'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'


Romanian Publishers “Surviving,” Culture Tax Considered

Romanian publishers are merely 'surviving' says the publishers association, and may suffer more if the government imposes a new tax on cultural goods. The post Romanian Publishers “Surviving,” Culture Tax Considered appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #romanian publishers #publishers association #cultural goods


How one publisher is working around Facebook’s pre-roll ad ban

Publishers are ambivalent about uploading their video to Facebook’s native player, as the social network has yet to reveal how it will enable them to monetize that video. While most publishers are playing by the rules, one publisher isn’t waiting around, though. NewsBeat Social, a Portland,... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-04-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Apocalypse never: Facebook’s actually getting more predictable for publishers

Pundits have speculated for two years that the Facebook Apocalypse will arrive any day now. The newest roll-out may take several weeks to see completion. And data is still rolling in. But the battle for news feed space is competitive, and the reach of a typical fan will diminish over time as... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #organic reach #publishers appeared #successful publisher


Tolino Launches Self-Publishing Platform in Germany

Tolino, a German alliance of booksellers, launched a self-publishing platform, Tolino Media, which has already attracted notable, self-published authors in Germany. The post Tolino Launches Self-Publishing Platform in Germany appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #germany appeared #self-publishing platform #self-published authors


Association Publishers, Keep Your Board Close

The more your board knows about your member value, the better positioned you’ll be to get, or keep, the resources you need. The post Association Publishers, Keep Your Board Close appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2015-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Bloomberg's New Publishing Platform Is 'Like Tinder for Video'

Bloomberg Media made a case to advertisers today that it could target consumers of various generations across distribution platforms at its first Digital Content NewFronts presentation. Part of the 34-year-old media company's pitch revolved around a message that suggested we're all acting like... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2015-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #convincing brands


Kiser Named President and Publisher at Running Press

Kiser succeeds Chris Navratil, who left that post in October as a part of a Perseus reorganization. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #running press


Publisher 2000AD removes all DRM

Graphic novel and comic publisher 2000AD is making all of its titles available DRM-free. Readers will be given access to DRM-free copies of books and comics by 2000AD, even if bought through stores such as the iOS and Android app. A new ID system will link together all purchases, meaning that a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #android app #amazon kindle


Ghomeshi Bio to Be First Original Title Published by Kobo

This June, Canadian ebook retailer Kobo will publish its first original ebook when it releases Kevin Donovan's 'Jian Ghomeshi: Secret Life.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jian ghomeshi #secret life


Retailers Prep to Kick Off Independent Bookstore Day

Aside from simply celebrating small bookstores, one objective of the forthcoming Independent Bookstore Day, on May 2, is to bury a long-running narrative that the indies are dying. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Halt sales of Jonasson bestseller, court tells UK publisher

High court backs Hachette against Hesperus Press, British publisher of Jonas Jonasson’s The 100-Year-Old Man, after claims of missing royalty paymentsThe high court has ordered the British publisher of Jonas Jonasson’s smash-hit novel The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-04-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #british publisher #pay royalties #cease publishing #english translation #legal action #independent publisher


McGough deplores lack of poetry publishing

Poet Roger McGough has criticised the lack of submissions for the 2015 Children's Poetry Award, for which he is chair of the judges, saying "so few publishers are producing poetry books for children and young people."  McGough was speaking as the shortlist for the £1,000 award, made by The... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #poetry award #poetry publishing


Conran Octopus to publish Vogue jewellery title

Conran Octopus has signed a book covering Vogue magazine's relationship with jewellery, authored by Vogue jewellery editor Carol Woolton. Vogue the Jewellery will be published as a £75 hardback printed in a large, silk-bound format and packaged in a foil-blocked clamshell case. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #conran octopus


Authors rail against Green copyright proposals

Authors are protesting against a Green Party proposal to reduce the length of copyright terms to a maximum of 14 years. The UK copyright term is currently set at the life of the author plus 70 years, but in the "Intellectual Property" section of a policy statement the Green Party says it wants... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #intellectual property #green party #cultural activity


Obituary: Courage Books Publisher Donald H. McGee, 76

Donald H. McGee, former president and publisher of Courage Books, an imprint of Running Press passed away in Sarasota, Fla. on April 20. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Apple Watch Creates Wrist-y Business for Publishers, Advertisers

The Apple Watch is officially out today, but the so-called wearable has already sparked an arms race among media companies vying for attention on your wrist.(Does that make it a wrist race?)Newspapers, TV news networks, magazine publishers and radio stations have introduced apps for the Watch.... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2015-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #apple watch #magazine publishers #arms race #radio stations


Hearst’s Troy Young: The modern publisher needs a platform

In this week's Digiday Podcast, Troy Young, president of digital media at Hearst Magazines, joined us to discuss how traditional media companies change -- and what will determine the winners in the fast-changing digital media market. "The whole publishing mechanism for digital is very different... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #platform appeared #hearst magazines #post hearst #troy young #modern publisher #media strategy


Malcolm made publishing strategy director at HC

HarperCollins has appointed Oli Malcolm to the role of publishing strategy director for fiction, non-fiction and Avon. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


5 challenges the Apple Watch poses for publishers

The Apple Watch is now for sale and strategy leads from digital media companies the world over are bracing themselves for the question: “What’s our wearables strategy?” It’s early. It’s OK not to dive into wearable product creation yet. Things are pretty locked down on the software side anyway.... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-04-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers appeared #apple watch


Judge Denies Publishers' Bid for New Evidence in GSU Copyright Case

Judge Orinda Evans has denied publishers’ bid to gather new evidence in the closely-watched Georgia State University e-reserves case. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |