Francophone African books are still very often published by French imprints, which can make them hard to get at home. But there is a growing push for changeWhen Cameroonian author Daniel Alain Nsegbe first saw his debut novel for sale in his home city of Douala, the price was so high “you would have to ask someone to stop eating for two days in order to buy the book”. It was around 16,000 CFA francs (£20); the average monthly salary in Douala is £150. The book, Ceux qui sortent dans la nuit (Those Who Go Out at Night) was published by Grasset, a French imprint.This is not uncommon: Francophone African authors, whether classic or contemporary, are often published by French, not African presses. This arrangement began in colonial times, but continues because of a number of factors that are particular to France. Publishers frequently push for world rights for all books written in French. Many African writers operate without agents, who would usually divide up rights territories on their behalf. Agents are still a new feature on the African literary landscape, meaning that many classics, such as 1953’s L’enfant noir (The African Child) by Guinean author Camara Laye, and Algerian writer Kateb Yacine’s 1956 novel Nedjma, are owned by publishers in France (Plon and Éditions du Seuil respectively). As French publishers continue to control distribution and pricing, classic authors go missing from bookshelves while contemporary authors struggle to get their books in the hands of... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2020-05-14 09:59:14 UTC ]
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Award-winning novelist Neil Griffiths is launching a new literary prize to celebrate “small presses producing brilliant and brave literary fiction” in the UK and Ireland - in part because he believes the publishing business model is "terrible". Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Republic of Consciousness prize has been launched by novelist Neil Griffiths, who intends to ‘guilt trip’ bestselling authors into contributingThe award-winning novelist Neil Griffiths is launching a new literary prize celebrating the “small presses producing brilliant and brave literary... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-02-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Independent and Independent on Sunday print editions are to close, leaving publishers “shocked” and saddened by the end of one of the “last, best” places to have books reviewed in print. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For a 10th year, IPG Independent Publishing Awards will recognize the work of UK independent publishers and offer a business boost for the winners. The post Celebrating 10 Years of IPG’s Independent Publishing Awards appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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John Blake is set to release the autobiography of South Africa ambassador and "freedom fighter" Priscilla Jana entitled Fighting for Mandela. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Educational publishers in South Africa are meeting with the National Department of Basic Education this week in a bid to allay fears over a potential move towards state publishing that trade figures believe would “totally decimate” the industry. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The author of a controversial book on China's president, believed to be the reason five booksellers from the Mighty Current publishing house in Hong Kong went missing between October and December 2015, has released the title online. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author and publishing organisations worldwide have banded together to urge the United States' government to investigate the disappearances of five missing Hong Kong (HK) publishers. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-01-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As part of its ongoing effort to raise writers’ income, the Authors Guild is sending an open letter to members of the Association of American Publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-01-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The yearly Guardian’s Hits and Misses feature makes me curious about what my friends and colleagues in the world of smaller presses might say - whether they’d feel envious about the same books, and what kind of regrets and successes they might have had in their year of publishing. I put the... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Novelist Kamila Shamsie has said that traditional publishers’ focus on the “bottom line value of pounds and pennies” has meant a shift away from building authors’ careers in the long-term and created a lack of diversity and new voices. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ebury m.d. Rebecca Smart said that traditional publishers need to “shout from the rooftops” more about the value and investment they provide for authors. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-12-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Nikesh Shukla calls industry’s backtracking ‘a perfect loop-de-loop of blame’ as he is joined by Jon McGregor in a groundswell of readers and authors demanding more diverse representationMan Booker winner Marlon James: ‘Writers of colour pander to the white woman’Authors Nikesh Shukla and Jon... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-11-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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As race continues to be a hot topic in America, academic presses that have long specialized in African-American nonfiction are finding new opportunities in the trade market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-11-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Seven new publishers are joining the Independent Alliance following the closure of Faber Factory Plus. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Government support for independent publishers is an essential public good because indie publishers provide an essential public service, argues Manuel Rico. The post Why Independent Publishers are an Essential Public Service appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers Pan Macmillan, HarperCollins and literary agency Peters, Fraser & Dunlop will provide authors with face-to-face advice and feedback as part of The Bookseller’s inaugural Author Day. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Despite media reports to the contrary, Spain’s publishing industry is robust and diverse, and investing for the future, writes Antonio María Ávila. The post Spain’s Publishing Industry: Positioned to Fight for the Future appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Some of the UK’s most famous authors and publishers are donating their earnings from book sales to raise £1m for Syrian refugees. The post UK Authors, Publishers Donate Book Sales to Syrian Refugees appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers are more content about how the book business is weathering the digital transition than authors, early results of the FutureBook Digital Census have found. The Digital Census, the annual tracker of the book business’ digital evolution, was launched two weeks ago and so far more than... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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