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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Datebook: L.A.'s boundaries explored, FBI files turned into art and stories of contemporary indigenous women

A show that maps Los Angeles and another that makes art of FBI files. Here are six exhibitions and events to check out in the coming week: “Here,” at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery. A group exhibition examines the physical and geographical boundaries that define Los Angeles and its... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Llewellyn to Close Its Midnight Ink Fiction Imprint

Citing continuing poor sales, Llewellyn Worldwide, best known for its mind/body/spirit offerings, is shutting down its crime fiction imprint, Midnight Ink, in August 2019, after releasing its final list during the spring/summer season. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-10-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Northern Ireland’s Anna Burns Wins 2018 Man Booker Prize for Fiction

The 17th woman to win the Man Booker Prize for Fiction, Anna Burns has won for 'Milkman,' set in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Her publisher, Faber & Faber, becomes the second biggest winner of Man Booker titles. The post Northern Ireland’s Anna Burns Wins 2018 Man Booker Prize for... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-10-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Walliams visits the Arctic in latest fiction adventure

David Walliams’ November releases will be a novel about about an ice monster in Victorian times and a picture book about a baby penguin who wants to fly, HarperCollins Children’s Books has confirmed. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Avon snaps up Williams' 'love story of near-misses'

HarperCollins' Avon imprint has acquired world all languages rights for a debut novel from journalist and author Laura Jane Williams. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-10-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Decline in Fiction Leads to Drop in Total Units in First Week of October

Unit sales of print books fell 2.7% in the week ended Oct. 6, 2018, compared to the similar week in 2017, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-10-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Guardian view on modern writers: the myth of the reclusive author | Editorial

These days, most writers cannot afford to live secluded from their public. But when a very private author like Thomas Harris announces a new novel, there’s always special excitementAuthors – at least as far as their relationship with the public goes – fall into several distinct categories. There... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Soft Fiction Sales Result in Decline in Mid-September

With fiction sales falling in both the adult and juvenile segments, total sales of print units slipped 1% in the week ended Sept. 23, 2018, compared to the similar week in 2017, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hodder to publish bedtime stories for stressed adults

Hodder & Stoughton is publishing Bedtime Stories for Stressed Out Adults - a collection of “soothing and consoling best loved stories and poems aimed to calm an anxious mind before sleep”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Irish TV star Ryan Tubridy pens Christmas jumper story

Walker Books will next month publish a Christmas story by Irish TV presenter Ryan Tubridy, with illustrations by Chris Judge. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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‘Berlin,’ Jason Lutes’s Epic Graphic Novel, Is Complete

PW talks to Jason Lutes about the creation of 'Berlin,' an epic historical graphic novel set during the rise of the Nazis party in 1920s Berlin, a book he has worked on for more than two decades. 'Berlin' will be published by Drawn & Quarterly this month. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-09-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers pronounce psychological thriller trend over, back smart non-fiction

Early signs suggest the market has moved on from psychological suspense novels and darker fiction, in favour of more uplifting, book-club titles and smart women’s fiction, publishers have told The Bookseller ahead of Frankfurt Book Fair. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bea Carvalho made Waterstones fiction buyer

Bea Carvalho has been appointed general fiction buyer at Waterstones, replacing Chris White. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing in Québec 2018: New Frontiers of Crime Fiction

Québec and its long, dark winters have much in common with the Scandinavian environment that has proven such a fertile ground for authors in the ever-popular Nordic noir genre. W Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Man Booker Prize for Fiction Names Its 2018 Shortlist

'Ranging across space and time,' according to jury chair Kwame Anthony Appiah, the 2018 Man Booker Prize shortlist includes three authors from the UK, one from Canada, two from the United States. The post The Man Booker Prize for Fiction Names Its 2018 Shortlist appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Kerr and Morpurgo support Seven Stories expansion campaign

Children’s authors Judith Kerr and Michael Morpurgo will next week launch a campaign to fund a new gallery at Seven Stories, the Newcastle-based National Centre for Children’s Books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hachette Completes Worthy Publishing Purchase

HBG's purchase involves Worthy’s entire publishing business, and Worthy founder Byron Williamson will become v-p, publishing development for Hachette Nashville, and will join HBG’s senior management group. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-09-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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National Book Awards 2018 Longlist: Fiction

The 10 books longlisted by the National Book Foundation for the 2018 National Book Awards in fiction feature five titles from imprints of Penguin Random House and one each from Graywolf, McSweeney's, Soho Press, Workman, and Simon & Schuster. The post National Book Awards 2018 Longlist:... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Oldcastle Books launches digital-only genre fiction imprint

Independent publishing group Oldcastle Books is launching a digital-only sister company, Verve Books. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A new Snapchat feature lets publishers create live stories out of users’ posts

Snapchat is launching a new feature with 26 publishers including CNN and NBC Sports. And unlike a lot of platform features, it doesn't require a ton of resources. The post A new Snapchat feature lets publishers create live stories out of users’ posts appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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