:35 UTC ]
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Daunt Books Originals acquires 'landmark work' of Black studies professor

Daunt Books Publishing has acquired Ordinary Notes by Christina Sharpe, a work of creative non-fiction about memorial and remembrance. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-11 23:40:05 UTC ]
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Earle marks decade as an author with two books for Andersen

Andersen Press has acquired the 20th children's novel from Phil Earle, 10 years since his first book was released. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-08 02:54:40 UTC ]
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Hodder Studio strikes two-book deal with Wolf Road author Lewis

Hodder Studio is publishing the next two novels by Beth Lewis, author of debut The Wolf Road, starting with "powerful novel" The Origins of Iris, which touches on themes of self-discovery and survival. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-12-21 05:11:55 UTC ]
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