‘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 ]
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Industry Notes: Asian Festival of Children’s Content; Macmillan, Binc Open Diversity Scholarships

In recognition of the Singapore Book Council's 50th anniversary, the Asian Festival of Children's Content names Singapore its 'Country of Focus.' And in the States, Macmillan and Binc open a second year of diversity-driven bookseller scholarships. The post Industry Notes: Asian Festival of... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookCon 2018: YA Authors and a Former President Draw Fans to Javits

BookCon 2018 drew about 20,000 booklovers to the Javits Center this past weekend. While many attendees were there to see their favorite bestselling YA authors, others wanted to meet a debut novelist named Bill Clinton. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Comixology Originals Debuts New Titles, Adds POD Print Editions

Amazon's digital comics marketplace Comixology is releasing three new series in digital and POD print editions, and plans to announce an even larger list of graphic novels during San Diego Comic-Con in July. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Romance writer's bid to stop authors from using word 'cocky' fails in court

Self-published author Faleena Hopkins asserted her right to the word, but judge calls attempt to stop other authors using it ‘weak’ Romance writers around the world can breathe a sigh of relief after a US court ruled that they can continue to use the adjective “cocky” in their book titles, after... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Judge Denies Author Attempt to Trademark 'Cocky'

In a decision handed down late last week, Judge Alvin Hellerstein of the Southern District of New York denied a motion by an author requesting that a preliminary injunction be issued to prevent publication a number of books that include the word “cocky” in the title. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Muslims wins prize for radical children’s fiction

A children's book published by a tiny independent publisher has beaten off competition from authors such as Malala Yousafzai and Gill Lewis to win the Little Rebels Children's Book Award for Radical Fiction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Freedom to Publish Advocacy: Authors Guild Wins ‘CockyGate’ Court Ruling

In a court case mounted with the Romance Writers of America, the Authors Guild has prevailed against Faleena Hopkins in the Southern District of New York: Authors can use the word 'cocky' in titles. The post Freedom to Publish Advocacy: Authors Guild Wins ‘CockyGate’ Court Ruling appeared first... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookCon 2018: Four Sci-Fi Authors Talk Reality, Identity, And #Fearlesswomen

Four sci-fi authors—Charlie Jane Anders, Seth Dickinson, S.L. Huang, and V.E. Schwab—will appear in not one but two panel discussions. Riffing on the panel titles, we asked them how reality, identity, and fearless female characters influence their work. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Blind and bullied, now a bestselling author: Steff Green's next book is personal

Books have been saving Steff Green since she was a child growing up in central Hawke's Bay. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2018-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It's high time I retired: 94-year-old acclaimed author launches his final book

It's hard enough getting John Dunmore to stop and sit down; getting him to talk about himself is almost impossible. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2018-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New publisher plans to offer budding authors £24,000 salary

De Montfort Literature will employ an algorithm ‘to identify career novelists’, and hopes to free its writers from second jobsEven the most revered authors held down day jobs, from TS Eliot’s time at Lloyd’s to Walt Whitman’s stint as a government clerk. Now a “successful hedge fund with a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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At BookExpo, a Look at Copyright Issues: ‘It’s the Author Who Suffers’

'Good public policy,' the Association of American Publishers says at BookExpo, includes "good copyright policy.' And the Authors Guild is producing a new, major survey of authors' earnings. The post At BookExpo, a Look at Copyright Issues: ‘It’s the Author Who Suffers’ appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookExpo 2018: At PEN Panel, Free Speech and Race Go Hand in Hand

This year’s PEN America–hosted BookExpo panel saw journalists and a civil rights activist debate the meaning of free speech in an era of “fake news” and deep racial tensions. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fight Club author Palahniuk 'close to broke' after accountant charged with fraud

Fight Club author Chuck Palahniuk has described himself as being "close to broke" after an accountant at his literary agency was arrested for embezzling $3.4m (£2.5m) from the company. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookExpo 2018: Authors Tell Booksellers, It's Best of Times, It's Worst of Times

BookExpo kicked off with the traditional adult book breakfast featuring three comedians, two novelists, and one history professor drawing laughs even while explaining how political and social upheavals inspire their writing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookouture signs two thrillers from bestselling self-published author

Bookouture has struck a deal for two new psychological thrillers with the author of number one ebook bestseller Silent Child. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors and publishers donate thousands of books to Oxfam

Paula Hawkins, Margaret Atwood, Neil Gaiman and Robert Webb are among the authors donating thousands of books to Oxfam in a bid to boost sales in the charity's shops and raise money for its work. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors defend W H Smith after retailer named 'worst shop'

Authors have waded in to defend W H Smith after the retailer was named the worst shop on the UK high street. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pushkin Children’s signs two after opening submissions

Sarah Odedina, editor-at-large at Pushkin Children’s, has acquired two manuscripts after the latest round of open submissions. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Faber signs 'Call Me by Your Name' author

Faber has acquired two titles by André Aciman, the author of Call Me by Your Name, upon which the Academy Award-winning film of the same name was based. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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