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 2,000 SF stories published last year were by black writers.The report, published by the magazine Fireside Fiction, states that just 38 of the 2,039 stories published in 63 magazines in 2015 were by black writers. With the bulk of the industry based in the US, more than half of all speculative fiction publications the report considered did not publish a single original story by a black author. “The probability that it is random chance that only 1.96% of published writers are black in a country where 13.2% of the population is black is 0.00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000321%,” says the report.It’s a popular fallacy that if a single black person succeeds then we’ve obviously moved past institutionalised racismI have a better chance of being wrongfully convicted of a crime than I do of selling a piece to a SF magazine Related: Daniel José Older creates female black heroes to make fantasy more real Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-08-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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IS study to Saqi

Saqi Books has signed world rights to a new book on the rise of Islamic State by UK-based journalist Abdel Bari Atwan. Atwan was editor-in-chief of the London-based pan-Arab daily al-Quds al-Arabi for 25 years, and now edits website Rai al-Youm. The book, Islamic State: The Digital Caliphate,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #saqi books #islamic state #field research #sources close


Six-strong shortlist for International Prize for Arabic Fiction

Atef Abu Saif, Jana Elhassan, Lina Huyan Elhassan, Shukri al-Mabkhout, Ahmed al-Madeeni and Hammour Ziada are the six authors shortlisted for the 2015 International Prize for Arabic Fiction. The shortlisted was revealed by a judging panel chaired by Palestinian poet and writer, Mourid... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #six-strong shortlist #international prize #arabic fiction #jana elhassan


Does fan fiction spell the end of the professional novelist?

In popular genres such as sci-fi and fantasy, fan fiction based on the Wattpad model could easily disrupt the publishing industryFor a few years in the mid 2000s, I was the young librarian who got sent to schools to convince kids they really did want to read books. The truth of my experience was... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book world #vast majority #young adults


Susan Golomb Joining Writers House

Veteran literary agent Susan Golomb, whose clients include Jonathan Franzen and William T. Vollmann, will be starting at Writers House on March 1. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Women writers dominate Waterstones kids' shortlist

Female authors account for the vast majority of this year’s Waterstones Children’s Book Prize this year, with 15 of the 18 titles written by women (see full shortlists below). The prize is divided into three categories – best illustrated book, best fiction for 5-12s and best book for teens –... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book prize #illustrated book #vast majority #waterstones children #books shortlisted #steve antony #rob biddulph


Male writers feature on RNA shortlists

Three male authors are among the many writers shortlisted for the Romantic Novel Awards 2015 (full lists below), which are traditionally overwhelmingly dominated by women. Stephen Burke is shortlisted in the Historical Romantic Novel category for his novel The Good Italian by (Hodder &... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #romantic comedy #male authors #hodder stoughton


Marvel pulls Sony and 'Spider-Man' into its Cinematic Universe

You can add a few more entries to the long list of comic book movies due in the next few years, as Sony Pictures has revealed its plans for the Spider-Man franchise. As suggested in emails leaked during the recent hacking scandal, the studio has work... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #long list #sony pictures


Thrillist CEO Ben Lerer: Publishers Must Find Revenue Sources Beyond Advertising

For Thrillist, remnant advertising is non-existent and ads aren't sold programmatically. Instead, the digital publisher embraced ecommerce. That business is now three times the size of its ad business. Continue reading at AdAge.com Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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No Panic Over 15 Percent Drop in Christian Fiction Sales

Christian publishers are not in panic mode despite recent Nielsen BookScan numbers indicating Christian fiction sales dropped 15 percent from 2013 to 2014. Houses with major fiction programs remain optimistic about the category and are not pulling back. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Black & White signs teenager's Wattpad trilogy

Scottish independent publisher Black & White Publishing has acquired a three-book series by 17-year-old Estelle Maskame, which has already had 4m hits on Wattpad. Maskame has more than 125,000 Twitter followers and her Did I Mention I Love You? (DIMILY) trilogy has had 4m hits on digital... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #three-book series


How Are Famous Fictional Characters Reacting to Scout’s Return?

Roger Tagholm imagines how other characters from fiction would react to the news that Harper Lee is giving Scout Finch a second chance at life. The post How Are Famous Fictional Characters Reacting to Scout’s Return? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harper lee


Native Tongues: Middle East Fiction in Translation: Middle East Books 2015

In an oft-cited statistic, Chad Post, publisher of Open Letter Books at the University of Rochester and an outspoken advocate for books in translation, estimates that 3% of fiction and poetry books published in the U.S. are translations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Founders of Electric Lit; Black Balloon Launch New Publishing Venture

Catapult will launch in fall 2015, with Padgett Powell's story collection, 'Cries for Help, Various.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing venture #story collection


Harris joins Bonnier in children's fiction role

Jane Harris is to join the Bonnier Publishing Fiction division as executive director for children's fiction. Harris will report to recently appointed Bonnier Publishing Fiction c.e.o. Mark Smith, and will be responsible for all the company's children's fiction output, including imprints Hot Key... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jane harris #fiction output #mark smith #piccadilly press


B&N Names 2014 Discover Great New Writers Finalists

The program, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, recognizes great fiction and nonfiction debuts from authors at the start of their careers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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On Writers and Writing review – Margaret Atwood on her profession

Drawing on her panoramic reading and her experiences of the authorly life cycle, Atwood surveys her trade with a mix of seriousness and gentle fun“You may find the subject a little peculiar,” warns Margaret Atwood, before she discusses the writer’s relationship with mortality. “It is a little... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #life cycle #publishing industry #works hard


Study of Britain's radical right triumphs at Political Book Awards

Matthew Goodwin and Robert Ford’s Revolt on the Right: Explaining Support for the Radical Right in Britain (Routledge) has won the top honour at the Paddy Power Political Book Awards. Academics Goodwin and Ford won the Political Book of the Year honour at the award ceremony in London last night... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #top honour #political book #year honour #award ceremony


Enright made Laureate for Irish Fiction

Anne Enright has been appointed the first Laureate for Irish Fiction. The author receives €150,000 over the three-year term of her Laureateship, during which she will continue her own work as a creative artist, teach creative writing at University College Dublin and New York University, and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #irish fiction #anne enright #york university


New Fantasy Writers and Internet-Haters Dominate Our Favorite Books This Month

While January can suffer from a post-holiday publication lull, it's a great time room for cooler, less conventional reads. The post New Fantasy Writers and Internet-Haters Dominate Our Favorite Books This Month appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2015-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins India Tries To Save Hindi Pulp Fiction

The Times of India recently examined the problems facing Hindi pulp fiction in the era of ebooks, which may be killing off cheap pocket editions. The post HarperCollins India Tries To Save Hindi Pulp Fiction appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harpercollins india