‘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'


Authors' unique responses to Austen auctioned by RSL

Authors and artists including Margaret Atwood, Hilary Mantel and Quentin Blake have created one-off, hand-written responses to Jane Austen to be auctioned in aid of the Royal Society of Literature. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hilary mantel #quentin blake #jane austen #royal society


Author Ruth Sepety, Illustrator Lane Smith Win UK’s CILIP Carnegie, Greenaway Medals

Both the winning illustrator and author are given more than $600 in books to donate to their local libraries, as well as more than $6,300 in cash. The post Author Ruth Sepety, Illustrator Lane Smith Win UK’s CILIP Carnegie, Greenaway Medals appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #cilip carnegie #greenaway medals #local libraries


Whenua Taurangi: Gay children's book Promised Land gets te reo Maori treatment

A children's picture book story of two gay lovers that's won praise from Star Trek actor George Takei and other celebrities is now being translated into Te Reo Maori. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2017-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #gay children


Father's Day titles climb charts, as Walliams keeps top spot

The World’s Worst Children 2 (HarperCollins Children's) has claimed a fourth week in the UK Official Top 50 number one spot, selling 24,974 copies for £191,767. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #fourth week


Judith Kerr's next picture book based on author's ninth cat

HarperCollins has bought a new book from Judith Kerr, inspired by the 94-year-old author's ninth pet cat Katinka. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #judith kerr


Bookshops, libraries and schools ready Harry Potter 20th birthday celebrations

Bookshops, libraries and schools are preparing to mark the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone with quizzes, events and an attempt to break a world record. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #20th anniversary #world record


SoA and PA join English PEN in fight to free imprisoned writers worldwide

The Society of Authors, the Publishers Association and English PEN are launching a joint campaign in aid of imprisoned writers worldwide, called Speak Out. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers association #english pen


Paul Mason pens intro to Student Revolt

Pluto Press is to publish an oral history of the 2010 student protests entitled Student Revolt by Matt Myers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pluto press #oral history


ALA 2017 Spotlight: Hillary Clinton, Ron Chernow Among Author Highlights

Authors and books are the lifeblood of ALA annual conferences, and this year's event features a typically robust program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hillary clinton #ron chernow #author highlights


4th Estate signs Mexican author Luiselli's novel and non-fiction 'companion'

HarperCollins imprint 4th Estate has bought a novel and a non-fiction “companion piece” by Mexican author Valeria Luiselli. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


HoZ bags three more Dorries titles for six figures

Head of Zeus has bought world rights to three new novels by Conservative Mid Bedforshire MP Nadine Dorries in a "major" six-figure deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #six-figure deal


Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tops the poll of favourite children's books

Roald Dahl has scooped the top three places in a list of the UK’s favourite children's reads from the past 80 years. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #favourite children #roald dahl


English PEN director Glanville steps down

Jo Glanville is stepping down as director of English PEN after being awarded an honorary visiting fellowship at the German university Arbeitsstelle Holocaustliteratur. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #english pen


Germany's Publishing Revenue Rises 1% in 2016

A new report issued this week by the trade association representing German publishers and booksellers revealed that book revenue was up 1% in Germany last year, hitting €9.28 billion ($10.41 billion). The largest segment seeing gains was children's books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #report issued


Author David Grossman and Translator Jessica Cohen Win the 2017 Man Booker International Prize

British-born translator Jessica Cohen and Israeli author David Grossman share the £50,000 Man Booker International purse for 'A Horse Walks Into a Bar.' The post Author David Grossman and Translator Jessica Cohen Win the 2017 Man Booker International Prize appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #horse walks


'We needn't be wed to pen and paper to truly appreciate fiction'

Romy Short, assessment director at Renaissance, on how assessment technologies can help get children reading. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #children reading


Screenwriter Mark Illis' first children's book to Quercus

Quercus Children's Books has acquired author and screenwriter Mark Illis' first children's book, The Impossible, and its sequel.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Chart hat-trick for The World's Worst Children 2

David Walliams’ second short story collection The World’s Worst Children 2 (HarperCollins Children's) has held on to the UK Official Top 50 number one spot for a third week running. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #david walliams #week running


Carol Ann Duffy pens scathing post-election poem

Poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy has written a poem responding to the general election result, painting a scathing portrait of prime minister Theresa May.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Australian website labelled 'cruel and humiliating' for treatment of feminist author Roxane Gay

Article accompanying podcast interview with Mia Freedman detailed preparations website said it made to accommodate ‘imposing’ US authorThe US author Roxane Gay has labelled the Australian website Mamamia “cruel and humiliating” for publishing a podcast interview with text that asked whether she... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #arundhati roy #literary highlights