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

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Complete fiction: why 'the short story renaissance' is a myth'


Competition Notes: Sunday Times Prize Judges, Harper Lee Legal Fiction Prize Finalists

Elif Shafak and Lucy Hughes-Hallett are named judges in London; the public is one of five judges in the Alabama-based Harper Lee Prize. The post Competition Notes: Sunday Times Prize Judges, Harper Lee Legal Fiction Prize Finalists appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #elif shafak #lucy hughes-hallett


Emma Kavanagh moves to Orion Fiction

Crime writer and police psychologist Emma Kavanagh has signed a three book deal with Orion Fiction.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-05-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #orion fiction #crime writer #book deal


Cultivating a New Chapter for Story Plant with ‘Rewrites’

Taking a leap into audio production—without starting with a book—independent publisher Story Plant teams up with an author and a new work...about authors. The post Cultivating a New Chapter for Story Plant with ‘Rewrites’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-05-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Juvenile Fiction Is a Bright Spot in a Down Week

Unit sales of print books fell 3% in the week ended May 7, 2017, compared to the similar week in 2016, at outlets that report to NPD BookScan. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-05-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #week ended #juvenile fiction #bright spot


Bloomsbury signs 'major' non-fiction book The Growth Delusion

Bloomsury has signed a "major" work of non-fiction entitled The Growth Delusion by David Pilling. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-05-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bloomsbury signs #non-fiction book


'Untold' story of Wu-Tang album to Jacaranda

Jacaranda Books has acquired Once Upon a Time in Shaolin by Cyrus Bozogmehr, the "untold" story of Wu-Tang Clan's controversial album of the same name. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-05-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jacaranda books


Ian Rankin on his fear of running out of stories

He has sold more than 20 million books and is one of the most respected crime writers in the world, but Ian Rankin still feels like an imposter. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2017-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ian rankin


Min Kym | 'The instrument just seemed to complete my life'

Caroline Sanderson talks to Min Kym about her book Gone: A Girl, A Violin, A Life Unstrung, and her journey through music. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Waterfi Waterproofed Kindle Paperwhite review: A great e-reader that’s completely protected from water damage

If waterproof is high on your checklist of e-reader must-haves, we recommend that most people consider the Kobo Aura H20. It’s a capable ebook reader designed to stand up to the occasional poolside splash or even an extended soak in a hot tub. For anyone already invested in Amazon’s extensive... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2017-05-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #extensive collection #comic books #attractive proposition #kindle paperwhite


Declan Murphy and Ami Rao | a story two decades in the making

Champion jockey Declan Murphy wasn’t expected to survive a horrific riding accident in 1994 - let alone live to tell the tale, in conjunction with writer Ami Rao. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Sphere acquires 'feel-good book club' fiction by Sophie Green

Little, Brown imprint Sphere has acquired The Inaugural Meeting of the Fairvale Ladies Book Club by Sophie Green from Hachette Australia. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sphere acquires #hachette australia


Why Brit crime fiction is paying international dividends

After the Scandi noir boom, dark tales from British authors are making waves abroad. Publishers, agents and authors take up the caseWhen ex-paramedic Daniel Cole signed with agent Sue Armstrong, he was “delighted”. When Armstrong bagged him a six-figure, three-book deal from a British publisher... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #three-book deal #british publisher #debut crime #bestseller lists


Ebook sales drop as readers favour non-fiction books

Total book sales including physical and digital books rose 6% to £3.5bn, propped up by non-fiction. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2017-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Alwan's A Small Death wins $50k Arabic fiction prize

A Small Death (Dar Al Saqi) by Mohammed Hasan Alwan has won the 10th International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


'Compelling' story about organ donation wins £30k Wellcome Book Prize

Maylis de Kerangal’s Mend The Living, which explores the emotional and physical complexities of organ donation, has been named as the £30,000 winner of the 2017 Wellcome Book Prize. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Not just William: Richmal Crompton's adult fiction republished

Reissues aim to restore her darker stories of village intrigue for grownups to the popularity they once enjoyedRichmal Crompton has long been overshadowed by her creation Just William, but the darker side of her imagination is set to be rediscovered, with several of her lesser-known adult novels... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-04-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #richmal crompton #darker stories #darker side #prolific writer


Colson Whitehead wins the Pulitzer Prize in fiction for 'The Underground Railroad'

Colson Whitehead won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in fiction Monday for “The Underground Railroad.” It caps a sweep of accolades that the book has received since its publication by Doubleday in August 2016, including winning the National Book Award in November and being selected by Oprah Winfrey for... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-04-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pulitzer prize #underground railroad #oprah winfrey


Equal billing given to novels and non-fiction on Rathbones Folio Prize shortlist

Four works of non-fiction, including Hisham Matar's award-winning biography The Return (Viking), have been shortlisted for the £20,000 Rathbones Folio Prize. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #equal billing


Five Ways Reading Fiction Makes You Better At Your Job

It’s no secret that successful people are readers. Reading helps you stay on top of new trends and learn techniques you can use in your career. Bill Gates and Warren Buffett each share their favorite books at the end of the year, and they’re filled with nonfiction titles. But what about... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2017-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #associate professor


Telling Trump’s Story to Children: For Book Publishers, It’s Tricky

“A True Book: President Donald Trump” describes Mr. Trump’s real estate career, as well as public perceptions of his opponent during the election, Hillary Clinton. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2017-04-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publishers #hillary clinton