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 ]
In this delightful debut novel Katherine Kayne sweeps us back to a Hawaii still mourning its lost kingdom, where ladies—their ballgowns covered in yards of protective fabric—gallop across the mountains and down the city streets on their way to polo matches and parties, men dance the hula as well... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-01-17 09:46:07 UTC ]
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These days, it seems like every book that gets even the barest amount of hype gets snapped up by a production company in the first month of its publication, but that doesn’t necessarily mean those are the books whose adaptations get made. 2020 starts out with a whole host of movies adapted from... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-01-16 09:50:47 UTC ]
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Heidi Sopinka’s debut novel The Dictionary of Animal Languages is the deceptively gentle tale of the aging artist Ivory Frame, whose character and life are based, both loosely and closely, in alternation, on Leonora Carrington. In fact, Sopinka was struggling to write the book—struggling to get... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-01-13 09:48:01 UTC ]
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Kiley Reid’s debut novel is a funny, fast-paced, empathetic examination of privilege in America. Continue reading at The Atlantic
[ The Atlantic | 2020-01-08 13:00:00 UTC ]
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Kendra Winchester: Hello, I’m Kendra Winchester. And this is Reading Women, a podcast inviting you to reclaim half the bookshelf by discussing books written by or about women. Today, I’m talking to Sarah Moss about her book Ghost Wall, which is out now in paperback from Picador. Welcome to 2020,... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2020-01-08 09:45:19 UTC ]
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When the news becomes too difficult to watch, these books about refugees will having you questioning the blurred line between fiction and reality. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2020-01-07 11:38:59 UTC ]
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Delia Owens’s debut novel has sold more than four million copies — an astonishing trajectory for any new writer, much less for a 70-year-old wildlife scientist. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2019-12-21 10:00:08 UTC ]
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This week, Lauretta Charlton reviews Darryl Pinckney’s collection of essays “Busted in New York.” In 1992, Edmund White wrote for the Book Review about “High Cotton,” Pinckney’s debut novel about a young black man coming of age. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2019-12-20 10:00:00 UTC ]
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Find a new author to follow or the first book your fave wrote with this list of debut novels by queer authors for the 2020 Read Harder Challenge. Continue reading at Book Riot
[ Book Riot | 2019-12-18 11:31:50 UTC ]
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Text Me When You Get Home: the Evolution and Triumph of Modern Female Friendship by Kayleen SchaeferIt’s a non-fiction book about the change in perspective around female friendship over the last few years, featuring interviews with a huge range of people including Judy Blume. The book looks at... Continue reading at British Council global
[ British Council global | 2019-12-17 09:49:28 UTC ]
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Today, we present an excerpt from a debut novel that earned praise from Victor LaValle, who called it a "gripping and moving book." The post ‘Africaville’: Featured Fiction from Jeffrey Colvin appeared first on The Millions. Continue reading at The Millions
[ The Millions | 2019-12-10 19:30:59 UTC ]
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Walker Books has bought world rights to nine picture books by author Smriti Halls, in a deal with Jodie Hodges at United Agents. The first book, Welcome to Your World, described as “a stunning celebration of new life and our precious natural world”, will be published simultaneously in March... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-09 21:28:42 UTC ]
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Macmillan Children’s Books has bought three full-colour gift titles written and illustrated by Alex T Smith. Editorial director Gaby Morgan bought world rights in all languages from Alison Eldred at Arena Illustration. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-09 21:23:43 UTC ]
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HarperCollins Children’s Books has secured world rights to publish the tie-in books for "The Adventures of Paddington", a new Nickelodeon television series launching globally in 2020. The animated pre-school series comprises 26 episodes and features the voice of Ben Whishaw as Paddington in... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-08 20:24:37 UTC ]
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Tramp Press has bagged the “stunning” debut novel from Irish writer Niall Bourke. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-06 16:27:30 UTC ]
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Doubleday has signed a "major" pre-emptive deal for world rights in two books from Anna Bailey with the first offers already in from France and Italy. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-06 15:35:31 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury will publish journalist Thomas McMullan’s debut novel The Last Good Man in November 2020. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-03 21:48:31 UTC ]
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Legend Press has bagged Sahar Mustafah’s "stunning" debut novel charting the background to a shooting at an Islamic school in Chicago. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-03 17:48:49 UTC ]
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Irish poet Elaine Feeney’s "dazzlingly inventive" debut novel As You Were will be published by Harvill Secker following an auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-02 15:33:42 UTC ]
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The list includes a mix of books written originally in Spanish and in translation. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2019-11-26 10:00:03 UTC ]
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