‘It’s quite galling’: children’s authors frustrated by rise in celebrity-penned titles

Keira Knightley is latest star to publish a children’s book, but some say trend pushes aside genuine writers and makes it harder to find great children’s fiction“A modern classic by Keira Knightley” reads the provisional cover of the actor’s debut children’s book, I Love You Just the Same. Set to be published next October, the 80-page volume, written and illustrated by Knightley, is about a girl navigating the changing dynamics that come with the arrival of a sibling.The Pirates of the Caribbean star is the latest in a long list of celebrities to have turned to writing children’s books. McFly’s Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter have been hovering at the top of the bestseller chart since the publication last month of their latest book The Dinosaur that Pooped Halloween!. Earlier in the year, David Walliams dominated with his newest book Astrochimp. The entertainer has sold 25m copies of his children’s titles in the UK alone, according to Nielsen BookData. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2024-10-20 13:00:48 UTC ]
News tagged with: #authors frustrated #trend pushes #genuine writers #provisional cover #80-page volume #girl navigating #changing dynamics #caribbean star #long list #tom fletcher #dougie poynter #bestseller chart #pooped halloween #nielsen bookdata #nielsen #latest book

Other Publishing stories related to: '‘It’s quite galling’: children’s authors frustrated by rise in celebrity-penned titles'


Children’s Institute 2018: CI 6 Gets Political

Concerns about the separation of immigrant children from their parents, diversity, and changing the world found a place alongside nuts-and-bolts education at this year's conference. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


NPD Group Sees 32-Percent Rise in US Political Books, Year to Date

The political debate is paying off for publishers of political books, NPD's data indicates, with major titles leading a nonfiction boost that shows up not just in print but also in ebook sales. The post NPD Group Sees 32-Percent Rise in US Political Books, Year to Date appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #political books #ebook sales


Judith Kerr celebrates 95th birthday

HarperCollins marked the 95th birthday of author and illustrator Judith Kerr with a cocktail party at the Savoy Hotel in London. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #95th birthday #cocktail party


Carnegie medal winner slams children’s book publishers for ‘accessible’ prose

Geraldine McCaughrean, accepting award for Where the World Ends, warned that restricting the language children read risks creating a future underclass who are ‘easy to manipulate’Carnegie medal winner Geraldine McCaughrean has castigated the books industry for dumbing down language in children’s... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literature award #book publishers #books industry #younger readers


Father's Day without a hero dad: how a widow and her two daughters celebrate his memory

Attending Palomar Fire Academy’s graduation ceremonies on May 31, 3-year-old Evie Iverson looked at the other families in the audience — and noticed how her family looked different. “I don’t have a daddy,” Evie told her mother. Ashley Iverson’s response was immediate: “You have a daddy,” the... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Kerr picture book cover revealed as author turns 95

HarperCollins Children’s Books has revealed the cover of Judith Kerr’s new picture book to celebrate the author’s 95th birthday. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harpercollins children #picture book #95th birthday


American Media Inc. Acquires Bauer’s Celeb and Teen Titles

The great year of consolidation continues in the mass-market magazine space. National Enquirer publisher American Media Inc. announced Friday that it has acquired 13 celebrity and teen titles from Bauer Media USA—including In Touch, Life & Style, Closer, J-14, and the recently launched Teen... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2018-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #move represents #hearst magazines #meredith corp #news editor #steven kotok


APPWG calls for evidence on authors' earnings

The All Party Parliamentary Writers Group has launched an inquiry into authors’ earnings. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


BookExpo and BookCon 2018: Authors Explore the Multiplicities of Diversity

Both BookExpo and BookCon organizers have committed themselves to scheduling panels meant to raise awareness of diversity and multiculturalism in literature. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #raise awareness


Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie awarded PEN Pinter Prize 2018

Novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has been awarded the PEN Pinter Prize 2018 for her "refusal to be deterred or detained by the categories of others".  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Group C Acquires Three More Titles; Grand View Media’s Breakup Nears Completion

After 21 years, Alabama-based Grand View Media appears to be exiting the publishing business. Group C Media—the New Jersey-based publisher of Business Facilities and Facility Executive magazines—announced last week its acquisition of Turf, Turf Design Build, and Tree Services magazines from... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2018-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Authors Guild Adding Regional Chapters

The Authors Guild has announced an ambitious plan to open at least 14 regional chapters across the U.S. this year that will host variety of programs serving members in their local writing communities. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors guild #ambitious plan


Debut author lands £1.5m publishing deal for 'sensational' historical novel

An American debut author has secured a £1.5m advance for her "sensational" historical novel, with Hutchinson winning the UK rights after a 12-publisher auction.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #5m advance #uk rights #12-publisher auction


HarperCollins Children's launches app for Google Assistant

HarperCollins Children’s Books UK has launched a voice-activated app on Google Assistant for children’s audiobooks. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harpercollins children #google assistant #books uk


Audiobook reviews: Authors take the mic

The oral tradition has been a part of the human condition for as long as we have been communicating. If you lost your audience after the first hour of “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” you could forget about a return engagement. Authors now sit in comfy studios and need not memorize their stories. But can... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-06-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #oral tradition #human condition


Authors facing increasing pressure on 'morality'

The Royal Society of Literature’s president Marina Warner has lamented the increasing pressure on authors to “win gold stars for conduct”. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #royal society #increasing pressure


Profile signs 'brilliant' Lucy Mangan title

Profile Books has acquired Diary of a Suburban Lady by Lucy Mangan, a "brilliant" fictional account of life in the suburbs. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #profile signs #profile books #lucy mangan #fictional account


Walliams’ World’s Worst Children 3 marks hat-trick to series

David Walliams has completed a hat-trick with the third volume of his short story collections, The World’s Worst Children 3 (HarperCollins Children's), scoring the UK Official Top 50 number one. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #david walliams


BookExpo 2018: Connecting Children’s Books with Readers

Authors, publishers, and booksellers gathered for a panel discussion on efforts to reach young readers Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #panel discussion


English PEN reviews policies after Galizia family concerns

English PEN has revealed it is embarking on a review of its policies after being accused of a potential conflict of interest with one of its board members. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #english pen #board members