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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Industry Notes: US Publishers Association Announces Book Expo Panels; UK’s Sunday Times Prize Opens for Entries

Three Big Five CEOs are scheduled for a session from BookExpo and the Association of American Publishers. And the UK's award for writers aged 18 to 35 opens for submission. The post Industry Notes: US Publishers Association Announces Book Expo Panels; UK’s Sunday Times Prize Opens for Entries... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-04-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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London Book Fair 2018: Meet the World’s First #1 Bestselling ‘Blockchain’ Author

Does the burgeoning technology—best known in the finance industry for powering cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin—hold promise for publishing? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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London Book Fair 2018: Four Questions for...Brianna Schofield, Executive Director of the Authors Alliance

Ahead of its fourth anniversary, how is the organization faring? PW recently caught up with Brianna Schofield, executive directors of the Authors Alliance. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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More panels on politics at the LA Times Festival of Books

When something is on people’s minds, publishers notice. In the past year, there has been a surge of books about politics. That means there will be a plethora of conversations about politics at the Festival of Books. Here are a few favorites. For an in-depth conversation about our president, don’t... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HoZ signs four-book deal through its Aria author portal

Head of Zeus imprint Aria Fiction has signed a four-book deal with Rachel Brimble for her series of novels set in a department store in Bath. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Jane Harper makes Australia a full-fledged character in 'The Dry'

Former journalist Jane Harper has become one of the world's leading mystery writers with her "Aaron Falk" mysteries set in distant corners of Australia. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2018-03-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bluebird wins auction for Pope's 'timely' next book

Pan Macmillan imprint Bluebird has signed a "revealing" new book on politics and society by His Holiness Pope Francis. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Children's Books in China 2018: A Wide-Ranging Selection of Original Works from China

With nearly 100 Chinese publishers and at least half that many illustrators attending the Bologna Children’s Book Fair in March, a big contingent will be representing the land of 1.38 billion people. Most of the publications they are bringing to the fair focus on common themes and age-old plots... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Children's Books in China 2018: Social Media Marketing: Working the Platform

The past few years have seen social media, propelled by the all-purpose WeChat app and the Weibo microblogging service, become an indispensable promotional and sales channel in the Chinese publishing industry. Critics point to challenges facing publishers who depend on social media marketing.... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Manchester-based author who's won a life-changing $165k book prize

Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi's debut novel was initially rejected by British publishers. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2018-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins buys full audio rights for nine Philippa Gregory backlist books

HarperCollins has closed a deal with historical novelist Philippa Gregory for full audio rights for nine of her backlist titles. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Snow blights World Book Day celebrations but tour goes ahead

World Book Day organisers have said all events for the Biggest Book Show on Earth tour will go ahead despite the snow, although some authors have had to cancel their school appearances. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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L.A. Times Book Prize finalists include Joyce Carol Oates and Ta-Nehisi Coates; John Rechy receives lifetime achievement award

Finalists for the 2017 Los Angeles Times Book Prizes include Joyce Carol Oates, Ron Chernow, Ta-Nehisi Coates and Jesmyn Ward. The awards will be presented on the campus of USC on April 20, the eve of the L.A. Times Festival of Books. Finalists for the book prizes, which are awarded in 10... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry Notes: London Book Fair Adds Authors Joanna Trollope and Jacqueline Wilson

British, American, Lithuanian, Estonian, and Latvian writers are featured in this year's timely lineup at London Book Fair, Joanna Trollope seeing her newest book released on Thursday (February 22) and Nora Ikstena with a UK release on March 1. The post Industry Notes: London Book Fair Adds... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-02-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Maz Evans sets up 'book buddy' scheme for schools

Schools can apply for book donations from authors, bloggers and booksellers via a new scheme set up by Maz Evans, the the author of the Who Let the God’s Out? series (Chicken House). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Wilson heads campaign celebrating the power of books

Jacqueline Wilson has helped launch a campaign for Book Aid International celebrating the power of books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pan Mac celebrates women's fiction at 'timely' event

Pan Macmillan celebrated female writers at its annual women’s fiction party on Tuesday evening. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones is co-writing a book with 'The Game' author Neil Strauss

Alex Jones, the conspiracy theorist, radio show host and publisher of the extremist right-wing website InfoWars, is co-writing a book with "The Game" author Neil Strauss, CNN reports. The network obtained a proposal sent to major publishers for a book to be titled “The Secret History of the... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-01-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Barrington Stoke author defends children's book about racism

Author Mary Hoffman and her publisher Barrington Stoke have hit back against a complaint about a children's book about racism which uses offensive language. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Children's Authors and Books to Watch for at Winter Institute 13

We’ve gathered a selection of children’s and YA authors to meet at this year’s Winter Institute, will take place January 22–25 in Memphis. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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