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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Name change for Logos; new TV program features Kregel author; Chalice forges partnership with ministry organization. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Chicago and its suburbs are home to a number of religion publishers, the result of migration patterns, the city’s historic role as a transportation hub and center for printing, and a high concentration of Christian colleges and seminaries. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bill Henderson, founder of Pushcart Press and recipient of the National Book Critics Circle’s Lifetime Achievement Award, tells the story of “an aging man who builds a holy place in his backyard” in his new book. The memoir features bugs, cancer, spiritual wavering, and rocks. Lots of rocks. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon Kindle is now a 'proud sponsor' of Downton Abbey. And it suits, as the show's story arc reflects the current dynamic in the publishing business. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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NOOK Press team talks about what makes this ebook publishing platform stand out and how authors can best leverage NOOK Press tools and its community. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The organization formerly known as the Online Publishers Association (OPA) has announced a new name, Digital Content Next, a rebrand that signals a renewed focus on defining and confronting critical, big picture issues that its members face when crea ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher
[ Editor & Publisher | 2014-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Brand publishers are more aware that they’re really just renting social media space on Facebook and are moving resources away from the social network. One agency said its clients are pulling away from Facebook in “dramatic numbers”—reallocating their resources to microsites and alternate social... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2014-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The new unit, Liberty Hill Publishing, is being launched in partnership with Salem Communications, a conservative media company which owns, among other properties, Regnery Publishing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The company has appointed Jim Childs publisher of its trade division, effective October 13. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After rumblings surfaced that Amazon is creating a new crowd-sourcing publishing platform, the e-tailer has confirmed that the new program is "in the works." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amis's French and German publishers passed on his novel about the Holocaust, but another French company will be releasing the book and Amis's agent said there will most likely be a new German publisher that is willing to publish it. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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E-book Sales Level OffFor the moment, publishers say that ebook sales in Canada have plateaued. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Every book and publishing venture requires some kind of a leap of faith, but this year Canadian publishers are investing more than ever in new efforts to reach out to readers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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John Green and Veronica Roth have ruled the U.S. bestseller list for most of 2014, and the two authors have also dominated the Canadian juvenile list for the year to date. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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People on both sides of the debate about how to balance access to educational materials with copyright have been closely watching developments in Canada following changes to Canadian legislation in 2012. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Some of the highlights from this season are books that come at their subjects from fresh, unusual, or downright quirky angles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scottish book production company Palimpsest is to become a publisher in its own right, with new... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW's annual salary survey reveals an eye-opening lack of diversity in the publishing industry, an enduring pay gap between men and women, and an increasingly optimistic workforce. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Here’s a sampling of books that publishers in Canada are excited about this fall. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The merger of Penguin and Random House in Canada is beginning to taking shape in two new, concrete ways. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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