How self-published novel Jalan Jalan took flight with an Asian publisher

Mike Stoner couldn’t find a publisher for his story of an expat’s dark days in Indonesia – until he looked eastAs soon as I read Mike Stoner’s self-published novel, Jalan Jalan, I had a feeling that it ought to be able to find a commercial publisher. The book was the last winner of the Guardian’s self-published book of the month, which picked seven books from open submissions between June and December 2014 and reviewed them on the site. I followed the series from the start, but Jalan Jalan was the first entry to really catch my attention. The tale follows a heartbroken young Brit through Indonesia, where he finds himself embroiled in a murky world at the bottom of the expat barrel after accepting a teaching job at a dodgy language school after a five-minute telephone interview.Josh Lacey called it an “involving tale of self-transformation, and a welcome blast of heat and spice”. It’s all that and more; a curious blend of Alex Garland and Nick Hornby with a ghost thrown in for good measure. It has some memorable drug- and alcohol-fuelled set pieces, lots of very funny dialogue, and lashings of tropical atmosphere. But it also has a more complex, moving and rather magical core. The protagonist – whose name is not revealed until the final chapter – is haunted by memories of his dead girlfriend, and as the book progresses it becomes clear that there is more going on here than mere misadventure in a foreign land. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sony Debuts New DRM for Publishers: Digital Spotlight 2015

In recent ears, the big question surrounding digital rights management (DRM) software in publishing has been whether or not publishers should use it at all. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Multi-State Lawsuit Filed Against Orbital Publishing Group

The company, along with a network of other entities, is accused of charging as much as twice the regular subscription price and pocketing the difference. The post Multi-State Lawsuit Filed Against Orbital Publishing Group appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2015-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Egmont to publish Pooh anthology sequel

Egmont Publishing will next year release a Winnie-The-Pooh anthology to mark the 90th anniversary of the original A A Milne book. The anthology, currently untitled, is a sequel to Return to the Hundred Acre Wood in 2009, which was the first authorised sequel to A. A. Milne’s stories. The... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Obeikan: Saudi Arabia’s Education Publisher, Bookseller, Printer

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing Industry Antics on April Fools

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Orbital Publishing Accused of Fraud in Selling Subscriptions

Top prosecutors in several states accused an Oregon company on Tuesday of overcharging consumers for subscriptions to newspapers, magazines and other periodicals.   The Orbital Publishing Group, a periodical subscription service, is facing accus ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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From Bologna: Mattel Publishing Has New Plans

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bologna Prize for the Best Children's Publisher of the Year

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Page One’s 21st-Century Asian Bookstore Strategy

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What will be on digital publishers’ minds a year from now?

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[ Digiday | 2015-03-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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From bots to bottom lines: Publishers on ad fraud (Infographic)

We asked attendees at last week’s Digiday Publishing Summit to come clean on their ability to face up to the threat of ad fraud. Here’s how well they’re coping with bots, how big of a threat ad fraud will be in the next 12 months and more. Sponsor content by Distil Networks. The post From bots... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury to publish Rosoff's first adult title

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[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers Respond to Bookstore Chain's Dropping Heaven Books

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In Italian Publishing, Caution Prevails

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nielsen’s BookInsights: UK Publishers Sold £2.2 Billion in 2014

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Watch the Digiday Publishing Summit live

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[ Digiday | 2015-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What brands and publishers need to know about Facebook’s developer conference

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[ Digiday | 2015-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publisher Who Defied Russia’s Anti-Gay Laws Wins AAP “Freedom” Award

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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