‘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'


A Strong Focus on Children's Books at Taipei Fair

The Taipei International Book Exhibition has always been known for its large congregation of overseas exhibitors, and this year's event, running from February 16–-21, continues the tradition. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-02-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #strong focus #overseas exhibitors


Daniel Radcliffe to star in adaptation of Summersdale title

Daniel Radcliffe is to star in an upcoming thriller based on Summersdale title Lost in the Jungle by Yossi Ghinsberg. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Holly Willboughby pens parenting guide for HarperCollins

HarperCollins is to publish Truly Happy Baby, the first parenting guide from TV presenter Holly Willoughby. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Author Pat Conroy has pancreatic cancer

Pat Conroy, 70, best-selling American author of The Prince of Tides and The Great Santini, has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, his publisher, Doubleday, announced on Tuesday. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2016-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pancreatic cancer #pat conroy #great santini


Sales of Emma Watson's first book club title soar

Sales of Gloria Steinem's On the Road have peaked after it was selected as the first read for Emma Watson's new feminist book club.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #emma watson #gloria steinem


Penguin Classics to offer schools sets of 100 books at £1 per title

Publisher responds to challenge from the schools minister to provide schoolchildren with affordable access to great books From Solomon Northrup’s 19th-century memoir about his years in captivity, Twelve Years a Slave, to classic novels such as Gulliver’s Travels and Madame Bovary, schools... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #classic novels #madame bovary #broad spectrum #secondary school #great expectations #jane eyre


Middle Grade neglect risks isolating generation of readers, author warns

Authors and critics are warning that Middle Grade children’s books, for readers aged eight to 12 years, are failing to get the attention they merit from the media and book prize organisers because of the dominance of Young Adult titles. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #readers aged


Boys' basketball: Fairfax earns share of Western League title with win over Westchester

The City Section season has been about parity among the top teams, so it should come as no surprise that Fairfax and Westchester have ended the regular tied for first place in the Western League after the Lions knocked off Westchester, 47-43, on Friday night in a huge road victory. Freshman Ethan... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2016-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #top teams #western league #friday night


Survey finds 76% of children prefer print books

Children prefer print books to ebooks for both reading for pleasure and reading for education, a study by reading charity BookTrust has found. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Celebrating 10 Years of IPG’s Independent Publishing Awards

For a 10th year, IPG Independent Publishing Awards will recognize the work of UK independent publishers and offer a business boost for the winners. The post Celebrating 10 Years of IPG’s Independent Publishing Awards appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #10th year


ITV’s Lorraine launches children’s writing comp

Hachette Children’s Group is partnering with ITV’s Lorraine show to find a new children’s author. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hachette children


After Eight Year Slump, 2015 Bookstore Sales Rise

Bookstores sales rose 2.5% in 2015, marking the first time since 2007 that sales in the sector were up over the previous year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


'Diverse' Waterstones Children's Book Prize shortlist revealed

Fiction books reflecting the “concerns and issues” of modern day children and teenagers have been highlighted in the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2016 shortlist. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #waterstones children


Ellen and Ivison pen “freshers” YA novel

Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison, the authors of Lobsters and Never Evers, are writing a new YA novel about the first year of university. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tom ellen #lucy ivison


Digital Arachnid: What Does Author Earnings Say to the Industry?

A new report from Author Earnings previews what the Digital Book World Conference audience is likely to hear in "Data Guy's" keynote address. The post Digital Arachnid: What Does Author Earnings Say to the Industry? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-02-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #author earnings #data guy #keynote address


'Remarkable' author Margaret Forster dies

Margaret Forster has died, aged 77, following a battle with cancer in her back.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Authors on the Air February 8, 2016: Lawrence Block

Lawrence Block, author of 'The Girl In the Deep Blue Eyes' (Titan, 978-1-7832-9750-4), will appear on BlogTalkRadio.com with 'Modern Signed Book' podcast host Rodger Nichols on Tuesday, February 9. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


DK launches braille series for children

DK, a division of Penguin Random House UK, will next month launch a series of braille books for children. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #month launch


HK booksellers 'author' attacks China

A Chinese writer tells the BBC he published a provocative book about President Xi Jinping, linked to five missing Hong Kong booksellers, as a challenge to China. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2016-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #provocative book


Sarkozy title shoots to top of French chart

A mea culpa book written by former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has shot to number one of the GfK/Livres Hebdo top 20 best-seller list of fiction and non-fiction titles eight days after publication. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #non-fiction titles