'It's a real battle': African authors fight for publishing independence

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 ]
News tagged with: #rights territories #local readers #sub-saharan africa #books written #world rights #debut novel

Other Publishing stories related to: ''It's a real battle': African authors fight for publishing independence'


Global Publishing Leaders 2015: HarperCollins

HarperCollins is a subsidiary of News Corp., a global media and information services company that covers news and information services, cable network programming, digital real estate services, book publishing, digital education, and pay-TV distribution. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #global media #information services #book publishing #digital education #pay-tv distribution


Global Publishing Leaders 2015: Perseus Book Group

Perseus Book Group was founded in 1996 by venture capitalist Frank Pearl. It is an independent company that represents independent publishers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #independent company


Global Publishing Leaders 2015: Informa

Informa is an academic and professional publisher and professional information and events provider. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #professional publisher #professional information


Global Publishing Leaders 2015: Abril Educação S.A.

Abril Educação S.A. is a publicly traded company with shares listed on BM&F Bovespa. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #abril educao


Global Publishing Leaders 2015: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is a global educational publishing and technology company that reaches more than 50 million students in the U.S. and 150 other countries. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #technology company


Global Publishing Leaders 2015: Wolters Kluwer

Wolters Kluwer is a Dutch global information service company that provides information, software, and services to the legal, business, tax, accounting, finance, audit, risk, compliance, and healthcare markets. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #wolters kluwer #healthcare markets


San Diego Comic-Con 2015: Is Comic-Con Too Big for Small Publishers?

With Comic-Con International: San Diego (informally known as SDCC) a week away, its staff and comics publishers are grappling with critical questions about the value and location of the country’s largest comics and pop culture convention. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #comic-con international #small publishers #comics publishers


Global Publishing Leaders 2015: Shogakukan

Shogakukan was founded by Takeo Oga, grandfather of today’s president Masahiro Oga, on August 8,1922. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Global Publishing Leaders 2015: Shinchosha

Shinchosha Publishing Company was founded in 1896 and publishes general literature, fiction, non-fiction, fine arts, philosophy and dictionaries as well as Mangas. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fine arts


Chinese publishers crack the top 10 as STM remains staunch

The changing nature of the worldwide book industry is sharply demonstrated in the upper echelons of the 2015 edition of the Global Ranking of the Publishing Industry: for the first time, publishing houses from outside Europe and North America have cracked the top 10. Both the groups—Phoenix... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry #publishing houses #changing nature #upper echelons #global ranking


Children's authors say curriculum hurts creative writing

A group of children’s authors, including this year’s Carnegie winner Tanya Landman, is preparing a letter to the education secretary protesting against the way writing is taught in schools. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Publishers Prepare to Ramp Up News Distribution on Facebook’s Instant Articles in Coming Days

Publishers are ready to ramp up content distribution on Facebook’s Instant Articles in the coming days, people familiar with the matter said, with some newsrooms preparing to post a few dozen stories a day. Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers prepare #news distribution #coming days #content distribution #people familiar #dozen stories


We Review a Self-Published E-Book About a Lady Clone War

'Star Wars' and 'Lord of the Rings' had a baby, it died badly, and this book is its reanimated remains. The post We Review a Self-Published E-Book About a Lady Clone War appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2015-06-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #self-published e-book #star wars


Publishing Turns to YouTube for Salvation

As YouTube stars start to publish books they are bringing their millions of fans into bookstores, giving the book business an unlikely windfall. The post Publishing Turns to YouTube for Salvation appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publish books #book business


Publishing in Catalan: It's About Making a 'Minority Language' Work

Catalonia, which sits in the northeast region of Spain, counts 7 million inhabitants. But, with a population that reads as readily in Spanish as it does in Catalan, local publishers face numerous hurdles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Google launches News Lab to help journalists, boost its own publishing cred

Google has launched News Lab, a one-stop website that shows journalists how its tools can help them research, report and promote their stories. The intent is to "collaborate with journalists and entrepreneurs to help build the future of media." Google is joining a crowded field of websites... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #crowded field #including facebook


Should an Author Favor PR or Marketing?

The one questions author should ask themselves that they typically do not when it comes to book marketing is: Should I do PR or marketing? The post Should an Author Favor PR or Marketing? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book marketing


Amazon will pay some authors based on how many pages you read

Authors are normally paid a consistent amount for every ebook you download, no matter how much of a page-turner it is. Amazon might just shake up that model before long, though. As of July 1st, the internet giant will pay Kindle Unlimited and Kindle... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors based #july 1st #internet giant


MFN clauses threaten validity of publishers’ Amazon contracts

Publishers’ contracts with Amazon could become void if the European Commission (EC) finds that the online retailer has acted illegally in terms of its ebook distribution practices and its relationship with publishers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online retailer


S&S launch new series by Dork Diaries author

Simon & Schuster UK has acquired a new series by Rachel Renée Russell, author of the Dork Diaries series. The Misadventures of Max Crumbly is about a boy called Max and his dailyups and downs at South Ridge Middle School. After being home-schooled by his grandmother Max begs to go to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |