'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'


Russian Publishers Balk at Government Ebook Mandate

Russian publishers are fighting a government mandate that requires them to offer ebook editions of all their titles for a new national digital library. The post Russian Publishers Balk at Government Ebook Mandate appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #russian publishers


USA Today Publisher Larry Kramer Steps Down As Gannett Spinoff Looms

Larry Kramer, publisher and president of USA Today since 2012, is leaving the newspaper and joining the board of directors of the new Gannett, the company announced today.Mr. Kramer's departure comes as Gannett, owner of 82 daily newspapers including USA Today as well as 46 local TV stations,... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #larry kramer #usa today #tv properties


Facebook's Experiment to Publish News Articles Has Gotten Awfully Quiet — Three Weeks After Everyone Was Freaking Out About It

On May 12, Facebook launched its much discussed publishing product designed to let media companies post their articles directly to its iOS app.   Called "Facebook Instant Articles," the new format loads stories on mobile phones up t ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #facebook launched #articles directly #ios app #mobile phones


5 Things Editors and Publishers Can Do to Survive Digital Disruption

About a year ago, I stopped referring to Bon Appétit as a magazine and started calling it a brand. Six months later I even dropped the air quotes. Not that it was easy. If you attended journalism school or worked for your college daily, you were reared on the separation of church and state.... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2015-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #instagram feed #focus groups #google search #andy cohen


The State of Jewish Digital Publishing (Part 1)

Ben Denckla outlines the challenges of creating reflowable digital texts that incorporate challenging elements present in a wide variety of Jewish books. The post The State of Jewish Digital Publishing (Part 1) appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #wide variety #jewish books


Vt. Author Teams Up with Local Bookstores to Promote Serial E-novel

When children's author Michael Daley decided to self-publish his YA race car thriller as a six-installment serial, he turned to area bookstores for help. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #local bookstores


Kamila Shamsie: let’s have a year of publishing only women – a provocation

It is clear that there is a gender bias in publishing houses and the world of books. Well, enough. Why not try something radical? Make 2018 the Year of Publishing Women, in which no new titles should be by menSeveral years ago, Martin Amis chaired a literary festival panel on “The Crisis of... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #anne tyler #donna tartt #jhumpa lahiri #gender imbalance #top positions #literary prizes #effective system #win prizes


Why YA fiction is a dark mirror reflecting our own real lives

Did you know every two days, humans generate as much data as we did from the dawn of history up until 2003? AJ Steiger on how the internet means teenagers are more connected and empowered than ever before… but more vulnerable too – and how our books reflect this dualityThink about this for a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dizzying pace #seismic shift #liz kessler #guardian children #books site


Editor & Publisher Now Accepting Entries for the 2015 EPPY™ Awards

Editor & Publisher Magazine has announced its call for entries for the 2015 EPPY™ Awards, honoring the best in digital media. Now in its 20th year, this international contest has broadened its scope to keep up with the ever-changing Int ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #20th year


Authors on the Air June 5, 2015: Jesse Goolsby

Jesse Goolsby, author of 'I'd Walk with My Friends If I Could Find Them' (HMH, 9780544380981), will appear on NPR’s 'Weekend All Things Considered' on Sunday, June 7. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


New Bookindy app helps bookshops fight back against Amazon

Type in a book you’d like to read, and the app will compare the Amazon price with nearby independent book shops – in the hope you’ll go and buy thereIndependent booksellers have launched a new weapon in their two-pronged offensive against online retailers such as Amazon and the supermarket... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon price #online retailers #supermarket chains


Licensing Solutions for a Changing Publishing Industry

Your backlist content is a goldmine of licensing revenue. Michael Healy offers three tips for publishers to increase their revenue from permissions. The post Licensing Solutions for a Changing Publishing Industry appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Kensal Rise Library re-opens after five-year battle

Kensal Rise Library is set to open for the first time in five years this weekend, with a community open day. The library was closed by Brent Council in 2011 and denied permission for a community library in the space, becoming a flashpoint for library campaigners, with authors such as Alan... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #community library #library campaigners #brent council #alan bennett #philip pullman #jacqueline wilson


How Do Writers Measure Success in Global Publishing?

Lori Nelson Spielman, an American author, has written books that became global bestsellers — just not in the USA. How should authors measure success? The post How Do Writers Measure Success in Global Publishing? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #global publishing #american author #written books


Karen Thomas Named Cleis Publisher

Karen Thomas has been named to replace Brenda Knight as publisher of Cleis Press and Viva Editions. Cleis will move from its current California offices to parent company's Start Publishing's Jersey City offices this July. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cleis press #viva editions #start publishing


BEA 2015: Children's and YA Publishing in China

China, BEA's guest of honor this year, was the enthusiastic host to the May 28th BEA panel on Children's and YA literature in China and America. Their interest in children's literature was evident. But the event required a lot of patience. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ya literature #ya publishing


J.D. Salinger Lawyers Fire Back in Copyright Battle

Attorneys for the Salinger Literary Trust argue that a copyright suit filed by indie publisher, The Devault-Graves Agency is without merit and should be tossed. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #copyright battle #indie publisher #devault-graves agency


Argentina’s Publishers Face Political, Economic Uncertainty

Argentina's government has propped up the book business, but with this year's election and economic stagnation, publishers remain uncertain of the future. The post Argentina’s Publishers Face Political, Economic Uncertainty appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post argentina #economic uncertainty #book business


Ansip: 'vested interests will fight us on copyright reform'

"Vested interests" profiting only a few will attempt to hold up the reform of copyright, Andrus Ansip, vice president for the digital single market (DSM) at the European Commission, has said. Speaking at the European Digital Forum in Brussels yesterday (1st June), Ansip said that copyright... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #copyright reform #copyright rules #vice president #european commission #illegal downloads


#FiftyShades: E.L. James' latest book: How authors keep their franchises fresh (+video)

#FiftyShades: 'Fifty Shades of Grey' writer E.L. James recently announced she's releasing a new version of 'Fifty Shades of Grey' that will be told from character Christian's point of view. Some authors choose to focus on different characters for new books, while others opt for all-new... Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fifty shades #time period