‘Black and Asian people not seen as readers’: Bernardine Evaristo condemns books industry

In foreword to report into diversity in publishing, Booker prize-winning author rails against ‘ridiculous’ beliefsBernardine Evaristo, the first black woman to win the Booker prize, has hit out at “ridiculous” and “misguided” beliefs in the publishing industry, where “black and Asian people are not considered to be a substantial readership, or to even be readers”.Evaristo, writing the foreword for the UK’s first academic study into diversity in trade fiction and publishing, released on Tuesday, said the report showed that the UK books industry “hasn’t changed fast enough to become more inclusive”. A key finding of the study was that writers of colour and their books are “either whitewashed or exoticised” to appeal to what UK publishing sees as its core audience of white, middle-class readers.Literature transcends all perceived differences and barriers. It’s partly the point of it Related: Black Writers’ Guild calls for sweeping change in UK publishing Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2020-06-23 11:06:09 UTC ]
News tagged with: #black woman #academic study #asian people #booker prize #trade fiction #core audience #guild calls #sweeping change #prize-winning author

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After the Paris Attacks: Five Books About ISIS and Religious Violence

In November, 130 people were killed in a series of attacks in Paris. On December 2, a shooting believed to be linked to ISIS left 14 dead in San Bernardino. As ISIS continues to make threats against the U.S., here are five new and forthcoming books that shed light on the terrorist group and... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #paris attacks #forthcoming books #religious violence #shed light


FutureBook: the view from other industries

What does publishing look like to those who have worked in other industries, asked FutureBook's panel session "Publishing Through A Looking Glass: A View from Outside"? Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Girl on Train named WHS 'Book of the Year'

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (Doubleday) has been named as the WH Smith ‘Book of the Year’. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Holiday books: Our 31 nonfiction picks

Entertainers share their secrets, scientists tell it like it is (and historians like it was), while Robert Reich and Bill O'Reilly dig in. Skip to: Entertainment | Current Affairs | History | Memoir/Bio | Science/Technology | Sports | Complete list Entertainment Unfaithful Music and Diasppearing... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2015-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW Picks: Books of the Week, December 7, 2015

This week: a bibulous Southern preacher's perverse quest for sainthood; how human perception is changing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Faber boss says future of book publishing is mobile

Stephen Page also says publishers must ‘understand mobile’ and put smartphone communication at the centre of thinkingThe chief executive of publisher Faber & Faber has challenged the book publishing industry to respond to the rapid increase in smartphone use, particularly by young... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publishing #stephen page #rapid increase #young readers #21st century


Book Deals: Week of December 7, 2015

OUP nabs a title exploring children’s literature—and publishing’s—problem with diversity, Lee Boudreaux invests in a veteran’s Fallujah-set war novel, Avery spends six figures luring the pair behind a breakout vegan blog, and more in this week's notable book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Guadalajara Book Fair 2015: Self-Publishing On the Rise

Self-publishing is "exploding" in the Spanish language book market, and Penguin Random House is making the U.S. Hispanic market a priority. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Coloring Books Drive Big Holiday Sales at Independent Booksellers

The enduring popularity of coloring books for adults and a successful Small Business Saturday got the holiday season off to a strong start for independent booksellers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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At last, a book that tells you exactly where to stick your apostrophe

Simon Griffin’s irreverant pocket-sized guide to a tricky piece of punctuation is the perfect stocking fillerWhen the Guardian style guide went on sale to the public for the first time in 2004, my co-author Nikki Marshall and I wanted to call it No ****ing Asterisks, inspired by the brilliant... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google-backed Lost My Name has sold 1m children's books in two years

British startup has shipped to 160 countries, based on its mantra of being ‘a technology company that happens to make physical books’British startup Lost My Name has sold more than 1m of its personalised picture books for children since launching its first title two years ago.The company’s The... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-12-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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JK Rowling inspires surge to fund book on race and immigration in three days

A £5,000 donation and tweet from Harry Potter author JK Rowling have pushed The Good Immigrant to its funding targetA host of authors, including JK Rowling, David Nicholls, Jonathan Coe and Evie Wyld have powered a crowdfunded anthology of essays on race and immigration to its funding target in... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jonathan coe #evie wyld #crowdfunded anthology #funding target #million followers #brown people


Penguin Random House Unifies E-book Terms for Libraries

Effective January 1, 2016, all Penguin ebooks purchased by libraries after January 1 will be licensed on a perpetual access model. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sharjah Hosts Its 34th International Book Fair

This year's Sharjah International Book Fair, now in its 34th year, was the largest ever drawing 1,547 participating publishers from 64 countries. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Black authors don’t write only for white women | Dreda Say Mitchell

Yes, book publishers have a problem with writers of colour – it’s just not the one Man Booker prizewinner Marlon James describesThere are so few ethnic minority voices in publishing and the media that when one criticises another it has come to be regarded as a form of strike-breaking. Knowing... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #colour pander #book publishers #black author #major publishers #white women #evidence suggests #white woman #marlon james


Children's 'elegant fable' wins Waterstones Book of the Year

Children’s book The Fox and the Star by aPenguin cover designer Coralie Bickford-Smith has beaten Harper Lee and Paula Hawkins to be crowned The Waterstones Book of the Year 2015. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon sells 86 items per second on Black Friday

Amazon UK said Black Friday this year was its busiest day ever, as it sold around 86 items per second. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fox fable beats bestsellers to book prize

A fable about friendship and loss by a debut author beats bestselling novels The Girl on the Train and Go Set a Watchman to be named Waterstones Book of the Year. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2015-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry should be 'less defensive' about diversity

Publishing should be as “demographically representative as possible” in a bid to tackle diversity, delegates to The Bookseller's Author Day conference have heard. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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E-Readers Now “Main Attraction” at Some Kenyan Libraries

The first of a two part report from the 2015 East Africa Digital Reading Summit in Kenya looks at developments in e-reading and library ebook use. The post E-Readers Now “Main Attraction” at Some Kenyan Libraries appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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