Our publishing industry seems to champion just one or two black and Asian authors at a time. Lack of diversity is a real problemMonths back I was trudging through the streets of Dalston when I spotted a copy of Simi Bedford's Yoruba Girl Dancing in a charity shop window. It evoked the same emotion that stumbling into an old school friend might – part nostalgia and part wonder at the old magic. I found myself inside the store reaching for it, just as I had done years ago as a teenager. The book is a hilarious, touching read about a Nigerian girl sent to boarding school in England. Back then, it resonated with me deeply. I too had been a young Nigerian girl sent to England at the age of eight to attend boarding school in Norfolk. Its recounting of otherness in an unfamiliar land made me laugh and recall my own experiences. There was something about that dancing silhouette on the cover that seemed hopeful, unburdened somehow, and, though I'd been enamoured of the talents of Roald Dahl and Harper Lee, it was refreshing to see an author who looked like me.As I left the shop, it made me wonder: whatever happened to Simi Bedford? I know she wrote another novel, Not With Silver, but whatever happened not just to her, but to the career trajectories of other black and Asian female British authors?I admire the tenacity of writers such as Andrea Levy, who deserved to garner more attention earlier in their careers. Andrea eventually went on to have great success, but there was little... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2014-03-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Allen & Unwin has signed world rights to the autobiography of England and Worcestershire cricket player Moeen Ali. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors including James K.A. Smith, Tisa Wegner, and Curtis Freeman talk about their new books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-11-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Egmont will publish TV writer Marc Starbuck’s “side-splitting” debut children's picture book. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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There’s more work to be done in recognizing Indigenous authors in Canada, says Cherie Dimaline, a 2017 Governor General's Literary Award winner. The post Indigenous Writers in Canada: Interview with Author Cherie Dimaline appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors, poets, illustrators and actors are among the winners of the 2017 Governor General's Literary Awards for Canadian writing in French and English. The post Leading Canadian Writers: 2017 Winners of the Governor General’s Literary Awards are Announced appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-11-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Magic is in the air at the British Library here — specifically the magical world of one of the most famous characters in modern literature, Harry Potter. “Harry Potter: A History of Magic,” a recently opened exhibition spotlighting rare books and artifacts that detail traditions of folklore and... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-10-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Five authors are in the running for The Sunday Times / Peters Fraser + Dunlop Young Writer of the Year Award, after judges made the "rare exception" to increase the prize's usual shortlist from four to five in wake of the "incomparable strength" of this year’s list of submissions. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Two Faber & Faber releases are among the expanded shortlist announced this weekend (October 29) for the Irish and UK author 35 or younger. The post The Sunday Times Prize Jury Names Five Young Writers to Shortlist appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Each November for the past 18 years, thousands of writers have taken the National Novel Writing Month challenge, creating a 50,000-word novel draft in 30 days. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jacaranda Books founder Valerie Brandes has been named one of the 100 most influential black Britons. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ebury Press has acquired a "ground-breaking" study of depression by science writer Alex Riley at auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Unseen material from J K Rowling and Bloomsbury’s personal collections sit alongside artefacts from the British Library's archives in the new Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibition, which opens today. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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W H Smith has reported a 2% rise in revenue and a 7% rise in pre-tax profits for the year to end August 2017. However its book business saw a like-for-like revenue drop of 4% on the previous year. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Iranian poet Mahvash Sabet has been announced as the 2017 International Writer of Courage and will share the PEN Pinter Prize with Irish writer Michael Longley. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Brand says it ‘missed mark’ after being accused of racism in campaign promoting body lotionDove has apologised after publishing an advert on its Facebook page which showed a black woman turning into a white woman. The brand was accused of racism over the online advertising campaign and it later... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2017-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The BBC Young Writers’ Award shortlist has been unveiled with themes ranging from abuse, divorce, a “struggle to survive in an unforgiving world” and retribution with influences including Margaret Atwood and Ernest Hemingway. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Originally founded in Chicago as Third World Press in 1967, the Third World Press Foundation has been challenging the publishing landscape with its African-American literature ever since. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Stephen Clarke, c.e.o. of W H Smith, is delivering the first lecture of a new Global Challenges course at the University of Edinburgh Business School next month. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nikesh Shukla and literary agent Julia Kingsford have launched Kickstarter appeal to fund The Good Journal, with further plans for an affiliated agencyAfter selling more than 50,000 copies and being named the British public’s favourite book of 2016, the success of anthology The Good Immigrant... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2017-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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