In Mexico, One Bookstore per 120,000 Inhabitants, by Elena Poniatowska

Cultural Cross Sections Elena Poniatowska In this column that originally appeared in La Jornada, Elena Poniatowska considers the role of editors and talks with Diego Rabasa, founder of publisher Sexto Piso. Already precarious, the pandemic lockdown has made the plight of independent publishers and bookstores in Mexico in light of Covid-19 even more acute. To be an editor is to answer the call of the gods. It’s a vocation, a ministry, an immense privilege, to enter the Olympus of literature. To be an editor is to pick those who have talent and launch them. To be a publisher is to foretell: this one will make it. It’s also to disappoint and reject. I recall the Dutch printer Alexander Stolz in Mexico holding out to me his exquisite edition of Benjamin Constant’s Adolphe, as if it were a diamond, at the Fondo de Cultura Económica, and the paternal care that Arnaldo Orfila Reynal took with the anguished palavering of Fernando del Paso. To be an editor is to be a psychologist and to be bewildered as to how to treat each creature-author. Vicente Rojo was my editor, and we have loved each other deeply since, but I never gave him trouble. What must that genius from Pachuca named Yuri Herrera be like? What’s his soft spot? I have to handle Carlos Montemayor with kid gloves because he’s unpredictable. Federico Alvarez, director of the FCE in Spain, told me that seeing Elena Garro and Helena Paz enter the FCE in Madrid was like falling into... Continue reading at 'World Literature Today'

[ World Literature Today | 2020-06-03 21:05:48 UTC ]
News tagged with: #public policies #administrative expenses #reduce costs #combining promotional #advertising efforts #press teams #editorial program #cervantes winners #medium term #marketing teams #exhibition spaces #economic opportunity #fernanda melchor #random house #literary translator #bookstore chain #publishing industry #book price #penguin random house #independent bookstore #publishing companies #publishing world #bookseller #publishing houses #bookstore

Other Publishing stories related to: 'In Mexico, One Bookstore per 120,000 Inhabitants, by Elena Poniatowska '


A tornado has leveled Interabang Books, Dallas’ largest independent bookstore.

On Sunday night, Interabang Books, Dallas’ largest independent bookstore and only full-service indie bookshop, endured a direct hit from a tornado that barreled through Dallas’ commercial districts, tearing a wide swath through local shops and national chains alike. The bookstore, along with... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-10-22 19:23:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sunday night #interabang books #wide swath #local shops #long road #independent bookstore


Two Minnesota Indie Bookstores Partnered Up, and Business Is Booming

Twin Cities area bookstores Excelsior Bay Books and Valley Bookseller have entered a unique collaborative relationship that is attracting A-list authors to their premises and bumping up both stores’ sales. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookseller


Metabooks to Launch in Mexico this November

A new metadata solution is coming to Mexico, as Frankfurter Buchmesse and MVB signs a cooperation agreement with CANIEM to launch Metabooks Mexico. The post Metabooks to Launch in Mexico this November appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-10-17 07:47:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #november appeared #frankfurter buchmesse


Bookstore Sales Fell 10.3% in August

Bookstore sales tumbled 10.3% in August compared to August 2018, according to preliminary figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The double digit decline suggests that college students are cutting their purchases of print materials in favor of greater use of digital content. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #august compared #census bureau #college students #print materials #digital content #bookstore sales


Crowdfunder for 'best non-fiction book club in world' smashes £100,000 target

A pair of friends crowdfunding to build the “best non-fiction book club in the world” have surged past their £100,000 target. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-09 18:14:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #non-fiction book


Atwood's The Testaments sells more than 250,000 copies in UK, says Vintage

Margaret Atwood's The Testaments (Chatto & Windus) has sold more than 250,000 copies in the UK across all formats, Vintage has said. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-08 23:30:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #margaret atwood


Phaidon to publish Rihanna's 'visual autobiography' featuring 1,000 photos

Phaidon is to publish a "visual autobiography" by Rihanna, a large-format 505-page volume with 1,000 photos, including never before seen images. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-07 20:06:09 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


America’s First Banned Book Is for Sale for $35,000

If you have a spare 35 grand or so, you now have a shot at a rare copy of the first book banned in America. Christie’s Auction House in New York recently announced that it will be auctioning a copy of New Canaan by Thomas Morton, a 1637 political satire that caused outrage among New […] The post... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2019-10-03 11:00:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post america #rare copy #book banned #thomas morton #electric literature #banned book


Area man attempts to sell self-published book to 50 bookstores in 50 days, learns lesson along the way.

As reported in The Republic, Columbus, Ohio’s Mason Engel had already tried to get his self-published reboot of Orwell’s dystopian classic, 1984, into the hands of New York literary agents—like, right into their actual hands. After reaching number one in Amazon’s dystopian fiction category,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-09-25 15:11:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #self-published book


Strand Bookstore owner says landmark status will be challenged in court

The owner of the Strand Bookstore plans to sue the city to fight a landmark designation applied to the property over the owner's opposition.  An attorney for store owner Nancy Bass Wyden told... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2019-09-24 13:47:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bookstore


Once seen as a dying business, city bookstores are gaining ground

In his more than 30 years selling books on the Upper West Side, Chris Doeblin has weathered competition from Barnes and Noble and Amazon and the ascent of e-readers. He has figured out how to mix... To view the full story, click the title link. Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2019-09-23 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #gaining ground


BookTrust to deliver 700,000 free books to schools as Time to Read campaign kicks off

BookTrust will deliver 700,000 free books to every school starter as part of the annual Time to Read campaign this week.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-16 12:05:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #read campaign #free books


July Bookstore Sales Drop 5%

Bookstore sales in July were $646 million, down from $680 million in 2019, according to preliminary estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-09-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #preliminary estimates #census bureau #bookstore sales


Elena Ferrante to publish new novel

Italian author Elena Ferrante will publish a new novel in Italy in November - her first in four years.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-09-09 18:13:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #elena ferrante


“The Bloggess” Jenny Lawson to Open a Bookstore and Bar: Critical Linking, September 5, 2019

An awesome daily roundup of the most interesting bookish links from around the web. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-09-05 10:30:57 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #critical linking #bookstore


Metabooks Brasil Reaches 100,000 Active Titles in Its Database

Announcing at Rio's book fair its coming introduction of Pubnet in Brazil, Metabooks Brasil reports it now accounts for 75 percent of the market's sales. The post Metabooks Brasil Reaches 100,000 Active Titles in Its Database appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-09-05 04:52:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book fair


Beijing International Book Fair Cites 320,000 Visitors, High Tech Interest

Digital marketing approaches supported by 5G and edtech in early-age English-language training were key interests at the 2019 Beijing Book Fair. The post Beijing International Book Fair Cites 320,000 Visitors, High Tech Interest appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-08-27 05:30:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Asian Bookstore Forum 2019: The Retail Context in China Today

At China's Asian Bookstore Forum in Xi'an, researchers cited a sharp shift, book sales moving quickly away from physical stores and over to online retail. The post Asian Bookstore Forum 2019: The Retail Context in China Today appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-08-23 05:30:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #china today #physical stores #online retail #bookstore


Olivia Laing calls out Boris Johnson, splits £10,000 literary prize with fellow nominees.

Celebrated British writer and cultural critic Olivia Laing has been widely praised for her decision to split her James Tate Black award winnings with her fellow shortlisted authors. “I said in Crudo that competition has no place in art and I meant it,” Laing told the gathered crowd upon... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-08-19 15:39:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #boris johnson #widely praised #prestigious prize #literary prize


Dear Bookstore Owner, P.S. (shelftalker)

A little additional advice to self-published authors on maintaining successful relationships with indie booksellers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-08-19 12:00:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #self-published authors #indie booksellers #bookstore