Book festivals are worth far more than fees | Claire Armitstead

Writers, championed by Philip Pullman, may object to attending literary gatherings for free. But the events help to sustain a reading culturePhilip Pullman became cheerleader for a growing band of refuseniks last week when he resigned as president of the Oxford literary festival because it didn’t pay speakers. Thirty more writers immediately picked up the chant, with a letter to the trade journal the Bookseller calling for all authors and publishers to boycott festivals that expected writers to appear for free.With a 2014 survey reporting that the median income for authors is now just £11,000, these are undoubtedly lean times, and it’s understandable that emotions are running high. But, according to recent figures, the earnings gap has also widened dramatically between the top 1% and the rest – which translates, in festival terms, into the sort of writers who audiences will queue up to hear, and those for whom they won’t. Related: Book festival speakers’ pay is not an ‘additional cost’ | Letters Related: Philip Pullman resigns as Oxford literary festival patron over lack of pay for authors Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-01-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #median income #additional cost

Other news stories related to: "Book festivals are worth far more than fees | Claire Armitstead"


The 2020 books worth reading now

Amber Sparks, Louise Erdrich, James McBride and other beloved authors have delivered standout books this year. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2020-03-27 17:13:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #beloved authors #james mcbride #louise erdrich #amber sparks


Are women's book festivals part of the problem?

The moment they hit the press, the reviews for The Mirror And The Light were glowing. A “shoo-in for the Booker Prize” said the Guardian. “A masterpiece of historical fiction” according to the Independent. “Does it merit another Booker?” asks the Evening Standard, before concluding “yes it... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-27 10:51:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #sunday times #evening standard #historical fiction #booker prize


Zimet to join Edinburgh International Book Festival

Tamara Zimet is joining the Edinburgh International Book Festival as deputy programme director.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-03-09 04:56:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Coronavirus: Milan’s Stefano Mauri to World Book Fairs and Festivals: Postpone

From near the heart of the Italian crisis, a publishing icon withdraws GeMS from London Book Fair and calls rights centers a "nightmare of epidemiologists.' The post Coronavirus: Milan’s Stefano Mauri to World Book Fairs and Festivals: Postpone appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2020-03-02 18:15:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #world book #london book fair #stefano mauri #post coronavirus


Mackay to leave Edinburgh International Book Festival

​Simon Mackay is to leave his role as head of book sales and retail at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in spring 2020 to take on a new project.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-02-24 21:36:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #book sales


McDermid and Phillips to headline Essex Book Festival

​Crime author Val McDermid and Labour MP Jess Phillips will headline this year's Essex Book Festival.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-01-14 04:47:57 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #book festival


Online book festival to launch new genre events for 2020

Online book festival My Virtual Literary Festival (MyVLF) will launch a series of new festivals based on different genres later this year.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-01-03 11:05:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #book festival #online book


Select Book Conferences, Fairs, and Festivals in 2020

Here’s our roundup of some of the big stops on the publishing meeting circuit for 2020. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2020-01-03 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Why You Should Go to a Book Festival and How to Choose One

Book conventions are the next level of book fandom and can be really rewarding. Here's why you should go and how to choose the right one for you. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-12-31 11:33:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #book festival


A Queer Reading List from LGBTQ-Identified Authors at the PDX Book Festival

THIS NOVEMBER, the PDX Book Festival took place in Portland, Oregon. The annual one-day event always includes some of the best contemporary writers, and many of the best contemporary writers are queer. (We are good artists.) This year, the festival included over 100 authors participating in... Continue reading at Los Angeles Review of Books

[ Los Angeles Review of Books | 2019-12-22 20:00:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #book festival #contemporary writers


Weekly E-Book Ranking: Adam Kay's festive follow-up shifts back into the top

Adam Kay's Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas (Picador) has re-claimed the Weekly E-Book Ranking number one, topping the chart for the first time since its launch week in October. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-19 16:49:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #e-book #e-book ranking #launch week #adam kay


Bertrams rolls out festive 'believe in books' campaign

​Bertrams has unveiled its Christmas campaign, with the tagline "Believe in Books" as the wholesaler heads into the festive trading period.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-16 14:27:10 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #christmas campaign


L.A. libraries will stop collecting late fees for overdue books and other materials

L.A. city officials cancel library fines, which some believe discourage working families from taking advantage of books and other library offerings. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-12-13 18:32:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #libraries #taking advantage


Gulliver to depart Edinburgh International Book Festival

Roland Gulliver, associate director at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, is to step down from the post in February 2020, after 13 years with EIBF. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-06 11:36:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #associate director


Nikesh Shukla and Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers to appear at first Paisley Book Festival

Author Nikesh Shukla will join broadcaster Kirsty Wark to headline the inaugural Paisley Book Festival in February 2020, with contributions also coming from Emma Jane Unsworth and the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-26 15:25:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #book festival #crime writers #fun lovin #nikesh shukla


HC announces new 'festive feel-good' picture book from Walliams and Ross

HarperCollins Children’s Books is publishing a new "showstopping" children's picture book from author–illustrator team David Walliams and Tony Ross, called The Creature Choir, in time for Christmas. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-18 16:36:42 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #picture book #harpercollins #tony ross #harpercollins children


Inaugural Paisley Book Festival to launch next year

Paisley will host its first ever book festival in February 2020, honouring the "brilliant political thinkers and creatives that have long been associated with the area", say organisers.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-22 11:53:08 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #book festival


What’s an Influencer Worth to Books?

Two editors turned ghostwriters ask what social media stars bring to publishing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Raina Telgemeier offers up an ode to reading, in honor of the National Book Festival

The graphic novelist behind “Smile” and “Sisters” will be a featured author at the festival Saturday. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-08-27 16:19:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #graphic novelist


Edinburgh Book Festival: Sturgeon shares 'theory' on politicians and literature

Nicola Sturgeon has taken to the stage at Edinburgh Books Festival and shared her theory on politicians and literature.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-23 11:17:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #nicola sturgeon