Two years ago, we called publishers to account for the glaring lack of diversity in the industry. Pledges were made and initiatives set up. Have things improved?Find out about the new projects to encourage inclusivity in the book businessIn December 2015, British publishing stood accused of woeful blindness to diversity, and not for the first time, after World Book Night (WBN) announced its titles, and none of the 15 books was by a writer of colour. An apology was issued by organisers but a wider malaise had already set in, and along with it, the troubling feeling that WBN’s oversight was less an isolated incident and more a recurring pattern of exclusion that stretched across the literary establishment.A report on the state of the books industry had been published earlier that year by the development agency Spread the Word, which drew attention to how intransigently white, middle-class (and further up the ladder, male) it remained, from literary festivals and prizes to publications and personnel. Then, last autumn, there was more embarrassing exposure when World Book Day – which focuses on children’s titles – issued its own all-white book list and an independent publisher flagged up the fact that only one black, British male debut novelist had been published in 2016. Earlier this year, there was talk of a boycott when the Carnegie medal for children’s literature revealed its all-white longlist. Related: Only 4.8% of TV writers are black. As one of them, I know the system... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2017-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
Stewart Collins says support for the Petworth literary festival in West Sussex is growing, and Kathryn Streatfield suggests local events are the solution for a changing festival worldLaura Barton’s piece paints an understandably downbeat picture of where we are now in the world of the literary... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2024-10-29 16:25:30 UTC ]
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Children’s illustrator whose picture books with his wife, Elizabeth, and authors such as Ted Hughes, are enjoyed worldwideThe illustrator Gerald Rose, who has died aged 87, was the youngest winner of the Kate Greenaway medal for children’s book illustration, in 1960. Then still in his mid-20s... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2023-05-12 17:25:36 UTC ]
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Tributes have flooded in for the much-loved writer, who wrote more than 40 books for children and adults including the recent Be the Change handbooksAuthor Marcus Sedgwick, who wrote more than 40 books for children and adults, has died aged 54. His literary agency RCW has confirmed his death,... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2022-11-17 13:02:14 UTC ]
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The first round of the £275m Culture Recovery Fund has been allocated, and sees some indie presses receiving up to £200,000. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-12 07:24:04 UTC ]
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It's no secret that most authors are introverts. That doesn't mean that we don't enjoy bookshop events and literary festivals. Who doesn't love talking about their books or their writing process? But afterwards, we are spent, drained of energy, and need to recharge. Writing is a solitary... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-16 01:39:18 UTC ]
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Michael Joseph is building anticipation for Alex Pavesi's debut Eight Detectives with a series of innovative Zoom-hosted murder mysteries for retailers, literary festivals, journalists and bloggers. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-07-28 00:05:23 UTC ]
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Writing doesn’t pay. According to a report released last year by the Royal Society for Literature and the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society, most writers earn below the minimum wage. The numbers are stark: two thirds of writers earn between £100 and £10,000. Only 5% of writers can expect... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2020-04-21 05:32:29 UTC ]
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I draw, write, speak about, teach, facilitate and organise events about comics. After graduating with a degree in Social Anthropology from the University of Sussex, I attended art college and worked as a freelance illustrator. In 2008, I began to incorporate comics into my practice. I also... Continue reading at British Council global
[ British Council global | 2020-03-11 13:11:13 UTC ]
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An assistant professor of publishing says vouchers are the best way for literary festivals to sell books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-08-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Three of the eight shortlisted novels for the UK’s most prestigious children’s book award are coming-of-age stories in verseAlmost half of the novels shortlisted for the UK’s most prestigious children’s book award, the Carnegie medal, are written in free verse.Founded in memory of the... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2019-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Three out of the eight books shortlisted for this year’s Carnegie Medal are verse novels, while Jon Klassen is in the running to win his second Kate Greenaway Medal. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Crime Writers' Association has created the role of festival liaison officer to strengthen the links between crime writers and literary festivals. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-01-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Former children’s laureate Chris Riddell has three books nominated for the 2019 CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal, whilst authors Sita Brahmachari, Juno Dawson and Emma Carroll appear twice on the list of nominations for the Carnegie Medal. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Catherine Murphy discusses how literary festivals and book events can accommodate disabled attendees. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Charlotte Eyre talks to Geraldine McCaughrean, who this week picked up the Carnegie Medal for a second time, and illustrator Sydney Smith, who claimed the Kate Greenaway. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Independent poetry publisher Offord Road Books is opening its submissions window exclusively to writers from black, asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds until March. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Two years ago, we called publishers to account for the glaring lack of diversity in the industry. Pledges were made and initiatives set up. Have things improved?Find out about the new projects to encourage inclusivity in the book businessIn December 2015, British publishing stood accused of... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2017-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nikesh Shukla and literary agent Julia Kingsford have launched Kickstarter appeal to fund The Good Journal, with further plans for an affiliated agencyAfter selling more than 50,000 copies and being named the British public’s favourite book of 2016, the success of anthology The Good Immigrant... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2017-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In a series to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, author Tanya Byrne says true diversity in books for young people is shamefully overdueAs a BAME author who writes BAME characters, I’m frequently asked to explain why my books are so unusual. They’re not unusual, at least I don’t... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2017-08-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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