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 ]
News tagged with: #good measure #final chapter

Other Publishing stories related to: 'How self-published novel Jalan Jalan took flight with an Asian publisher'


Peru’s Literary Publisher Animal de Invierno Strides Ahead

Founded in 2013, Peru's Animal de Invierno is drawing attention for its bold new fiction titles and literary translations. The post Peru’s Literary Publisher Animal de Invierno Strides Ahead appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post peru #drawing attention #fiction titles #literary translations


Morgan James Publishing Teams with Aerbook

Morgan James Publishing, which dubs itself a house that functions on the "entrepreneurial" model, is partnering with Aerbook and the Aer.io Retail Network to offer excerpts and sales of its titles via social media. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Faber to publish Would I Lie to You? titles

Faber has acquired the rights to publish two books based on the BBC comedy panel show "Would I Lie to You?". The publisher beat seven other publishers to acquire the rights and the first, Would I Lie To You? Presents the 100 Most Popular Lies of All Time, will be released in October. The book... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books based #popular lies


Short Takes: Religion Publishing News Briefs, February 11, 2015

Nominations open for Christian Small Publishers awards; Barbour books recognized. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #short takes #nominations open


Student Newspaper Sex Edition Flagged as Explicit By Digital Publisher Issuu

Joining a slew of other student newspapers nationwide, The Spectrum at the University of Buffalo just released its annual sex edition. You can view it through the popular digital publishing platform Issuu — but only if you sign in first and ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


February 2015: Top Reviews of Self-Published Books from BlueInk Review

Our January 2015 selection of reviews from BlueInk Review, a service which reviews self-published books. The post February 2015: Top Reviews of Self-Published Books from BlueInk Review appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #top reviews #self-published books #blueink review


Reality Check: Sizing Up VC-Backed Publishers' Prospects

Amid widening concerns that another startup bubble has formed, digital media remains a white-hot market among the private-investment community.Last year, venture capital poured at least $683 million into digital media companies worldwide -- more than twice the $277 million invested in 2013,... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #vc-backed publishers #$683 million #trim costs


Flipboard moves to the web with plans to host some news publishers' content

After attracting more than 50m monthly readers on tablets and smartphones, US startup smashes down its walled garden and hopes partners will see the potentialFlipboard came to prominence as a news-reading app for tablets and smartphones, attracting more than 50 million monthly active readers by... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mobile app #reading experience #media companies


Self-published Rodgers hits a million in sales

Self-published author Sheila Rodgers has sold a million copies of her ebook Only the Innocent and two sequels, agent Lizzy Kremer has confirmed. Rodgers, who writes under the pen name Rachel Abbott, sold her books through Amazon Kindle after being rejected by literary agents. The first, Only... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #million copies #rachel abbott #amazon kindle #literary agents #reached number #kindle store


Thrillist CEO Ben Lerer: Publishers Must Find Revenue Sources Beyond Advertising

For Thrillist, remnant advertising is non-existent and ads aren't sold programmatically. Instead, the digital publisher embraced ecommerce. That business is now three times the size of its ad business. Continue reading at AdAge.com Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ad business #sold programmatically


Four Questions for...Hungarian Publisher Sárközy Bence

We spoke with the publisher and co-CEO of Hungary’s nearly four-year-old Libri Publishing House about the shrinking of his local market, why Hungarian readers don't love crime fiction, and the new novel he's recently acquired by a "genius" Hungarian author. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #local market #recently acquired


Delhi Calls: A Look at Publishing in India

The first major trade book fair of any new year marks an important date in most publishers' calendars. Things get rolling this year in New Delhi, where one of the year's first international trade publishing shows gets underway on Saturday. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #year marks


Why You Should Attend the St. Gallen Publishing Course in Singapore?

Looking to build the skills to take your publishing career to the next level? The St. Gallen International Publishing Course in Singapore may be for you. The post Why You Should Attend the St. Gallen Publishing Course in Singapore? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #gallen publishing #publishing career


Publishers See Little Impact after Heaven Book Recant

Evangelical publishers are predicting little impact on sales and plans for future books about round trips to the hereafter following the admission by Alex Malarkey that the story he told in 'The Boy Who Came Back from Heaven' is false. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #future books #alex malarkey


Getting Serious about Spanish-Language Publishing

This column marks the start of PW’s monthly coverage of the Spanish-language book market in the U.S. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #spanish-language publishing


European publishers assess the threat of ad blocking

We aslked Dazed Group, News U.K., Mashable and Monrif Group what they think about the ominous subject of ad blocking. The post European publishers assess the threat of ad blocking appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ad blocking


How European publishers set their tech priorities for the year

European executives from Mashable, Quartz, Dennis, RTE and Sanoma share their tech priorities for the coming year. The post How European publishers set their tech priorities for the year appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #coming year #year appeared


The Mobile Story for Publishers: Told in Key Stats

Thad McIlroy offers some statistics and key data on smartphones and tablets to help book publishers figure out how to address mobile technology. The post The Mobile Story for Publishers: Told in Key Stats appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Harper Lee's second novel to be published this summer

Publisher Harper announced Tuesday that "Go Set a Watchman," a novel the Pulitzer Prize-winning author completed in the 1950s and put aside, will be released July 14. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harper lee


Hutchinson to publish charity title on fathers and sons

Bono, Colm Tóibín, Paul McCartney and Salman Rushdie are among the big names contributing to an anthology about sons and fathers, as part of a joint venture between Hutchinson and The Irish Hospice Foundation. Jason Arthur, publisher of Hutchinson, Heinemann and Windmill, agreed a joint-venture... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #colm tibn #paul mccartney #joint venture #world rights #excluding ireland