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 ]
Los Angeles’ Eso Won Books has announced that they will be shutting their doors at the end of the year. Since the 1980s, this independent bookstore has dedicated itself to celebrating the voices of Black writers. They are known for their large selection of books on every subject relating to... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-06-14 15:53:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Long-time book sales representative Lisa Hill, a veteran of Random House and S&S, died on June 9 at Hospice of W. Kentucky from a short illness. She was 60. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Driven by an increase in its physical stores, sales at Indigo Books & Music increased 17.4% in the fiscal year ended April 2, 2022, over fiscal 2021, rising to C$1.06 billion. Canada’s largest bookstore chain had an operating profit of C$29 million, compared to a loss of C$31.9 million in... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Starting next April 1, Penguin Random House Publisher Services will take over distribution of the adult and children’s print books published by Disney Publishing Worldwide. Under the agreement, PRHPS will also take on distribution of Marvel Publishing’s collected editions and graphic novels to... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
On Friday night, P&T Knitwear opened its doors on the Lower East Side to celebrate its grand opening. Any new indie bookstore/cafe is cause for applause, but this one in particular has a few fun bells and whistles worth mentioning! When you first walk in, what’s probably most noticeable is... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-06-06 15:01:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Ikkanda will join the Penguin Random House imprint as executive editor August 1. She will also acquire selectively for Dutton and Plume. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The Eastern European country Belarus has banned the sale of 1984, and two booksellers and publishers have been detained for carrying it. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-05-30 17:22:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The NFL's rumored streaming service could debut in JulyDyson, the company that’s recently branched out into hair curlers, air-purifying headphones and not cars, has revealed it has an entire division secretly developing robot prototypes for household chores.The company didn't detail any of the... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2022-05-26 11:15:21 UTC ]
More news stories like this
After a decade of enjoying his presence, an Ohio bookstore is hosting a party to celebrate Otis the Cat's retirement. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-05-25 15:44:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Panelists addressing the issue of what a healthy publishing industry looks like concluded that, while the industry is suffering some severe aches and pains, creative remedies could bolster the book business—as long as industry leaders are willing to reimagine old formulas. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-25 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Jen Silverman’s novel, We Play Ourselves, is out now in paperback from Random House, so we asked about her favorite books to give to friends, the best stories to revisit, and how she procrastinates. * What is your favorite book to give as a gift? I am bad at many things in life, among them... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-05-24 08:51:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The Raven Bookstore in Lawrence, Kans., was named 'PW' Bookstore of the Year in a virtual awards ceremony held during the U.S. Book Show. Commission rep Kurtis Lowe of Book Travelers West is 'PW' Sales Rep of the Year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
In very 1984 news, Belarus has banned the sale of 1984. Belarusian weekly newspaper, Nasha Niva, reported that security forces detained Andrei Yanushkevich, publisher and bookstore owner, and confiscated 200 books, with a focus on 1984. Nasha Niva also reported that they had obtained a copy of... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-05-20 14:23:20 UTC ]
More news stories like this
The American Booksellers Association is launching a Virtual Children’s Institute on July 13; the daylong digital event includes online education sessions, bookseller idea exchanges, and keynote speeches. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Random House has created a new imprint dedicated to licensed book publishing. Starting in 2023, Random House Worlds will house Random House’s adult licensed titles under the direction of Keith Clayton, v-p, deputy publisher of Del Rey, who will also serve as publishing director of Random House... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
His Common Concerns bookstore in Washington became a left-wing community resource in the 1980s. Continue reading at The Washington Post
[ The Washington Post | 2022-05-13 18:04:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this
ITA is proud to showcase 16 Italian publishing companies in its Italian Pavilion. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
A worthy cause for you this Thursday: a bookstore owner’s petition to make Harriet Tubman Day a federal holiday (and the first federal holiday named for an American woman) is at nearly 8,000 signatures, and you can add your name here. The petition was created by Jeannine Cook, owner of Harriet’s... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-05-05 16:26:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Independent Bookstore Day was held this past Saturday in both the U.S. and Canada. Booksellers were delighted with the return of the annual holiday celebrating bookselling, and turnout, they agreed, was excellent. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-05-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this
Books about books have always been super popular, but there are a lot of romance novels set in the publishing world in 2022. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2022-04-29 10:34:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this