Don't judge a cat book by its cover

Publishers may think a cute animal on the cover is what sells in the supermarket, but ask around online and those who buy pet books will tell you otherwiseThe moment of receiving your first book jacket is one that every author remembers. I was so excited when I got mine – a jacket, for a book, written by me, that was going to be published – it took me a while to realise it wasn't quite right. When the time came for the smaller, mass market paperback edition of the book concerned (a memoir about my golfing adolescence, called Nice Jumper) and my agent and I suggested a change of image, my publishers were only too happy to work towards something that suited everyone. That was 12 years ago, though, and the publishing industry has changed a lot since then, with supermarkets becoming increasingly dominant and power swinging away from editorial and towards sales. It had already changed a lot by early 2009 when Simon & Schuster, the publishers of my fifth book, Under the Paw, sent me their proposal for the book's paperback edition. I instantly knew I hated the cover and instantly knew there was not a lot I could do about it.In Under the Paw, I'd written about the chaos of more than three decades living at the beck and call of several of the world's most demanding felines. I was realistic about the book's marketing: although proper writers such as William Boyd, Kate Atkinson and David Sedaris had said nice stuff about it, it was, after all, a memoir about some cats, and no... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2013-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #screen trade #tom cox

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Don't judge a cat book by its cover'


St Albans teacher's hidden book cover pebbles inspire reading

Secret pebble pictures featuring famous book covers encourage children to delve into stories. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2018-09-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


100 Women: The artist redrawing 'sexist' comic book covers

An artist in India is challenging sexist drawings of women in comic books, by reimaging male heroes. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2018-08-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #comic books


Sphere wins auction to publish Zelda the cat's first book

Sphere is publishing the first book of London rescue cat Curious Zelda, whose startled look has attracted a following of more than 80,000 on Twitter. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Kerr picture book cover revealed as author turns 95

HarperCollins Children’s Books has revealed the cover of Judith Kerr’s new picture book to celebrate the author’s 95th birthday. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harpercollins children #picture book #95th birthday


Covering the International Books Industry: A Discussion of Trends and Challenges

From European markets recovering from financial losses to translation in the US market and book-pricing differences based on authors' genders, a 'Beyond the Book' panel at BookExpo looked at recent coverage of the books industry. The post Covering the International Books Industry: A Discussion... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #challenges appeared #financial losses #books industry


BookCon 2018: Dear Evan Hansen: The Novel: You Can Judge a Book By Its Musical

The creators of the six-time Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen have collaborated with a novelist to turn their story into a book. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Why are middle-aged women invisible on book covers? | Alison Flood

Even when they’re central to the story, women over 40 are getting pushed to one side when it’s time to design the book jacketHere’s a challenge for you: find a book jacket that features an image of a woman over 40. My own hunt – as yet unsuccessful – was prompted by the actor and novelist... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-05-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book covers #book jacket #alison flood #publisher head


New Street Cat Named Bob book coming in November

Hodder and Stoughton has acquired a follow-up to James Bowen's international bestseller A Street Cat Named Bob called The Little Book of Bob. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


National Book Awards Judges Announced; Submission Process Opens

The National Book Foundation has announced the names of the 25 judges that will determine the lists of nominees for the 2018 National Book Awards. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


National Book Foundation Opens Its 2018 Award Submissions and Names Judging Panels

Twenty-five judges will produce 50 longlisted titles, then 25 shortlisted books, and finally five winners of the 2018 National Book Awards, this year with the all-new Translation Literature prize among them. The post National Book Foundation Opens Its 2018 Award Submissions and Names Judging... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


British Book Award Judges Announced as the ‘Nibbies’ Entry Deadline Approaches

With roughly 25 awards on the list, the British Book Awards–the 'Nibbies'–are selected by a sizable group of industry players who serve as jurors. The deadline for entries in this year's competition is February 9. The post British Book Award Judges Announced as the ‘Nibbies’ Entry Deadline... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #industry players


‘Cat Person’ Author, Kristen Roupenian, Gets 7-Figure Book Deal

Kristen Roupenian, the author of “Cat Person,” a fiction piece in The New Yorker that became a viral phenomenon, has agreed to a two-book deal. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2017-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cat person #kristen roupenian


Cat Person author's debut book sparks flurry of international publishing deals

Following her viral short story hit, Kristen Roupenian’s You Know You Want This has been sold to Cape in the UK, with the US auction said to be topping $1mKristen Roupenian, whose short story about a relationship turned sour, Cat Person, set the internet on fire last week, has sold her debut... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #debut book #text messages #true colours


Letter from the Editors: Covering Sexual Abuse in the Book Business

As a trade publication for the book business, we are committed to helping make publishing a profession where all members are given the respect they deserve. That means covering sexual abuse in publishing—with rigor. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book business #trade publication


Nick Clegg to chair Russian Book Prize judging panel

Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg will chair the judging panel for the 2018 Russian Book Prize run by Pushkin House. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nick clegg #judging panel #pushkin house


Yuval Noah Harari's new book to cover global warming, God and nationalism

The historian’s next book, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, will ask ‘what should we teach children today to prepare them for the world of tomorrow’ and promises a sweeping look at the futureFaced with a world stuck in “nostalgic fantasies about going back to the past”, where politicians are “no... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #homo sapiens #21st century #title ahead


Cover versions: why are UK and US book jackets often so different?

The American edition of Hillary Clinton’s What Happened looks stylish and elegant; the UK one is dreadful. But the reasons that books differ so much across different markets isn’t solely down to simple salesCovers sell books. But in the case of Hillary Clinton’s memoir What Happened, you can’t... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #published worldwide #simon schuster #oval office #barack obama


The Art of Books: An Exhibition of Shobunsha’s Star Cover Designer Kouga Hirano

From the Japan Times: The Kyoto DDD Gallery's exhibition of Kouga Hirano's work includes his book covers for Shobunsha, a 30-year body of designs. The post The Art of Books: An Exhibition of Shobunsha’s Star Cover Designer Kouga Hirano appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-09-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #work includes #book covers


James and Smith join Blue Peter Book Awards as judges

Kid Normal authors Greg James and Chris Smith are joining the Blue Peter Book Awards’ judging panel. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #chris smith #judging panel


What Are Book Cover Designers and Editors Earning? The Freelance Reality

Ninety-five percent of freelance pros at the Reedsy Marketplace have worked for the Big Five. Now we know more about what they're making. The post What Are Book Cover Designers and Editors Earning? The Freelance Reality appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |