Being a crime writer doesn’t mean I condone murder. Do I even have to say it? | Garry Disher

Every now and then I encounter people who can’t suspend disbelief. They ask how I can write about ‘such terrible things’Feeling unappreciated is your lot as a writer. Few readers; no readers. Scathing reviews; no reviews. Publishers saying, “Don’t call us, we’ll call you” or not taking a punt on your second book because the first sold poorly. The fat American and English imports on display at the front of many bookshops, a tiny Australian section in the back corner. Beverley Farmer finding her short-story collection Milk shelved with books on nursing mothers; me finding my novel The Stencil Man shelved in Art and Craft.Most of these indignities occur while you’re still at your desk. They multiply once you appear in public. Elizabeth Jolley, signing books at a department store in Perth, was scrutinised by a beady-eyed woman who eventually approached and asked, “How much is the table?” A bookseller stuck the first page of a US thriller under my nose and said, “Once you can learn to write as good as this …” Related: Harold Bloom’s defence of western greats blinded him to other cultures | Kenan Malik If I say, 'Worse things happen in real life than I invent, just read a newspaper,' I learn they don’t read newspapers Related: Peter Handke's Nobel prize that dishonours the victims of genocide | Ed Vuilliamy Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2019-11-03 17:00:27 UTC ]
News tagged with: #department store #real life #peter handke #nobel prize #bookseller

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Six young writers longlisted for New Voices Award

PEN International has released the longlist for its 2016 New Voices Award for young writers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #young writers #pen international


#Women_writers manifesto aims to build community of female authors

Laurie Garrison’s call to arms is intended to foster collaboration ‘rejecting traditional models of publishing’The internet is not always a safe place for women, so there is something hearteningly radical about women staking a claim to this space to assert their own ambitions and interests. The... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #imposter syndrome #female writers #safe place #female authors #build community


W&N to publish writers from 'under-represented places'

Weidenfeld & Nicolson is launching Hometown Tales, a series of short books which will publish authors from underrepresented regions across the UK to bring new voices to a national audience. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #underrepresented regions #short books #weidenfeld nicolson #publish writers


Speaking Volumes secures grant for BAME writers

Literary agency Speaking Volumes has secured an international grant to showcase British black, Asian and minority ethnic writers to European audiences. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Black science fiction writers face 'universal' racism, study finds

Fireside Fiction’s report, #BlackSpecFic, finds less than 2% of SF stories published in 2015 were by black writers The world of speculative fiction publishing is plagued by “structural, institutional, personal, universal” racism, according to a new report that found less than 2% of more than... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #black author


UK writer Helen Gradwell lay dead at home for four months before body found

Helen Gradwell lay dead on her floor for four months – with a book deal sitting unopened on her doorstep. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2016-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sisters in Crime on Diversity: Multiculturalism, They Wrote

The writers' support organization Sisters in Crime releases a new report on diversity in mystery writing and today's book publishing industry. The post Sisters in Crime on Diversity: Multiculturalism, They Wrote appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #mystery writing


The Goat Bursary launches for unpublished writers

Joanna Cannon and The Writers’ Workshop are to finance an unpublished author to attend the Festival of Writing 2016, an annual writing conference for unpublished writers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #unpublished author #joanna cannon #unpublished writers


Writers Organizations Condemn Turkish Attacks on Free Speech

The Authors Guild and PEN America have condemned the actions of the Turkish government after the detaining of 61 journalists and the shuttering of 131 media organizations—including 29 publishing houses—in the wake of the attempted coup on July 15. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-08-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #turkish government #pen america #authors guild #free speech


Sphere signs debut thriller writer in six-figure deal

Sphere Fiction has acquired two psychological thrillers from debut author Laura Marshall in a six-figure pre-empt. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #six-figure pre-empt #psychological thrillers #sphere fiction #six-figure deal


PRH hunts for writers from 'under-represented' communities

Penguin Random House UK has launched a nationwide campaign to find, mentor and publish new writers from communities under-represented on the UK’s bookshelves. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What Happened When I Got Rid Of Everything In My House That Doesn't Spark Joy

Do socks really "spark joy?" This writer went through (nearly) every item in her house with some surprising results.I hate clutter. Growing up, my favorite book (and the only one I kept from my childhood) was The Boxcar Children, a story of four orphans who live in an abandoned train car with... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2016-07-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #boxcar children #favorite book #spark joy


Chandler joins Harvill Secker as editorial director for crime

Jade Chandler is to leave Sphere and join Harvill Secker in the newly-created role of editorial director for crime fiction in October. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #newly-created role #jade chandler #crime fiction


Mackintosh wins Theakston Crime Novel of the Year

Clare Mackintosh has scooped the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award for her first thriller I Let You Go (Sphere). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #peculier crime #clare mackintosh


Hodder to revamp Dorothy L Sayers' crime list

Hodder & Stoughton is reissuing Dorothy L Sayers’ classic mystery fiction, complete with new covers and new introductions, to "recruit readers new and old" to the series. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Helen Bailey's partner charged with her murder

The partner of children's author Helen Bailey has been charged with her murder. The development comes after human remains were found at her home in Hertfordshire yesterday (15th July). Ian Stewart, 55, of Baldock Road, Royston, has also been charged with perverting the course of justice and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For the Love of Industry Data: Nielsen’s Co-Location With Romance Writers of America

With analysis of a "slow erosion" of sales and much more, Nielsen's Romance Book Summit is a mix of research analysis and thematic exploration at the Romance Writers of America's gathering. The post For the Love of Industry Data: Nielsen’s Co-Location With Romance Writers of America appeared... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-07-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Murder arrest in connection with Helen Bailey disappearance

Police searching for the missing author Helen Bailey have arrested a man on suspicion of murder, according to news reports. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Starts New Crime Fiction Imprint in Germany

Edition M, a new imprint for crime fiction, is the latest addition to Amazon Publishing in Germany. It plans to publish 60 titles by the end of 2016. The post Amazon Starts New Crime Fiction Imprint in Germany appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-07-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #amazon publishing #latest addition #crime fiction #germany appeared


Catapult Partners with PEN for New Emerging Writers Awards

PEN American Center has announced the PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers, the newest addition to its lineup of literary awards. Winning stories will be collected and published in an annual anthology by Catapult. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-07-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #literary awards #newest addition #emerging writers