‘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'


Celebrity chefs donate recipes to soup cookbook for Syria relief

Yotam Ottolenghi, Claudia Roden and Anthony Bourdain are among the star names who have given recipes to fundraising collectionYotam Ottolenghi, Claudia Roden and Anthony Bourdain are among the dozens of authors and chefs contributing soup recipes to a forthcoming cookbook that will raise money... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #anthony bourdain #forthcoming cookbook #raise money #michel moushabeck


Soup’s On, For a Cause: Big Time Authors Unite for Syrian Refugee Food Relief

Anthony Bourdain, Alice Waters, Mark Bittman, and Yotam Ottolenghi are among the cookbook authors who contributed recipes to 'Soup for Syria: Recipes to Celebrate Our Shared Humanity.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #anthony bourdain #alice waters #mark bittman #yotam ottolenghi #cookbook authors


'Faith Ed.' Author On Teaching Religion in Schools, Not Preaching

Linda K. Wertheimer, author of "Faith Ed.," explains how educating today's children about world religions could heighten tolerance. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep children's book tops best seller list

An insomniac rabbit is the hero of a book which has become a surprise best seller. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book tops #seller list


The Bookseller launches children's marketing competition

The Bookseller is launching a children’s marketing competition for delegates of this year’s children’s conference, which will take place at the Barbican in London on the 29th September. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #29th september


The rise of the fall

While half of the publishing industry has taken advantage of the brief August lull to spend a fortnight in Devon reading Elena Ferrante, the reality—as many a hard-pressed publicist can testify—is that the autumn rush is almost upon us. In under a fortnight, Jamie Oliver’s Everyday Super Food... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry #jamie oliver #starting gun


Diana Kimpton: A manifesto for author-publisher relations

In his call for Your five-minute manifesto for FutureBook, The Bookseller editor Philip Jones wrote that part of the planning of our FutureBook Conference this year (4th December at The Mermaid) is "to take this recent history of the book business and reflect on the job still to do." To that... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #recent history #book business


'Solid' Quarto half-year revenues rise 1%

The chief executive of The Quarto Group, Marcus Leaver, said the company achieved a “solid” set of results in the first half of the year, with revenues rising 1% compared to the same period a year earlier.   For the six months ending 30th June 2015, revenues totalled $66.2m (£42.4m), 1% higher... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #year earlier #quarto group #marcus leaver #1% higher


Anti-whaling novel wins top prize at children's book awards

A novel with an anti-whaling message has taken the title of the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-08-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book awards #young adults


Down, Up, Down Again: The Diary of a Debut Author

UK author Andrew Shantos tracks the elation, frustration and quantification of the first two months of publication of his debut novel, Dead Star Island. The post Down, Up, Down Again: The Diary of a Debut Author appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-08-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #debut author


Russian publisher prints books about Putin under names of western authors

Writers consider legal action against Moscow publishing house after discovering series about president circulated in their names. The Moscow Times reportsA Russian publishing house has printed a series of books about Vladimir Putin under the names of prominent western analysts and journalists –... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Authors on the Air August 10, 2015: Kay Wills Wyma

Kay Wills Wyma, author of 'I’m Happy for You (Sort of…Not Really): Finding Contentment in a Culture of Comparison' (WaterBrook Press, 9781601425959) will appear on 'Chris Fabry Live!' on Monday, August 10. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #finding contentment #waterbrook press


Agent reactions 'depend on author gender', claims writer

US writer Catherine Nichols has revealed that she received eight times as many responses by sending out her manuscript to agents under a man’s name than when sending it out under her own name. In an essay for Jezebel, Nichols said she sent query letters to 50 agents under her own name,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Female author submits novel under man's name. You will totally believe what happens next.

Writer Catherine Nichols submitted the opening pages to her novel to 50 literary agents under her own name, and then again using a man's name. Can you guess which name got more positive responses? Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #opening pages


‘Empire of Fear’ Author Shares Inside Story On ISIS

BBC reporter Andrew Hosken builds a comprehensive picture of the Islamic State, their ideology, and what life is like under their regime. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #comprehensive picture #islamic state


PW Asks: Shakespeare, King, and Austen Are Your Desert Island Authors

We asked you what three authors you'd take to your desert island. You said William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and Stephen King. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #william shakespeare #jane austen #stephen king #pw asks #desert island


KDP author Adler snapped up by Urbane

Independent publisher Urbane Publications will publish the physical edition of the next book from Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing thriller writer Tim Adler, while the author will self-publish the ebook. Matthew Smith, director of Urbane, acquired world rights in all languages for print editions... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #print editions #physical edition


Hachette Children’s hires literary scouts

Hachette Children’s has hired Maria B Campbell Associates as literary scouts to the group. Maria B Campbell Associates, which was already acting as a scout for YA imprint Atom Books, will now look for books for imprints Hodder Children's Books, Orchard Books, Orion Children's Books, Little,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #orchard books #brown books #hachette children #campbell associates #literary scouts #orion children #young readers #quercus children


Oh, the Parties You'll Throw: Celebrating the New Dr. Seuss Book Across the Country

Bookstores across the country threw parties to celebrate the release of the latest, never-before-seen Dr. Seuss picture book, 'What Pet Should I Get?' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #seuss book


Leaving the Cult of Capitalism in Three New Titles

Three new books from religious publishers are casting a critical eye on the economy this year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #religious publishers #critical eye