Complete fiction: why 'the short story renaissance' is a myth

With soaring sales, viral hits like Cat Person and a cameo by Tom Hanks, the form seems to be staging a comeback. But did it ever go away?In 2017, almost 50% more short story collections were sold than in the previous year. It was the best year for short stories since 2010. Booksellers are reporting a surge in popularity for the form, commentators note publishers are buying more collections and issuing them with greater care and enthusiasm; in December the newcomer Kristen Roupenian cut five- and seven-figure deals in the UK and US after her New Yorker story “Cat Person” went viral. On top of all that, collections are being reviewed more than ever before, the Sunday Times EFG short story award (worth £30,000) has received its highest ever number of entries and the BBC national short story award continues to grow in popularity. We are experiencing the renaissance of the short story form, right?Wrong; which isn’t to say 2017 wasn’t a good year for the short story – it was, but the “renaissance of the short story” story is an old one that is rolled out year after year. Does that matter? I think it does. By getting caught up in this recurring phantom narrative, and dwelling on press release froth rather than the work being produced, we spurn the opportunity to talk about short stories in a way that might actually deepen how they are understood and engaged with by readers.How can the short story ever have time to wither, given the frequency of its rebirth?In the cases of Tom... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2018-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #books sold #complete fiction #cat person #tom hanks #short stories #short story #jojo moyes

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Canadian Publishers’ Offers: New Fiction and Nonfiction at Frankfurt

An impressive array of fiction and nonfiction is on offer this year at Frankfurt Book Fair, as Canadian publishers' rights directors talk up their new books. The post Canadian Publishers’ Offers: New Fiction and Nonfiction at Frankfurt appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cover Story: 'The Guineveres'

After the ARCs went out for Sarah Domet's debut novel, its cover went through a complete redesign. Here's why. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Gangster ballad love story' to Granta

Granta has acquired The Earlie King and The Kid in Yellow, a debut novel by Irish writer Danny Denton. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Heyer's 'newly-discovered' stories to WH

William Heinemann is publishing in October a Regency short story collection, Snowdrift and Other Stories, by late historical romance novelist Georgette Heyer, including three newly-discovered tales. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Square One Enters the Fiction Market

Best known for publishing nonfiction books in such areas as alternative medicine, the indie publisher is trying its hand at fiction after acquiring the rights to five novels by James Misko. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ebury to publish 'high-concept' love story by Rowan Coleman

Ebury is publishing two more books from Rowan Coleman, author of 2015 Richard and Judy selection The Memory Book (Ebury Press). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #love story #rowan coleman


Astronaut Tim Peake signs non-fiction debut

Penguin Random House is publishing British astronaut Tim Peake's non-fiction debut, Hello, is this planet Earth? in November. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tribute to World War II hero in documentary 'Never Surrender: The Ed Ramsey Story'

An evident labor of love that could have benefited from a sharper thematic focus, “Never Surrender: The Ed Ramsey Story” pays tribute to the late WWII hero who earned a place in military lore for having led the last cavalry charge in U.S. military history. Illinois-born Ramsey, who died in 2013... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Australia accused of prior knowledge of 'gaps' in Gibson's fraudulent story

Penguin Australia has come under further fire for publishing disgraced health blogger Belle Gibson's cookbook, with court files revealing the publisher was aware of obvious "gaps" in her story. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Backroom story' behind Team GB's Olympic success to Ebury

Ebury Press has signed "the backroom story" of Team GB’s Olympic success to be written by Times journalist Owen Slot. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kensington Launches Digital Speculative Fiction Imprint

Kensington Publishing Corp. will begin publishing science fiction and fantasy ebooks this fall with the launch of Rebel Base Books, a digital-only imprint to be overseen by editor Martin Biro. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Forgotten Georgette Heyer stories to be republished

Three short stories by the queen of Regency romance have been discovered by her biographer and are being reprinted in a new volumeA trio of forgotten stories by the queen of Regency romance Georgette Heyer have been uncovered by her biographer and are due to be published, for the first time in... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Clare Hey joins Orion Fiction as publishing director

Clare Hey, editorial director at Simon & Schuster UK, is joining Orion Fiction as publishing director.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Gaiman to retell Norse myths in new title

Bloomsbury has acquired the UK and Commonwealth rights to Norse Mythology, a retelling of the Norse myths by Neil Gaiman. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Israel’s Short-Lived Fixed-Price Book Law: A Rights Agent’s Viewpoint

International publishing rights agent Stephanie Barrouillet of Tel Aviv describes the effects of a short-lived fixed-price law, just repealed by Israel. The post Israel’s Short-Lived Fixed-Price Book Law: A Rights Agent’s Viewpoint appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A hundred years on from Agatha Christie’s first novel, crime fiction is going cosy again

Hercule Poirot and Miss Marples are among golden age sleuths giving new inspiration to a genre tired of alcoholic divorcees and goth hackersForget domestic noir and put down all those books with “Girl” in the title. Crime fiction is turning back the clock to its golden age with a host of books... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-09-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Donal Ryan | 'Fiction is always a series of guesses'

With two critically lauded novels under his belt, Irish author Donal Ryan returns with another scintillating tale, writes Alice O’Keeffe. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sphere wins 'life-affirming story' in six-way auction

Sphere Fiction has won a "hotly-contested" six-way auction to publish Eva Woods' "life-affirming" story of love, loss and female friendship, How to be Happy, in October 2017. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cover Story: 'Little Nothing'

For designer Rachel Willey, a new novel by Marisa Silver presented a golden opportunity. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Colour fiction titles 'next big trend' for PRH Children's

Penguin Random House Children’s is launching a new range of colour fiction books after acquiring titles by Judd Winick, Victoria Jamieson and Terri Lebnenson. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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